Industry Loss

We mourn the loss of Jacobus ?Jack? Bus who passed away earlier this week. Jack was the founder of what is now known as ATAS International, a major manufacturer of commercial and residential metal roof and wall panels.

Having immigrated here from the Netherlands, Jack had a fascinating life story. The business he started in 1963 went on to become a predominant industry force.

And throughout it all, nothing was more apparent to anyone than Jack?s love for his family.

Our hearts and prayers go out to that family who mourns his loss at this time.

The Solar Eclipse 2017 was a unique event that not only captured our attention, but also reminded us of just how magnificent nature can be. In celebration of last week?s solar eclipse, here are three ways to invite the sun into your home.

1. Lutron Contract Roller Manual and Motorized Shades. There is nothing better than shades that help your manage the sun?s glare, except Lutron?s new motorized shades. These shades don?t only reduce solar heat gain, but they can also be coordinated with a Lutron lighting control system, or controlled by hand-held or wall-mounted Lutron keypads. They are available in sizes up to 12? wide and up to 20? tall, and are manufactured with aluminum tubes to prevent possible rust stains on the fabric. Even better, Lutron new shades come in a wide variety of fabrics ? everything from dual-sided, blackout, sustainable, or high-performance.

2. Atmos, Innerscene Skylight. Ever wish you could work outside? Atmos Innerscene Skylight just about makes that possible. By simulating natural light and the process of sunrise to sunset through a simulated 3D sun and moon, this skylight redefines natural light. Available in a standard size?24.7? wide by 41? long, or customized to specific dimensions by attaching multiple Atmos arrays, the skylight features a slim 8.7? profile to allow for installation in ceilings that are less than 12? deep. Installation options include: drop ceiling, wall, pendant, or flat or pitched ceiling. And while the skylight uses 180W and provides a sun illuminance of less than 2,500 lux at 6?, a sky brightness of 4,800 lumens, and a moon brightness or 0.3 lux, it can also be dimmed to customize brightness, offering just the amount of sunlight you desire.

3. Sun Tunnel Skylights, Velux. Have a pitched roof? Then Velux?s Sun Tunnel Skylights will help you make the most of the sun?s rays. Available in 10? and 14? models they utilize redirecting angles in the impact-resistant dome to optimize sunlight from every direction throughout the day. Also, they come with a Flexi-Loc assembly system that uses clips instead of screws for easy installation. And the best thing about them is the diffuser options ? frosted, prismatic, and Fresnel ? which mean that you can customize the amount of sunlight that enters your home.

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Home Maintenance Resolutions

Happy New Year! At Classic Metal Roofing Systems, we hope that you and yours had a wonderful and safe holiday season with plenty of time for fun with those you care about. It seems that this is the time during which we all make resolutions. We thought it might be fun to look at a few home maintenance resolutions we could all strive for in 2013:

• Check and make sure that smoke, carbon monoxide, and radon detectors are all functioning properly.
• If you have to buy any new appliances in 2013, commit to buying appliances that are environmentally-friendly and, if possible, Made in the USA.
• Have furnace and air conditioning equipment checked for safety and peak performance.
• Look for ways to do ?more with less?. Are there areas of your home which have collected unused clutter that can be cleaned up and turned into useable space?
• Strive to save energy. Get your whole family involved in saving electricity, water, and natural gas ? little steps done consistently can add up!
• Review your ?fire exit plan? with all members of your household. Things change over time. What might have seemed very easy and ?common sense? ways to exit your family safely from your home in the event of an emergency may not be so easy any more. Look, too, for fire-safe products.
• Consider purchasing a home warranty to help protect you against unexpected costs. These are available even if you?ve owned your home for years!

And, finally, please allow us to be your partner in home maintenance. We have years of experience as a manufacturer of quality building products. We know at least a little bit about nearly everything and can usually provide you with great resources of information for any area of your home?s upkeep. Todd Miller, our company president and resident guru, is happy to address questions concerning roofing, ventilation, ice management, and other areas of home improvement. You can email him at todd@asktoddmiller.com and also visit his educational website at asktoddmiller.com.

