Five Fact Friday

It's that time again...Five Fact Friday brought to you by RoofConnect's Technical Services Department.

Effective communication is key in maintaining customer relationships and potentially more important than the actual work being performed.

There is not “one size fits all” roof application.  Each opportunity must be evaluated and fitted with the appropriate roof for the location, configuration, size, and use of the building.

Remember:  The lowest price does not necessarily result in saving money.  Hire the person who is most knowledgeable about the project, not the one with the lowest price.

A scheduled inspection program for rooftop drainage and waterways is critical to positive roof performance and structural integrity.

When considering a solar installation, it is essential to include a roofing professional and roofing manufacturer in your discussions with the solar integrator.  Together they can make sure your roofing continues to perform and your building contents are protected during and after the solar installation.

For more information, please contact us today! 877-942-5613 or technical_services@roofconnect.com.

  

RoofConnect Offers You Emergency Service; Immediate Connection

RoofConnect -- Emergency Service; Immediate Connection

RoofConnect provides 24-hour Emergency Repair Service, including nights, weekends and holidays. Each location has a fully staffed service department operating 24/7/365 to protect our client's roofs in any weather emergency.

We can assist in the documentation requirements for insurance claims, as well as work with the material manufacturers to resolve repair and maintenance claims on your warranted roofs. Additionally, whether it's an emergency leak service, hurricane, tornado, fire, or any other natural disaster, the RoofConnect team is only a phone call away. We will provide you with the best possible solution in the shortest amount of time.

This immediate service can save you time and money, and may decrease further interior and structural damage.

If your emergency is after normal business hours (7:30 am – 5:00 pm CST) please call 877-942-5613 and our designated on-call RoofConnect Representative will assist you immediately.

Be Sure to Connect with Us!

         

RoofConnect, National Roofing Services

P:  877-942-5613
RoofConnect.com

RoofConnect, Liz Miller

Be prepared - Isaac on track to impact

RoofConnect would like to remind you of things you can do now to prepare for damaging wind and rain.

Isaac Slowly Strengthening

"The eye of Isaac is evident on satellite and the National Hurricane Center is forecasting the storm to strengthen into a hurricane by Tuesday. The forecast track takes him over New Orleans Tuesday afternoon or evening."

Tropical Storm & Hurricane Preparedness: Are your roofs ready? Are you Ready?

Evaluate your roofs and prepare a plan of action before the next Tropical Storm or Hurricane mounts an assault.  Now a crucial time to evaluate your roofs and prepare a plan of action. 

Careful installation practices and annual maintenance can make a significant difference in a roof’s hurricane preparedness. Here are a few of the things you should check to make sure your properties are prepared to survive a hurricane.

TO DO...Now:

1. Schedule RoofConnect to perform your roof’s annual maintenance if you have not done so already.
2. RoofConnect will create a proper plan to meet specific needs at each site. 
3. Train your property management staff now – educating during a hurricane warning can be stressful.
4. Take photographs or video of your establishments inside and out, from all angles. This will help to substantiate insurance claims later.
5. Regularly clean drains, gutters and downspouts of your buildings.
6. RoofConnect can verify that all permanent rooftop equipment is secure.  - Improperly secured machinery causes membrane separation & leaks.
7. Determine and acquire emergency equipment and supplies to have on hand in the event of a storm (e.g., heavy plastic sheeting, tie-downs for sheeting and rooftop equipment, duct tape, masking tape, sandbags, emergency generator, storm shutters, large pieces of plywood, hand tools and other essential items).

TO DO...When a Hurricane Watch is Issued:

1. Check and secure equipment on rooftops – HVAC equipment, ventilation piping, exhaust fans and vents must be secured to the roof – these things can become missiles!
2. Remove loose objects, loose gravel and debris from the roof. 
3. Bring in display racks and other objects usually left outside. 
4. Remove antennas, outdoor signs, especially those that swing or are portable.
5. Close all doors and secure all windows. A RICOWI (Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues) study found that a surprising number of roof failures were due to doors and windows that had been left open or shattered.  When high speed winds entered buildings through these spaces, roofs can be compromised.

