Spring has sprung. Hopefully, your roof has not sprung a leak over the last few months of a typically harsh Inland Northwest winter.

If it has, Spokane Roofing Company is here to help, whether for repair or for installation of a new roof, residential or commercial. But the window for roof work is typically a small one, from April to October. So, it is important to get on the schedule now. SRC?s schedule for the season usually fills up by the end of May, says owner Jeff Sitton.

Diligence in maintaining a roof is the best way to prevent future problems. March and November are the best months for inspection and maintenance. Dirt, dust, mud and pine needles should be removed from shingles, valleys, and gutters on residential roofs. Flat membrane roofs on commercial buildings are prone to puncture, and they should be repaired before further damage occurs.

New Roof Installation Tip

If your home does need a new roof, Sitton has an important tip for you. While repairs can be performed year-round, new installation should take place in the summer. That is when high temperatures will help seal the asphalt shingles, which melt together and prevent debris from lodging in between them. Over time, that attention to detail will prolong the life of a new roof.

Attentive homeowners and business-owners should be forward thinking when it comes to their roofs, says Sitton. Failure to clean is the No. 1 reason for premature failure on both sloped and flat roofs.

Homeowners who prefer to clean their own roofs should never spray from the ground, because roofs are designed for downflow, not the other way around. Leaks can develop from improper cleaning. That is another good reason to stay off your ladder and off your roof. Call a professional instead!

Residential Roof Cleanup

When Spokane Roofing Company performs a residential cleanup, its experts sweep or hose from the top down, thus:

• Removing dust and debris,
• Checking for cracked shingles,
• Cleaning valleys and gutters.

Gutter cleanup is often overlooked, Sitton says, but is every bit as important as shingle inspection in preventing problems.

Year-Round Roof Repairs

Although applying a new roof during winter months is not recommended, SRC is one of the few local roofing companies to stay open year-round for repairs and even emergency installations.

People need us when they need us. We?ll fix leaks and make necessary repairs during the winter. When someone has a big problem and will need a new roof soon, we?ll do our best to fix it temporarily. That buys time until we can do the new installation in the best possible conditions, when the weather warms up.

I?ve done and seen more than my fair share of welding over the past 40 years. And in that time the materials and welding technology have changed significantly. There were also a number of lessons learned along the way. For the old-timers out there, how many of you remember manufacturers saying these new thermoplastic materials could be welded ?straight through water??a

In the early 1970s I learned how to solvent weld PVC membranes. At the time, this was a totally foreign concept and process to me since I had been raised installing built-up roof (BUR) membranes. Fortunately, the welding process saw advancements in the late 1970s and early 1980s, most notably moving away from the use of tetrahydrofuran (THF), a fairly toxic and highly flammable solvent, to hot air. The hot air welding process was ushered in with the introduction of automatic hot air welders. However, the equipment we were using was a technology transfer from the linoleum industry. It was effective, but more often than not the automatic welders had to be run on strips of sheet metal so they didn?t create seam wrinkles. And if we were welding six feet a minute we were ?flying.?

Today?s technology has improved the automated process 100 times over. But even with the technology advancements, some aspects of the process have not changed since the early days.a The following are a few tips that will go a long way toward ensuring quality and efficiency when welding thermoplastics.

• The first principle of roofing is that all materials need to be kept dry. Moisture is the enemy of any roof system and proper storage of thermoplastic membranes can be the make-or-break factor when it comes to welding the materials together.
  
  
• The laps need to be clean. Dirt will impair the quality of the weld by creating a barrier between the polymers. Cleaning the laps may take a little time but it?s well worth the effort and ensures a quality welding process. All manufacturers either offer or recommend specific cleaning solvents for thermoplastic membranes.
  
  
• Training cannot be overlooked. This training needs to come from the manufacturer of the particular membrane. To assume that all thermoplastic membranes are alike can be a costly mistake. Their individual chemistries are unique to the individual product and understanding their nuances can be the difference between a poor and great experience for the owner as well as the crew.
  
  
• It?s not how fast you weld, it?s how well you weld fast. Welding fast is ineffective and unnecessary. Welding the membrane is one of?if not the?most critical processes done on the roof. It makes little sense to rush the welding process. I hear reports of individuals welding at 15 feet a minute and higher. Then people wonder when there are reports of poor seams. The fallback explanation is always that the seam issue must be the result of a membrane problem. Just because an automatic welder can go fast doesn?t mean you need to run it flat out. Too often this is just poor training and individuals going through the motions.
  
  
• Test welds can save a lot of rework.aToo often contractors think this takes too much time, but dialing in the automatic welder daily or after significant temperature changes during the day can actually save money that would be spent on reworking or stripping bad seams.
  
