Obama's 'Cool Roofs Initiative' helps agencies achieve energy-saving goals (Part 3)

Going white and green to save money and energy

One agency that has seen the installation of cool roofs (like those manufactured by Conklin) help it meet its energy sustainability goals is the National Archives.

"The Department of Energy has been pushing white roofs for several years, and we were at a confluence of factors," said Mark Sprouse, the director of the National Archives facilities and property management division. He is responsible for building operations at the National Archives facility in College Park, Md.; the main National Archives building in downtown Washington, D.C.; and the energy conservation projects at all of the presidential libraries across the country.

"Our roofs were getting to be 25-years old, we needed to replace them anyways and it just sort of made sense to do that with a white roof and put the solar on it to meet the greenhouse gas reduction goals that we had set," he said.

Sprouse authored the National Archives' 2011 Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan, which encourages the implementation of the cool roof initiative.

"Our policy is we're mirroring pretty much what Executive Order 13514 says," Sprouse said. "We've tied it all to greenhouse gas reductions. We set a goal two years ago for a 10%, across-the-board greenhouse gas reduction and that's how we're moving forward with our strategic energy conservation policies."

The National Archives' efforts already have proved to be a success, according to Sprouse. "As of last year, we'd already reduced it by 8% and we hope to reach the goal by the end of this year," he said. So far, the Archives has reduced its energy consumption by about $3 million per year. Of that, 3-5 percent is attributable to the green and white roof intitiatives, along with the solar panels placed on the white roof.

The National Archives has installed cool roofs at two facilities — one is the National Archives II in College Park, Md., and the other is The William J. Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Ark. White and green roofs have been installed at both facilities, as well as solar panels to generate to electricity.

"By the time we removed the old roof and put the new roof on and put the solar panels in and tied them into the building electrical system, it took about six months," Sprouse said.

"It saves energy by two ways," Sprouse said. "It reduces the heat load underneath the roof and so we don't have to cool as much. It reflects the sun and the solar panels are producing about 30 kilowatts of power on a bright day, which we feed back into our building electrical system."

In addition, all of the roof drains at College Park empty into a 6,000 gallon tank in the building's central plant, which is used to irrigate the 33-acre compound. "We don't use any city water to irrigate the plants at Archives II," Sprouse said.

The rainwater also helps to keep the green roof green and, in turn, the green roof cuts down on stormwater runoff.

"When it rains, if you stand up on the green roof and watch, it takes almost an hour for water to start flowing off the roof and into the drains because the plants are absorbing all that water," Sprouse said. "That just cuts down on the stormwater that we're sending to the Chesapeake Bay."

Agencies have a number of considerations when choosing to install a cool roof, said Jennifer MacDonald, the director of DoE's Sustainability Performance Office, but studies show that chief among them is the energy the roofs save.

"They think there's about a 15% decrease in annual air conditioning costs that are associated with installing these roofs," MacDonald said, adding that there is no single solution that applies to every building or every department.

Please watch this short video for an overview of Conklin's energy efficient cool roofing systems:

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Obama's 'Cool Roofs Initiative' helps agencies achieve energy-saving goals (Part 2)

Chu introduces Cool Roofs Initiative

In July 2010, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu issued a memorandum directing that all DoE sites install cool roofs like those manufactured by Conklin when it was cost effective, when a roof needed to be replaced or repaired.

"It's only when it's cost effective,"  said Jennifer MacDonald, the director of DoE's Sustainability Performance Office, whose office was established to help DoE meet all of its sustainability goals and requirements. "These roofs ensure that we're gaining energy efficiency savings."

DoE has installed approximately 160 cool roofs, adding roofs when new buildings are being built or older roofs are being repaired. Those facilities have about 10% cool roofs, but they are ensuring that any new buildings or any buildings that need new roofs are going to have cool roofs installed.

"About 50% of the buildings at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are cool roofs, which is a 27% increase from 2010," MacDonald said. "A number of our other laboratories have also redesigned their building specifications to include cool roofs, such as the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh and Morgantown, W.Va."

When Chu issued his memorandum, he also sent out a letter to other agencies encouraging them to work on cool roof initiatives. DoE helps agencies to do that via the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). "They are specifically designed to help assist other agencies in meeting all of the energy and sustainability goals," MacDonald said. "So FEMP has additional resources on their website about the types of roofs that can be installed, potential service providers and also helpful tips."

