Yes, a snowstorm inside the gym in July. In Texas. Our very own Mike Pickel is our commercial roofing expert and he was able to detect the problem and help the school administrators solve this mysterious problem. He recently had the opportunity to share the story with Chris King, Editor of ROOFING Magazine.
CLICK HERE to read the full article.
President George H.W. Bush proclaimed October to be Energy Awareness Month and in 2012, President Obama updated that proclamation to rename it Energy Action Month. He stated that this is a time when Americans are called up to work together, “to achieve greater energy security, a more robust economy, and a healthier environment for our children.”
What kind of home do you have? Is it as energy efficient as you think? Here are some things you can do to help your home perform better.
1 – Adequate attic insulation. This is especially important if your home is older. Your home was built to the codes and recommendations that were in place the year it was built. In more recent years, recommended insulation levels have increased. You may not have enough insulation in place. ENERGY STAR® recommends that most attics insulate to R-38, or about 10 – 14 inches, depending on the type of insulation. While checking the insulation, take a look at the openings for pipes, ductwork and chimneys to be sure any gaps are sealed.
2 – Proper attic ventilation. While it is important to be sure you have the right amount of insulation in your attic, it’s just as important to ensure that your attic is properly ventilated. Effective attic ventilation provides year-round benefits, creating cooler attics in the summer and drier attics in the winter. This leads top better performance of your roofing system as well. Be sure to ask us how a solar-powered Attic Breeze attic fan can keep your attic properly ventilated without using electricity.
3 – Inspect heating and cooling equipment. If your equipment is more than 15 years old, it might be time to invest in an upgrade to a more efficient model. Check the filters in your furnace and be sure to replace any that are old or dirty.
4 – Check for air leaks. Walk around your home and look for gaps around doors and windows that can be sealed with weather stripping or caulk. Check your electrical boxes on exterior walls and ceilings. Consider adding an insulating pad to keep hot and cold air out. According to FamilyHandyman.com just a 1/8” gap around six electrical ceiling boxes is the equivalent of cutting a four-inch hole in your ceiling!
5 – Consider cool roofing. When it’s time to replace your roof, consider a cool roof shingle. These asphalt shingles contain a layer of highly reflective granules that reflect sunlight back off the roof and can prevent heat build-up. Cool roofs can help reduce energy use which, in turn, reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
At Texas Traditions Roofing, we’re happy to talk with you about energy-efficient roofing and ventilations solutions for your home. Schedule a free assessment today.
Black streaks running down your roof are a type of roof algae knowns as Gloeocapsa Magma. These pesky bacteria tend to cluster in groups and locate themselves typically on the north side of roofs where the lack of sun can stimulate their growth. They like to feed on limestone – a key filler ingredient in asphalt shingles.
For the ones that are exposed to sunshine, they have a unique method of survival. According to the microbe wiki at Kenyon University, when exposed to strong sunlight, the bacteria forms a black/dark green sheath around itself as a form of protection from ultra-violet rays. The pigmented covering is what shows up as dark streaks on the roof.
You may have noticed that the stains don’t appear below any copper- or zinc-coated metal flashings that you may have on the roof around chimneys or vents. This is because the coating is toxic to the algae. Each time it rains, trace amounts of the metal are washed down the roof, preventing the growth in that area.
The bad news is that if your roof is plagued by algae, it’s not going to go away. Cleaning will remove the stains but they usually return. Repeated cleaning can actually cause damage to the shingles if harsh chemicals and power washing is used.
It is important to note that while these streaks are not pleasing to the eye, they do NOT affect the performance of your roofing system. We’ve heard reports that there are some not-so-honest contractors knocking on doors telling homeowners they need to replace their roof because of the streaks.
The good news is that shingle manufacturers have begun making shingles that are resistant to these algae. We offer GAF StainGuard Plus shingles with powerful algae resistance and a 25-year ltd. warranty against discoloration. Since studies show that your roof can account for up to 40 percent of your home’s curb appeal, when it’s time to re-roof, consider choosing an algae-resistant shingle.
At Texas Traditions Roofing, we can advise you about options and systems that can meet your home’s needs. Schedule a free assessment today.
It’s that time of year when everywhere you go, there is something pumpkin flavored to try – from lattes to pies and bread. Leaves will be falling and there is once again excitement on the football field under those Friday night lights.
It’s also time to think about fall maintenance measures for your home – especially your roof and gutters. You might be thinking that it can’t be too hard to do it yourself by taking a look at your roof and cleaning out the gutters. But before you pull out the ladder, consider a few things first.
Hire a professional. It makes a lot of sense to hire a professional roofing contractor to provide a full roof and gutter inspection as the seasons change. A professional will inspect the roof and gutter systems to determine if there are any issues that can be addressed easily now, before they turn into a leak or a larger, more costly problem.
A homeowner with an untrained eye might not be able to spot a problem that would be recognized by a professional contractor. Whether an issue with the roofing material itself or with the gutters, problems are not always obvious. This puts your roofing and gutter system, and your home, at risk.
Ladders can be dangerous to a casual user. Professional contractors follow very strict ladder safety guidelines and understand that this is critical to a safe and successful journey to the rooftop. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that falls from portable ladders are a leading cause of occupational fatalities and injuries – and these are professionals who use ladders every day.
A DIY’er certainly has the best intentions and may be hoping to save money by tackling the task themselves. Many good-intentioned homeowners end up injured due to improper use of the ladder and sometimes end up damaging the gutter by crushing it with the ladder. If you do insist on doing it yourself, please review OSHA’s Ladder Safety Quick Card. We want you to stay safe and uninjured.
Schedule a free evaluation. At Texas Traditions Roofing, we’re happy to perform a free evaluation and estimate to help you keep your home and its roof in top shape. Our trusted roof advisers are Haag certified in damage detection and will provide their honest opinion and recommendation on what is needed to protect your home throughout the winter. Schedule yours today.
In the roofing industry, the Haag name is very well known as a forensic engineering and consulting firm specializing in failure analysis, determining extent of damage and providing repair options. They developed a certification program for roofing contractors where their engineers teach a three-day intensive training session.
The program teaches participants how hail and wind interact with various roofing types, how to perform inspections safely and provides an understanding of roof area calculations and applicable codes. Contractors attending also gain comprehensive knowledge of manufacture, installation, weathering, hail damage, wind damage, maintenance, mechanical damage and repair costs for every major roofing type including composition, wood shingle/shake, concrete and clay tile, asbestos, fiber cement, and various synthetic, slate and metal.
Not just any contractor can sign up for training either. Experience matters. To be eligible to participate in the Haag Certification course, students must have completed a minimum of 100 residential roof inspections as the primary on-roof inspector.
Why should this matter to you?
It matters because you can rest assured that when Texas Traditions Roofing performs a free damage inspection, we understand what signs to look for and where to look, because we have been trained by engineers in advanced damage assessment techniques.
We won’t overlook areas that may be missed by other contractors who have not received advanced training. Problems caused by severe weather events aren’t always visible to the naked eye and often require a more intensive inspection.
Working for you and with you
If your neighborhood has experienced hail or other severe damage, our team of experts is ready to perform a no-cost inspection and meet with your insurance adjuster at your home to ensure that they fully understand the extent of damage. Download our free Storm Damage Guide to learn more about the process.
Schedule your free roof inspection today.