Archive for the ‘Roofing’ Category

Commercial Roofers Improved My Revenue

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Commercial roofers in Southern California gave me the best opportunity to save money and increase revenue when all I was looking for was someone in Los Angeles to do a simple commercial roof repair. Now, I am leasing out the top of my commercial building to a biotech firm doing medical research.


Commercial green roofs are the latest trend in the construction industry. Many architects are teaming up with professional commercial roofers to design green roofs that not only add beauty to the city’s skyline, but also help the environment.


Commercial buildings with flat roofs are not the only types of buildings that commercial roofers can design green roofs for. Even though my building has a flat roof, when I was doing research into the benefits to green roofs I saw lots of examples of green roofs in other parts of the world.


Tax credits offered by the federal government helped pay for most of the work that the roofers did on my building. I did not even know that there were any tax credits available to commercial building owners, until I started to get roofing estimates from various commercial roofers.


The commercial roofers that I hired to do the work also helped me with a water collection system that is being used by the biotech firm that is leasing the top of my building. This water collection system also qualified for the Federal Government’s tax credits, offered to commercial building owners retrofitting their buildings with Energy Star compliant materials.


The roofers that gave me roofing estimates could not tell me how much of a tax credit I could get, but after I talked to my tax professional, I realized that the credit almost paid for the whole job. Luckily I talked to him, because I found out that there is a certification requirement that has to be met before taking the deduction off your taxes. The IRS recommends that commercial building owners get the certificate for the deduction from a tax professional to ensure that there won’t be any problems with the IRS accepting the deduction.


Now that I have finished retrofitting one of my commercial buildings, I think that I am going to have the commercial roofers do one of my other buildings before the tax credit expires. Currently the tax credit will expire at the end of 2010, but according to my tax professional the credit might be extended soon.


I’d tell you which of the many roofers I got to do my commercial green roof, but if I did he might not have time to do my other buildings before the tax credit expires.


I suggest if you want to find the right commercial roofing company for you, you should do a little research and I am sure you should not have too much trouble finding professional commercial roofers in Los Angeles.

Justin Ewart is a Commercial Roofer and owner of 4myroof.com. Specializing in residential, commercial and green roofs 4myroof services most Los Angeles roofing needs.

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Copper Gutters 101 – Everything You Need to Know Before Shopping

Saturday, February 6th, 2010

There are very few materials that maintain their technical function and shape over time as well as copper does which makes it an outstanding choice for tough jobs like gutter systems and rainwater collection. Copper gutters are great for historical restorations or for adding an architectural, yet functional element to dress up any home or building.

Copper gutters aren’t something you just buy off the shelf – they require special expertise to measure and install properly. As such copper gutters are usually more expensive than gutters made from more traditional materials such as aluminum.

But when they are installed correctly few things will add “splash” to an exterior like they do. Add the fact that copper gutters will provide you with years of low maintenance service and the investment begins to make great sense.

Leader or Conductor Heads

As with any gutter system, copper gutters connect to downspouts which collect rainwater from the roof and direct it away from the building through the downspouts or drainage system. However copper gutter systems often employ an ornamental element called a conductor head or leader head. This is a large box-shaped element which attaches to the exterior wall just below the top of the gutters.

Copper Gutter Maintenance

Copper is considered a low maintenance natural material great for exterior use. It does not require painting or sealing nor will it rust so it holds up very well as a choice for gutters. Also because copper is such a strong metal you will generally get a stronger gutter screen (leaf guard) mesh to protect unwanted objects from making their way into your system.

If your copper gutters are properly sized and pitched the maintenance should be similar to those of regular vinyl gutters. This means that a regular schedule of cleaning the filters of debris to allow for a clean flow of water should be sufficient to keep them working at best effort.

Why copper turns green and develops patina

When exposed to normal weather patterns, copper develops a blue-green color which occurs from the copper oxidizing to protect itself. This process is known as “patina” and may include different shades and colors as your copper ages – especially depending on where you live.

