How to Add Value on Your Next Roofing Project
The adoption of ANSI/ASHRAE 189.1 standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings to the International Building Code in 2007 provided, for the first time, the required insulation LTTR-Values for all low-slope commercial roof systems. The LTTR values are based on the thickness of the insulation and are defined in the standard based on the geographic region of the building. Through this standard, the thickness of insulation required in the roof system has increased.
Emissivity keeps heat from leaving the building by subverting its exit as it rises to the roof level. In roof systems, this is achieved through a combination of insulation and the membrane material. The LEED emissivity rating for a roofing membrane is a minimum of .90 based on ASTM E408.
Energy efficiency also can be gained through proper reflectivity of the surfacing of the membrane material. In contrast to emissivity, which keeps heat from leaving the building, reflectivity keeps outside heat (from the sun) from entering the building. Reflective roof surfaces can be achieved through light-colored membranes or installation of coatings or other reflective surfacing materials. Reflective surfaced roofs can reduce surface temperature by as much as 30 percent and can extend the service life of some membrane systems by reducing expansion and contraction. Studies have indicated that reflective surfaces will cool the building in the summer, thereby decreasing the use of air conditioning, which decreases cooling costs and energy capacity.
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Get Your Roof Repaired With These Ideas
Roofs represent perhaps the most vital component of any structure, residential homes included. In order to truly understand what proper roof repair and maintenance entail, a substantial amount of knowledge is required. Continue reading to gain additional, and highly valuable information about this topic of great importance to homeowners everywhere.
If you are seeking out a leak on your roof, use a hose to find where the problem is. If you aren't having any luck, reverse the direction of the water. If you're pouring it down the roof, try spraying it up the roof. Continue to move the water around until the leak is found.
Avoid paying a roofer in full before they do their job. You want to make sure the roofer does good work on your roof before you pay them everything they are owed. Some roofers may require a down payment to begin the work, though, which is usually about 25% of the final cost.
Never try to repair a roof in the rain or snow. Climbing onto a roof when the weather is poor could result in injury or even death. Instead, do your best to contain the leak from inside your home with tarps and buckets, and wait until the weather improves before climbing on to the roof.
When looking for a roofing contractor to hire, the Better Business Bureau can be an invaluable resource. What you want to look for are contractors that maintain an "A+" rating. The Better Business Bureau can be searched online, or you can contact a local office. You'll also be able to see any complaints filed, and how the contractor resolved those complaints.
Make sure that you hire a roofing contractor who has a locatable, permanent business residence. If you hire a roofing contractor who does not have a permanent place of business, you risk being scammed. Furthermore, if the roofing contractor you hire does a good job, it can be helpful to have said contractor's permanent contact details on hand in case you have any more problems with your roof in the future.
Only ever hire a roofer who has a license and is fully insured for the job. If anything happens while they are working, be it a worker who falls off the roof and is injured or a worker who falls through your roof and destroys your valuables, you'll be pleased you held out for the right company!
The style and age of your home can influence the type and color of roofing material that will look best on your home. If you own a Victorian style home, roofing material that imitates wood shingles are a good choice. Many home builders are using various styles of metal roofing on their model homes.
If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Calling around for different quotes for your roofing job is important to ensure you get the best price. However, if a contractor is offering their services way below the average, ask yourself why. It could very well be a good deal, but it could be a scam as well.
When hiring a roofing contractor, be extra cautious of those who won't give you an estimate on paper before the work is started. A reputable contractor should have no problem supplying you with an estimate that details the costs involved and the work to be performed. You should look elsewhere if a contractor won't agree to supply that information.
It's not easy to choose between Commercial Roofing roofing contractors, but asking for a list of references can be a huge help. Any company which refuses to provide such a list is not one which you want to hire. Don't just ask for the list, though, be sure to call a few people on it to double check their experiences.
As was mentioned earlier, many homeowners don't know how to properly maintain their roof. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the steps you need to take to prolong the life of your roof and prevent any unfortunate incidents from occurring. Be sure and use the information you have just learned.