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These Uncertain Times
During times like this, many of us can find ourselves getting stuck inside our own heads with racing thoughts of fear and anxiety. Over the years, I have found ways to cope and move forward by turning something off and other things on.
MORERoof Maintenance vs. Roof Replacement
There has never been a better time to weigh the investment of maintaining your roof vs. replacing your roof. Standard can help you objectively assess your existing roof and perform any minor repairs through our roof maintenance program. These efforts could give you many more months or even several more years before the entire roof needs to be replaced.
MOREThe Impact of COVID-19 on Roofing and Building Envelope Customers
Standard Commercial Roofing and Envelope Solutions is committed now more than ever to our core values. These values include a relentless focus on the safety of our job sites, and we will be taking additional safety and security precautions throughout this pandemic along with additional steps to minimize interruptions to the schedules of our contracted projects. All of our work is performed outdoors and has a certain amount of social distancing built in to the performance of the job; however, adhering to the guidelines outlined below will help keep everyone safe and healthy and help keep your business running as smoothly as possible.
MOREUnderstanding Roof System Warranties
It's certainly preferable for building owners to understand the manufacturer’s warranty of the roofing material that is being proposed for any reroofing project prior to signing the contract. However, if your reroofing project has already been completed, it's still a worthwhile exercise to request and then read through the warranty for the roofing material that is now on your building. Building owners can request a sample of this roofing material manufacturer’s warranty from the roofing contractor being considered; or who was contracted to install your building’s roof. You should ask questions and request any clarifications in writing for any warranty terms that are not completely clear to you. Here are explanations of various roofing material warranties that are available and several important items you need to look for when reviewing your warranty.
MORESteep-Slope Roof Systems, Part 3
In addition to minimum slope ratio, sufficient ventilation and proper application of metal flashings, selecting the right underlayment is literally and figuratively “the foundation” of a well-designed and properly installed steep-slope roof system. While organic asphalt felts were popular products for this application in the past, they are no longer the preferred underlayment for steep-slope roof systems.
MORESteep-Slope Roof Systems, Part 2
In addition to maintaining proper ventilation, proper application of flashings is integral to the installation of water-tight, steep-slope roof systems. There are a variety of flashing conditions to consider, and requirements vary among roof systems. Here are just a few examples.
MORESteep-Slope Roof Systems, Part 1
There are a variety of roof systems suitable for steep-slope roofs including asphalt shingles, metal roof panels, clay tile, concrete tile, slate, as well as metal shingle systems. Our firm has installed all of the above systems, primarily on institutional facilities, including K–12, 2-year colleges, 4-year universities and colleges, and government buildings. In our experience, there are 4 components that make for a successful roof replacement project on steep-slope systems: maintaining the recommended minimum slope, ensuring sufficient ventilation, proper application of metal flashings, and installation of the underlayment.
MOREUnderstanding a Contractor’s Accounting System
Contracting can be a complicated and risky business. If a contractor doesn’t know its true financial position, then trouble can’t be far away; and when trouble arrives (and it will), no owner wants to be impacted by the fallout caused by a financially-stripped contractor. For this reason, it’s important that owners not only thoroughly vet contractors before awarding a project, but also understand which accounting and billing methods the contractor adheres to.
MOREIt’s Raining Inside
Reroofing projects are major renovations that can entail hazards for owners and contractors alike. One of the most serious risks for building owners undergoing a reroofing project is what is known as an “open-roof” event. These events are usually the result of a contractor’s crew removing more roof at a time than can be made completely water-tight before risk of a shower or rain storm develops. In the case of an open-roof event, some contractors may simply walk away from the job. Here's what to do if you find yourself in that situation.
MOREOccupied Facility Safety Planning
While the rooftop presents contractors with its own set of safety hazards to be addressed in a safety plan, the grounds around a building present hazards as well. And if the building is occupied—as is often the case in reroofing and building exterior restoration projects—one of the most important components of a site-specific safety plan is the “traffic control plan”. The building’s occupants and visitors entering and exiting the building along with the safety of the contractor’s personnel on the ground are the primary considerations when developing the “traffic control” portion of the site-specific safety plan.
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