webmaster asked:


Looking after the roof of our house is the first and possibly most important step to caring for the long-term life of any house. The most important reason for regular roof maintenance is to protect the owner’s investment. Because if roofs left unchecked then the cracks in roofs can lead to damage in the roof and throughout the building, with the most serious and costly scenario being a total replacement of the roof and ceiling.

A properly executed maintenance program will add years to the life of the roof by detecting minor problems before they become major, as well as providing better protection for, and avoiding interruption of, the internal functions of the building. A roof is exposed to all manner of chemical and physical stress. The long term effects of these forces are called “Normal Aging”. In reality, small isolated problems caused through abuse, stress concentration, inadequate ventilation, error, or other factors result in a shortened lifespan of the roofing system. Minor roof maintenance work is a task which:

? can be completed in a matter of minutes, not hours;

? is infrequent;

? only needs one or two people;

? does not involve difficult work (eg heavy or awkward loads); and

? only involves a small area.

Small problems or defects, if not detected and repaired, inevitably become major problems affecting the performance of the whole roof system. Roofs represent approximately 5 to 7% of capital building costs - but roofs cover 100% of the building and its contents.

So what gives when the roof—the spine—is leaking? And when it rains, can this faulty “backbone” still be considered a reliable shield of the home’s “vital organs”?

Roof leaks are obviously a big problem in any house but knowing the correlation between melting snow and roof leaks can help you to prevent one of the major problems that many houses face. When snow melts and runs down the roof it often refreezes as it reaches the edge of the roof and the gutter. You’ve probably stood back in awe looking at these ice dams that form, but these can cause havoc with the integrity of your roof. However, they are relatively easy to prevent and doing so will undoubtedly save you money and heartache in the future.

High winds can cause leakage around flashings and valleys. Few roofs are designed for such acts of nature. You should also be wary of solar panels, air conditioners and antenna tie-down bolts. Bolts through roofs are bad news! Chimney shrouds/hoods can also be a source of leakage.

Unfortunately, poor construction is becoming more of a problem. Leaks on seven-year-old shake and tile roofs can originate during construction but not become a problem until the roof gets older and looser. As a roof ages, water can go places it could never reach before.

Making sure that a leaking roof is prevented or fixed should be a top priority for all contractors and homeowners. A leaking roof can evolve into a disaster which can quickly ruin your home if not handled properly, so you must take every step to combat or prevent the problem. Gardner-Gibson offers roof coating and repair products that can effectively protect almost any type of roof under any circumstance.

Roof leaks can arise not only in old houses, but also in new ones. Very often leaks appear in those areas where roof materials and roofing products connect to walls or some other parts of building that are not part of the roof. Metal flashings can prevent this problem. Different metal flashings are available on the market today. They are made from copper, tin, galvanized steel, lead, rubber and aluminium.

Do’s and Don’ts of Roof Maintenance

Do’s:

? Be aware that wise maintenance will prolong the life of any roof — even the best of them.

? Perform inspections at least twice a year, preferably at the end of winter and right after summer, when roofs have passed through the periods of severest stress.

? Conduct additional inspections immediately after unusual occurrences such as extremely heavy rains, high winds, hail, nearby fires, explosions, etc.

? Check the building exterior for settlement or movement. Cracks in the wall are a warning of possible cracks in the roofing and flashing. Are overhangs, cornices, facias and edging in good condition? Are gutters and downspouts satisfactory? Breaks in roof edge elements can cause leaks and also let wind get under the roofing membrane and cause blow-offs. Damaged or clogged gutters, roof drains, and downspouts can cause water back up on the roof.

? Be certain that equipment servicemen going on the roof are warned against penetrating or dropping tools on the roof. They should be accompanied by your trained maintenance man to ensure no damage to the roof assembly occurs.

? Assure that your roof is kept clean and free from debris.

? Recognize that exposure of roof felts (bare spots) on a gravel surfaced roof can lead to quick deterioration. This requires immediate attention by qualified personnel.

