Commercial building owners don?t always have experience dealing with roofing projects. They don?t always have established relationships with quality contractors, either. In cases like these, it could be advantageous for a building owner to seek advice from a third party expert.

A roof consultant can determine, without bias, the best roofing system and scope of work for your particular situation based on budget constraints, existing construction, sensitivity of the building?s tenants, and so on. These concrete details often help to give bidding contractors a solid understanding of the roof system and scope of work on which to bid.

Roof consultants are playing an ever-larger role in the construction of commercial buildings; in both new and retrofitting projects. As roofing technology advances, so must roofers, builders, and building owners. The roof consultant plays a valuable role in incorporating all the trade work that goes into creating a watertight building envelope.

5 Situations Where Having A Roofing Consultant Can Be Helpful

• If you aren?t sure if the estimate or proposal you got from your contractor is the right way to go, bringing in a roof consultant can give you peace of mind and ensure that you get the best quality work for your building and your budget.

• If you are under the impression that you need a complete tear off and roof replacement, a roof consultant could possibly point out ways to extend the life of the roof and save you from spending unnecessarily.

• If you?re having trouble choosing a roofing contractor, a consultant can help you find the most qualified roofer for your particular project.

• If you?re tempted to award your project to the lowest bidder, a roofing consultant may be able to point out concerning issues (such as being uninsured or under-qualified) and save you from making a grave mistake.

• A consultant can also be your supervisor, ensuring that an appropriate roof system is installed with good workmanship and according to industry standards.

On the other hand, working with an honest, knowledgeable, and qualified contractor can mean avoiding the need for a third party expert.

When you?re considering various roofing contractors in the area, do your homework. One of the best ways to find out if a contractor has the qualities you desire is to get feedback from their previous customers. You can search local directories for reviews or even get a list of references from the roofer. See if anyone who they?ve worked for in the past had a project similar to yours.

It?s also a good idea to get an understanding of the company?s warranty and insurance information, their standing with the Better Business Bureau, what associations they are affiliated with, and their preferred material suppliers.

I was recently asked, ?What will roofing membranes look like in the future?? It got me thinking about all the changes I?ve seen in the industry over the decades. Having worked with commercial roofing membranes to some degree since 1979, I?ve witnessed the astounding transformation of the commercial roofing industry. The most notable transformation has taken place in the products offered and their performance.

Things have come a long way over the centuries, from man using a cave as shelter to today?s polymeric roof membranes. With most of the advancements in roof membrane technology having taken place in the last 50 years, roofing has moved on from built-up roofs comprised of asphalt or coal tar and felts to neoprene rubber, chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), PVC, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), chlorosulfanated polyethylene (aka Hypalon«), non-reinforced to reinforced membranes, modified bitumen made of styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) or atactic polypropylene (APP), thermoplastic polyolefin (TPS) and ketone ethylene elastomer (KEE) membranes. Thicknesses now range from 36 mils (0.036") to 200+ mils (0.200+") and sizes vary from 1 meter wide x 10 meters long to 40' wide x 200' long, etc., etc., etc.

Over the years, some advancements that worked in a lab didn?t work so well on a roof in the real world?because, often, accelerated weathering devices used in labs didn?t represent real world conditions. For example, when butyl rubber (polyisobutylene) was introduced for roofing purposes, it exhibited great durability in a weatherometer, but not on real roofs. Neoprene is chemically resistant, but real world conditions made it dry out and become brittle. Additionally, EPDM shrunk when used outside of a lab and the surfaces of early TPOs oxidized when exposed to a natural environment, making them nearly impossible to heat-weld after a few days exposure to the elements.

Some of the roofing membrane advancements that worked in Europe didn?t fare so well in North America. Non-reinforced thermoplastic roof membranes shattered as a result of the sub-freezing temperature contraction they experienced in North America. And larger warehouse-type roofs in North America also tended to have greater expansion and contraction factors that fatigued materials.

And, while many of the roof systems developed for various roof membranes are still successful, many weren?t viable. Systems like INSTA-SEAM, Fast Track and MARS-NP were unique and advanced. However, while manufacturers? technical department staff could install these systems correctly, the systems had no margin for error on a roof in the real world and were generally too sophisticated for the average roofing crew.

Beyond weather conditions and ultraviolet attack, all roof membranes and roof systems have been challenged by one common denominator: Human beings develop and install them. And thus, errors are made. In response to this challenge, roof membrane manufacturers have worked to develop roof membranes and roof systems to limit the human factor.a

So, what will future roof membranes look like?

From my viewpoint, it?s not a matter of what they will look like, but rather, how manufacturers of high-performance roof membranes will continue to limit the human factor, and what roof membranes will do besides providing a covering for a building. If we can imagine it, it will happen. Today?s fiction will become tomorrow?s reality.

How would you limit the human factor?

What else would you like a roof membrane to do?

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I sent a message to Hans Peter Koennecke asking if I could display pictures from his Master Roofer?saSchoolaheld in Cologne, Germany.a A group of skilled craftsmen gather and produce slate art which is incredible due to the detail and time involved.

More pictures are found on Hans? Facebook page which I?ve linked above.a Other teachers of the school include Uwe Bierbaum and Puma Kater. I apologize ahead of time for the titles that I?m giving the most literal meanings to.

