Roofing: Recover or Replace? (Part 1)

Building owners and facility managers often experience unscheduled capital expenditures due to roofing repairs. Many of these repairs can be avoided by developing and following a scheduled maintenance program for the life of a roofing system. But even with stringent adherence to a thorough maintenance program, the decision to repair, recover or replace a roofing system will have to be made at some time within or towards the end of the expected service life of the roof.

Many issues, such as the type of system currently in place, cost estimates, construction schedule, occupant requirements, and long- and short-term use of the building all have to be addressed as part of this decision, and the appropriate decision must be addressed on a building-by-building basis.

The first step (before beginning the decision process) is to estimate the remaining service life of the roof. This estimate is derived from factors that include water infiltration, moisture trapped in the underlying insulation, aggregate movement across the roof, bituminous membrane slippage or embrittlement of single-ply membranes.

A professional roofing contractor can investigate the existing system and answer these questions, as well as comment on any related code or technical issues. The roofing contractor may also eliminate any false or misleading assumptions, such as incorrectly attributing water infiltration to the roof system when the water is actually entering the building through the adjacent exterior walls.

Each day this week we will dive into a different aspect of this decision process, including repairing roofs, investigating moisture, recovering roofs, and replacing roofs. Please check back for updates, or connect with us on Facebook and/or Twitter to be alterted to new blog posts.

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Tired of labor problems and low profit margins? Make more $$ spraying coatings with Conklin Roofing Systems! Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

 

Cool Roofing at The Ohio State University?

The sheer size and power of The Ohio State University is certainly something to brag about. However, one thing people are not bragging about is the amount of money spent on the energy used to maintain temperatures throughout campus buildings.
As everyone scrambles to find ways to reach carbon neutrality, they may be forgetting to simply look up. By using the U.S. Department of Energy Roof Calculator, converting the University’s roofing to “cool roofing” would not only save $60,000 annually, but also over 1.5 million pounds of carbon each year.

What exactly is cool roofing? It is a type of roofing that increases the amount of sunlight reflected, allowing the roof and building to stay cooler. It comes in various colors but the most iconic, popular and effective is white.

Costing the same or less as normal roofing and having similar life spans, there is no reason not to use this roofing technology. By reflecting more sunlight, the campus roofing saves money, energy and carbon by lowering air conditioning bills.

The University could install a cool roofing system like those from Conklin on Kottman Hall (which desperately needs a new roof) as a trial run and case study. Once the savings are realized, the University could then make a commitment to use cool roofing when replacing future roofs. There is no better place on campus to be a leader in sustainability than Kottman Hall, as it is the home of the School of Environment and Natural Resources.

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Tired of labor problems and low profit margins? Make more $$ spraying coatings with Conklin Roofing Systems! Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

 

Selecting a SPF Roofing Contractor

Specifying SPF Roofing Systems: Part 8

Selecting a SPF Roofing Contractor
Below are a few tips on selecting the right spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roofing contractor for you and your home or building.

Contact suppliers for a list of contractors in your area. Should the manufacturer only provide you with a couple of names, keep them handy. There is probably a good reason for the limited recommendations. Also, if more than one manufacturer recommends the same contractor, it’s usually a good sign.

Contact related trade groups such as the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) or National Roofing Contractors Association for contractors in your area. Ask contractors 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 - hiring a great commercial roofer for a small residential project may be a mistake.

Interview the contractor to determine if the company has the qualities and experience you desire. Some questions to ask your prospective contractor include:
- What type of roofing system do you install?
- What type of roofing system do you prefer?
- How long have you installed the systems?
- What is your specialty?
- What is your preference for my particular roof?
- What regions do you cover?
- 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?
- 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 the roof project of my type?
- How soon can you schedule the work?
- 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 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.


We hope you have enjoyed this 8-part series on spray polyurethane foam (SPF). If you have any follow-up questions, contact one of our contractor......

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Tired of labor problems and low profit margins? Make more $$ spraying coatings with Conklin Roofing Systems!Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com 

 

The ideal climate for SPF roof systems

Specifying SPF Roofing Systems: Part 7

What is the ideal climate for installation of SPF systems?
Although spray polyurethane foam (SPF) like that from Conklin is installed very successfully in all 50 states throughout the United States, the perfect climate would be warm and dry with little wind.