? Be advised that flashings, gum pans, gravel stops and all other roof penetrations are the source of most leaks. Pay extreme and careful attention to these items.

Don’ts:

? Allow unqualified personnel to maintain your roofs.

? Allow traffic on your roof unless accompanied by your informed maintenance man.

? Allow equipment servicemen to penetrate your roof without being certain that qualified personnel flash the penetrations.

There are a variety of materials for roof coatings that you can choose from if you have faced roof leaks problem; here are just a few examples of the different types of materials that are available to you; elastomeric coatings; epdm, liquid roof, liquid rubber, liquid epdm etc. primers, caulks, seam products.

Resources:

Roof Coatings

Roof Leaks



Direct Vent Gas Fireplace

Webmaster liquidroof asked:


Liquid roof is the solution to all the problems in other form of roofs. It don’t leaks as it is water resistant, it is not affected by weather conditions humidity, rain or extreme hot weather. If you have a liquid roof coating on your normal roof it is also a very effective solution. If in case, some damage occurs to the liquid roof then it’s easy to repair as it’s economical to repair as compare to others forms of roof.

EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene diene M-class rubber), a type of synthetic rubber, is an elastomer which is characterized by wide range of applications.The E refers to Ethylene, P to Propylene, D to diene and M refers to its classification in ASTM standard D-1418. The “M” class includes rubbers having a saturated chain of the polymethylene type.

EPDM rubber is used in vibrators and seals; glass-run channel; radiator, garden and appliance hose; tubing; washers; belts; electrical insulation, and speaker cone surrounds. It is also used as a medium for water resistance in high-voltage polymeric cable jointing installations, roofing membrane, geomembranes, rubber mechanical goods, plastic impact modification, thermoplastic, vulcanizates, as a motor oil additive, pond liner, electrical cable-jointing, RV roofs, and chainmail applications.

EPDM exhibits satisfactory compatibility with fireproof hydraulic fluids, ketones, hot and cold water, and alkalis, and unsatisfactory compatibility with most oils, gasoline, kerosene, aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, halogenated solvents, and concentrated acids.

The main properties of EPDM are its outstanding heat, ozone and weather resistance. The resistance to polar substances and steam are also good. It has excellent electrical properties. It has the ability to retain light colour.

Hurricane damage to all types of roofs is often quite extensive and an unusual thing you may face. As a result, building codes and wind design guidelines are changing. New solutions to wind uplift problems are being introduced that allow building owners and specifiers to design and build highly durable, standard-compliant and, most importantly, cost-effective roofs, regardless of building location. Roof is as the most important investment of your building, so roofing problems need to be solved within no time delays.

Roof coating is available in an extensive range of materials and colours, each suited to a different style of roofing. Some kinds of roof coatings include liquid roof, liquid rubber, elastomeric coatings, acrylic coatings, primers, Eternabond web seal. Whilst some are elastomeric roof coatings, others are acrylic resin based. The adhesiveness to your roof can change according to the material your roof is made of. For example, bituminous roof coatings will be more adhesive to wood, while metal roof coatings can be made of either bituminous or elastomeric roof deck coatings. Depending on the climate you live in and the requirements of your roof and building (residential and/or commercial) which roof coating will best suit your roof.

As far as application of liquid roof is concerned, it offers compatibility to a large number of surfaces such as metal, concrete, fibreglass, fabric, foam, rubber. It may be applied on roof decks, metal roofs, gutters, structural steel, air conditioner enclosures, cooling towers, galvanized steel, unit heater flues, smoke stacks and chimneys, fibreglass, non porous masonry surfaces, pool liners, underground room waterproofing, and channels. It is also excellent for wood, canvas, cement, or metal roof repair over large surface areas. One most important advantage of using liquid roof is that it does not require a top coat, primer or additional applications like many other roofing products.