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City Goat by Mattias Krings

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Journeymen by Michael Heise

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Sailing by Gina Ixkes

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Paraglider by Markus Vitt

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Parrots by Fadi Bichtawi

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Motorcycle by Michael Fleiger

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Coat of Arms by Stefan Crespodiez

Eagle by Ben Cloth

Magic Emblem by Michael Krause

Coat of Armsaby Sascha Schildgen

Buddhaaby Sascha Schildgen

The Full Collection

The Mississippi River has swelled to levels so high that many cities along its banks have shut off all electricity for safety reasons. Numerous residents homes are flooded, and even more have been evacuated ? many by helicopter.

So if there is anything to be learned from the flooding in Missouri, it is just what excess water can do to a home. Here is what we know:

There are three categories of water damage:

All water damage is not considered equal. In fact, water damage exists in many different forms and levels of severity. The least severe is category 1, which refers to clean water, or water that does not pose a threat to humans. Category 1 often happens with broken appliances or sink overflows. Next, and more severe is category 2, which is also called gray water. Gray water contains microorganisms, and is considered contaminated and may cause sickness of ingested. Broken toilets, broken sump pumps, and seepage are all causes of category 2 water damage. The most severe water damage is category 3, also known as black water. Black water is sewage, or contaminated standing water, and is labeled unsanitary, as it contains bacteria and other organisms that cause sickness.

There are four classes of water damage:

While the categories of water damage help gauge the level of severity in terms of health risk, the classes of water damage inform the level of damage to the structure itself. Class 1, the least harmful form of damage, describes water damage where materials absorb very little of the water, and damage repair is relatively easy. Class 2, is slightly more detrimental, meaning that more water has been absorbed, however, it has a fast rate of evaporation. An example of class 2 water damage is damage to carpets and cushions, which makes repair more difficult than class 1. Class 3 describes damage to walls and furniture, often from overhead sources or broken sprinklers. Class 4 is the most severe, and affects hardwood floors, plaster, and concrete. Class 4 often requires special restoration and repair services.a

Water damage is a major health hazard:

Accumulated moisture always brings one thing with it ? mold. And not only can mold aggravate asthma and respiratory diseases, it can also promote growth of unhealthy bacteria which increases risk of infections, and compromises overall health ? especially for children and those with compromised immune systems.

Here is a list of resources that provide more information about water damage and its health effects.

• Fungal Species and Water-Damaged Building Materials: This article explains how water damage encourages fungi growth on building materials.
• Response to Water Damage: The Environmental Protection Agency offers a chart to guide homeowners and business owners in responding to water damage.
• Mold: A Health Hazard: This article from the Federal Emergency Management Agency explains the dangers of mold, which can form when building materials are exposed to water.
• Water-Damaged Wood Furniture PDF: This resource offers several tips for salvaging water-damaged wood furniture.
• Floods and Water Damage: The American Lung Association explains the health hazards of water damage.
• Cleaning Up After a Flood: The University of Minnesota Extension explains the safety equipment needed and procedures used to clean up the water damage from a flood.
• Restoration Guidelines and Criteria PDF: This document contains information about the restoration of homes and businesses damaged by water.
• Cleaning Flood-Damaged Carpets and Rugs: This article provides valuable advice for those who want to save their water-damaged carpets and rugs.
• Guidelines on Indoor Fungi Removal PDF: This document explains health effects of fungi indoors and discusses proper remediation procedures.
• Types of Water Damage: This article explains the different types of water damage that can occur in commercial and residential properties.
• Water Damage Category and Class: This article provides information about classifying and categorizing water damage.
• Home Repairs for Water-Damaged Items: This article offers tips for repairing items damaged by water exposure.
• Saving Paper Items: This resource explains how to preserve paper items damaged by water.
• Tips for Safe Flood Cleanup: This resource offers safety tips for people who need to clean up after significant water damage.

You repainted. You put in fresh carpet. You remodeled the kitchen. You even replaced the roof. And the value of your home has increased.

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But what if I told you it could increase even more?

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It?s a little known secret. But the truth is, adding solar to your home dramatically increases its value. A study from the Appraisal Institute showed that for every dollar you save in electric costs, your home jumps up $20 in value. That?s a much better deal than other types of home renovations. And thanks to a host of state and federal incentives, you can often recover more than 100% of your initial expense.

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But let?s not stop there.

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Because what you also might not know is that homes with solar roofing panels sell a lot faster too. A new analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy?s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy indicates that solar homes sell twice as fast as homes without solar panels.

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And while the expedited resale may be in part due to the perception of value, it may also be related to the actual value saved by adding solar. Homeowners with solar roofs can expect to save an average of $50,000 on energy bills over 25 years ? if you live in an area with high electricity costs this number will be much higher. And up to 50% or more of the system cost can be taken care of by a combination of discounts, rebates, and tax credits.

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So let?s put this in financial terms. Comparing investing in solar panels on your roof to investing in the stock market, solar can provide as high as a 324% return on investment. In layman?s terms, that means if you invest $25,000 in home solar, expect to get $81,000 back in your pocket over the lifetime of the system. S&P 500 Index Funds won?t even get you close to that ? it has returned 2.9% for the past 10 years.

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For many people, solar is simply the wave of the future. It pays huge dividends not just in dollars and returns, but in environmental accountability. And that?s an investment everyone can afford to make.

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