Hurricane Sandy Meets Closed Cell Spray Foam

Hurricane Sandy is big talk in the construction industry. All phases of construction, residential and commercial; structural and cosmetic will be implemented and go on over the next several years in the Northeast because of her fury.

Sprayfoam.com, the largest media channel in the world exclusively dedicated to the global spray foam industry, conducted interviews with roofing contractors in the New York and New Jersey areas to see how the spray foam industry is being affected. It turns out that consumers are asking more and more questions about closed-cell foam and how they can get it.

FEMA classifies closed-cell spray foam as the only acceptable flood damage resistant insulation material for floors, walls, and ceilings in its building design criteria for special flood hazard areas. It has the potential to be dried and cleaned following a flood, and increases the strength of structural framing.

People who had closed cell foam insulation previously installed before the storm have reported outstanding results against the winds and other forces. In fact, one home-owner spoke of a tree which fell down during the storm and just "bounced" off newly-sprayed closed cell foam roof. The house was 100 feet off of the Bay. 

Moriah Carpenter, Estimator at Washington Roofing & Insulation, said that people are really starting to open up their eyes to closed-cell spray foam.

"It evolved from the east coast, and we're definitely seeing an increase here in the Midwest. It is real big in St. Louis and Columbia, Missouri, and more inquiries are being made from the Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas areas," she said.

According to the SprayFoam.com article, "Spray foam is gaining greater recognition for its ability not only to provide better energy efficiency and comfort, but also to give homeowners and business owners piece of mind when it comes to safety and protection as our volatile weather patterns continue."

"We've always used closed-cell spray foam in our commercial applications. It's exciting to watch the wave as people start becoming more aware of its benefits," Moriah said.

Sources: Sprayfoam.com

Midwest Commercial Roofing Company Named after Town in Kansas

When you start a business, one of the first things people ask you is, "How did you come up with the name?" We get asked that a lot, especially now, where the name doesn't correspond to anything people can put their finger on immediately.

Washington Roofing & Insulation, part of Washington Companies, Inc., is not named after the state, nor a famous person like George or Denzel, and it doesn't represent our political affiliations in any way.

It was named because Chuck Carpenter, owner, started the company 35 years ago in the small town of Washington, Kansas. Located in north-central Kansas off of Hwy 56, Washington is 20 minutes south of the Nebraska line and 50 miles north of Manhattan. It is home to around 1100 people.

Now our main office is located in Great Bend, Kansas with offices in Claremore, Oklahoma and Kansas City. We provide commercial roofing solutions with SPF foam roofing, elastomeric roof coatings and total building insulation with air barrier systems and products. We service the entire midwest, from Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas, and have installed millions of square feet of roofing.

So people do squint their eyes at us and ponder how we got our name, and it makes us smile. In the end it never matters, because no matter which political party you belong to, the bottom line is that when we're finished, your roof won't leak.  

~ GO FORTH AND VOTE! ~

Highly Trained and Certified Staff to Install High Pressured SPF Insulation

Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) insulation can either be open-cell or closed-cell foam. The open-cell foam has tiny cells that are not completely closed (thus the name "open" cell). This allows air to fill up the open spaces inside the material, making the foam weaker and softer to the touch.

Closed-cell foam, on the other hand, is made up of cells completely closed and packed together. They are filled with a gas that forces the foam to rise and expand which makes it a greater insulator.

Closed-cell foam has a greater R value, is stronger and it has a better resistance to the leakage of air and water vapor. The higher the density the foam, the heavier, or stronger it becomes.

For mid-size jobs in homes, there are low pressure (< 250 pounds per inch) two-component kits for SPF projects. These are used to insulate small areas by SPF foam contractors who use special personal protective equipment.

One of the spray rigs used in Washington Roofing's projects.

Commercial applications and other large renovations use two-component, high pressure systems (800-1600 psi) with 55-gallon drums and a spray rig. This product is applied by contractors who have had special training and use specialized personal protective equipment, including respirators.