Tags: home maintenance

?No roof system can withstand the most extreme winds,? was the first caution of the National Roofing Contractors Alliance (NRCA). During the summer months, hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms and hail can wreak havoc on rooftops, often pelting asphalt tiles, ripping off gutters, and causing insidious roof leaks.

But this wasn?t the only caution of the NRCA.

Summer months also attract ?storm chasers?, those outfits who specialize in storm damage, but may not be local, or legitimate. The NRCA continues, ?There have been many reports of consumers being taken advantage of by out-of-area or unscrupulous contractors after a storm passes.?

Not just do these unscrupulous contractors take advantage of their customers, according to the NRCA, but they may also perform work that doesn?t meet local building codes and the result could be ?substandard installations? that will not perform over time.

What could be even more detrimental, however, is that these contractors may not be properly licensed or carry the correct insurance to perform the work. What this means for you is that if there are any claims or damages related to the work performed, they may not be covered.

So what is the advice the NRCA gives?

After a storm, hire local. Not just are local contractors familiar with building codes in your area, but they also have a vested interest in the recovery of the communities in which they live and work. And after a severe storm, one of the first components of recovery is to drive the local economy, and there is no better way to do this than hiring a roofing contractor who lives and works where you do also.

If you're like most homeowners, you don't relish the idea of climbing on your roof regularly and checking for areas that need repair. But if you could avoid shelling out the average $12,000 it costs to install a brand-new roof, wouldn't you be willing to do what you could to keep your roof in good shape?

Making roof repairs before they turn into big problems can greatly extend the life of your asphalt shingle roof. You don't even have to be the one climbing all around your roof; hiring a residential roofing expert to inspect your roof annually and make any needed repairs can extend the life of the roof to the maximum of 25 years that's usually warrantied by shingle manufacturers -- sometimes even longer. Here are five things a professional can do to help your roof last.

1. Check for shingle damage or missing shingles.

If a damaged shingle isn't replaced immediately, it opens up your roof to the risk of getting water damage and rot in the roof's underlayment and deck. This can lead to a full roof replacement before you would otherwise need to.

One of the most common reasons to lose shingles is to winter storms and wind damage. But having your roofing contractor check after a particularly bad storm and install replacement shingles within a short period of time can help your roof stay intact and leak-free, so it's worth paying for the inspection. Check with your homeowner's insurance company to see if storm damage is covered under your policy.

2. Find any loose flashing.

Flashing is the metal barrier used around roof edges, such as where a wall intersects the roof or a hole has been cut for a vent, chimney orskylight. These metal pieces can slip or simply become unglued over time.

Recaulking or resealing is sometimes an option, but in most cases, the flashing will need to be replaced in order to provide a permanent stop against leaks.

3. Locate nail pops and reattach before shingle loss occurs.

Raised shingles are usually a sign of a roofing nail popping up. They can be caused over time as weather extremes force your roofing materials to expand and contract, and it's fairly common to have a few. Have your contractor nail them back down again to avoid leaks.

If you have many nail pops on your roof, it could be because your original roofer used nails that were too short or the nailswere hammered into wood that was not secure enough to hold them. If the roof was installed recently, talk to the company about making it right. If not, or if you don't want to work with that company any longer, we can check for any damage that's resulted and make repairs before reattaching the shingles properly.

4. Look for loose ridge vents.

Ridge vents are the pieces that go over the tops of roof joints, where two slopes come together. While these pieces are also covered with protective asphalt shingles, they can come loose from the roof deck and allow water to get inside. Weather, time and sometimes animals like squirrels can cause the ridge vents to come up. Reattaching and sealing them properly is key to keeping your roof well maintained.

5. Make sure water is not leaking between your home and your gutters.

If the lower edge of your roof is not extending beyond the fascia board, water might not be making it into your gutters. And if your gutters aren't funneling water away from your roof, it could be sitting and causing damage, including mold, mildew and rot. Or, it could be leaking down on to your siding, causing staining and damage.

Your roof repair professional can install what's called drip edge or drip cap, a flat strip of sheet metal that lies under the first row of roof shingles and extends slightly into the gutter. This protects the wood from getting wet and routes rain water to the gutter system and away from your home.

If you have any questions about your roof and its condition, contact us for an inspection. We can let you know what repairs will help extend the life of your asphalt shingle roof.

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