Please watch this short video for an overview of Conklin's energy efficient cool roofing systems:

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Obama's 'Cool Roofs Initiative' helps agencies achieve energy-saving goals (Part 1)

President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13514 in October 2009, establishing reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased energy efficiency goals for agencies. One of the ways agencies can achieve this is is to install "cool roofs" on their buildings, like the ones manufactured by Conklin.

When a building has a darker roof, it absorbs heat from sunlight. "The more reflective and the lighter the color of the roof, it actually increases what's called the 'albedo,' the reflection of the sun off of the building's surface," said Jennifer MacDonald, the director of DoE's Sustainability Performance Office. "So, it reduces the need to then cool the building further, especially as you are trying to maintain cooler temperatures in higher buildings."

As roofs come up for repair or new buildings are constructed, the Energy Department will typically install a cool roof. For example, the National Nuclear Security Administration has set aside a roof asset modernization program. "They have about 2.5 million square feet that have been turned into cool roofs, at a savings of about half a million dollars and up to $10 million over the next 15 years," MacDonald said.

Please watch this short video for an overview of Conklin's energy efficient cool roofing systems:

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White NYC roof 42 degrees cooler than black ones

According to a paper published in March 2012 in Environmental Research Letters about the first scientific results from New York City's effort to brighten rooftops and reduce its “urban heat island” effect, on the hottest day of the summer in 2011, a white roof covering was measured at 42 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the traditional black roof to which it was being compared.

The dark, sunlight‐absorbing surfaces of some New York City roofs reached 170 degrees Fahrenheit on July 22, 2011, a day that set a city record for electricity usage during the peak of a heat wave. But in the largest discrepancy of that day, a white roofing material was measured at about 42 degrees cooler. The white roof being tested was a low‐cost covering promoted as part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s effort to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2030.

On average through the summer of 2011, the pilot white roof surface reduced peak rooftop temperature compared to a typical black roof by 43 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the study, which was the first long‐term effort in New York to test how specific white roof materials held up and performed over several years.

Widespread installation of white roofs, which New York City is attempting through the NYC CoolRoofs program, could reduce city temperatures while cutting down on energy usage and resulting greenhouse gas emissions, said Stuart Gaffin, a research scientist at Columbia University, and lead author on the paper detailing the roof study.

The urban landscape of asphalt, metal, and dark buildings absorbs more energy from sunlight than forests, fields or snow‐and ice‐covered landscapes, which reflect more light. The absorption leads to what scientists call an “urban heat island,” where a city experiences markedly warmer temperatures than surrounding regions. New York City’s urban heat island has a more pronounced effect at night, typically raising nighttime temperatures between 5 and 7 degrees Fahrenheit relative to what they would be without the effect, according to Gaffin’s previous research.

The problem leads to everything from spikes in electricity usage and greenhouse gas emissions to poorer air quality and increased risk of death during heat waves. In recent years, city planners worldwide have discussed cutting into this effect by converting dark roofs to either “living” roofs covered in plants or to white roofs, the far less expensive option. The options tested in this study included two synthetic membranes requiring professional installation and a do‐it‐yourself (DIY), white‐paint coating that is being promoted by the city’s white roof initiative.

With climate change, the urban heat island problem will likely intensify in coming decades, said Cynthia Rosenzweig, a scientist at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City and a co‐author on the paper. She said "Right now, we average about 14 days each summer above 90 degrees in New York. In a couple decades, we could be experiencing 30 days or more".

Conklin is America's #1 acrylic roof coating company by volume. They manufacture high quality, Energy Star rated metal roof renovation, single-ply, fabric reinforced, polyurethane foam, and EPDM roof coating systems that meet or exceed fire ratings and code standards.

Although these roofing systems require fewer labor hours than most, they are complex. Using inexperienced installers can increase the risk of the coating system to fail prematurely or to not be wateright from the onset. Conklin trains all roofing contractors hands-on and assists them with proper equipment and tool acquisition before they install their first job. They are also provided with year-round regional and national training and support.

To learn more about Conklin's roofing systems, please watch this short video:


 

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How cool roofs benefit you and the environment

The roof system of a home or building is an area where significant heat gain occurs, in particular on relatively flat exposures to the sun’s position during the warmest period of the day. Dark colored roof surfaces can also contribute significantly to the urban heat island effect and smog formation, leading to increased air pollution.

Reflective, light colored “cool” roofs can not only help reduce cooling costs, but can also have a positive environmental impact by reducing the urban heat island effect. Light colored roof materials and coatings are advantageous over dark colors because of their ability to reflect and radiate energy away from the roof.

