Prefabricated roof curbs have been in use since the roof has been utilized for something other than keeping weather out. And in this one sentence lie the benefits and the detriments we face in the roof curb business everyday. The primary function of the curb is to keep weather out while supporting/flashing the equipment on it.
In recent times we have seen huge improvements in the software that assists contractors with determining roofing material quantities. New products are easier to use and more affordable. Computer performance has improved and hardware costs have been reduced. As a result, a complete roofing take-off system, which can significantly increase productivity, is available at a cost that is insignificant when compared to the salary of a surveyor or estimator. A company that wants to compete successfully in today’s market simply cannot afford to be without a state-of-the-art job quoting program.
Tapered insulation can do more than eliminate ponding water and ensure proper drainage of low-slope roofs. With the correct design, tapered insulation can help protect roofing components, increase the value of a building and decrease its energy costs. In the words of Dale Redger, national manager of the Allied Tapered Design Center, “It is simple - a properly installed tapered system will provide a longer-lasting roofing system.
Air Vent Inc., a Dallas-based manufacturer of residential attic ventilation products, has been holding its Ask the Expert™ attic ventilation seminars for roofing professionals for nine years. According to Paul Scelsi, the seminar leader for Air Vent, the seminars take place across the country from January through March, and this year the seminar will be featured in the educational track at the International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas on March 8.
When it comes to construction, Mother Nature plays a significant role in the building process. Weather considerations ultimately influence decisions of how and when to build and what types of products to use. When it’s not taken into consideration, adverse weather can destroy months of labor and cost contractors and building owners millions of dollars.
In the past, roofing contractors were nowhere near the top of the list of people that building owners and design professionals would call for advice on energy savings and environmental issues. But that’s all changing now that NRCA and its industry partners have taken the lead in educating the building and design community about the impact quality roofing systems can have on reducing energy costs and protecting the environment.
The Carver-Hawkeye Arena at the University of Iowa’s Iowa City campus has been the site of many winning performances, including that of its roof. The 48-mil, mechanically attached Sarnafil roof had done its job admirably for 25 years, until an unusually severe storm damaged parts of the roof in the spring of 2006. Yet, like a dedicated athlete who refuses to give up the game, the aging membrane continues to perform today in its new, recycled rendition as roofing walkway membranes. Meanwhile, its Sarnafil replacement roof continues the legacy of being a high-performing player.
Every time I think about that job now I get a shiver down my spine. What scares me is not my near-death experiences, but rather the fact that this kind of situation happens daily with professional contractors and service workers who work on and around residential homes. Whether it’s reroofing houses, installing satellite and cable systems, or even cleaning out gutters, providing fall protection for finished residential buildings can be difficult to set up and does not always seem cost efficient. But, is the alternative any better? Falls while working on ladders and residential roofs account for lost time, thousands of accidents and hundreds of deaths across North America every year.
With most buildings there is always a tension between design considerations and cost concerns. In the case of the Victory Centre of Bartlett, Ill., which offers assisted living options for senior citizens, that balance was even more delicate. The state of Illinois was involved with the project, so costs had to be kept in check while making sure that the end result was a desirable place to live for area seniors. In the final analysis, it was the use of common materials such as brick, siding and a shingled roof that proved to be the key to giving the complex a familiar feel for its residents.
As it approached its 40th birthday, the original coal tar roof was starting to show its age. The building owners, concerned about their long-term investment, commissioned a study. Roofing consultant Facility Engineering Associates (FEA), PC, of Virginia and their senior project manger Jim Justus were asked to determine if the evidence of water leaks meant that the best course of action would be a total roof replacement. After careful study in 2003, the engineers at FEA came to that conclusion. They recommended that all three original roof areas - the 51st floor, the 54th floor and the 55th floor roofs - be replaced.
RSS
