The roofing San Antonio system comprises several distinct but interrelated components such as insulation, cover boards, roof deck, vapor/air retarder and substrate boards. While each part has its own function and purpose, they are intended to work together.

A roofing system takes into account the different roofing components, each of which cannot be valued solely on its own merit. These varying parts are created to have synergistic effects on the overall system, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the whole. Failure of a component to function the way it was meant to inevitably leads to premature roof system failure.

The last component of a roofing system is the roof cover or the waterproofing membrane built to protect the roofing San Antonio system from rain, snow, bird, insect, rooftop use, critter and other elements that threaten the safety of the system.

Different conditions and climates call for various roof cover types. There is no single roof cover that is appropriate for all conditions and places. Most roof failures are a result of inappropriate use of roof cover or installation of individual components. To select the right roof cover, the following criteria should be considered:

Factors in Determining the Type of Roof Cover

1. Purpose of the roof. Some roofs receive regular foot traffic and other human activities. Others are used as storage area for relatively heavy equipment.
2. Geographic and climate conditions such as mountains, hills, seacoast, ice, snow, hail, amount and intensity of rainfall, open plains and local weather.
3. Local building rules and regulations, including fire and wind requirements.
4. Building design. The roof cover must integrate into the overall building design to be effective otherwise it may not function properly.
5. Compatibility with other materials, including the substrate and adhesives used on the roof.
6. Interaction with adjacent buildings and their designs.
7. Environmental and energy considerations in accordance with local codes and rules.
8. The structural system of the entire building.
9. Future plans of the building owners. They may want their roof to go beyond providing mere roof insulation. Some homeowners prefer to have green or cool roof design while others prioritize energy savings. Future resale of the property is also taken into consideration in selecting a roof cover.
10. Internal factors affecting the building such as occupancy volume, interior temperature management, interior building pressure management and relative humidity.

Several benefits and advantages are available to homeowners who decide to do their own roof repair Los Angeles instead of hiring professionals to do the job. There’s the absolute control over the time and schedule when the repairs will start and end. Then there’s the total control over the result of the project. In addition, there’s the savings on money that would otherwise have been spent for contractors’ fees.

However, do-it-yourself (DIY) roofing repairs in LA are not for everybody. A lot of people mistakenly think installing new roofs involve nothing more than nailing down some shingles on the roof. A properly-installed roof is actually a complex work consisting of various components that are integrated to keep the elements away and protect the structure.

Safety Considerations

Safety is paramount in all kinds of construction work, including roofing installation and repairs. You have to consider several safety issues before deciding to take on this work yourself. One neglected aspect of roof repair is using the correct tools and equipment to do the job. You must also be properly attired such as wearing safety boots and goggles to prevent personal injuries.

It takes professional roofers years of training and experience to learn their trade. They spend years knowing how to safely walk on the roof, handle and install materials properly, identify risks while working on the roof and keep themselves safe, and comply with government regulations.

Roofers spent so much time on the roof that they develop instincts against risks present on the site. They learn how to walk around properly and avoid danger areas while comfortably performing their work.

If you are uncomfortable going up the ladder and walking on high places carrying supply materials, DIY roofing may not be suited for you. Roofing work is physically labor-intensive, particularly if you are going to remove the old roof first before installing new materials.

Risks Against Benefits

One of the reasons homeowners undertake to do DIY roofing repair is to cut down on costs. Contractors’ fees admittedly make up a significant portion of roof installation costs. Estimating the cost of roofing job is not a straightforward method – it involves taking into account different factors such as removing and disposing the old roof, installing new materials, performing structural repairs if necessary, and equipment rental. The roof size, its slope or angle and the kind of roofing materials you will install are also considered.

Homeowners must carefully weigh the relevant risk against the savings and control over the project that they have in deciding whether to repair their own roofs. In case of doubt, consulting and hiring professional roofers will always be the best option.

An accepted, unwritten rule in buying carpentry tools for roofing repair is to never choose the cheapest ones available. The old saying that you get what you pay for is surprisingly accurate when it comes to buying carpentry tools.

