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News

The Best Warranty: Single-ply Membrane Roof Warranty

The best warranty in the construction industry is a single-ply membrane roof warranty (TPO or thermopolyolefin  , E.P.D.M., P.V.C., Modified Bitumen).

Firestone Building Products is leading in this area with their “edge to edge” roof warranty which covers all the roofing accessory products installed (membrane, roof insulation such as poly – iso board, fasteners, flashings, metal drip edge or coping or gravel stop, etc. These are on commercial flat or low slope roofs with positive drainage.

Of course one can get just a material or a membrane only warranty, ( residential or commercial) accompanied by the roofing contractor’s labor warranty, but I am speaking of a workmanship (labor) and material warranty by a multi-billion dollar company. Firestone even inspects the roof to be sure it is installed as per their specifications. A contractor must be certified by them to obtain one of these warranties which means you are sure you have picked a good roofer.  Any roofer can get a material warranty.  Only the best are Firestone certified.

These warranties are non pro-rated, have a no dollar limit, and are available in duration of 5, 10, 15. 20, 25 and 30 year increments. Yes, they can guaranty a roof against leaks and other defects for 30 years! They do this because they know their roof system will perform and last.

You know what non pro-rated means. No dollar limit means that 29 years from now, on a 30 year roof, inflation doesn’t matter. If a repair costs 20 times more than it does now, they still have to provide material and labor to do it. And most of the time these warranty repairs are made in just a few days because we make them for Firestone and Genflex Roofing Systems and they pay us to do so.

I would say that these roof system warranties may even be the best in any industry and not just in roofing or construction. Can you get one like it on a car or a microwave oven? Nope. I don’t think so.

Robert Andrews ll , President Andrews Roofing                                                              robert@andrewsroofing.com

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Installing a Walkable Vinyl Membrane Roof System

Do you have a flat or low slope roof you would like to cook out on? People used to build wood decks on top of built-up roofs, E.P.D.M. (rubber) roofs, TPO membrane roofs, modified bitumen roofs, and even shingle roofs. These methods do work but are expensive and are difficult to deal with in cases where leaks pop up after installation.

To find and repair a leak, one must remove parts of the wood deck. This takes time and money. Also, puddles, moisture, and ponding water under the deck on top of the roof can cause fungus and vegetation growth which can damage the roof and deck. Never trap moisture!

An alternative to this old method is to install a walkable vinyl membrane roof system. The brand I recommend and have used for many years is Dec-k-ing. It serves as a waterproofing system, a roof, and a roof top patio. It is designed to handle regular abuse of people and pet traffic, furniture, grills, etc. It looks good too – coming in a variety of colors with a slip resistant textured surface.

Because of hot air welded seams, I have never seen one leak. If a vinyl membrane roof is damaged or cut, it is easy to repair by installing a patch which blends in pretty nicely for aesthetics. It can be installed on plywood or concrete smooth surfaces. This Dec-k-ing traffic roof membrane system should last 20 years. After that, a new membrane can be fully adhered right on top of it – no new disposal of old roofing will be necessary.

Make sure you hire a qualified roofer to install it. The technicians must be very skilled and able to not only put on a roof, but to install a vinyl floor as well. It must go down on a properly prepared surface so that characteristics of the substrate don’t telegraph through it, giving it a rough appearance. Substrate must have a slope to run water off. A one in twelve inch fall is fine. It comes in 40 and 60 mil thicknesses and is considered a fully adhered  single – ply membrane roof system.

Visit globaldecking.com for more info.
I like this stuff. I really do.

Robert Andrews II, President/Andrews Roofing                                                              robert@andrewsroofing.com

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Roofing Work Safety

Most work related deaths are caused by falls or being run over or hit by heavy equipment, as per an O.S.H.A. inspector I talked to last month. The rule is that when working six feet or above the ground one must have fall protection. So, this would include pretty much all roofers all the time. The most common type used is a full body harness. Any good roofing contracting company will have a written safety program which thoroughly covers fall protection. Think about it, even a 1 story residential shingle roof has a 12-14 feet high eave. At the ridge it may be 25 feet or more. A fall from these heights would do some serious damage to the body. There are times when fall protection is not required. One could work on a flat or low slope roof even 50 feet high without it if the parapet wall is 42 inches tall for example.

Bottom line is this: whether a contractor is going to do shingles, metal, flat, single-ply membrane, built-up, commercial, residential,  industrial, roofing replacement or roof repairs for you, make sure they have a written safety program and they have workers’ compensation insurance in case something does happen.

Just about every other year I hear of a local roofer falling to his death. It happens. Be sure it doesn’t happen on your property.