There are some tips which must be kept in mind before applying liquid rubber on your roof. Be aware that it is a 3 to 6 hrs process, excluding the surface preparation time. Once the liquid EPDM Rubber is applied, it takes around 16 to 20 hours to dry up. Therefore proper management of time is necessary. Careful planning regarding weather conditions should be done as well, i.e. one should plan to work on days when the rain is not expected because although Liquid Roof will immediately waterproof, even when wet, avoid heavy rain until it is completely dry to the touch which means 16 - 20 hours after application. To be on the safe side, one can say that a full cure will be achieved in 4 - 10 days after application, in consistent 70 deg F.

Liquid roof ideally can be used for many types of roof repair. One of the most important Liquid Roof Repair applications is RV Roof Repair. Liquid roof sticks to the entire types of facades- canvas, plywood, suds, cement, mass rubber, customized roofing, additional roof coverings, strengthen, timber, top tiles, genuine tiles, solid, and many more. It is the most cost effective and efficient product for solving RV Roof Leaks Repair problem as it does not chalk, shrink, crack, peak and flake.



Wood Fireplace Inserts

MOM asked:


I had a company come out and quote me 2000.00 for about 1200sq ft. so i figured i’d rather do it myself. The roofing is about 25yrs old, not too mossy but there is some water damage.

Outdoor Bamboo Fountain

Kris Koonar asked:


When considering roof designs, people usually have the shape and style of the roof in mind as prime factors on which to base their selection. They want to make sure if it fits in with the general structure of their home and neighborhood. Although shape and style are important, there are a number of other factors that are of equal or greater importance and deserve due consideration in selecting a roof design.

Complex roof designs do add to the aesthetic appeal of a house but at the same time have high initial construction costs and are difficult to maintain incurring high maintenance costs over the roof’s life.

Simple roofing designs that have few intersecting surfaces are much easier to install and fit in perfectly with simple house designs. Inexpensive to build, they require the minimum maintenance and related costs. In simple roof designs it is also easy to install and maintain gutters; there are fewer clog points, valleys and other places requiring frequent cleaning etc that can result in a leaking roof. Roofs incorporating simple designs are practical and functional. If a house has attractive landscaping and is kept neat and tidy, a simple roof design can provide a strong street appeal.

However, while going for a simply designed roof the selection should not extend to a flat roof. There are a number of reasons why this can prove to be an unwise selection. Even if they involve low costs for construction, flat roofs may prove to be more costly in the long run. While water runs off slanted roofs, flat roofs afford a place where water can collect creating greater susceptibility to roof damage. The roof is also more likely to sag when even more water can collect, greatly lessening the strength and life of the roof. All this can increase the maintenance bill quite a bit.

Security is another concern. Steeply inclined roofs offer very little incentive to thieves and burglars to get into the upper portions of the house. A flat roof on the other hand makes breaking into the house much easier. Flat roofs also do not shear the air as angled roofs do and therefore are prone to wind damage. They are often torn and easily blown away.

While selecting a roof design the relevant building codes and any neighborhood covenants also need to be kept in mind along with other factors like climate, costs etc. including your own preference. Since the roof is an integral part of your home’s design it needs to complement the overall appearance of the house also and cannot be treated simply as a weather covering on the top of the house.

The more common shapes for consideration in roof designs can be pyramid, cross gabled, front/side gabled, gambrel, bonnet, mansard, flat, salt box etc. Each shape can comprise a number of variations in features while maintaining overall shape. For example it can have a steep pitch or one that is quite shallow. There may be special features to be considered like a cupola, a turret or the like depending on the architecture of your home that may demand variation(s) in the design selected.

The material to be used in the construction of the roof is also very important. A selection made from traditional material like wood shake, asphalt shingle can be less expensive but also less durable, as against man made materials like metal, tile etc.

While selecting a roof design for your home that is suitable to your liking, you must also make sure that the roof complements the appearance of your home and also offers adequate resistance to the vagaries of weather.