In northern climates, cold substrate temperatures restrict the use of the materials in winter months. In hot, humid climates, high winds and humidity have to be considered. In hot, dry climates, special formulas are used to handle the extreme hot weather. It is the contractor’s responsibility to know under what conditions they can spray and when to stop.

SPF roofing systems can provide long-lasting and durable roofing solutions while contributing to a lower environmental impact. However, to be assured of a quality application, a building owner or owner representative should do their homework to understand the roofing system and hire a responsible contractor.

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Tired of labor problems and low profit margins? Make more $$ spraying coatings with Conklin Roofing Systems!
Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

 

Additional advantages of SPF roofing systems

Specifying SPF Roofing Systems: Part 6

Additional advantages of SPF roofing systems
Reduced construction debris is a huge advantage. Oak Ridge National Laboratories reported, “The need for multiple roofs makes roofing one of the largest contributors of solid waste.” According to a 1999 survey by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), more than 68.5% of the $11.3-billion low-slope re-roofing market includes tear-off and replacement of the existing roof membrane.

Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roofing systems like those from Conklin have excellent adhesion to a variety of substrates, including BUR, modified bitumen, concrete, wood, asphalt shingles, clay tile, and metal. Since SPF adds little weight and can be applied in various thicknesses to add slope and fill in low areas, SPF roofing systems are often used as a recover system over existing roofs without tear-off. Therefore, the application of SPF roofing systems over existing roof coverings greatly reduces the amount of construction debris in landfills.

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Tired of labor problems and low profit margins? Make more $$ spraying coatings with Conklin Roofing Systems! Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

 

Are SPF roofing systems sustainable?

Specifying SPF Roofing Systems: Part 5

Are SPF roofing systems sustainable?
At the 1996 Sustainable Low-Slope Roofing Seminar, Oak Ridge National Laboratories described sustainable or green roofing systems as “roofing systems that have a long life, low maintenance, save energy, add durability to buildings, control moisture in buildings, and contribute very little to the waste stream.”

Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roofing systems from Conklin comply with every criteria of this definition. SPF roofing systems greatly reduce tear-offs in many re-roofing projects, which also decreases the amount of materials entering the waste stream. In addition, the SPF systems used today do not contain any ozone-depleting chemicals, and the energy-saving characteristics can save considerable amounts of fossil fuel and CO2 production, which affects global warming.

SPF roofing systems arrive on the jobsite in 55-gallon drums that create the foam plastic, which expands 30-times its original volume on-site. This saves greatly on fuel used for transportation. And SPF roofing systems add durability in severe weather events, such as hurricanes, and last more than 30 years with proper installation and maintenance.

The energy-saving characteristics of SPF roofing have been widely reported by institutions such as Texas A&M and companies like Ford Motor Co., but deserve some explanation. SPF roofing systems are applied above the roof deck. These systems eliminate thermal bridging by providing a continuous layer of insulation over existing thermal bridges in the roof deck and/or assembly. SPF has a very high aged R-value of approximately six per inch, and SPF roofing systems typically are coated with light-colored, reflective coatings.

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Tired of labor problems and low profit margins? Make more $$ spraying coatings with Conklin Roofing Systems! Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

 

Limitations of SPF roofing systems

Specifying SPF Roofing Systems: Part 4

What are the limitations of SPF roofing systems?
A relatively small crew can install large spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roofing systems like those from Conklin, but it requires a high degree of technical knowledge and experience. Many courses are available from suppliers and from the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) to shorten the learning curve.

When incorrectly installed, SPF roofing systems often exhibit interlaminar blistering of the SPF layers. Foam blisters most often occur by trying to stretch the application window, improper substrate preparation, or equipment problems.

SPF roofing systems, like most roofing systems, must be installed under suitable environmental conditions. The SPF applicator should not proceed with substrate temperature below the manufacturer’s recommendations or humidity within 5 degrees of dewpoint. In addition, 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 a 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.

SPF is spray-applied and is very lightweight. While the overspray outside of the zone of application typically does not pose a health hazard, it can stick to many surfaces from great distances away. Building owners and contractors should have an overspray protection plan in place before starting a project.

Some coatings can emit strong odors while curing. Curing may occur very quickly or over many hours. When installing a SPF roofing system, air-handling units should be turned off and covered if occupants are in the building. They should remain covered until the SPF is sprayed and the coating can cure.

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- and 50-percent 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.

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Tired of labor problems and low profit margins? Make more $$ spraying coatings with Conklin Roofing Systems! Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com