A helpful roof evaluation checklist can be found at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety's web site: http://disastersafety.org/hurricane/evaluating-the-roof/

As always, RoofConnect can help in an emergency…Before, during and after the storm:

• Safety is always first and foremost. 
• We will conduct a thorough roof inspection and adhere to the specific manufacturer requirements.  
• A proper plan is executed with you to meet specific needs at each site.  
• All federal and local guidelines must be followed to protect all personnel before entering the disaster zone and while on site. 
• Proper documentation is always provided at project close out.
• Our work and materials meet the standards of insurance coverage claims. 

To schedule an evaluation of your roof, call 24/7/365 877-942-5613 or visit http://www.roofconnect.com/request-a-roof-evaluation.html

RoofConnect, Liz Cleveland

Unusual Things We Find on the Roof

Recently, I was on a roof in Louisiana during some stormy weather.  While I was walking the roof I found a Spiderman action figure standing independently in the middle of the roof defying the storm gusts!  How was Spidey just standing there in the middle of the roof?  I had to scale a 200 lb, 30 ft.  tall ladder to get on the roof.  So, unless a kid was bitten by a radioactive spider, how did it get there?  It's amazing how many times we ponder the obscure items we find on a roof!

RoofConnect maintains millions of square feet of roofing.  We are on roofs over 15,000 times a year and sometimes our techs find some interesting items.  Here are 6 of the more unusual things.

1. Bullets and bullet holes.  Our techs send us pictures of roofs that are riddled with bullet holes and have the actual slugs on them from people shooting their weapons into the air.  Well, what goes up must come down, and thankfully onto a roof and not a person.  “Lead” precipitation is definitely not covered under warranty!

2. Trees and Shrubs.  I know that you are thinking, “Hey! Green roofing is not unusual!”  However, these trees and shrubs are unintentional.  We once removed a 4 foot tall mimosa tree from a roof in Florida that had rooted completely through the built-up roof to the deck.  This is why we recommend clearing gutters and drains bi-annually!

3. A clothes line - with the clothes still clothes-pinned on the line.

4. A Santa Suit!  No Santa though. 

5. Animals.  We have certainly seen lots of winged animals, squirrels, and rats.  Animal nesting and waste is a serious hazmat and roof condition concern. Owners should take the proper humane and professional steps to eliminate any animal roosting.

6. Garbage and Junk.  We have found and disposed of tons of roof junk left by tradesmen, building employees, and litter-bugs.  In one serious California rainy season incident, a roof became flooded because a plastic bottle had gotten stuck in one drain, a plastic bag and leaves were clogging another, and the gutter flow was congested from garbage.  There was so much water on the roof that a roof collapse was a real possibility.  Our tech was able to get the drain and gutter cleared and averted disaster.   Get the garbage off the roof!

Most of these finds are the direct result of a lack of awareness and regular roofing management. With the proper maintenance plan, your roof will not hold any surprises for you.  Annual roofing assessments are recommended by the National Roofing Contractors Association.  Call RoofConnect at (877) 942-5613 and we will help you put a program in place.  Visit our website for information on repairs & regular roof maintenance. 

Tell us, what are some of the unusual things you have found on a roof?

Guest Blog Contributor:  

Mick Handloser, National Account Manager - South Central Region for RoofConnect. 
Mick can be reached at (877) 942-5613 or via email mick.handloser(at)roofconnect.com

Mick Handloser is a Registered Roof Observer (RRO), and a member of the National Roofing Contractors Association and the Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues Inc. He currently manages the accounts in the south-central and southwest U.S. for RoofConnect.

How to maximize a commercial roof warranty

RoofConnect advises: How to maximize a commercial roof warranty

First and foremost, keep records of your warranties and understand what the warranty does and does not cover and for how long.

