WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A GREEN ROOF?

Green roofs are becoming all the rage these days. But, what are the benefits of having one? We look to answer that question and more in this post.

To get things started, our friends at Green Roof Technology have created some bullet points outlining the benefits:

Advantages of Green Roofs

For the Building Owner:

• Expand roof life 2×3 times (up to 60 years)

• Reduce air-conditioning costs

• Reduce winter heating costs

• Stormwater management tool

• Up to 15 LEED credits

• Government and municipality incentives

• Improve public relations

• Transform dead space into garden space

Check out some environment benefits here…

But what about their looks?  Do green roofs look good?  There are definitely some asthetic benefits according to Live Roof:

Aesthetic and Environmental Benefits

Aesthetic Benefits

• Green roofs are much better looking than asphalt, gravel or tar

• Natural views create more productive, healthy, happy, creative, relaxed people.

• Green roofs expand the usefulness of buildings via patios, gardens and vistas.

See some more benefits here…

Last but certainly not least, lets talk about the ecological benefits of green roofs. According to Zinc GreenRoof:

The Ecological Benefits of a Green Roof

Provides Rainwater Management

Depending on the green roof design, the immediate water run-off can be reduced by 50–90 %, greatly reducing drainage flow rates. This enables the rainwater management system to be reduced in capacity, thereby greatly reducing construction costs.

Improves the Microclimate

Green roofs cool and humidify the surrounding air. Thus they create a beneficial microclimate within their immediate area and contribute to improving the microclimate in urban centres. Coordinated urban green roof development can significantly reduce the so-called “Heat Island” effect.

Binds Dust and Toxic Particles

Green roof vegetation helps to filter out dust and smog particles. Nitrates and other harmful materials are absorbed by the plants out of the air and rainfall and bound within the substrate.

For more ecological tips go here…

Green roofs are becoming more and more popular for a reason….they have tons of benefits! If you need help choosing the best roof for your house, give us a call today and speak with a qualified roofer.

 

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DIY ASPHALT SHINGLES

Sometimes repairing or replacing your roof can be too costly. In this article we’re going to give you some asphalt shingle installation tips, so you can do it yourself.

First, you need to consider felt paper and drip edges:

Felt Paper and Drip Edges

Do you need to use felt paper? On new roofs the answer is yes. Re-roof jobs do not require it. I prefer to apply the felt as I go if at all possible. If you do the entire roof and the felt gets wet or dew covered, it will wrinkle. These wrinkles can telegraph through thin standard 3 tab shingles! Not only that, if the weather is hot and you walk up a felt covered roof, the felt can and will tear. You will be on the ground before you know what happened. If you apply felt as you go, you can just use a minimum amount of nails. Within minutes hundreds of nails from the shingles will pierce it.

Drip edges are corrosion resistant metal strips that protect the exposed ends of the roof deck at the bottom and sides of the roof. Drip edges go on the bottom of the roof before felt paper is applied. However, they are applied on top of the felt on the side edges of the roof. If you install a roof membrane, it must be installed before any of the drip edge. The membrane actually should lap over onto the gutter board!

Get more installation tips here…

Some good points to consider for sure.  In order to keep costs down, you also need to make sure you get the right number of shingles for the job as Wikihow suggests:

Install Asphalt Shingles

Get the right number of shingles for the job. It generally takes three bundles of shingles to cover 100 square feet (9.29 square meters). Asphalt shingle “bundles” are actually sealed in packages (the term bundle comes from wooden shingles which actually came tied up with wire in bundles). Measure your roof and buy appropriately.

Measure the length and width of the individual sections of the roof, multiplying them together to determine the area. Add the areas of each section together, then divide by 100 to get the correct number of squares. Multiply this number by 3 to get the number of bundles you’ll need to buy.

Get some more great tips here…

Now ofcourse before you put in new shingles, you’ll probably need to take the old one’s out.  Hammerzone tells you how to do just that:

Do-It-Yourself Roof Replacement:

This tool is a shingle scraper. It is basically a flat-blade shovel with some big teeth. There is a triangular “heel” welded to the bottom, which acts like a ramp to pivot the scraper against and lift the shingles from the roof.

The scraper is simply pushed under the shingles and lifted. This tool does a decent job of prying up the roofing nails as well.

Get the rest of the tutorial here…

Well there you have it.  If you don’t have the money or just want to get your hands dirty, now you can!  If the task seems too daunting though, give us a call and we’ll make sure the job gets done right.

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Should You Get a Flat Roof For Your Home?

These days there is a lot of advances and technology when it comes to roofing your home. They are much more durable and resilient than in years past, and that is good news since a roof is a main part of your home’s looks and structure. A well designed and installed roof should last your home for years.

When it comes to choosing a style of roof for your new construction or a renovation, there are many styles to consider. The
gable roofis triangular or the mansard which is common in French designed homes or the basic shed style where rain and snow run off the slope easily. There are some homes that combine two or more styles, giving them a unique design and look.

There are almost as many different types of material as there are styles too. They not only add a visual appeal to the home, but make it even more sturdy. From concrete to slate tile or a metal roof, each has it’s own signature to top off your home.