Generally speaking copper will turn from shiny, penny-colored copper to a dark brown within the first year and will gradually fade towards green over the next few years. Around 4-5 years you can expect the copper to begin taking on green shades and after 10 years to begin to display a finish closer to a green-blue.

This patina process is one of the reasons that copper is such a great choice for outdoor items like gutters. The patina coating protects and encases the copper thus giving it greater durability than comparable natural metals.

Other reasons to like copper gutters:

Copper gutters add to the functional and aesthetic value of your home. Seldom can you make a single choice that represents an efficient and practical option, yet also brings distinct style and details. Copper gutters present just such a perfect option.

Andre’ Savoie writes for Crescent City Copper, a manufacturer of top quality copper rain gutters Browse our website to learn more about copper gutters

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Keeping Your Roofing in Shape

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Homeowners would do well to look out for some common problems that will make their roofs age faster and be more susceptible to expensive repair bills.

It’s a common thing: the people in charge of maintaining a home or other property may not really understand that some commonsense maintenance can work wonders on a roof. Regular upkeep on your shingles is required for your roofs health.

One of the first things to look for is evergreen trees that are having a negative impact on the roof by trapping debris or otherwise blocking the natural cleaning that occurs in weather cycle. Trim overgrown trees in order to prevent problems to your roof.

Aside from this kind of problem, there is the mold and similar substances that can build up on the roof. This is particularly a problem with wood shingles and other kinds of natural roof structures, where mold or algae can really attack the outer part of a roof and cause it to decay. Regular inspections and upkeep will prevent problems which will require you to replace your roof.

Zinc or lead control strips can be good for protecting either wouldn’t or other roof structures from mold and similar kinds of substances. The best tool is continued observation, to make sure that these problems aren’t taking over a roof.

Another thing is the periodic loss of roofing material. Whether it’s wood or other substance, losing shingles will lead to leaks. When a roof is leaking, it’s sometimes possible to trace the problem back to some material loss in the outer layer. That’s why again, it’s a good idea to really keep it on a roofer over time, to know exactly what’s going on with it on the outside, to prevent some nasty surprises on the inside, where a small leak can metastasize every time and flood rooms or otherwise negatively impact the interior of a house.

In the case of a larger structure, and owner can even periodically “walk the roof” to check it out with his or her own eye, to make sure that everything is as it should be. This kind of work is necessary to help the owner know when to call and professionals in what to tell them about what is needed for a particular roof project. Good communication with professionals is another part was necessary to really keep your roofing good health. Advice from trained professionals can be very useful when preforming your roofing tasks. This way, you’ll help minimize any possible damage on a roof due to the normal or excessive wear and tear that may occur.

Scott Rodgers doesn’t work on the roofing job site anymore, but he still talks about it, and writes about it a lot. For more, check out http://www.eLocalRoofers.com

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Roof Insulation – Different Options to Choose

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

There is a very limited likelihood of most of us considering having a roof insulation unless something goes wrong which forces us to rethink our decision. Having a hail storm or a torrential rainfall or a mini cyclone that blows away the roof top would be the only reasons why we would be pushed into installing roof installations instead of home decor or accessories and redecorating the house.

It sure does not add aesthetic value or is a luxury statement but is a very practical and necessary add on to good living. Having roof insulation protects your home in more ways than one and also makes it sound proof and more impervious to outside fluctuations in temperature. The most common types of roof insulation are made from fiberglass.

Most roof insulations are made from fiberglass which is laid down between the rafters and allow to retain warmth during cold wintry season inside the house and to keep it cool during hot summers. The thickness and density of the fibers usually vary according to the manufacturer and the price of the fiberglass depends on these two characteristics.

A fiberglass insulation forms a barrier to the heat that acts on your roof or prevents rain water from leaking into the inside of your house by sandwiching itself between the rafters. The thickness and density of the fiber material used would determine the cost of the insulation as well as its effectiveness. Good roof insulation protects your home and makes it impervious to the harmful effects of rain and thunderstorms and prevents broken tiles from hailstorms.

It also helps conserve energy by preventing the heat from seeping into the house or dissipating out of it and keeps your home warm in winter and cool in summer. They also make your home immune to outside noises.