• If you are not tracking your warranties then have your roofing contractor track the warranty for you.  Most quality roofing contractors have this capability. 
• Read the warranty and ensure that you understand what you have bought. 
• Know the common warrantable problems for the roof type in which you have installed.  With single ply systems (PVC, TPO and EPDM ), the most common problem is open seams.
• Know the difference between “material warranty” and “material and labor warranty”. Contractors usually guarantee against defects caused by the labor for no more than two years, while manufacturers warrant their materials for 10 to 20 years. 

Explore potential ways to extend your warranty for minimal cost

• Find out if your roofing manufacturer offers a warranty extension for a preventative maintenance program.  A preventative maintenance program is always recommended to extend the life and if you get a longer warranty period then it is easier to justify the cost.
• Discuss options with both the installing contractor and the manufacturer to maximize the life of your warranty.

Do not void your warranty

• There are numerous disclaimers in terms of coverage and requirements to prevent the voiding of the document, including lack of notification of issues and the requirement that only approved contractors certified to repair their systems be allowed to make changes.  Contractors usually guarantee against defects caused by their labor for no more than two years, while manufacturers warrant their materials for no more than 10 to 20 years.
• Even using incompatible caulking or mastic can also void the warranty and leave the building owner stuck with the cost.

More information about roofing manufacture warranties can be found on the RoofConnect web site at http://www.roofconnect.com/manufacture-warranty-support.html


RoofConnect Warranty & Non-Warranty Service Program 

• RoofConnect is approved to perform warranty repairs by all major roofing manufacturers. 
• RoofConnect offers a unique program whereby costs for warranty and non-warranty roofing repairs are handled internally. 
• RoofConnect members are trained and certified by every major roofing manufacturer in the United States. 
• The RoofConnect Warranty Service Program is designed to help protect the best interest of our clients by protecting them from unnecessary costs and delays in repairs. 

Request complete program details today!  Call 877-942-5613 or via email info(at)roofconnect.com.

Self-Storage Roof Maintenance: 3 Tips for Keeping Units Dry Year Round

Great article in Inside Self-Storage Magazine this month.  3 Tips for Keeping Units Dry Year Round


Tip No. 1: The Visual Inspection

Before renting out your storage units, make a visual inspection of the interior. 

Tip No. 2: Keep Water Flowing Off the Roof

The self-storage industry uses many types of roofing. Some common roof systems are asphalt shingles, EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer), TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin or Polyolefin), built-up roofing and standing-seam metal. A high percentage of storage facilities have metal roofs. These roofs are designed to shed water by means of gravity. 

Tip No. 3: Keep Gutters and Drains Clean of Debris

If the gutters fill up, then the water will overflow under the eave and into the unit. 


Complete article can be found here...

Self-Storage Roof Maintenance: 3 Tips for Keeping Units Dry Year Round 

Written by RoofConnect's very own, Mick Handloser.  Mick is a Registered Roof Observer (RRO), and a member of the National Roofing Contractors Association and the Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues Inc. He currently manages the accounts in the south-central and southwest U.S. for RoofConnect, which offers national roofing services. To reach him, call 870.942.5613; e-mail mick.handloser@roofconnect.com; visit www.roofconnect.com.

Performed roof maintenance on your building lately?

At a minimum, you should conduct roof maintenance annually on your buildings.  More often than not, when a roof fails it is due to lack of regular maintenance. Consistent roof maintenance can prevent a multitude of issues that could escalate into the expensive and sometimes preventable need for a complete roof restoration or replacement.

A few things you and your maintenance team can do on a regular basis to extend the life of your roofing systems:

1. Drainage Systems:  Clear all gutters, downspouts, scuppers; clean out all drains; check strainers and clamping rings.

2. Is there debris or materials on the roof that could damage the roof system?  Is there excessive foot traffic that necessitates more walkway pads?

3. Proper maintenance to rooftop equipment and their surrounding area:  check for oil, animal fats, and other contaminants that could degrade the roof system.  Change the equipment filters regularly to prevent these deposits on the roof.

4. Ponding water:  Aggregate is likely to collect in these areas which could result in vegetation growth and impede drainage.