Here are a few additional cool roof benefits:

• Reduce cooling costs
• Reduce contribution to Urban Heat Island effect     
• Increase life cycle of roof
• Reduce maintenance (and maintenance costs) of the roof
• Improve occupancy comfort level

How a cool roof is defined
Cool roofs are characterized by their ability to reflect and radiate a high percentage of the sun’s solar flux. This helps prevent the transmittance of heat into the building and the heating of its surroundings, know as “heat island” effect. Cool roofs have been confirmed to be up to 60 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than conventional dark colored roofs.

• Heat Flux is the direct and diffused radiation from the sun received at ground level
• Solar Reflectance is an index between 0 and 1 that expresses the fraction of solar flux that is reflected from the material. The higher the value, the more solar energy that is reflected
• Thermal Emittance is the ratio between 0 and 1 that indicates the energy radiated by a material compared to the energy radiated by a black body at the same temperature. The higher the value, the more energy that is radiated away from the material

For those with homes or buildings in Chicago
Rebates are available in all states, but as an example here are the per-square foot rebates available to Chicago home and building owners based on the initial reflectance value of their roof system:

• Low Slope Roof: A roof with a surface slope between 0 in 12 and 2 in 12 (0 inch rise in a 12 inch run and 2 inch rise in a 12 inch run), as defined in the Chicago Building Code Section 13 (18-13-303.2.1)
• Medium Slope Roof: A roof with a surface slope over 2 in 12 and up to and including 5 in 12 (over a 2 inch rise in a 12 inch run up to and including a 5 inch rise in a 12 inch run), as defined in the Chicago Building Code Section 13 (18-13-303.2.2)
• To qualify for a low slope grant, the roof slope must meet the slope requirements as specified above and have a roof material or coating system with initial solar reflectance greater than or equal to 0.65, as rated by the Cool Roofs Rating Council or Energy Star
• To qualify for medium slope grant, the roof slope must meet the medium slope requirements and include roof materials or roof coatings with initial solar reflectance grater than or equal to 0.25, as rated by the Cool Roofs Rating Council or Energy Star

How to apply?

• For owners of homes and buildings in Chicago, request an electronic fill form from the Department of Environment at roofgrants@cityofchicgo.org and submit electronically
• If you have questions, call the Chicago Department of Environment at (312) 744-2994

Additional helpful sites

• Cool Roofs Rating Council
• Energy Star
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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An Overview of Conklin Roofing Systems

Reflective white coatings can help to extend the life expectancy of many different roofing systems simply by avoiding extreme surface temperatures associated with prolonged exposure to the sun. They provide a “sacrificial” layer to take the punishment that the elements and environment dole out.

In areas with warmer climates, the surface of an uncoated roof can get up 180 degrees or even higher in the summer months, punishing workers and prematurely deteriorating your rooftop equipment and the roof system itself. A quality reflective white roof coating reflects most of the heat, keeping the roof surface near ambient temperature, reducing the amount of air conditioning required to cool the building below.

Coatings aren't just for warm weather climates though. Especially in northern states, enhanced roof longevity can result in at least as much cost savings. Without white coatings, roof temperatures soar in the summer months because of all the insulation required to retain the heat during the cold winter months.

Conklin is America's #1 acrylic roof coating company by volume. We manufacture high quality, Energy Star rated metal roof renovation, single-ply, fabric reinforced, polyurethane foam, and EPDM roof coating systems that meet or exceed fire ratings and code standards.

Although these roofing systems require fewer labor hours than most, they are complex. Using inexperienced installers can increase the risk of the coating system to fail prematurely or to not be wateright from the onset. Conklin certifies all roofing contractors through hands-on training and assists with proper equipment and tool acquisition before they install their first job. They are also provided with year-round regional and national training and support.

Fabric-Reinforced Acrylic Coatings
Conklin revolutionized the commercial roofing industry when we introduced white acrylic fabric-reinforced coating systems more than thirty years ago. Our fabric-reinforced ply roofing system combines the leak-resistant seamless membrane of a liquid-applied system with the toughness and a tensile strength of a single-ply system. The reinforced fabric gives extra strength to the finished watertight coating membrane without adding significant weight. With its reflective, energy-saving white top coat, a finished ply system stands up against tough weather and offers strong, long-lasting protection.