  
• You can?t probe your way to quality. Running a probe down a seam to find imperfections in the welds is an after-the-fact process and an attempt to inspect your way to quality.aEvery void, regardless of reason, has a cost associated with its repair.

In addition to the above, general safety precautions, consistent and proper power sources as well as equipment maintenance are also factors that have to be addressed daily to ensure safe, effective and high-quality rooftop welding operations.

I had a superintendent once whose motto was, ?hurry up and get it done so we have time to come back and fix it later.?aThis mentality costs contractors money and destroys an owner?s perception of quality when the finished roof is all patched up due to ineffective welding practices. My welding days are about over, but I can sum it all up with a lesson learned long ago.aDIRFT: Just do it right the first time.

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The hot summer weather is not only uncomfortable; it can also lead to larger energy bills because of the amount of electricity required to keep an acceptable indoor temperature level. Summer heat can easily penetrate conventional insulation, causing any living space to become warmer. According to experts, there is something that can significantly cut down on the amount of heat penetrating the roofing structure ? a radiant heat barrier!

Description

Conventionally, sloped and flat roofs use a single type of insulation to keep outdoor hot or cold temperatures from penetrating into the living space. Typical insulation varies from organic and inorganic fibers to synthetic substances, such as foam. While these materials are capable of providing protection, it can only be done by using thick layers, which is very costly. Using too little may be inefficient for the purpose for which it is intended.

A radiant heat barrier is designed to both reflect the sun and reduce the amount of heat that is absorbed by the insulation, thereby reducing thermal damage to underlying roofing material. It also reduces the amount of heat that insulation has to block from interfering with the comfort of the living space.

Material Types

In order to perform its function, the radiant barrier must have high reflectance and emmitance property; one material that has a high value in both areas is aluminum. A radiant barrier is identical to kitchen foil, only it is thicker and comes in larger sizes. Various manufacturers use different substrates or reinforcing sheets. Some other substances used are Kraft paper, plastic film, cardboard and strand board. The substrate is used to improve the strength of aluminum and to prevent it from tearing during installation.

Radiant Barriers vs. Foam

While a radiant barrier is basically a type of insulation, it is important to note that its action is different from conventional types of material. It reduces heat by directing or bouncing it away using its reflective properties. On the other hand, conventional insulation such as foam or fiber, is designed to protect by absorbing much of the heat through its exterior layers, thereby lowering the temperature.

Although a radiant barrier does act as a form of protection against hot summer weather, it is not designed to be a standalone component; it is designed to enhance the function of conventional foam and fiber insulation as it can only block eighty percent of the heat. Another reason is because the material is ineffective as insulation against cold temperatures. Due to these factors, a radiant barrier should only be used to enhance the function of common insulation material and not to completely replace them.

Common Misconceptions

A radiant barrier is normally installed between the deck and the foam insulation. The main concern is the possibility of damaging material above it because it reflects heat back into that material, including the decking, underlayment and shingles. According to roofers, it is true that the radiant barrier is capable of increasing the temperature on the top layers of the roofing structure; however, tests show that it is only capable of raising it from two to ten degrees which is well within the tolerable range for every roofing system.

Radiant heat barriers are an easy way to improve a home?s thermal efficiency. During the summer when cooling devices such as air conditioners and fans operate so much, lowering indoor temperatures by using these barriers can lead to a ten to twenty percent reduction in the amount of energy needed to cool the living space. Hopefully this article has provided some helpful information regarding radiant heat barriers, and has provided an answer to some of the common misconceptions regarding their use!

Schulte Roofing Can Handle All Your Roofer Houston Needs!

Do you need a good roofer Houston company to help you with the installation of a radiant heat barrier? Contact the experts at Schulte Roofing at 800-367-7663 who can help all greater Houston area customers with this and many other roofing issues!

Summer is not the time to be thinking about taxes. On the other hand, you may be using the inviting summer weather to take on some projects around the house, or complete some needed repairs. But if any of these repairs or projects involve your roof, home insulation, heating or air conditioning systems, biomass stove, water heater, or windows and doors, there are three important things you need to know. That is, if you are interested in taking advantage of some very attractive consumer energy efficiency tax credits.

aFor the roofing professionals at ASAP ROOFING, a national roofing company with offices in Aurora, Colorado, Indianapolis, Indiana, Dallas, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia, educating customers about how to get the most out of their roofing experience, and certainly, how to take advantage of energy efficiency tax credits, is just part of the job. And according to these roofing specialists, there are three very important things every homeowner must know about the 2013 energy efficiency tax credits. So let?s take a look.