Some manufactures too take up this responsibility and have dedicated customer service cells that cater to support and maintenance associated with these roof insulation products that they manufacture. It is better to do a bit of reading and research on best roof insulation options that are available before you go about installing one.

The insulation procedure is simple and is done with the help of a sprayer which mixes the ingredients and heats them up. All you have to do is spray this mixture onto your roof. Foam insulation is quick and easy to install and saves you a lot of time.

A foam roof insulation saves you time and is the best option if you want a quick fix to your leaking roof. It is ideal for metal roofs that absorb and dissipate heat at a rapid rate and in huge quantities during summer. The foam insulation acts as a barrier to the heat from entering the inside of your homes and keeps it cool in addition to providing protection against bad weather conditions. The cool interior would not require you to turn on the air conditioner and also saves you a load of money by way of reduced energy bills.

To learn more about roof insulation and where to get affordable ones, click here: Roof Installation

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Solar Shingles – Do the Benefits Outweigh the Cost?

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Among the many forms of energy being considered to replace traditional fossil fuel power plants, solar shingles are an option which can be installed directly on your roof. Despite the controversy over man-made global warming, there are many other clear reasons to consider alternative energy sources, including economic reasons. Presented here is a discussion of the pros and cons of solar shingles.

Solar power is important because, unlike traditional fossil fuel based power plants, solar energy is clean and renewable. Though considered by engineers to be a developing technology in need of refinement, there is no question that solar photovoltaic technology works here in the present; the high prices of oil today are making this option more attractive by the day.

What Are Solar Shingles?

Solar shingles are photovoltaic cells, devices which convert incident sunlight directly into electricity, made to resemble traditional roofing shingles. As such, the chief advantage of solar shingles over conventional solar panels is their ability to provide the benefits of solar panels while still providing favorable aesthetics.

The other pros and cons are of solar shingles include the economic payoff over time, environmental benefits, possible insurance against power outages, and added complexity to your home.

Solar roof panels can seem like either a good financial deal or a bad one from different perspectives, though in reality it is better to think of them as a long-term investment. While installing solar panels on your roof incurs a high initial cost, they eventually pay for themselves, and in fact can become profitable after a certain time. Solar panels will generally save you money on your electric bills as long as they are operable, even if you don’t see your meter running backwards all day long (though this has been known to happen).

Solar Shingle Setups

As an aside solar shingles wired to the electric grid, electric utilities are legally required to pay you for energy you feed into the grid in many areas. While investor owned public utilities are legally required to allow users to feed energy back into the grid for a credit, there are energy cooperatives in rural areas exempt from this law. It is always wise to consult your local electric utility before installing solar shingles.

Another type of solar shingle setup employs a large pack of batteries to store excess energy during periods in which production exceeds usage, using battery power to run your home when production is less than consumption. This type of system may allow you to retain power when your local utility is experiencing a power outage.

While it may be instructive to consider the success of solar energy in Germany, a country not known for year-round sunny days, the amount of sunlight typical to where you live clearly makes a difference. Though the local energy crisis in California plays a role, the sunlight received by the southern part of the state makes solar power very popular in that region.

Either type of system has the disadvantage of added machinery (such as a DC to AC inverter) and more complex wiring of your home. The services of an electrician are needed to wire such a system, whether it is grid-tied or employs a battery pack, and you may incur difficulties alien to typical grid-connected homes should anything go wrong with your setup. As with all electrical systems, there are dangers associated with the hardware associated with either type of setup.

Though the decision to install solar shingles at your home is a personal one, informed by your own beliefs, finances, location, and many other factors, it is also a decision which must be carefully considered. If you are considering such a decision, the information presented here may help to inform your decision making process.

Pamella Ann Neeley writes about solar shingles for http://www.solarshingleabcs.com – Find out how solar shingles can turn your roof into an invisible power station.

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Untreated Wood Roofing Shingle Fire Risks

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

Sooner or later, you are going to have the opportunity to pick a roof for your home. There are many choices. In the opinion of many, myself included, wood roof shingles look the best. There is, however, one serious downside to using them, particularly untreated shingles.