Robert Andrews ll, President                                                                                               robert@andrewsroofing.com

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What to Expect From Your Roof During Heavy Heavy Rain – Hurricane Sandy

Your house or commercial building is not a boat or a submarine and even they take on water.

When Hurricane Sandy like rains come, many roofs may leak and never leak again. This type of abuse only happens every few years or so. Ernesto was a named storm in late summer 2006 that dumped 10″ of rain in approx 3-4 hrs in Hampton Roads , VA. I was on a low slope TPO single-ply membrane roof in downtown Portsmouth, Virginia in that rain and there was an 1-2 inches of running water from up slope to the interior roof drains. This water covered the entire roof surface. If those drains wouldn’t have performed properly, that roof would have folded under the water weight and leaked badly or even collapsed. Water weight temporarily sags the roof structure and can cause seams and flashings to fail by pulling them loose. Keep your interior roof drains, suppers, conductor heads, gutters and downspouts clear of debris so water runs off and does not back up causing leaks. Also remember that fiber glass asphalt shingles, shake, slate, tile, metal roofs are lapped for water shedding – not for water proofing. There is a big difference. Too much rain water just can’t shed fast enough and your roof may leak even though you don’t know it. Keep it maintained regularly and draining well and the first most important thing is to put the right product in the right place. For example, you would not install a shingle on a slope lesser than 2″ in 12″. It will leak if you do.

Do not let debris like pinestraw pile up in roof valleys, behind chimneys, etc. because heavy rain will make the roof leak and this lack of attention also shortens the life of the roof system.

With the appropriate product for the application and with excellent workmanship and maintenance your roof will handle most of the even “perfect storm” rain scenarios.

Robert Andrews ll , President Andrews Roofing                                                                   robert@andrewsroofing.com

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Purchasing A New Shingle Roof

When getting a new or replacement roof on your home or business there are a few simple facts to remember.

All roofing contractors are not the same. The right company will install it to perform better and last longer. The materials must be installed the way the manufacturer specifies because they engineered them. Check the roofing contractor out before you hire them. Make sure they have a good, long reputation for quality.

All shingle types and manufacturers are not the same either. See consumer reports and look around online before you buy. I ( Robert Andrews) recommend CertainTeed manufacturer for quality and service and warranty.

The limited lifetime guaranteed fiber-glass asphalt algae resistant shingles are driving the market in the mid Atlantic region including Hampton Roads and Richmond, Virginia and in the Outer Banks (OBX) of North Carolina. They look great and perform well with a 130 mile per hour (mph) wind warranty when installed properly with the proper accessories such as pre-cut starter strips and cap or ridge shingles. A 3-tab shingle will work, but only comes with a 60 mph wind warranty in some cases and does not look as good. Wind rating may be higher. Architectural shingles are reasonably priced making them the best value in many cases.

Remember that your roof is a big part of how your home or business looks from the curb too. Take your time making decisions about style and color. Go online and consult with the contractor.

A roof is not cheap so pick the right roofer and material for the job. It is at least a 20 year commitment once it is on your building. Thank you. Good luck!

Robert Andrews                                                                                                                       robert@andrewsroofing.com

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TPO Membrane Roof System

Single-ply roof systems include TPO, P.V.C., E.P.D.M. and some modified bitumen assemblies. TPO or thermo-polyolifin is currently driving the flat or low slope roof market and is used on residential, commercial and industrial applications. Because of its lite weight, hot air welded seams, and competitive price many roof consultants consider it to be a great value compared to other roof system options. It comes in 45, 60, 80 mil (.045 ,.060,.080) thicknesses and also comes in a fleece back option. A mil is equal to 1/1000 of an inch. It can be mechanically fastened or fully adhered. It is reinforced for durability. It is white in color and can be bought gray or tan as well. Many consumers believe a white roof is best because it reflects sunlight and heat but sometimes this is not true. If you have trouble cooling a building in summer then a white roof will help of course but with proper attic, roof ventilation and building insulation the color does not matter. Many old buildings do not have either so a white roof does make since especially when you are installing TPO over top of an existing roof. Often the best value is to install a one half inch poly-iso , e.p.s., or high density wood fiber board insulation as recovery board and a TPO membrane roof system right over a built-up roof with gravel.

Firestone Building Products offers workmanship and material warranties from 5 to 30 years. A certified Firestone contractor must install it to get one of these warranties. Many call single-ply roofs rubber roofs. TPO roofs are also easy to repair and easy to install. I (Robert Andrews) believe that because of all of these characteristics ,TPO membrane will continue to be the roof system of choice in most flat or low slope applications for a long time and will even grow in popularity over the years.

Robert Andrews II                                                                                                                     robert@andrewsroofing.com

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