Washington Roofing & Insulation uses BASF Closed Cell Spray Foam and the staff is trained and certified for SPF commercial projects. For more information, visit our website or contact us at 800.383.3062

BASF Walltite Foam Project in Kansas Near Completion

One of the bigger projects that we have been working on this summer is for the Kansas City Kansas Community College who is refurbishing an old Walmart and turning the building into their new Technical Center. BASF Walltite foam insulation is being used to insulate the entire building and we should be finished later this fall. Below are some photos taken during the construction phase:

Closed Cell Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation

Another shot of the building with Closed Cell Spray
Polyurethane Foam Roofing

Spray Polyurethane Foam in progress.

Our foam rig setup

We spray 4" of closed Cell SPF in stud cavity

The building will house many different technical classes for students and is scheduled to be completed in the Summer of 2013 with their Grand Opening that Fall.

The Results are In for the Alpha Roofing Rating System

The results of the Arizona State University Alpha Roofing Rating System were recently posted, and Washington Roofing & Insulation (WRI) is proud to announce we again received a high 9.8 rating as set by the Performance Based Studies Research Group (PBSRG). The maximum rating is a 10.

During the process of renewal for the rating, the PGSRG (a third-party research organization) surveyed our client base and conducted comprehensive field tests over 1,427,600 square feet of WRI installed commercial roofs. Ratings were based upon roofing leaks, customer satisfaction with product and customer satisfaction with contractor. All respondents said they were 100% satisfied with the process. The oldest roof surveyed was 28 years old.

There are only 14 roofing contractors in the United States that participate in this study and WRI received the highest rating given this year.

You can view the latest report by going to the PBSRG website and downloading the pdf file here.

An Energy Conservation Idea for Building Owners

We have always been interested in energy conservation, which is one of the things that got us started with Spray Polyurethane Foam Roofing in the first place over 35 years ago. Though out the years we were naturally led to maximizing an owner's investment through quality products and installation for the entire building "envelope," which then started to include Polyurethane Foam Air Barrier and Fluid Applied Air Barrier services.

For building owners and our clients it all boils down to this: decreasing your energy consumption and increase profits while protecting the health of the occupants.

As there are many ways for to accomplish this, we found an article interesting in the Commercial Construction & Renovation July/August 2012 issue which talked about ways to reduce building HVAC costs with site-recovered energy by using Energy Recovery Wheel Technology, or Enthalpy Wheels.

According to the article, enthalpy wheels "transfer energy by rotating between outdoor air and exhaust air streams to transfer heat and moisture from one airstream to another." It retrieves the wasted energy in building exhaust air and recycles it and allows the building to increase outdoor air levels without making your HVAC unit work harder.

It also helps enable building owners to participate in energy programs. Energy recovery wheels are available from most HVAC OEMs and distributors.

We Don't Take Being a Performance Based Contractor Lightly

A Performance Based Contractor is a contractor who withstands rigorous annual inspections from the Arizona State University Performance Based Studies Research Group (PBSRG), a third party group of researchers and educators whose mission is to continually develop tools and processes to "improve the procurement and delivery of projects and services, as well as the measurement of internal operations and personnel."

Each year, Washington Roofing and Insulation provides a list of finished NEOGARD roof coating projects that the PBSRG scrutinizes to determine sustainability and customer satisfaction. PBSRG researchers send out surveys and inspect each project, then provide a rating back from 1-10, with ten being the highest amount of satisfaction.

Washington Roofing and Insulation is proud to one of 14 Performance Based Contractors in the entire United States.

But what does that mean to you?

That means we undergo tedious research and inspections which keeps pushing us to perform at our very highest. Our goal is for our customers to be satisfied throughout the life of their roof. With proper *maintenance the life of your roof should be as long as the life of the building.

To learn more about our status as a Performance Based Alpha Contractor, visit the PBSRG website. 

