Ann Arbor Michigan Roofing Blog

May 1, 2018 by A.H. Construction

Spring Time Tips for Your Commercial Flat Roofs

Since your commercial roof is a great investment, the goal is to preserve and keep this investment in the best shape possible for as long as possible. Following these two major recommendations will do just that.

Keep a Roofing Log: If you have not started this practice, now is the time. This log will keep track of ALL maintenance people, companies, etc. who go on your roof for whatever reason. This way, if sudden damage or leakage is observed, knowing who was on your roof last might give a clue as to the cause.
Get a Professional Roofing Inspection: A great way to prevent costly problems in the future. Your roofing inspector should be looking at the following elements concerning your roof:
1. Coating deterioration
2. Signs of ponding water
3. Objects that could possibly puncture your roofing membranes (debris, etc.)
4. Membranes For Built-up roofs (made of multiple plies of felt material)
  - Voids
  - Entrapped moisture
  - Lack of bitumen within the plies
5. Membranes For Single Ply roofing systems (EPDM, TPO, PVC)
  - Thermal membrane shrinkage with EPDM membranes
  - Open lap seams
  - For TPO AND PVC, brittleness of membranes
  - Punctures

Spring into a more thorough habit of roof maintenance now, and you will suffer NO regrets in the future.

April 5, 2018 by A.H. Construction

Spring Inspections: Your Roof!

Spring time is one of the best times to have your asphalt sloped roof inspected. Problems caught early and repaired will save your structure from further damage inside and out. The asphalt sloped roof requires an exterior and interior inspection. As the homeowner, you want a regular roof maintenance program to prevent unnecessary expense down the road. Below is a check list of what your roofing professional should be looking at when they come to inspect YOUR roof.

The Exterior Inspection looks for:

Severely blistered, curled or split shingles
Loose or missing shingles
Loose or exposed nails
Improperly seated nails that “popped”
Broken or loose shingles at the ridge and hip lines
Signs of missing caulk used to seal flashing
Rusty or corroded metal flashing
Damaged or missing flashing
Sagging on the ridges
Broken seals on shingles
Excessive granule loss on shingles
Chimney cracks
Rubber boots at top of pipes (indicating dry rot)
Damaged gutters and downspouts
Fascia board that’s damaged or rotted
Siding above the roof
Gutters and eaves for proper shingle overhangs

The Interior Inspection Looks for:

Cracks on roof sheathing
A measure and calculation of proper attic ventilation
Sagging decking (between rafters)
Outside light coming through
Attic intake vents for proper ventilation
Bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans for proper ventilation.
Leaks around vents, chimneys and other holes to the outside.

Arranging for your roof inspection now will save you much time, trouble and money in the future. Happy Spring!!

March 16, 2018 by A.H. Construction

Roofing Season All Year Long

Roofers do work all year long. As a matter of fact, some prefer the colder weather because of the extreme heat during the summer. Yes, the winter or cold weather should never stop home or business owners from getting the repairs needed on their roof. Leaks and external damage left unattended can cause severe structural damage, spelling out greater expense.There are some limitations, cautions, and extra steps to consider with winter roofing. Nevertheless, work can get done when needed.

1. If you have snow fall on your roof, it usually takes the professional 30 -60 minutes to shovel off so that the work area is cleared.
2. Some roofing materials behave differently below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Some roofing materials should not be installed at all below 40 degrees and some can be applied any time of the year, no matter the weather.

Flat roof materials whose seams are hot air welded do fine when installed in the winter. These include PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) or TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin). Duro-Last flat roofing material is an excellent example.

The problem for flat roofs is when alternative rubber roofs are installed in weather below 40 degrees. The manufacturers of these roofing materials advise AGAINST installing their materials in such temperatures because of the adhesive. Rubber roofs require an ADHESIVE to be used for securing the seams, and below 40 degrees Fahrenheit these adhesives freeze, which means that they do NOT bond. If no bond, then leaks will occur, and your manufacturer warranty will be VOID.

The sloped asphalt roofing of most homes can be installed in the cold winter, but some precautions must be taken, as well.

1. Be sure not to bend or crack the shingles.
2. Because the seal between the overlapping asphalt shingles is dependent on the HEAT from the WARM sun shining on it, this won’t happen until the warm weather arrives. So, unless, the shingle is nailed down properly, material could blow off and cause a leak.

Roofing season is all year long, but this is especially true when there are real problems, causing not only leaks but structural damage to your home or business. Keep an eye out, look for issues and, when observed, be sure to call your roofing professional.

January 25, 2018 by A.H. Construction

Flat Roofs: Gutter and Drains Matter!

Leaks on valuable merchandise or equipment, structure rot, and roof rot are all situations commercial building owners and managers want to avoid. First line of defense is a high-quality, maintained roof drainage system. If this is in order, you are all set up to prevent expensive damage from rain, snow, wind, and wildfire.

High-quality flat roof drainage systems allow for proper water flow. This flow reduces the risk for interior water damage to the building which is frequently caused by water backing up onto the flat roof. Flat roof drainage systems also serve as excellent conduits for melting snow which decreases the weight load bearing down on the commercial roof.

Roof gutter and drainage maintenance MUST be a significant part of your overall building maintenance plan due to certain problems that can arise on a seasonal, if not monthly, basis. Problems to look out for are:

Ice dams that can trap the snow and ice on a flat roof. This increases the roof load.
The accumulation of natural debris (leaves, branches, bird nests, etc.) which serves to back up water flow onto your flat roof and the building structure.
Improperly sloped gutters or misaligned drain spouts cause water build-up which lead to gutter, roof and structural damage. Also, be alert that water can accumulate too close against your building leading to further damage.

Gutter and Roof Drains are a BIG DEAL…………for any structure. As managers of commercial buildings, be sure to take the time, NOW, to inspect your flat roof gutter and drainage systems frequently. The trouble you take today will save you a TON of trouble (time and money) in the future.

January 3, 2018 by A.H. Construction

Important Points to Consider: Your Commercial Roof!

As a rule, commercial roofs are significantly different from residential roofs, so the business landlord/owner needs to hire a roofing company that is well acquainted with those differences. You want a high-quality company that has the experience and skill to deal with these unique challenges.

How are they different?

Commercial roofs are usually flat or have a very low slope with a larger square footage than most residential homes. Challenge: more opportunity for the ponding of water which can spell more opportunity for leaks and structural damage.

Commercial roofs have built in drainage systems. Challenge: the roofer needs to be aware of your precise system when replacing your new roof or help you upgrade if necessary. Roofers that ensure adequate drainage help avoid that dangerous ponding issue.

Commercial roofs require more structural strength to support the extra weight of the ventilation and heating/cooling equipment. Challenge: the roofer needs to keep this in mind when inspecting your entire structure. He should have an eye out for any degradation and be able to deal with it effectively before applying the new roof.

Commercial roofs, due to their flat design, endure a lot more abuse from exterior elements and therefore require material that is tougher and can withstand that abuse. Membrane materials (single-Ply, built up roofing (BUR) and modified bitumen(APP/SBS) are the options. Challenge: find the roofing company that has the expertise in applying these specialized materials. They need to be experienced in the proper welding of the material seams, and working around the common obstructions and parapets common to most commercial roofs.

Educating yourself now will make you a much more confident roofing consumer in the future.

A.H. Construction Company

Your High-Quality Commercial Roofer

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