Spirit or Bubble Level

One of the basic carpentry tools that all self-respecting carpenters should have in their collection is the spirit level. A spirit level, also called by various names, including bubble level, carpenter level or simply level, is a device used to tell if a surface – usually the roof—is horizontal or vertical. The name “spirit level” comes from the fact that alcohols are often used inside the tube instead of water because of their low viscosity and surface tension, which allows the liquid to freely travel inside the tube and settle accurately with minimal interference.

A spirit level is a must-have tool for DIY enthusiasts. Its use is not limited to determining the horizontal level of a surface since it serves multiple uses too inside the house such as installing a TV set on the wall. The advent of mobile devices has seen the arrival of various mobile applications in the carpentry tools category. One such product is the iHandy Level for the iOS.

iHandy Level and its Uses

iHandy Level is a utility app designed to function the same way a spirit level does with the use of your mobile device. Its uses are practically unlimited, including using it for picture alignment, roof pitch calculation, home decoration, angle measurement, measuring the angles of slope or verticality of a wall or furniture and even the inclination of a car.

For more level accuracy, the developer suggests calibrating your mobile device before use. Calibration is very easy. Put your device in portrait mode on a flat surface and press calibrate. Next turn your phone 90 degrees clockwise and again press calibrate. Last, put it on its back against the surface and press calibrate. Your mobile device is ready to go.

High Customer Satisfaction

Customer review has so far been positive. One user believes ladies will love this app because it is very handy. Since women do not often carry tools in their bags except perhaps a tape measure, the iHandy Level could prove very useful when they happen to come across things they want to buy such as furniture. They could use the app to measure its horizontal level and not have to second-guess the measurements.

Another user boasts of how even and symmetrical his studio is by using iHandy Level, which lend an atmosphere of success and quality in his home while entertaining guests. A word of caution though for every user – putting your mobile device on risky positions to take measurements could result to unwanted fall and damage of your device.

New technologies and everything they have to offer are changing the construction industry landscape all over the world. The American roofing industry is not spared.

Smartphones Leading the Way

Smartphones are at the forefronts of the technological advancements we are experiencing today. They revolutionized people’s access to information and technology in practically every business sector today.

For the roofing industry, smartphones helped project managers and crews improve their efficiency through real-time communication, including voice, text and email. This improved communication also led to streamlining of sales and product-ordering procedure.

Improved Customer Relations

One area where smartphones created the biggest impact is in customer relations. Since customers want a prompt response from contractors, smartphones have become indispensable in business. Instead of relying on calls, more customers prefer digital communication because of the ease and convenience it presents.

Smartphones not only provide access and communication with customers, but sales people can use them to customize their sales presentation with pictures and videos for roofing cost estimates. Using this relatively-inexpensive device, roofers can benefit from its rich features such as roof-pitch calculation, aerial measurement reports and fast access to customer information and schedule.

Experts say the potential impact of smartphones on the roofing industry is too large to estimate at this time. Roofers must find the best way and time to use them optimally.

One business organization that adopted smartphones into their system five years ago allowed the company to easily communicate with crews, respond to customers’ queries and generally improved the overall quality of its service. One aspect of business that benefited from the use of smartphones is in training.

Training Sessions Made Easy

Training sessions are recorded using smartphones and uploaded to the company’s private YouTube channel where sales and field personnel could download and view them at their convenience. This helps ease the pressure on having to learn certain techniques or business practices in a short time. In addition, it frees up the trainer to move on to other challenges instead of going over the same training materials for different people.

Closing Sales Through Tablets

Tablets show its strength in allowing the creation of custom contracts that customers can view on the spot, give their comments and conclude the deal with their signatures. They facilitate changes to work orders and product requests too by eliminating trips to the office or jobsite.

Closing sales have become easier through the use of tablets since everything that is needed to finalize a sale could be found on the device. Contracts can be seen and annotated with just a few taps of the tablets. Customers can place their signatures on the screen as well.