*Proper maintenance is recoating your roof at the end of your warranty period. Normal recoating is every 8-10 years.

Tiffany Ridge Elementary Project

In the fall of 2011, Washington Roofing and Insulation (WRI) began work on Tiffany Ridge Elementary school in Kansas City, Missouri. WRI was contracted to provide the air barrier for the building and worked with Universal Construction out of Lenexa, Kansas, and D&D Masonry from Kansas City, Missouri. 

Moriah Carpenter, Air Barrier Estimator for WRI, said that the LEED project was an outstanding addition to the Park Hill School District.

"We were proud and honored to be a part of this BASF Walltite Air Barrier project," Moriah said."It  all came together really quickly."

Southwest elevation during spray foam process.

Brick ledge by brick mason.

Completed building.

Front of completed building.

Moriah said that the mild winter in the area allowed them to complete most of the project in the early Spring.

"We enjoyed meeting the challenges this project brought to us due to several different exterior finishes that were used," she said. "We look forward to watching as they open their doors this fall."

The ribbon cutting for the Tiffany Ridge Elementary School is scheduled for late June 2012. The district plans to be open for the 2012-2013 school year.

Photos copyright of Washington Roofing and Insulation 2012.

We Will Come Back

When we consult with people on their roofing problems and discuss specific solutions, the biggest question we are asked, with no doubt, is:
"Will you come back?"

In every industry there are those unethical contractors who either take off with the money and don't return or finish the job but are never available for questions or to solve problems. In many cases with talking to potential clients, we have to convince them that Washington Roofing and Insulation will service them on a continual basis.

With clients located across the midwest we do a lot of driving . . . but we are prepared for that. In fact, we have evened opened up a new branch of Washington Roofing and Insulation in Claremore, Oklahoma, which has provided our Oklahoma and Texas clients with a faster response time. It is ran by a gentleman named Chuck Grubbs (we will talk about this further in a later post.)

Since 1978 we have met the challenge of  scheduling, service calls and client emergencies. We keep three and four crews busy at all times and are dedicated to superior service and bend over backwards to keep customers satisfied.

Bottom line? We will be there when you need us. We will come back.

The Lucky Flock of Geese

Chuck Carpenter, owner of Washington Roofing and Insulation, once told me a story about when he was a young kid back from the military. Since it is Memorial Day, it seemed like a good time to share.

He and his buddy had returned home and were offered an opportunity to go goose hunting with a guide for free. The guide wanted to pay respects for the young men, thank them for the service they provided the country, and take them on a hunt.

The guide was excellent, calling to the birds over Cheyenne Bottoms in Great Bend, Kansas, bringing them closer to the boys. There were many geese coming in and the guide told them to get ready. When the time came the birds were so close that they could have jumped up to tackle them. The guide said, "NOW" and chuck and his buddy started to shoot.

After the dust settled, the two military boys anxiously looked around to count their prizes.

Not a bird had been dropped.

After the group got back home, the guide looked at the sheepish crew and said, "Do you want to know why you didn't bring down any geese?"

Chuck and his friend were very embarrassed. Excellent shooters, they couldn't understand what happened.

"It is because you didn't focus, boys. You shot randomly. You need to pick one bird at a time, and focus."

Chuck learned a very big lesson that day. He told me it has helped him through life and is one of the reasons Washington Roofing and Insulation is successful. Each job, each client . . .  gets his ultimate attention . . . his focus. And who would have thought that it all boiled down to a flock of lucky geese and a professional hunting guide.

Retail Box Store Has Leaky Roof

(Warning, this blog post will be more opinionated than normal.)

As a professional roofing contractor working across the Midwest in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa, we work hard to keep these blog posts fairly neutral in nature and try to present material in a professional manner -- leaving the opinions up to the reader.

But not this time. This time will be personal and a bit more opinionated . . . apologies in advance if anyone is offended.