Wholesale Scented Jar Candles

just me DGD asked:


Anyone familiar with replacing the roofing on mobile homes? What are the industry standards for, materials used, and replacement techniques?

What type of questions should I be asking the contractor when they come to price the job? and what are the answers to the questions so I know the contractor knows what he is doing?

I live in Connecticut so I need something that will stand up to heat and cold. what products are used?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Auto Touch Up Paint

Baila asked:


EPDM used for a getting great strength for roofing.But How they are weatherseals and provide a water prof shelter?

Metal Kitchen Cabinets

Mark A asked:


We will be building a new home near Bellingham, WA and are considering using Euroslate rubber roofing. It is supposed to be very durable, with a 50 year warranty and energy efficient. Has anyone ever used this product or had any experiences good or bad? Any comments would be appreciated!
thanks

Enviro Pellet Stoves

Ryan12 asked:


How to file for a Commercial Roofing License in the state Kentucky..?
I would like to know pricing, qualifying requirements, phone numbers, addresses, websites, etc.

Water Vending Machines

Kris Koonar asked:


A metal roofing system is a sound investment and adds beauty and value to a home. Lasting for long, they are usually backed with an equally long warranty. They are cost effective as they can be installed over old roofing and save on tear off costs incurred while replacing the existing roof with some other type of roofing. They provide a protective fixture that does not split, gather mold or warp unlike asphalt shingles or other type of roofing. They are highly durable and are able to withstand extreme weather conditions like heavy snow, hurricane force winds, wind driven rains, hail and extreme heat as well. Metal roofing systems are usually made of iron, steel, copper or aluminum. The durability makes it an ideal roofing material, with the highest viability in the commercial sector. Manufacturers of metal roofing reap huge profits, as the demand is high for these products.

Metal roofs come in a variety of qualities. The shape, sizes, and colors are endless. Their attributes are impressive. They are long lasting and durable requiring little or no maintenance. Adding style and appeal to the house they also offer extra protection through their fire resistant properties. Metal roofs are also energy efficient and have been known to reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

Metal roofing systems are available in sheets, panels and shingles. Sheet iron roofs are more common in the Asian and African regions. In the semi-detached houses in rural areas, these products provide a durable and cost effective roofing alternative for village people. The durability and quality of Iron roofs is enhanced by galvanizing, which greatly increases its resistance to rust.

Aluminum roofs are preferred in Europe and America. Much more expensive as compared to iron roofs, they are lighter in weight and are available in numerous appealing colors and designs. They retain their aesthetic appeal for a very long time. In addition, due their lightweight construction they exert very little strain on the roof structure. Their inherent rust resistance is also a big advantage. Available in countless shades of blue, red, green, gray etc. these roofing products complement the decor and architectural style of any home. Modern technology has imparted reflective and heat resistant qualities to aluminum roofing products.

Stainless steel is one of the costliest, but most durable roofing materials with claims of lasting for over half a century or even more. Excellent qualities of rust resistance and thermal reflectivity make it long lasting and energy efficient. Many types of stainless steel roofing are coated with special alloys of zinc and tin which enhance the properties of strength, durability, energy efficiency and high corrosion resistance even when exposed to extreme harsh and saline weather conditions.

Copper roofing is another good metal roofing option generally used in high-end posh residential buildings and is not very common. However, it suffers from fixing limitations, which prove to be a big disadvantage. Fasteners used in copper roofing can only be of copper, stainless steel or brass. This is what has made copper roofing less popular.

Being biodegradable and recyclable, metal roofing systems are highly eco friendly. Installation is relatively easy as sheet metal roofing can be well soldered/fixed with fasteners, whereas factory made metal roofing panels and shingles have easy four way interlocking arrangements for quick and secure installation.



Coffee Vending Machines

Baila asked:


How liquid rubber improves the flexibility of roofing structure? and how much they can assure it?

Bamboo Flooring Installation