Marketing is at the heart of every successful business operation in major cities like Dallas. Reaching your target market or audience and closing out sales are the ultimate focus of every organization, including those in the roofing business.

If you are a professional roofer in Dallas looking to widen your market in order to reach homeowners needing roof repair or installation service, a good place to start is through social media. If you are a homeowner looking for a reputable roofer for your repair needs, the same suggestion applies. Social networking is presently one of the best methods to search for things or services.

Facebook Reigns Over Social Media

One of the social media giants today is Facebook. It boasts a 1.49 billion monthly active users as of October 2015. The mobile active users of the platform number 1.31 billion. As of May 2013, 16 million local businesses pages were created. These figures are impressive and cannot simply be ignored. That is why every Dallas roofing company actively use Facebook to boost its operations.

Facebook is friendly to firms who want to use its extensive exposure for their businesses and gives advice on how to create pages to make them visible to people searching the site for specific needs. Advice includes inviting friends and business contacts to its page to establish credibility and help spread the word.

Brand Recognition for Future Clients

A roofing company that adopted smartphones years ago counts Facebook as one of the most useful applications on its mobile devices in terms of lead generation and brand awareness. While the company has enjoyed success targeting specific geographical areas to get new business, the real benefit from using Facebook is establishing brand recognition with prospective clients who may become customers in the future. The company uses Facebook to interact positively with people who may remember the company when they have roofing needs someday.

Posting Relevant Messages

Posting messages on Facebook is not enough for brand awareness. The posts should contain details about company projects and their challenges and achievements so that readers become aware of the company’s professionalism and care for customers.

Some industry insiders say Facebook is more of a social interaction with potential customers and brand awareness rather than a lead generator for roofing businesses. Few leads may come from Facebook, but that should not be the main concern of firms. The essence of social media is about communication with the community, promoting company culture and sharing knowledge about the brands.

Roof installation and repair do not come cheap. Homeowners should have an estimate of the roofing costs to be incurred before undertaking any work. Blindly going ahead could result to overshooting the budget and spending more than what was originally planned.

Under these circumstances, roofing cost calculators come in handy. They will give you an idea on how much you will spend for your roof repair or installation and prepare you for the coming expenses on materials and labor. This way, you are sure to have the kind of roof that you want without scrimping later on materials and design because you underestimated the expense.

To help roofers and homeowners with the planning, we listed some of the widely-used roof calculator apps today.

Roof Calculator Pro

This is not a free app and can be used only by contractors. The app’s functionality, however, is impressive. The user can input practically all details about the roof including skylight flashings, chimney, tear off, type of installed membrane, number of floors and type of shingles. The app will give out detailed info on material costs and total costs.

Roof Gauge Tool

A great app that accurately measures the pitch of your roof. You only have to use a camera and the accelerometer in your phone to come up with the result. For those who are not inclined to climb up the ladder and step on the roof, this is an ideal app. To get more accurate measurement of your roof’s slope, place your phone with the app on top of shingles or a sloped rafter.

House Gosu Free Roof Calculator

This is a very easy-to-use app. The user need only put in data such as kind of material, roof pitch and roof dimensions and the app will flash a price on the screen. Gosu is a Korean word for a highly skilled individual. It can refer to professionals in the construction industry, video gaming and other fields.

Roofing Calculator Free

A free app that can be used by both contractors and homeowners. It estimates the roof area and costs based on information supplied by the user. The user can input the roof slope, shingles type, and ground dimensions, which will be used by the app to come up with the results. Aside from coming up with information on the size of the roof, the app will also give 3 price quotes for the roof materials.

Cool roofing is becoming popular because of numerous benefits that it offers, including substantial savings in electric bills to cool the interior of a building. Cool roofs are made up of roofing materials with a high degree of reflectance that reduce the absorption of heat on the structure. The use of cool roofs could reduce the temperature of a building by up to 60° Fahrenheit.