ASAP ROOFING specializes in energy efficiency, emergency roof repairs and overall excellent customer service. For more information about energy efficiency, tax credits for energy efficient home upgrades, sustainable roofing, or ASAP ROOFING, just visit http://asaproofing.com/

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Written by Nick Dorotik

nick@asaproofing.com

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Just when you think you are making progress by getting the insurance check in the mail, you notice your mortgage company is listed as an additional payee and an endorsement will be required. This is always exciting especially when you have a roofing contractor that is anxiously awaiting payment. When you?re working through your insurance claim, working wth an experienced colorado springs roofer, can certainly walk you through some of the questions that arise! Most roofing companies in Colorado Springs have experience with the insurance restoration process, including policies and procedures of some mortgage companies.

Why must the mortgage company need to endorse my insurance check?

While it seems like a waste of valuable time, this policy is in place to safeguard against those who would misapply their insurance money and never complete the repairs. Understandably, the mortgage companies are protecting their investments, but none the less, it makes for additional work for the insured. The process can be time consuming so it?s best to begin as soon as the check arrives.

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What do I do with the insurance check?

As soon as you find out your claim has been approved and funded, call your mortgage company to ask them specifically what steps they require you to go through to get it endorsed. It varies between companies. If there is not a local branch in which you may take it, write down the address to which to send it. Write down which documents you will need to provide them. Most want a copy of the insurance loss statement, and some require contractor affidavits and release of lien documents that have to be notarized by your contractors. Many roofing companies in Colorado Springs should have the ability to provide all necessary mortgage company documentation. Some require a W-9 from your contractor. Sometimes homeowners are required to schedule inspections by a mortgage company representative upon completion. The more you find out in the initial conversation, the more smoothly the process will go. Many or the largest banking institutions are located in Arizona, California, Florida and Texas. Other institutions are scattered throughout the nation. If you?re a lucky homeowner than you may have a local branch with a management staff that?s able to endorse the mortgage company check for you. We?ve found that in Colorado the local Credit unions that have given home loans are easy to work with when a mortgage check needs to be endorsed. In addition, Wells Fargo local branches seem to always have a willingamanager that has the ability to endorse a mortgage company check that has been listed as an endorsee on a check for a property insurance claim. There are some other banking institutions that the process is quite simple, however don?t be surprised if it takes a lot longer than you expect. Either way the sooner you begin the easier it will be for you to begin working with a contractor and ultimately to pay the contractor the final payment when all work is completed. Almost all insurance companies will release funds over two payments. The first payment is part of the actual cash value payment. The second payment is the recoverable depreciation part of a replacement cost value policy. I?m assuming that you have a replacement cost value policy. If you would like more information on this subject please browse through our pages.

How long does this process take?

Consider sending the insurance check overnight to them to expedite the process if that will benefit you. Allow up to 10 days on average for them to process the endorsement and send it back to you. In some cases, the mortgage companies will keep the checks for over a month or create an escrow in which they only release partial payments of the insured?s insurance funds. Historically when the lenders client has a history of slow payments than they will release the funds in proportion to the work that has been completed. Many times the mortgage company will hire an inspector which will go to the property with the insurance claim in hand. This home inspector will insure that the scope of work which is listed on the adjuster?s claim summary has been completed. If the work is completed the inspector for the mortgage company will notify the mortgage company of the facts. Of course the length of time necessary for this to occur will depend on the inspectors schedule and timing of necessary protocols that have to be met by the inspector with the hiring mortgage company. If the mortgage company only requires one inspection at the completion of all the work on the insurance loss statement this will certainly benefit the homeowner. Again there will be some occasions when the mortgage company may require multiple inspections. If one is extremely lucky and the mortgage company doesn?t require any inspections than the entire process of time should be shortened. However, there are times when mortgage companies are overwhelmed with all of the insurance claims handling process with all of their loans and it happens to coincide with a time when they are short handed thus extending the time that it takes for this process. Overall if everything goes smoothly than it should take up to 10 days to get the mortgage company check endorsed.

What is the role of my contractor in the endorsement process?

At times the homeowner is asked to pay out of pocket and get reimbursed with their funds after proving payment in full to their contractor. This along with the other delays mentioned above can create a difficult situation for the homeowner who has timely repairs to make and is unable to access the funds by which to pay the contractors. Don?t be afraid to ask the contractor to speak to your mortgage representative on your behalf if you find yourself in this difficult situation as this can be highly effective in getting a rapid response. However, in most cases, the contractor is not involved in the mortgage company endorsement process other than to provide requested documents to the mortgage company.
If you are fortunate enough to have paid off a mortgage or if you refinance your loan, please confirm that your insurance company is updated, so they will not issue a check on your next claim to a mortgage company that does not have any legal recourse to sign it. This oversight can cause unnecessary delays in having your insurance funds available to make necessary repairs. The good news is that it is easily avoided with a phone call or letter to the right department.

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