Metal Roof Restoration Coatings
Conklin’s metal roof restoration coating system was specifically designed to prevent leaks

where they most often occur - at the seams. In addition to outstanding protection against water penetration, the metal restoration system extends the life of your roof by resisting weather extremes and reduces air conditioning costs by reflecting the sun’s harmful rays, and its light weight also preserves the useful life of your building.

Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Roofing Systems
Conklin's spray polyurethane roofing systems have been engineered to provide a superior, energy-efficient, long-lasting roof for any building. Foam roofing offers excellent insulation value and a smooth, durable, seam-free barrier against the elements when coated with Conklin coating systems. Foam is so lightweight (about eight ounces per square foot) it can be applied over most existing roof systems without exceeding the structural load capacity. Yet it’s amazingly strong, easily withstanding light foot traffic and other weight requirements. Conklin’s foam roofing systems have met the most stringent requirements for a variety of industry groups such as Factory Mutual and Underwriters Laboratories, and are recognized by the International Conference of Building Officials.

EPDM and Modified Bitumen Roof Coatings
You can extend the life of your existing EPDM or modified bitumen roof and save on energy costs at the same time with Conklin's innovative roof recoating systems. An EPDM coating system is an effective and economical alternative to tear-off and re-roofing. Adding a white, energy efficient, lightweight coating on top of your black roof avoids the expensive removal and disposal of your existing roof and the tremendous workplace disruption it causes.

You can potentially save enough in cooling costs to pay for your recoat within just 7 years, as Conklin's Energy-Star rated white top coats reflect up to 85% of the sun's heat rays, cooling your roof and building and enabling up to a 30% reduction in air conditioning. You may also qualify for federal tax credits and/or rebates. 

Single-Ply Roof Systems
Conklin’s Flexion single-ply roof system provides a tough, yet extremely flexible 50-mil barrier from the elements. Our advanced, naturally fire-resistant PVC formulation provides long-term superior strength, stability, and flexibility, requires minimal maintenance and has a favorable life cycle cost.

Conklin's Hy-Crown® single-ply roof system is extra-tough because it is manufactured with Hypalon® - a synthetic rubber made by DuPont. Hypalon is one of the most durable materials in the single-ply roofing market and has a track record of more than 30 years.

Single-Ply Roof Coatings
You can improve the performance and further extend the service life of a new, existing or aged TPO, PVC and CSPE single-ply roof with Conklin’s specialty formulated acrylic 
roof coatings. As single-ply membranes become weathered over time they can crack, leak, and pick up dirt, diminishing their effectiveness and energy-saving properties. Conklin’s elastomeric coatings provide a new, cost-effective solution for repairing, preserving and improving the energy savings of approved single-ply membranes.

Cost Benefits
Many satisfied customers have already discovered that a Conklin roof pays for itself during the warranty period through lowered air conditioning costs, Federal tax rebates, and tax credits and deductions that help to offset the already minimal investment. Additionally, in many cases re-coating your roof is considered a maintenance cost tax deduction. Please check with your local utility company, tax advisor, and EnergyStar.gov for additional details.

Many years from now when it is time to renew the superior protection of your Conklin roof, a simple recoat will do the job. In most cases, recoats can be done for the entire life of your roof, saving you the expense of tear-off and a completely new roof system, as well as extending the material warranty for several additional years.

For more information about Conklin Roofing Systems, or to find a professional Conklin-certified installer in your area, please visit www.WhiteRoofingSystems.com.


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Choosing the right insulation for your roof

Composition and thermal characteristics are the most important factors when choosing insulation for your roof.

Composition is literally what the insulation is made of, its stability and its compatibility with the roof membrane that is being installed.

Thermal characteristics are the "R-value" of the material. For instance, polystyrene insulation is not a good choice for use in built-up and modified-bitumen roof systems, as the insulation melts from the temperature of hot asphalt. Alternatively, it is the best choice for inverted membrane roofs, as its insulating value is not affected by water (mechanically fastened and fully adhered single-ply membranes also are good matches with polystyrene).

Polyisocyanurate insulation is the most common board insulation used because it can be used with almost all types of membrane roof systems. With hot adhesives, however, it has to be paired with an insulation cover board of another type, such as perlite or wood fiber.

Perlite and wood fiber are rarely used by themselves because of their low R-value. When high insulating value is not a requirement, such as unheated warehouses and storage facilities or when insulation board is needed solely to provide a smooth surface to apply a re-cover membrane over an existing roof, their low cost do make them an attractive decision. NOTE: Perlite should not be used with PVC membranes, as the two are incompatible.