While the concept of a cool roof has been around for years, misconception still exists about its features. Here are some of them:

1. Reflective Roofs Must Use Only the White Color

While white is the most reflective color, it is not correct to state that all reflective roofs can only be white. Cool roofs are available in different colors, each one presenting different degree of reflectivity against sunlight. In fact, darker colors could be treated with pigments that reflect sunlight in the near-infrared spectrum. Since 50 percent of the sun’s energy is in the near-infrared spectrum, the reflectance of pigment-treated colored roofs becomes significant.

2. Phthalates are Dangerous to Our Health

Many cool roofs use PVC products that reflect sunlight and absorb less heat. To make PVC products flexible, phthalates are mixed in during the production process. Roofing membranes, tarps and tubing are flexible because of phthalates. Based on studies and use of phthalates for more than 50 years, the substance has not been shown to be harmful to humans if it is used as intended.

3. The Energy-Saving Feature of a White Roof is Ineffective During Winter

The idea is based on a seemingly-logical reasoning that materials that can keep buildings cool during summer would also do the same in winter. The fact is not that simple. For instance, a dark roof that absorbs heat during summer does so considerably less during winter.

For reflective roofs, environmental factors mitigate its cooling effects in winter. Take, for example, the angle of the sun during winter. The low angle poses very minimal heating potential during this period. The mostly overcast skies and shorter days significantly reduce the time during which the roof absorbs heat from the sun.

Most commercial buildings demand less energy for heating compared to the higher demand for cooling to counter heat created from equipment use and human activity. The energy cost to heat a structure in order to achieve a fixed comfort level is significantly lower than the energy cost needed to attain a comfort level for cooling.

4. Cool Roofs Cost More than Conventional Roofs

Making a roof cool incurs very minimal costs. In fact, cool roofs translate to substantial savings in the long run.

Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO) is a single-ply roofing membrane that first appeared in the market in early 1990s and became one of the fastest-growing commercial roofing materials in the construction industry. It was marketed as possessing the qualities of Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer (EPDM) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) without their disadvantages and costs.

The product is supposed to have the same heat and UV resistance as EPDM and at the same time heat-weldable similar to PVC. With these qualities, TPO is hyped as a cheaper and more efficient alternative than PVC roofing products. Is it safe then to state that TPO is a viable Miami roofing material for use in today’s buildings? Let us examine closely the benefits and disadvantages of TPO roofing.

Benefits of TPO Roofing

Versatile

TPO can be manufactured to fit and look great on different home designs and styles. Homeowners can choose between various colors, including white, light grey and black. Modern technologies make all colored TPO roofs resistant to Ultraviolet rays.

Cost Effective

TPO roofing costs less than PVC roofing. The cheaper cost of TPO material makes it an attractive alternative to PVC products while offering the same benefits of PVC, including heat-weldable seams and energy efficiency.

Durable

TPO roofing can better withstand a building’s contraction and expansion from fluctuations in temperature compared to other single-ply membranes. It is also durable and can resist impact, fractures, dirt and mold. The material is flexible enough to withstand the building’s natural movements.

Disadvantages of TPO Roofing

No Track Record

The strongest argument against TPO roofing is its track record, or lack of it. The technology has been around for only about ten years and has not proven itself to be durable in the long term unlike other roofing materials that have been in existence for decades. Manufacturers of TPO are still looking for the perfect balance between an economical price and product durability. The roofing industry has seen letdowns of TPO in the past such as failures at the seams and membrane cracking and curing.

Weak Heat Resistance

TPO roofing is noted to be weak when constantly exposed to high temperatures. The material experiences accelerated weathering and deterioration from high thermal loading. Most problems were noted in Southern states and cities where the sun shines most of the year. Asking the manufacturers about the suitability of their products to withstand at least 160 degrees of heat is recommended for safety purposes. Otherwise, a different roofing material is advisable to avoid untimely deterioration of the roof. So if you live in Miami with its hot and humid summers, TPO roofing may not be the best material for your roof.

The concept of a cool roof in Denver may be new to some people, although it has been around for decades. With talks about global warming and climate change dominating the headlines today, cool roof systems received renewed interest from owners and contractors.