On my day "away from the office" I was making the required "errand" rounds throughout the Kansas City metro which required me to stop off at one of the larger retail chains in the area. It was Sunday, and the rain decided to follow me around the area to let me know that I may want to come back in another life as a duck.

As I entered the establishment and started to shop, I noticed buckets scattered throughout in various isles of the store. Upon further inspection (and inspect, I did) it was obvious they were "catching drips" buckets. Their roof was leaking . . . and it was leaking everywhere.

Not only was this an inconvenience to employees and shoppers, but it also sent off a huge warning signal. Is upper management so unorganized that they cannot prepare for roof maintenance issues? Does the company not have the funds available? Are they using "cheap" subcontractors for quantity, not quality products and craftsmanship? Talk about a liability situation . . . throw some buckets and moisture on the floors with people pushing shopping carts around and cross your fingers. How can such a huge corporation with chains throughout most of the United States allow such a disaster?

Perhaps my concern is due, in part, to the fact that I am part of the roofing industry and I know how important it is to maintain your roof, especially in the commercial arena. Or perhaps my concern is due to the fact I am a consumer, a parent and a resident of the area. Whichever way, I ponder what the next "storm" will bring for that particular facility.

Urban Heat Island and Trees

Last year we discussed Urban Heat Islands and the effect that they have on the environment and how building owners could help diminish it. One of the ways was to install a cool roof system on a building, like an elastomeric coating system. The other was to increase vegetation around the building.

Source: wikimedia.org

Many cities have put into place a Tree Protection ordinance, prohibiting removing or pruning of trees without a permit. San Antonio, Texas actually requires different levels of free protection based on tree class or location.

There are also Street Tree ordinances that govern how to plant and remove trees along public right-of-ways and land that is privately owned but accessible by the public. For example, Orlando, Florida specifies that trees must be planted along both sides of a street, with one tree every 50 to 100 feet.

Parking lot shade is another way to help reduce the heat island effect and increase vegetation. In Sacramento, California, for example, a code in their zoning code requires that enough trees be planted to shade 50 percent of new parking lots after 15 years of tree growth.

So if you are looking to build or renovate your building, keep environmental concerns in mind and contact your city and see what steps can be taken to minimize the Urban Heat Island.

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.

The Difference Between Air Barriers and Vapor Barriers

We don't want to bore you too much technical jargon but it is important to understand that there is a difference between air barriers and vapor barriers.

A vapor barrier is designed to restrict the flow of water vapor through a material. The air barrier, on the other hand, restricts the flow of air through a material.

Since they are intended to control the rate of diffusion into a building assembly, water vapor material will control the rate of moisture flow where they are placed. They don't have to overlap or be continuous.

Then there are water resistive barriers, which are systems using materials primarily designed to keep liquid water from entering the building enclosure. They are designed not be be a vapor barrier and are designed to be installed on the cold side of the insulation.

To make it even more confusing, combined air barriers, vapor barriers and water resistive barriers can be provided in a single material.

[what?]

It's important to know when you are dealing with the building envelope which material you choose to perform each different function.

But, that is what we are for, so when you are looking to design your air barrier system for your building, give us a call and we'll worry about all of that for you.

Why Is it Important for You that We are ABAA Certified

Washington Roofing & Insulation is an accredited contractor of the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA).

Washington Roofing & Insulation

In order to become accredited, we completed intensive requirements such as attending courses and passing written exams. Furthermore, in order to be a part of the ABAA, companies must have a minimum of $300,000 bonding ability, over $2 million in general liability insurance, be specifically licensed, have a minimum of 3,000 hours of air barrier field installation or related trade experience and pay an annual membership.

That's all great, you say, but what does that mean for me?

It means that we undertook this challenge as a company to bring a higher level of commitment and professionalism in the installation of air barrier systems for our clients.  It means that our installers have thousands of hours of experience and have been trained specifically on proper installation of this product, and it means that we undergo continuing education and stay up-to-date on trends in air barriers and building envelopes.

