Roof Coatings & Energy Efficiency

Roof Coatings & Energy Efficiency

 

In recent years, more and more building owners are installing roof coating systems on their buildings as a way to lower energy bills and improving roof performance.  With energy and utility cost rising in North Carolina and South Carolina, as well as across the nation, businesses and homeowners alike are trying to find ways to lower utility bills.  Many roof coating systems have Energy Star ratings, and can lower utility cost by up to 20% for many of our clients.  What we want to talk about in this blog post is the many advantages of using roof coating systems, and how much they cost in relation to traditional roofing products.

First, lets talk about some of the advantages a roof coating system can offer to a building owner.  As we have already stated, roof coatings have a lot of products with Energy Star ratings, making them energy efficient roofing systems.  Another reason why many building owners are using roof coating systems is because of the easy maintenance and repair roof coating systems offer.  The ease of maintenance and repair using this product, also is another reason why this product is so versatile.  This versatility that Roof Coating systems provide also allows it to be installed and applied in many different situations, making it a more affordable for building owners to replace their roofing system.  Roof coatings are also easier to install then other commercial roofing systems, making it a popular choice among building owners. 

With all the advantages that roof coating systems have, it would lead one to believe that this is an expensive roofing product.  However, roof coating systems remain fairly low in price compared to other traditional roofing systems.  As with most other roofing products, roof coating systems are priced by the square foot, making it easy for customers to see exactly how much product will be needed to complete their project.  Prices for roof coating systems vary from project to project, with the main pricing factor being the size of the roof.  Also, removing an existing roofing system to replace with a roof coating system, may also raise the price of installation, as trash and waste cost are figured by weight.  Overall, a roof coating system is a very high performance roofing system, at a very affordable price.

In conclusion, here are some of the major advantages a roof coating system can offer building owners and homeowners in North & South Carolina:

• Energy Efficiency - Lower Building Utility Cost


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  Low Maintenance & Easy to Repair - Reduce repair cost from storm damage.
  
  


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  Versatility - Can be installed on most flat roofing surfaces.
  
  


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  Easier to Install and Replace
  
  


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  Affordably priced roofing product for commercial building owners.
  
  


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  Energy Star Rated Colors
  
  

As seen in our blog post, roof coating systems provide many advantages over a traditional roofing system, and also another way building owners in North & South Carolina can lower energy consumption and help save the environment.  We hope this information is helpful, and if your a North or South Carolina building owner looking for a new commercial roofing system, then contact us at the information below.

Myrtle Beach Services & Construction Company


Myrtle Beach, SC 29577


706-951-0158


http://www.scroofingcontractors.com





Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

Myrtle Beach Services & Construction | Energy Saving Experts
Myrtle Beach SC
http://www.scroofingcontractors.com
Spray Foam Insulation, Wall Foam Insulation, Crawl Space Encapsulation, Solar Energy, Energy Monitoring Systems, Metal Roofing

Severe Weather Awareness

We think spring has been beautiful this year. The trees and tulips are blooming with full, fragrant blossoms, the bees are buzzing, the grass needs mowing (again) and the record breaking warm days are quite refreshing coming out of winter.

These warm days also bring spring storms which will produce high winds and large hail. Keeping up with the weather in the Midwest can be quite challenging, since sometimes you hear thunder and see lighting and still be standing in complete sunshine. But there are several ways to keep updated on severe weather these days, especially with apps you can download on mobile phones and other web enabled devices. Here are a couple of ideas to keep you aware of weather in your area:

1. Check your local television station and download their weather app or subscribe to their feed
2. Go online to http://severewarningsystems.com/ and check out their live model or connect with them through social media
3. Google a list of "Weather Apps" and select one that fits your phone
4. Look into Radio Apps for your phone to tune you into stations that will keep you updated during the storms

No matter how prepared you are, however, there is not much you can do to protect your roof. If damage is done, please feel free to contact us for consultation on the best way to repair it. We will visit you onsite, prepare a written estimate and, if needed, work directly with your insurance company.

Top 10 States for LEED-Certified Green Buildings

Back in January, The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its 2011 list of top 10 states for LEED-certified commercial and institutional green buildings per capita, based on the U.S. 2010 Census information.

The District of Columbia leads the nation, with more than 31 square feet of LEED-certified space per person in 2011, with Colorado being the leading state, with 2.74 square feet per person in 2011.

Other top states include Illinois, Virginia and Washington, with 2.69, 2.42 and 2.18 square feet of LEED-certified space per person, respectively.

The top LEED states per capita, including the District of Columbia, are Colorado, Illinois, Virginia, Washington, Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas, California, New York and Minnesota.

LEED is the internationally recognized mark of green building excellence, with more than 44,000 commercial projects participating, comprising over 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 120 countries.

Most products used by Washington Roofing and Insulation are ENERGY STAR®, LEED, CRRC, Miami - Dade County approved and/or certified. 

Source: Press Release Jan. 19, 2012 by the U.S. Green Building Council

Roof Management Plan: Testing Your Roof for Moisture

We work with many building owners and maintenance managers who find they suddenly need to repair their building's roof and lack the funding to get it done properly. One of our clients has been working on finalizing the proposed roofing project for nearly two years. It is safe to say that a Roof Management plan for your building is important to have in place, and even though it may not guarantee funding will always be available it will provide you with solid, up-to-date evidence to provide to the proper decision makers.