Cool roofing Denver offer several distinct advantages that conventional roofs do not have. These are lower building temperatures, reduced energy needs for cooling, lesser electric bills and extended roof life.

Before deciding on the type of cool roofing to install on your roof, consider these important factors we listed below to assist you in your selection of the best cool roof system for your needs.

1. Integrated System

Ideally, the major components of the cool roofing system must be supplied by a single supplier to minimize if not completely eliminate incompatibility. The highest performance and lowest chance of incompatibility of the system are attained if only a single supplier is involved in the project.

2. Prefabrication

The construction industry today is experiencing skilled labor shortage. To promote efficiency through the reduction of installation errors and use of manpower, the system must be installed correctly. The capacity of the supplier to customize and pre-manufacture roofing materials and accessories will go a long way towards achieving this end. The more roofing materials and accessories that your supplier can prefabricate, the more you will attain efficiency.

3. Flashings

Find out the method and materials used for waterproofing the roof. The workmanship of the flashings is important because this is one area where most roofing failures exist due to movement, contraction and expansion of roofing materials. Flashings that are prefabricated in the factory with its controlled setting are preferred over those fabricated on worksites where more errors could occur. Flashings closely integrated with the system are better than those that are not. Ensure that flashings are included in the warranty.

4. Membrane Materials

The raw material components of the membrane and how they are manufactured are important factors to consider. Various materials result to different durability, benefits, carbon footprint and weight impact on the roofing.

5. Warranty Coverage

According to homeowners, this is one aspect of the construction that is often unmet by manufacturers. This is, in fact, one of the most controversial issues hounding construction projects. Examine the fine print closely as it indicates the weakness of the system. Look also for the exclusions in the warranty and provisions on extra costs. Pay particular attention to the maintenance guidelines of the manufacturers, which could void any warranties if you fail to strictly observe them.

Temperatures in cities like Phoenix, Arizona are significantly higher than those in surrounding rural areas. This phenomenon is called urban heat island effect. A city that is warmer than its neighboring rural areas is called an urban heat island (UHI).

The UHI effect experienced due to Arizona Phoenix weather is felt more at night than during the day and during winter and summer. On average the temperature difference between urban and rural areas during the afternoon is around 7 degrees Fahrenheit. In certain areas the difference could reach up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

The primary cause of this peculiar condition is human activities, particularly the modifications of land surfaces in cities.

Causes of UHI Effect

Studies identified at least three important factors that contribute to the UHI effect. These are:

1. Reduced area of vegetation in urban cities compared to rural areas. Fifty six percent of UHI effect is attributed to this factor.
2. Dark paving or land surface, which accounts for a six percent difference in temperatures.
3. Dark roofing used on buildings, which accounts for a significant thirty eight percent of UHI effect.

Solutions for UHI Effects

1. A logical solution under the first scenario is to increase vegetation in cities to reduce temperature. However, this method is considered a long-term solution because it will take years, even decades, to enjoy the full benefits of planting trees and improving vegetation in a rural land. Notably, the solution will always be in a catch-up mode because human progress and expansion always lead to fewer vegetation.
2. The second problem could be remedied by installing lighter-colored pavements on city streets. The technology to implement this solution already exists today. Unfortunately, it will require substantial capital expenditures and the resulting improvement in temperature is negligible. This method is not cost-effective and also considered a long-term solution.
3. The third cause of UHI effect has the best solution relative to the other two. Installing reflective and cool roofing on buildings offers the biggest benefit in terms of money spent and period of effectiveness. Compared to the other two solutions, using cool roofs to offset warming is easy to accomplish, relatively inexpensive, and its benefits can be immediately attained.

Cool Roofs to the Rescue

Cool roofs use reflective surface to direct the heat of sunlight away from the structure. A light-colored and reflective surface absorbs less heat from the sun unlike a dark, non-reflective roof. Because of the enormous benefits derived from using cool roofs such as reduction of heat in the building and savings on energy bills, more homeowners are using this type of roofing over conventional roofs.