It seems to happen every three years or so. Parts of Southern California burn every fall. The news shows provide running feeds of fires racing across areas and apparently torching everything. When the fires end, however, the same conclusion is always reached. Homes with untreated wood shingles burn far more than other homes.

Why is this? Yes, they are wood, but does it really matter that much given the fact the walls of the home are exposed as well? Yes, it does. To understand why, you have to understand how fires typically spread.

A fire starts at point A and then spread out from there, right? The direction will be influenced by wind and such, but it will burn across the ground in an outward direction from the origination point, correct? Actually, this logical explanation is wrong.

The fires you see on television wiping out much of California do not spread across the ground. They spread through the air. When a big fire burns, it creates firebrands. These firebrands are embers. The massive amount of heat being created in the fire creates a vertical wind column that sucks the embers up. As they climb though the air, they are picked up by horizontal winds and can be carried as far as a mile or more. The real problems start when they come down.

A home presents one real surface to the embers path – the roof. If the embers land on a tile roof, they will scar it a bit but they will not create a fire. The same is not true for wood shingle roofs.

How do you light a fire when you are camping? Well, you create a small pile of wood, a bit of heat and blow on it to provide oxygen. That is exactly what happens when firebrands land on your wood shingle roof. They have wood, plenty of heat and usually there is some wind. The result is what we see on the news.

If you are considering a new roof, avoid untreated wood shingle roofs like the plague. Fire retardant treated shingles are an alternative, but avoiding wood all together might be your best move. This is definitely true in an area that gets fires regularly such as Southern California or wooded areas.

Aazdak Alisimo is with So Cal Roofing – a roofing contractor providing commercial and residential roofing services in Southern California.

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How to Make Your Roof Beautiful With Shingles

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Installing shingles onto the roof is hardly a new concept at all. You will find however that shingles only appear on roofs that are sloped and never on a flat roof. This is because shingles are primarily decorative which means there isn’t any point in installing them on flat roofs. Now the question is what is a roof shingle? It means a type of covering for the roof made of the same material placed in such a manner that it overlaps each other. This kind of structure is built to protect the roof from rain, snow and hail and increase its durability and longevity. This served double purpose as it not only safeguarded the roof but also increased the beauty of the roof and gave an overall attractive appeal to the whole house or building. The importance of the shingles has been realized in the modern days and people are again opting for the roof shingles.

What Materials Roofing Shingles Are Made From

You will find that roofing shingles can be made from a number of different materials. These tiles are rectangular in shape and placed in such a way that they create double layer as they are placed in an overlapping manner. The most commonly used material is asphalt. This is made of fiber glass added with other material. In the olden days these shingles were made of ceramic, wood, asbestos and various other materials. But in the modern days the materials have changed to reduce the effect of fire and other hazards caused to the traditional materials. Metal is also used to construct roof shingles. Though ceramic is used it is not preferred as ceramic is heavy and the roof has to be quite strong to bear the weight. Asphalt roof shingle is mostly preferred as it is available in variety of colors and is cheaper than other shingle material. If you are looking to generate some electricity for your home you can even install solar roofing shingles.

What You Need to Be Aware of When Installing Roofing Shingles

It is very important to keep few important things in mind while installing the roof shingles. Before installing the new shingle the old layer of shingles should be removed. If the second layer is intact then that can be retained which will reduce the cost of installation. The installation should be done in dry weather so that the interior is not damaged and water does not collect in the gaps and create leakage. The nails used to join the tiles should be the special nails used for joining shingles else they will corrugate easily and loosen the tiles. No gap should be left between two tiles as it will increase the risk of corrugation and leakage. Proper drainage system should be done so that water does not collect in between the gaps. Two nails should be used in each shingle. Take care not to use roofing paper under the shingles. Though the work is easy do not take the risk of doing it yourself if you do not have any idea about the work. It is wiser to take the help of roofing contractors to get the best effect. Take care of the maintenance and enjoy the beauty of the house.

April has written a number of articles relating to roofing on website Types of Roofing including: Rain Gutter Covers and Flat Roof Materials

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