There are some areas that are starting to use flat roofs which appear to be completely horizontal but actually have a slight slope, which is needed so that rain, snow, and water can run off. Flat roofs really aren’t a new thing. They use to be made of gravel and tar but they were known to leak or have standing water that would go stagnant.

In the winter months, the was a bigger problem for homeowner’s because you would have to get up on top of them and make sure no snow or water was pooled up in one place. If that wasn’t checked regularly, it could pool up and then damage was soon to follow.

Today though, flat roofs are made from a variety of materials such as polymers and synthetic rubber combination. They are good for residential buildings as opposed to larger commercial buildings because the stability is better on smaller buildings. They are also sensitive to a lot of activity which causes them to crack easily.

Flat roofs take less time to install and are less expensive than the more traditional roofs. They also are easier to clean, maintain and they last longer because they handle the fluctuation in weather better. A flat roof also gives you the option to create a terrace garden, which can increase your home’s value.

If you are considering a flat roof installation for your home, consult with a licensed, qualified contractor that can give you the most informed and up-to-date information on them. Keeping your home protected as well as beautiful may start at the ground, but it finishes on top.  If you need help deciding whether or not a flat roof is right for your home, give our contractors a call.

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WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A ROOFING CONTRACTOR

Your roof is one of the most, if not the most, vital component of your house. It keeps all of the elements from raining down upon you each and every day. Not to mention if you have to fix or replace your roof, it can be quite costly.

That’s why it’s so important to choose the right roofing contractor the first time. There are a few things you need to keep in mind before you hire someone. The guys over at North American Roofing have hightlighted a couple tips to keep in mind when you’re searching, such as picking the right materials:

Someone With an Understanding of the Roofing Material
The materials used to construct your building’s roof may require a certain type of contractor that is qualified to make repairs or perform regular maintenance. If you don’t know what the roof is made out of or how it should be cared for, you may not be able to locate the right contractor for the job. Try contacting the manufacturer of your roof for suggestions of locally qualified candidates to choose from. The manufacturer may even be able to tell you statistics on the contractors you may be looking into, such as the results of their inspections or how many roofs they have installed.

See the rest of their tips here…

The right materials are essential if you want to have a quality roof.  A couple other things that are important are local referrals and getting an extensive warranty as GAF noted in their article:

1. Get local referrals. There is less chance of potential issues or scams when you choose a contractor from your community. They are more familiar with local rules and code regulations and have a relationship with area crews and suppliers.

4. Get an extensive warranty. Not all contractors can offer manufacturer warranties that include coverage of the contractor’s workmanship. If a contractor installs the roof incorrectly, it may take months or years for the damage to show up—and insurance won’t pay for it. If the contractor won’t fix it (or worse, has gone out of business), your only recourse is to pay for their mistake yourself. A Master Elite® Contractor can offer one of the longest workmanship warranties on the market—the Golden Pledge® Warranty.

Check out 8 more tips here…

Some great suggestions right there.  Referrals and warranties are key, but nothing beats asking former customers.  They’ve been where you’re going and can tell you what the experience was like.  As Interwrap suggests, ask for references:

Ask for references of previous customers. A roofing contractor who is reputable will gladly provide you feedback from previous local residential properties.   For an unbiased opinion, you can do your own research by searching online articles or reviews posted through online articles and forums. Check with a primary roof manufacturer who they associate with and their local distributor for references. Minimally they should be recognized as a repeat user of a brand & in good standing. Some roofing manufacturers have a listing of ranked recognized roofers on their web sites.

See 9 other tips here…

Old customers are always great for knowing what contractor to go with. If you keep these tips in mind before hiring a contractor, you’ll be good to go.

We take great pride in our work, so give our roofing contractors a call if you need to repair or replace your roof, and we’ll make sure it’s as good as new!

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Quick Roof Repair And Maintenance Tips

Things are looking up for homeowners who want to stay on top of roof repairs.

Following a few expert tips for ongoing roof maintenance and repair can help you prevent mold intrusion due to water leakage and avoid extensive roof repairs.

Experts recommend starting your roof check with a visual inspection. Most minor problems can be detected before they get to be major ones. Inspect for cracks, splits, and tears, any you see can result in a leak.

Inspect all roof penetrations including skylights, chimneys and roof vents to see if the cement around them still adheres. Any separation can allow water to get through.

Look for shingles that are not adequately adhered or loose, apply a quarter-size amount of roof cement with a brush under every shingle tab that is lifting and secures each in place.

To repair flashing leaks, use plastic roof cement between the adjoining materials and secure in place. This roof repair cement can be implemented if the roof is wet or even if it is raining.

When it is safe to reach the damaged area, purchase and keep a canister of roof repair cement on hand and make minor roof repairs immediately. High-quality roof repair cement is inexpensive, easy to use and ideal to use for most minor roof damage.

Henry 209 Elastomeric ® Roof Patch Cement is a better choice when making general roof repairs in dry or sunny weather. For repairs to downspouts and gutters, be sure that both are kept free of debris.

Read the full article here: http://txroofcompany.com/quick-roof-repair-and-maintenance-tips/