Foamed-in-place insulation is the material of choice when a liquid or spray-applied membrane roof is installed. Because the foam application is seamless, there are no insulation board joints for the liquid or spray-applied material to run down into. Also, foamed-in-place insulation is excellent for adding slope to a roof, as it can be shaped on the roof to meet the precise requirements of deflected and oddly shaped roofs.

For more information about foam roofing, please watch this short video:

Almost any insulation can be used in a tapered insulation system, used when the existing building deck is not structurally sloped to the drain or where deflection in the deck is causing areas of standing water. Perlite is a good choice as the tapered board because it is inexpensive and the insulating value can be met by an underlying layer of polyisocyanurate, leaving the perlite to form the slope.

When in doubt, consulting with a professional certified roofing contractor to assist you in determining the proper (and compatible) insulation for your particular roof system is a wise decision.

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Re-covering your roof is faster, less expensive and better for the environment than tear-off and replacing it

Installing a new roofing system over your existing roof (if viable) is an alternative approach to roof replacement.

The major advantage is the cost savings associated with not having to remove and dispose of the existing roof membrane. This can be acheived with a variety of materials including cool roof coatings like those from Conklin. Another advantage is the reduction of materials sent to landfills because labor, disposal and trucking costs are high and are climbing faster than material costs.

There is also an opportunity to improve the thermal performance of the roof system, as most re-covers include the installation of a thin section of insulation or other material to separate the new roof membrane from the existing roof membrane. A final advantage that re-cover has over replacement is that the existing membrane stays in place, protecting the interior from water damage while the new roof is being installed.

Determining the Presence of Moisture
As with repairs, an issue that must be addressed prior to any re-cover is determining whether moisture is present under the existing system. Trapping water within an existing roof assembly is a problem that often occurs with improperly executed re-cover projects.

If moisture is present under the existing system, additional investigation is warranted. If the subsurface moisture is extensive (30-35% or more of the entire roof area) it may be more practical and cost effective to remove the entire roof system and replace it rather than attempting a re-cover.

There are many devices and methods used to detect and quantify subsurface moisture including nuclear backscatter, infrared imaging and capacitance meters. There are advantages and disadvantages of each system, and these should be explored.

Roof Layers and Weight
Another factor influencing whether or not a re-cover project is feasible is establishing how many roof systems or layers are currently in place, which requires making inspection openings. Most modern building codes allow a maximum of two non-ballasted roof systems on a structure, mostly due to the weight associated with the roofing materials. 

Other code-related issues are wind up-lift and fire resistance, which the building’s insurance carrier may also influence through specific requirements. The length of the warranty required for the new roof also needs to be considered, because many roofing manufacturers will limit the duration for the warranty available on re-cover projects.

Consider Re-Covering Your Roof

Before you tear-off and replace your aged roof, consider getting a quote from a professional roofing contractor who specializes in re-cover systems for a more affordable, more energy efficient, more environmentally friendly, more sustainable, and faster-to-install alternative to re-roofing.

To learn more about re-covering your roof, please watch this short video:

 

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Should you have a foam roof installed?

A relatively small experienced crew can install a large spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roof system. The key, though, is experienced - when incorrectly installed, SPF roofing systems can blister as a result of poor installation timing, improper substrate preparation, or even equipment problems.

Like most roofing systems, SPF must be installed under suitable environmental conditions. The applicator should not proceed with substrate temperature below the manufacturer’s recommendations or humidity within 5 degrees of dewpoint. Both the SPF and the protective coating should not be applied when there is ice, frost, surface moisture, or visible dampness present on the surface to be covered. Barriers may be required if wind conditions can affect the foam quality or create overspray problems.

Since applicator knowledge and experience is important to the successful installation of an SPF roof, it is important to thoroughly investigate past performance when selecting a SPF contractor. Fortunately, the United States has high-quality foam contractors in every 
geographic region.

Cost of SPF Roofs
SPF roofing systems vary widely in cost depending on the foam thickness required, the type and thickness of the coating or covering, the degree of substrate preparation, availability of contractors in a specific region, and other factors. As with other roofing systems, there are high-end and low-end SPF roofing systems. Michelsen Technologies performed a life-cycle analysis for SPF roofing systems in five climate areas of the United States. The study concluded that the average SPF roofing system in those areas cost between 15-50% less to install and maintain than conventional membrane systems over a 30-year time frame (the study reported costs based on 6-year, 10-year, and 15-year recoat schedules).

Learn More!

