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5 Critical Maintenance Tips for Your Rooftop Pipe and Equipment Supports

Regular roof maintenance is vital for keeping your roof watertight and preventing expensive future problems. One of the most important things on your roof maintenance checklist should be your pipe and equipment supports. Identifying and troubleshooting problems early will help ensure a long-lasting roof system. To lengthen the lifespan of your roofing system, regularly check your rooftop for the following signs of failure. 1) Sagging pipes and ducts Flexing or sagging pipes or ducts are a good indication that your rooftop supports are too far apart to bear the weight of the pipe and its contents. The proper spacing of supports depends on the weight of the pipe or duct. You may need to install additional supports or change the fittings to prevent your pipes and ducts from flexing or sagging. >> Read More: 8 Factors to Consider When Planning Roof Pipe Support Spacing >> 2) Cracks in support bases If the weight of the pipe or duct and its valves, fittings and pipe contents exc...

Summer's Here! Let's Talk About Heat Illness Prevention

The summer season has arrived, and with it come additional health hazards in your work environments. Each year, thousands of workers exposed to extreme heat and/or humid conditions die or become ill from heat stress and other heat related illnesses. For this reason, it is important to be mindful of the signs and symptoms of heat stress and protect your (and your colleagues') health this summer. This is especially important while working in extreme environments such as rooftops, where there is little to no shade available for workers. While heat safety strategies are simple to implement, they are frequently overlooked. OSHA's Campaign to Keep Workers Safe in the Heat has broken down their message into three words to help understand the basic principles: WATER, REST, & SHADE Under OSHA law, employers are responsible for protecting workers against extreme heat. Employers must provide workers with water, rest, shade and training on the prevention of heat stress and what to do i...

Modular Construction - What You Need to Know

Construction is a broad industry which encompasses many different types of building processes. Today, one of the growing construction categories is modular construction. Discover what modular development is, and some of the pros and cons, so you can determine if modularly constructed components may become part of your future growth.   What is Modular Construction Modular construction is a type of construction process where pieces (or modules) are created in a factory and are then put together on site. For those working on the worksite, there is less detailed work, and the job is completed faster. It allows for large builds to be finished much quicker without loss of quality. Benefits of Modular Construction Streamlined Construction - The process takes less time, allowing businesses to take control sooner. For many projects, saving time can mean lower costs and happier clients. Higher Efficiency - There is less labor needed to put together modular units than to build from scratch. I...

Roofing Cover Boards: Overview

It is understood by many in the know in the building industry that roofing cover boards can often be the unsung hero of a given roof assembly.  Though seemingly mundane and inexpensive, they are also highly effective and promote the durability and longevity of a roof.  In short, they are worth the investment.  Their added durability protects against damage from hail, fire, wind uplift, and other kinds of unfavorable weather, all at a very reasonable upfront cost.   They are also shown to slow the passage of heat and water vapor, providing an added layer of insulation where it is very much needed.  Rather than applying your roof surface directly upon a substrate, the cover board provides another protection against “thermal bridging” by covering over fasteners and insulation joints below. Another benefit they provide is a smoother application surface for the adherence of the actual roof membrane.  The roof substrate is often full of fasteners and many uneven ...

Commercial Roof Coating: 101

There are several different types of commercial roof coatings used today, including silicone, acrylic,roof-coating-2846324_1280 aluminum, and polyurethane.  They are sometimes referred to as restoration membranes because roof coatings are often applied over existing rooftop membranes, as opposed to being part of a new roof construction detail.  They can also be used in partial applications to coat and re-coat parapet walls or portions of a roof.  At this time, the major competitors in the commercial roof coatings industry are really only one of two types: silicone and acrylic.  Let’s consider some of the key aspects of these coatings such as longevity, application, cost effectiveness, climate appropriateness, sustainability, and maintenance.  Because reflective roofs can moderate energy use over the course of a new or even an existing building’s lifetime and because energy savings mean cost savings, certain coatings can be a sustainable choice in most climates....

4 Ways to Prove the Value of Quality Roof Products to Customers

How often do you make sales where the customers know exactly what options are best for their buildings? Probably not too many. Building owners (and additional stakeholders) know how important roofing decisions are—but that doesn’t mean they don’t have many other decisions demanding attention. What if you’re offering products that cost more than the competition? You know they’re higher quality but getting prospects to understand that is pivotal. Let’s go through 4 keys to proving that your roof products are the best options for potential customers. 1. Education First When customers are faced with a barrage of options—EPDM, TPO, PVC, SPF, asphalt, acrylic coating, green roof, etc.—you can’t assume they’re 100% informed. Making use of every bit of literature, collateral, samples, and spec sheets within the organization is critical. However, it’s not enough to just present some high-level information about your many offerings. They’ll still be drawn to the comfort of lowest cost. That’s wh...

Hazard Communication for Roofers

For many roofers and roofing companies, the hazards surrounding a commercial or industrial roof appear to be mostly physical. With trips and falls representing the clearest and most present danger for roofing contractors, many roofing companies have developed detailed and comprehensive plans both to prevent falls and to mitigate damage and liability if a fall occurs. By focusing so much of their effort on preventing falls, however, are roofing companies neglecting other dangers? In a word? Yes. In 2018, OSHA cited at least 4,552 hazard communication violations (final figures for the year are still forthcoming.) This is second only to fall protection violations and has been for the last four years. Companies need to examine their compliance in this often-overlooked category in order to avoid OSHA fines, protect their workers, and maintain their image of professionalism. Chemical Hazards in the Rooftop Environment It can be easy to forget that rooftops are an area where chemicals may com...