Is Your Roof Ready for Storms?

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As this column was prepared, the Weather Channel was tracking a major snowstorm moving up the East Coast. Weather predictions like these are far more accurate today than they were just a few years ago, but our preparations for dealing with major weather events often aren’t taking advantage of those extra few hours or days. If a major storm is headed your way, use the extra time to make a contingency plan for your roof delineating necessary responsibilities before, during, and after the storm. When bad weather hits, you’ll be glad you did. WELL BEFORE Set up a meeting with your chief of maintenance or general contractor and other trades to address several issues. Identify
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Close-up of two carpenters discussing the work on top of an unfinished roof

Winter Is Here – Is Your Roof Ready?

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When your site is susceptible to storms of any sort, don't throw caution to the wind. It's easy to forget your roof is up there – until it's caving in around you. Whether you're facing wind, winter, or whatever the elements may bring, have a plan in place and make sure your building's roof is prepared for extreme weather. Human optimism makes us believe the worst won't come, and then it takes us by storm. "We're seeing record temperatures, several inches of rain overnight, damaging winds, regional power failures, and building collapse from accumulated snow or plugged drains," says Richard L. Fricklas, former technical director emeritus of the Roofing Industry Educational Institute. "It's one thing
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Roofer working on a new dormer by hammering nails into the roof edge

6 Factors to Assess Roof Sustainability

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Through its lifecycle, a roof has a variety of environmental impacts. However, many impacts can be controlled by building owners and facility managers, resulting in lower energy costs and longer service life.   Most buildings in the U.S. are under two stories and their roofs often represent the largest portion of their building envelopes. More heat energy is lost through roofs than walls and windows. If all U.S. buildings met the 2012 level of code-mandated insulation, 700 trillion BTUs of energy would be saved. Another aspect of environmental impact involves renewable energy production. If 25% of U.S. rooftops incorporated power from solar, the energy produced would be 25 times greater than the 21 billion kilowatt
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