In our last post we skimmed over what is considered a beginning to a good roofing management plan. In this post we will talk more about roofing inspections and how detecting moisture is determined.

There are three types of non-destructive methods for testing moisture problems which have advanced over the years to give pretty reliable results: Impedance/Capacitance, Infrared and Nuclear. However, once moisture has been determined by one of three ways is it important to undergo a core test to verify the conditions. 

Impedance/Capacitance - can be done with a hand-held meter by setting it over the roof membrane. It will determine if a specific area in the roof is wet or dry through electronic signals. This testing cannot be completed over wet or ponded areas.

Infrared - Conducted with an infrared camera used after sunset to identify temperature differences on the roof. Areas that are dry will cool off quicker than areas that hold moisture.

Nuclear - A nuclear scanning meter can test in areas of ponding water and scan up to 7 inches in depth of the roof. In the article, "Technical Details: How to Properly Determine Moisture Content in Roof Systems" author John D'Annunzio says "Testing is conducted over the entire roof area by sectioning the roof into grids . . . and recording the readings at each of these locations."

Moisture Verification: Core Cut and Test - In this process you actually drill through the entire roof and extract a core sample. After the core area is properly repaired the sample is tested to provide data of all components found in your roof. Each roof system and repair method can be identified as well as the percentage of moisture detected. Results are them provided and a plan for repair or replacement can begin.

Sources:
Article in Roofing Contractor Magazine

A Roof Management Plan

Do you have a roofing management plan? It is sometimes the case that when many organization think about implementing a roofing management plan, their roofs actually need to be replaced and they are looking for immediate funding.

Most building owners or facility managers agree that regular roof inspections are important to "reduce ownership costs, reduce leak frequency and severity, extend roof life, and reduce management inefficiencies."

In order to begin your roof management plan, first start with a historical record of your building's roof. You will  need when it was installed, who installed it, what type of system, warranties, who the manufacturer was, leak and repair history.

Then you will need to actually need a roofing professional to perform a "condition assessment," both visual and non-destructive. If in-house employees are trained in roof inspections you can utilize them, as well. If you hire an outside contractor, make sure they familiar "with the design, installation, repair, and types of failure specific to the roof system being surveyed."

Your survey documentation should be complete with photos, checklists and condition report. This information will be of value for the roofing contractor you hire in the future when your roof needs repair or replaced.

We'll dive further into roof management plans on our next post.

Source: Roof Inspections: A Closer Look

How to Hire a Commercial Roofing Contractor

Replacing the roof on your building was approved in the budget and now it is time to start looking for a good roofing contractor. As you begin the steps it takes to qualify roofing professionals, take in mind some of the points listed below:

• Length of Time in Business. Companies who have been in business longer usually have broader experience than start-ups. 
• Insured, Licensed and Bonded. Proof of insurance and establishing that the contractor is licensed in your state is important. 
• Member of Organizations. Is the contractor affiliated or a member of any industry organizations? Many times these contractors are kept up-to-date on the latest roofing developments and industry news. 
• Experience, Knowledge and Trust. People don't hire companies . . . People hire people. Make sure you are comfortable with the roofing contractor and understand your options. 
• Application Expertise. Is the contractor accredited or certified in the roofing system of choice? Some systems required these certifications in order to be applied properly and last. 
• Referrals and Completed Projects. Good contractors will have people you can contact to gain more insight. Ask for completed projects, as well. This will give you an idea of what the contractor does. 
• Committed to Safety. Establish that the roofing contractor is taking all the required steps for safety. 
• Written Estimates. Estimates in writing will assure that you understand what is being proposed and both parties have appropriate expectations. It is mutually beneficial and keeps the guesswork out of the project.

Website: Washington Roofing & Insulation

What is Spray Polyurethane Foam Roofing?

Spray polyurethane foam, commonly referred to as SPF is a spray-applied insulating foam plastic that is installed as a liquid and then expands many times its original size. Spray polyurethane foam can be adjusted and have many different physical properties depending on the use desired.

For example, the same basic raw materials that can make insulation foam semi-rigid and soft to the touch also creates high density roofing foam that is resistant to foot traffic and water. Specialized equipment is used to apply the spray polyurethane foam and proper technical training is important in order to get the best results.

For roofing, spray polyurethane foam insulates and eliminates thermal bridging through fasteners or gaps in decking while providing a long-lasting roofing system that has a life that can be extended by re-coating or recovering in an average of > 10 – 15 years. As a result spray polyurethane foam is used in a wide variety of applications including, but is not limited to:

• Roofing
• Air barriers
• Commercial and residential insulation in walls, ceilings, attics and basements
• Industrial insulation for pipes and tanks, cold storage facilities, freezers, walk-in coolers, and climate controlled buildings such as produce storage and clean rooms
• Flotation for boats, ships, barges, floating docks, etc.
• Higher density spray polyurethane foam has been used to increase the structural strength of wings in airplanes.

For more information on Spray Polyurethane Foam Roofing in Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma and Texas, please visit http://www.washingtoncompaniesinc.com/what-is-spray-polyurethane-foam.html.