To learn more about the many benefits of SPF roof systems, please watch this short video:

 

When your roof begins to age and fail, consider getting a quote from a professional roofing contractor who specializes in SPF roofing for a more affordable, more energy efficient, more environmentally friendly, more sustainable, and faster-to-install alternative to re-roofing.


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Preserve and restore single-ply TPO roofs with reflective roof coatings

TPO, or thermoplastic polyolefin, single-ply roof systems are durable and fairly energy efficient, cost effective and easy to install. TPO-based products have been available since the 1980s, and the first sheets for membrane roofing were introduced in 1989. By 1993, the earlier non-reinforced membranes were replaced by fabric-reinforced sheets, which is what is available today. It is the fastest-growing segment of the membrane roofing market.

But high heat and solar loading can cause premature failure in single-ply roofs. Another issue is moisture below the roofing membrane, causing debonding and curling of insulation and cover boards, loss of thermal performance and compressive strength, mold growth, and deterioration of the structural roof deck and roof structure. One other issue is the cost and landfill impact of tear-off when it comes time to replace an aging TPO single-ply roof system. The entire system must be removed and completely replaced once it has reached its useful life.

Applying a white roof coating to a new or existing TPO roof reduces the heat load on the membrane and the building, and significantly prolongs the roof system's service life. White roof coatings have an initial solar reflectance of 80% or higher, keeping the roof surface near ambient temperature to reduce your energy bills.

Installation begins with power washing to clean the roof. Next, a primer is applied to the entire roof surface. Seams are reinforced with base coat and fabric, and finally the white top coat is applied.

Coatings also reflect UV rays, which protects the membrane, preserves elasticity & flexibility, and provides a protective barrier - all contributing to fewer leaks, extended service life, and reduced life cycle cost of your roof. Recent improvements in coating adhesion technology in addition to the need for enhanced solar reflectance have created an even greater opportunity for home and building owners to have restoration coating systems installed, avoiding tear-off and replacement of aged TPO roofs.

So before you replace your aged TPO roof, consider getting a quote from a professional roofing contractor who specializes in single-ply roof restoration coatings for a more affordable, more energy efficient, more environmentally friendly, more sustainable, and faster-to-install alternative to re-roofing.


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Questions to ask a roofing contractor about foam roofs

Here are a few tips to help you select the right spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roofing contractor for your home or commercial building.

Try contacting roofing suppliers for a list of reputable contractors in your area. If they only provide you with a couple of companies, keep them handy as there is probably a good reason for the limited recommendations. Also, if more than one manufacturer or supplier recommends the same contractor, it is usually a positive sign.

You can also contact trade groups such as the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) or the National Roofing Contractors Association for recommendations on roofing contractors in your area who are experienced with foam roofing.

Ask the contractors submitting bids if they participate in educational programs such as SPFA’s Accreditation Program.

Obtain recommendations from friends and associates, but be sure to compare apples to apples - for example, hiring a great commercial roofer for a residential project may not be ideal.

Interview the contractors to determine if they have the qualities and experience you desire. Some questions to ask your prospective contractor include:
- What types of roofing system do you install?
- What types of roofing system do you prefer or typically recommend?
- How long have you installed these systems?
- What is your specialty?
- What is your preference for my particular roof?
- What is your service area?
- Do you have offices or personnel in those regions?
- How many crews do you have?
- Have you ever declared bankruptcy; if so, what were the conditions?
- Who will perform the work on my roof?
- How are they trained?
- What certifications, approvals, licenses, or awards does the company have?
- How does your company address site safety and regulatory compliance?
- What associations does your company belong to?
- What is the average length of a roof project like this?
- How soon can you schedule my project?
- What warranties are available?
- Do you provide maintenance services (including inspections)?
- How do you handle complaints or call-backs?
- How do you verify quality?

Check references. Most contractors will provide a list of references on projects similar to yours. Be sure to check out enough to get a good understanding of the contractor’s relative performance and customer service. A few helpful questions to ask references provided by a roofing contractor include:
- Were you happy with the overall project?
- Was the contractor reliable, informative, helpful, on time, etc?
- Were there any misunderstandings?
- Did the project start and end according to estimates?
- Do you consider the roof a good investment?
- How old is the roof?
- Were there any complaints or problems; if so, did the contractor address your concerns satisfactorily?

The information you collect can assist not only in finding the right contractor, but in evaluating pricing differences. With a little effort, you should be able to find a contractor you can trust to do a great job.

Please watch this short video to learn more about Conklin  spray polyurethane foam (SPF)  roof systems:

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