Month: January 2016

Investing in a new roof offers many benefits to your building and its occupants. It provides increased protection against environmental factors, reduces energy costs, and maximizes the lifespan of your building.

In order to maximize the return on your investment, you need to make sure that you use the proper materials and installation methods. But you can still stay within your budget using these four ways to save money when investing in a new roof.

1. Do Your Research

Researching all of your options is the first step in saving money when investing in a new roof. You can search online and gather all of the information you’ll need.

Finding the right commercial roofing company for your building is essential to getting the best results and maximizing the return on your investment. You need a skilled team of roofing experts who can provide all the resources you need to get the most value for your budget.

2. Get Multiple Estimates

When you find someone to provide an estimate for your new roof, don’t stop there. It’s a good idea to get multiple quotes from different service professionals.

This doesn’t mean you should base your decision on price, but it does give you an idea of the value you’re being offered for the money you’ll spend. Be sure to let each roofing company know that you are getting multiple bids.

3. Save During the Off-Season

When the weather’s nice, roofing companies tend to have the most work. Other times of the year can be leveraged by you when you realize that roofing companies have more time and are willing to offer you a better rate.

Lower bids are common during slow times of the year and many manufacturers offer price reductions on materials.

4. Choose the Right Roofing Company

The money you can save when investing in a new roof goes beyond the up-front costs. A high-quality roofing system can save you money over time. When properly installed and maintained, your roofing costs will be lower than those required to repair or reinstall an improperly applied roofing system.

Choosing a roofing professional service with industry expertise and a strong reputation ensures that you make the most out of your investment. They’ll recommend a regular maintenance program and inspect your roof on a regular basis to extend its lifespan, maintain your warranty and prevent costly issues down the line.

These are four great ways to save money when investing in a new commercial roof. Doing your research ensures that you choose the best service professionals at the right price for your budget.

The end of winter can be a relief for property owners and managers. Longer daylight hours, warmer weather, and less snow are welcomed by those who no longer have to worry about the condition of their buildings.

But the end of winter and the upcoming spring thaw can bring its own share of problems to your roofing system. As the winter snow begins to thaw, damage to your flat roof membrane and flashings can cause significant and costly damage.

That’s why your roof needs an inspection before the spring thaw.

Winter Effects

The winter season puts your roofing system at risk of a variety of issues. These result from the heavy wind, ice, water, and damage to materials that occur throughout the season.

Heavy snow and ice can cause elements of your roofing system to be displaced and disrupted. This affects their ability to prevent issues such as leaking, rotting, and mould growth.

Energy Efficiency

Commercial roof systems contribute to the energy efficiency of your building. This helps reduce the costs associated with controlling the temperature as well as conserves the use of natural resources.

Buildings that utilize well insulated and efficient roofing systems, for example, benefit in both the warm summer months as well as in the cold winter season. This reduces your energy costs all year round if you properly maintain it over time.

Inspecting your roofing system before the spring that will ensure that you optimize its energy efficiency and cost-saving benefits.

Flashings and Joints

Flashings and joints work to seal the most vulnerable parts of your roofing system such as chimneys and skylights. When ice expands, flashings become displaced and joints are damaged. Gaskets can become dry and weak during the winter, causing them to crack.

Be sure to have your flashings checked for any damage and assess the state of all roofing system gaskets and seals.

Other aspects of your property that can be affected after the winter season include:

• Roofing membranes
• Caulking
• Insulation

Knowing why your roof needs an inspection before the spring that helps you plan ahead and prevent costly issues. Winter affects all aspects of your roofing system including seams, joints and flashings. By implementing a regular maintenance and inspection program, you’ll make it through the winter months without any issues while ensuring that your property is protected for years to come and that you maintain your warranty.

A roof inspection is one of the most important things you can do to maintain the integrity and lifespan of your commercial roof. Inspections provide numerous benefits and can lower your maintenance and repair costs over time.

A professional roof inspection helps you identify any red flags that indicate the risk of more serious and costly issues in the future. Knowing what roof professionals look for during an inspection ensures that you take care of one of the most valuable parts of your commercial property.

Deck and Wall Inspection

A roof inspection includes the assessment of your commercial deck and walls. A trained inspector will look for any signs of damage, aging, or wear, which can be documented and shared with the property management and owners.

Some of the major issues that occur with roof decks and walls include poor flashing and the intrusion of water. When water penetrates the ledgers of the deck, the underlying materials can become corroded and rotted. This increases the risk of further damage.