Therefore, you will receive a superior end product when Washington Roofing & Insulation works with you to provide the air barrier system for your building.

And that's the bottom line.

Jammin' With Jam-Ex

It is usually the little things that companies do that build their reputation. One of the ways we go that extra mile is utilize products during installations that may not seem like a big deal, but provide a quality, long-lasting end result.

One of those products is called Jam-Ex. Is is a simple thermoplastic piece used to extend jambs, heads and sills of windows, curtainwalls and doors in exterior walls of buildings for air and vapor barrier systems.

We use them around windows sills to maintain an even spray flow across the entire area. No matter how well trained you are, installers will tamper the flow as they near an opening, causing a thinner air barrier around the windows and doors. Jam-Ex prevents this tapering. It also helps prevent wood warping since it is fabricated from a custom blend of resin modified, UV resistant thermoplastic.

It is not exciting, sexy or expensive. It doesn't shake hands, kiss babies or run for president. It is just a little something extra that helps provide a higher quality product and service for our customers.

Flint Hills Discovery Center Project Complete

The Flint Hills Discovery Center project is complete.

We are proud to pass along the announcement that the grand opening for the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan, Kansas is right on schedule for this April. The Center broke ground in July 2010 with a mission to "celebrate, explore and care for the flint hills."

Back in November we had posted how Washington Roofing and Insulation (WRI) was working with Split Rock Studios out of Minneapolis to create a cave at the center for people to walk into and see exhibits. This was done by spraying polyurethane foam inside the structure and then the creative people at Split Rock made the "cave like" appearance by cutting into the foam and adding the vines. WRI finished the project by spraying polyurethane foam inside the walls of the cave and then using Flame Seal TB on top of the foam to create the thermal barrier needed to meet fire requirements. WRI also sprayed foam on the walls of the center.

Inside the cave during construction.

Moriah Carpenter, project estimator for the company, said that this was one of the more unique projects WRI had ever done.

"What is done behind the scenes makes a big difference," she said. "It will really help them with their energy efficiency. It was exciting to be a part of it and watch it all come together."

The Center is hosting a Contractor's Grand Opening on April 7th and then will be open to the general public shortly after that. 

"McCownGorden worked hard to get this open on time," Moriah said. "They did a fantastic job."

Inside the cave with exhibits.

Another shot of the cave's interior with exhibits.

Note: Photos compliments of the Flint Hills Discovery Center construction page

The Importance of the Climate Zone Map

In order to provide the insulation material for your building, the BASF educates contractors to reference the the U.S. Department of Energy's climate zone map. The map breaks the United States up into two main areas: dry and moist, and further breaks it down into eight zones.

Each zone has specific requirements for how spray polyurethane foam should be applied. To spare you with all the technical jargon, SPF is applied differently from one zone to the next, depending upon climates.

"Both open-cell and closed-cell spray foam are air impermeable and can help to reduce energy losses and avoid condensation by increasing the airtightness of the enclosure if the enclosure is properly designed and the spray foam is properly installed. Open-cell foam is vapor permeable so care must be taken in colder climates to minimize the risk of vapor diffusion wetting of the exterior sheathing. Hybrid applications, known as “flashand- batt” or “flash-and-fill” or “combo systems” consist of spray foam against the exterior sheathing covered with a layer of fibrous insulation. Spraying foam directly against exterior foam insulation is also possible as a hybrid approach but care must be given during the foam application process." Spray Foam Guide, Building Science Corporation 2011.

As a performance-based mid-western spray polyurethane roofing and air barrier company we take understanding the reasons behind the different applications very seriously. We are committed to providing our clients with nothing less than an exception final product so continual staff education in SPF design and installation is a priority.

Why Choose Spray Foam?