5. Penetration flashings:  Pitch pans and pipe boots are maintenance items that should be checked regularly for voids.

6. On all HVAC units, check the ductwork connections, access panels, gaskets, condensate lines, etc. to make sure there is no water entry.  Identifying and correcting these items could eliminate unnecessary roof service calls.

7. Walls:  Check interior walls for stains or bubbling paint.  Check exterior walls for bubbling paint, missing mortar, deteriorated blocking, etc.  Identifying and correcting these items could eliminate unnecessary roof service calls.

8.      Always use a professional roofing contractor to assist you in your roof maintenance needs.  The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) offers a few tips and guidelines for selecting a commercial roofing contractor.

Also, all of the major roofing system manufacturers encourage semi-annual inspections with documentation to maximize the life of your roof and possibly extend your warranty term (if applicable).

If you are limited in staff or time, let RoofConnect take care of your roofs for you.  RoofConnect can manage your entire roof portfolio.  We will schedule out all roof inspections, perform annual maintenance, track your roof warranties and provide you with 24/7 access to the your roof inventory data via a personalized roof management portal.



Don’t wait for a roofing problem to occur --- by then it is too late!  Be proactive in your Roof Asset Management! Planned preventative roof maintenance can save money, time and heartburn.

This topic will never dull for us here at RoofConnect: see our previous post "When a flat roof is not regularly maintained it may cost far more over time"

Note: NRCA believes that the best way for a building owner to ensure satisfactory post-installation roof system performance is to have a formal, long-term maintenance agreement with a professional roofing contractor. Building owners should take care in selecting a roofing contractor to perform the maintenance work. Additional information is available from NRCA.

A HOT June...did you have extra Foot Traffic on your Roof?

It was a strange June this year, one of the hottest Junes on record!   http://www.wunderground.com/blog/weatherhistorian/comment.html?entrynum=80


As a result of this extreme heat, our AC units have been working overtime to keep us cool and our buildings cool.  Extensive use of the units usually requires additional maintenance, which means more foot traffic on your roof asset. 


If your rooftop units need a checkup, maybe your roof could use some attention as well.


Punctures usually occur because of carelessness on the part of people visiting the roof: HVAC technicians, window washers, etc. Punctures can also occur because of debris left behind by these other trades, blown or tossed on the roof. 


Take time now to do some preventative maintenance on your roofs!


Some other good reminders about proactive roof maintenance: http://www.roofconnect.com/repairs-a-proactive-maintenance.html

Tropical Storm Debby packed a punch! Keep an eye on your roof!

Tropical Storm Debby packed a punch!  


And it looks as if she will continue to do so for a few days now.
NASA - Hurricane Season 2012: Tropical Storm Debby (Atlantic Ocean/Caribbean Sea)



RoofConnect would like to suggest that once the storms have passed that you check on the vitality of your roof - even if the storm didn't cause any noticeable leaks…yet.


Roof damage can lead to extensive and expensive repairs if not addressed early.  If you or your facility maintenance crew feel comfortable, you should conduct a visual inspection after the storm has passed. Things to look for:


• Debris blown onto the roof
• Equipment blown from other areas of the roof that needs to be placed back
• Clogged drains and Ponding Water
• Obvious damage to the roof
• Voids in any of the membrane laps


A helpful roof evaluation checklist can be found at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety's web site: http://disastersafety.org/hurricane/evaluating-the-roof/


Be sure to schedule a site visit with a local, licensed and reputable roofing contractor, like RoofConnect, to confirm that your roof will to continue to perform and was not severely damaged via the storm.  


As always, RoofConnect can help in an emergency…Before, during and after the storm:


• Safety is always first and foremost. 
• We will conduct a thorough roof inspection and adhere to the specific manufacturer requirements.  
• A proper plan is executed with you to meet specific needs at each site.  
• All federal and local guidelines must be followed to protect all personnel before entering the disaster zone and while on site. 
• Proper documentation is always provided at project close out.
• Our work and materials meet the standards of insurance coverage claims. 


To schedule an evaluation of your roof, call 24/7/365 877-942-5613 or visit http://www.roofconnect.com/request-a-roof-evaluation.html