Metal Flashings

Metal flashings are also assessed during a professional roof inspection. Metal roofing systems must be fastened appropriately to prevent issues such as leakage and corrosion.

Flashings, perimeters, and seams are areas where these issues typically occur. The materials can contract and expand over time, which can cause the sealant to lose its integrity.

High winds can cause parts to become loose and further compromise the strength of your roofing system.

Expansion Joints

Expansion joints must also be inspected to ensure proper function and extended performance of your commercial roofing system.

Expansion joints are essential to protecting your building and its roof. When expansion joints aren’t terminated properly, they can become damaged. A proper inspection will allow you to evaluate the rubber bellows and identify any openings or inappropriate materials that may have been used by a previous roofing service company.

Roof Dividers

Roofing dividers allow you to minimize the movement that can occur due to changes in temperature. By dividing the roof into separate parts, you reduce the amount of movement and ensure that it remains within a safe limit.

Inspecting your roof dividers is another way to prevent unwanted and costly roofing issues. By reducing the movement that occurs within your roofing system, you protect your building all year long during extreme changes in temperature.

The following are some other aspects of your roofing system that can be evaluated during your next inspection:

• Metal, cap, and counter flashings
• Ballast placement
• Drains
• HVAC equipment
• Conduit and pipe flashings
• Ballast displacement

When Do You Need an Inspection?

How often you get your roof inspected depends on a number of factors, but a regularly scheduled roof inspection will prevent costly damage over time. Also, there are some key signs that will indicate the need for a professional roof inspection. If you’ve experienced roofing leaks in previous years, then you should consider getting your roof assessed.

If you don’t have a maintenance program in place, then a roofing inspection will ensure that no issues are being ignored. Rising energy costs can also be an indication that there may be some roofing or insulation problems that need to be addressed by a professional.

A full inspection of your roof will determine if there are any maintenance or repairs that need to be performed to the exterior and interior aspects of your roofing system.

A professional inspection saves you money over time and maximizes the life and performance of your commercial roof. For more information, contact Empire Roofing today.

Flashings are an integral and vital component of your roofing system. They protect the joints of your roof and provide a seal against water. These joints protected by flashings are vulnerable to a wide range of threats including high winds, extreme temperatures, and damage from aging.

The winter poses a unique threat to your commercial roofing system, and flashings must be properly maintained to ensure that you have no damage during the winter months. Melting and refreezing water during the winter places undue stress on flashings, and high winds can cause further damage over time.

The following are the four biggest problems your flashings could face this winter.

1. Heavy Winds

Winter storms bring heavy winds that can quickly lead to costly damage to your roofing system. Any penetrations in the roof are vulnerable to high winds and can lead to loosening of flashings.

Winds can cause debris to be blown onto your roof. With enough force, this creates tears in the materials, increasing the risk of leaks and further damage.

2. Heavy Snow

The weight of heavy snow also causes damage to your roof and flashings. Flashings can be pulled away or loosened as a result of the drift of heavy snow.

When the snow melts, water becomes trapped and lead to the formation of ice dams. This forces water underneath the roofing system and through its flashings, causing damage to the interior of the roof.

3. Improper Sealing

If the materials of your rooftop have been improperly sealed, the winter winds can cause significant damage. The materials used when installing a roofing system are critical to its performance during the winter season.

Sealants and mastics must work in cold temperatures. Using cold-weather caulks prevents unwanted damage during the winter season. If the materials used during installation aren’t appropriate for cold temperatures, it could lead to costly damage during and after winter.

4. Aging Materials

Roofing materials can wear down with time. If your roof’s flashings are old, they may not work well with newer materials. If any corrosion, cracking, or thinning occurs, you must make sure that it is replaced when re-roofing your building.

Flashings can be replaced when applying a tear-off roof replacement. They can also be installed over previous flashings when performing a roof-over installation. In any case, you should have your flashings inspected for issues related to aging in order to prevent further damage.

These four problems could impact your flashings during the winter season. Heavy winds and snow create undue stress on the roofing materials and causes tearing and leaks to occur.

The quality of the sealing performed during installation will also impact how well your roof withstands cold temperatures, heavy winds, and moisture. Knowing what to look for helps you determine the best flashing solution for your needs. You’ll protect your building’s roofing system and reduce the costs related to maintenance and repair.

Contact the Empire Roofing team today to see how we can help you build, maintain, and prevent problems with your roof.