Our friends at the Spray Foam Coalition provided us with a 2-page document that lists the benefits of choosing spray polyurethane foam (SPF) for your insulation and air sealing barrier needs on walls, roofs and other surfaces. You can download the document from our website or keep reading for the summarized version.

Spray Foam is Energy Efficient
As much as 40% of a building's energy is lost due to air infiltration, gaps, holes and air leaks. Spray foam closes gaps that lets air escape and can reduce utility bills. It also helps your HVAC unit as it maintains an optimal climate in your building, keeping it from working as hard. In fact, a HVAC unit can be downsized by as much as 35% when a building is SPF insulated.

When SPF is applied to the roof of a building, it can provide cool roof performance when topped with a protective, reflective coating. "Cool roofs" are designed to maintain a lower temperature than traditional roofs.

Common air leaks found in most buildings.
Source: 2011 American Chemistry Council, Inc.

Buildings can be sealed with SPF.
Source: 2011 American Chemistry Council, Inc.

Closed-Cell Spray Foam Can Improve Building Strength and Durability
A SPF roofing system is known to have effective lifespans that can exceed 30 years. A professionally applied SPF can create a strong bond to protect the roof and eliminate water seepage through weak spots. It increases a building's resistance to wind uplift, "gluing" the overall building together.

SPF insulation is highly resistant to floodwater damage. It also prevents moisture and condensation throughout the building, helping prevent mold and mildew. When closed-cell is applied in the cavities of walls it increases durability of the wall system because of its ability to conform and adhere to the surface.

Source: Spray Foam Coalition

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

Give Your HVAC Unit a Break

How much money do you spend a year on your heating a cooling for your building? Commercial energy consumption has always been high but heating and cooling can be a bill you dread receiving. Much of the costs associated with these inflated numbers are due to air leaks in your building.

Many companies now are looking into air barrier systems for their building, which is also considered a "building envelope." The building's six sides are wrapped in layers comprised by a number of different materials which helps prevent air leakage and the diffusion of air caused by wind and other sources. It assists in keeping the warm air in during the colder months and the cool air in during the warmer months. It can also help with the prevention of mold and other pollutants that can be potentially harmful to people within the structure.

Application of the Walltite foam air barrier system at
the University of Missouri School, Columbia, Missouri.

Air barrier system envelope protects entire building.

The Department of Energy says that air leakage can increase energy costs by up to 40% in colder climates and 15% in cooling costs. A good air barrier system can reduce these costs. In fact, since mechanical engineers design the HVAC units in buildings around air leakage, many times they are able to use smaller units when a building has a good air barrier system in place.

So give your HVAC unit a break and look into air barrier systems for your next building design or renovation. It will help your pocketbook, as well.

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

Roofs Needing Repair Don't Worry About 2012 Trends

The Dodge Report forecasting 2012 construction trends says that this year will be similar to 2011 as both residential and commercial markets sporadically jump around the grid. As commercial roofing contractors who have watched the industry ebb and flow for over 35 years we understand that trends are important to watch but do not necessarily indicate the success of a company. One thing will remain the same with us: when your building's roof needs fix, you need a trust-worthy, experienced roofing professional to fix it. Simple as that.

Roofing renovation does not have to be a ghastly project to complete. There does not have to be the big tear-off expense and noise disruption. There does not  have to be the smell of tar and the headache of  employees stepping around debris trying to get in the door.

Washington Roofing has several solutions for roofing repair or new construction roofing projects. One is with fluid applied, elastomeric coating systems. These systems are sustainable, seamless and are engineered for toughness and durability.

The other roofing system Washington Roofing offers is the Spray Polyurethane Foam system, which is sprayed on foam insulation giving your building seamless, lightweight insulation with a high "R" value. This system can be used on both new roofs and roof repairs, and is perfect for unusual-shaped buildings.

Personal meetings and professional consultation is one of the most important benefits we can offer you during your research and budgeting process. It is our job to make sure you understand your options and are satisfied with the end result.