Slick As Ice

Posted by Dustin Lentz on

Within the past few weeks, we have seen temperatures dip to the 30s. On one of those cold mornings, I went through my usual routine of making coffee and letting the dog outside. Grabbed a cup of brewed bean water, went to check on the dog from the back patio, took a sip, and proceeded to spray coffee all over the patio door. Ever seen a St. Bernard willingly slide down a hill covered in frost? It’s hilarious, and unfortunately, I had a mouthful of coffee at the time. That situation reminded me that frost or recent rain could create a comical scenario at ground level but make a very hazardous environment when on a roof and gravity is against you.

Single-ply roofing membranes are slippery when wet and even worse when frost and ice are present. Textured walkways, consisting of walkway pads made from the membrane material, liquid membranes with embedded granules, or simple concrete pavers, can assist roof traffic with getting a grip. As an added bonus, the walkways offer an additional layer of protection to your roof! Cole Roofing can assist you with designing and installing a walkway layout to suit your needs!

It’s still winter, and some foul weather is surely ahead of u. Please be careful on those roofs, and if going on a roof is absolutely necessary, the best safety practices are limiting roof traffic, OSHA-compliant fall protection, being aware of perimeters and hazards, and walking slowly and diligently.

P.S. No St. Bernards were injured in the making of this post 🙂

Don’t Forget Your Mittens!

Posted by Dustin Lentz on

I’ve heard stories from many people whose mothers, mine included, seemed to be cut from the same cloth. In winter, as we left the house growing up, mom would always say, “Don’t forget your hat” or “Don’t forget your gloves”. They wanted us to be warm and protect our skin. Now in my professional adult years, I’ve realized that they were really talking about R-value and thermodynamics! The more layers and insulation from the elements, the warmer we’d be when outside during cold winter months.

The same principle can be used in roofing. The more insulation and insulation layers, your building will stay warmer longer in the winter and cooler longer in the summer. The temperatures inside and outside of the building will naturally want to equalize, heat rises to the roof, and all sorts of other thermodynamic principles are at work. However, if your roof is properly insulated, the transfer of heat is slowed, and your HVAC systems will work more efficiently as they won’t have to run as much!

Call Cole Roofing today to set up an evaluation. We’ll help you determine the options to update your current roofing system. Happy Holidays from Cole Roofing!

Skylights Shouldn’t Be Causing Waterfalls

Posted by Dustin Lentz on

Indoor waterfalls and water features in your building can be relaxing. Maybe those places are your go-to area to decompress after a stressful day. But one thing is for sure. If the waterfall is unintended and coming from the skylights, it’s probably time to replace them!

If your skylights and daylighting devices let in more than just light, it’s time to determine the cause. Many popular plastic and acrylic skylights have useful service lives of 20 years. That is due to plasticizers and polymers leaching out of the “dome” or, simply put, the part that lets the light in. The leaching makes the dome brittle which eventually causes cracking and crazing. Many times, that cracking and crazing is so fine that it is unnoticeable without a thorough inspection. A quick fix is a glob of caulk at a major crack and around the frame (which is rarely the cause), but that will only last so long. Unless the intention is to create a waterfall inside of the building, the better and longer-lasting alternative is the replacement of the dome itself!

Call Cole Roofing today to assist you with options for the inspection, repair, or replacement of those skylights!

5 Things to Check on Your Roof Before Winter Arrives

Posted by Jimmy Canoles on

1. Check and clean the gutter and debris from the roof
2. Check the roof for missing shingles, punctures in the membrane, or defects in flashing
3. Ensure your building or home is insulated properly
4. Check the interior ceiling for water marks or other signs of a leak
5. Check around the perimeter of the building for any objects that can fall, puncture, or grow into the roof system and compromise the integrity.

That’s a great start.  Cole Roofing’s service department can quickly assist!