Metal Roofs: Leading the Way Toward Energy-Efficiency

Commercial metal roofs are becoming increasingly popular due to their energy efficiency and durability. Metal roofs are highly reflective, meaning they reflect sunlight and heat away from the building, reducing the energy needed to cool the interior. Additionally, metal roofs are made of recyclable materials and have a lifespan of up to 50 years, making them a sustainable and cost-effective option for commercial building owners.  Metal roofing is also ideal for matching with a solar array and ideal pairing!

Metal roofs come in various styles, colors, and finishes, allowing building owners to customize their roofs to fit their aesthetic preferences. Metal roofs can also be installed over existing roofs, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming tear-offs.

In addition to their energy efficiency and durability, commercial metal roofs are low-maintenance. They do not require frequent repairs or replacements like some traditional roofing materials.

Overall, commercial metal roofs are leading the way toward energy efficiency in the construction industry. They offer a sustainable, customizable, and low-maintenance option for building owners looking to reduce their energy costs and carbon footprint.

Slick As Ice

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 🙂

Skylights Shouldn’t Be Causing Waterfalls

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!

What’s The “Best” Roof System

Technology continues to evolve exponentially every year. 100 years ago when Cole Roofing was installing roofs, choices for roof systems were limited. Now, it’s A La Carte with so many different acronyms (EPDM, TPO, PVC, SBS, PUMA, FP are just a few) that create more questions than answers. So, which one’s the best, and what to use?!?

Each system has its extensive list of pros and cons, which is the best advice I can give without a lengthy discussion. It all depends on various factors, and Cole Roofing is the solution to define those factors.