The Fault With EPDM Roofing Seams
The Fault With EPDM Roofing Seams EPDM is a fine roofing material and one which many Chaffee Roofing clients use. A significant advantage of EPDM roofing is its durability and high UV resistance. However, many flat roof owners find fault with their EPDM roofing seams, particularly on older EPDM roof systems with glued seams once they begin to wear down. Extensive patching to EPDM roof systems can be expensive because the accessories are almost as expensive as the EPDM field membrane itself. The cause of most replacement EPDM projects? The seams and flashing details. The EPDM membrane itself may be fine but when the seams and flashings begin to go, customers are left with two options: extensive patchwork or total replacement. Why faulty seams? A professional roofer will install your EPDM roof to the highest standards. At Chaffee Roofing, we only use highly qualified roofing professionals, who are guaranteed to always do a quality installation using premium materials.The problem is that EPDM relies on adhesives to hold the seams and flashing details together. With TPO and PVC roof systems, the seams and flashings are heat welded, which means that the product becomes one sheet. With EPDM, heat welding is not possible, so primers and adhesives are used. So what is the downside? The adhesives break down and dry out over time. It is inevitable, and […]
Installing A Greener Commercial Roof For Your Business
Installing A Greener Commercial Roof For Your Business Installing a greener commercial roof for your business will save you money. Isn’t that nice to hear when you are considering your roofing options? The good news continues as the long-term savings can be substantial. Less heat loss, better heat reflection, and more control over running the AC will put more money in the company’s pocket over the years.At Chaffee Roofing we know the benefits of installing a greener commercial roof. Clients appreciate the quality of our work and make use of Chaffee Roofing’s many decades of experience. We use our knowledge of greener roof materials to determine which one will work best on your roofing project. This is why we believe TPO is the best commercial roofing material to enhance your green credentials. Let’s take a closer look behind our reasons. TPO is white and reflects the heat In our New England climate, you could be running the air conditioning from late spring to early fall. Energy use is a big enemy of the environment, and the HVAC is a significant expense in any company’s budget.TPO is available in white, which will reflect the heat. The less heat absorbed from the sun, the less you need to run the AC. This can be significant with a large commercial roof. Also, by reflecting the UV rays of […]
Choosing The Longest Lasting Roofing Solution For Harsh Winters
Our winters are pretty bad here in New England. Harsh winters are hard on commercial roofs. At Chaffee Roofing, receive a lot of client questions regarding the best roofs for harsh winters. What are the longest lasting commercial roofing materials? What roofing will survive through cold, wet and heavy snow weather? My roof is cracking; what should I do? At Chaffee Roofing we get a lot of these queries after the winter when the damage is visible, and clients need a change. For those of you choosing a commercial roof for the harsh New England winters, we have a few suggestions. Our thermoplastic roof membranes, TPO, offer value and quality through the long life of the roof. EPDM provides the same benefits, along with the years of already proven service. There are pros and cons to any roofing project. If you are aware of them, before choosing your commercial roof, then you are on the way to making an excellent choice. Let’s take a closer look at the options and see which roofing material suits your commercial premises. TPO ticks all the boxes It may be the new kid on the block, but TPO is proving itself as a very worthy roofing membrane. At Chaffee, we complete a lot of TPO roofing installs, with very happy clients. A few benefits of TPO as a […]
What Makes TPO Stand Out Among Other Rubber Roofing
Flat rubber roofing is the perfect solution to commercial, flat roof problems. It is durable, easy to maintain and will last for many, many years. At Chaffee Roofing we always have clients asking us to recommend a flat or rubber roofing product for their commercial roofs. Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) is almost always discussed. We put together this post to show why TPO stands out among rubber roofing varieties. Top reasons TPO stands out as a rubber roofing solution are: Low-cost, yet high quality White color reflects the sunlight It has heat-welded seams and flashings, the strongest technology in the industry Resists the growth of mildew and corrosion Let’s take a closer look at each point. Low-cost, yet high quality A big appeal for any roofing project is the cost of the raw material. TPO is the least expensive flat or rubber roofing material on the market, sometimes by a decent amount depending on what other products are being proposed. When you are doing a commercial installation, involving a large roofing area, the lower cost can be very attractive, especially since you are typically receiving the same warranty as competing products. Low cost does not mean low quality. TPO is a top-quality roofing material that has been around for over 40 years. White color reflects the sunlight A big problem for many companies is that a […]
Unique Roofing Benefits Only Offered By PVC
Chaffee Roofing clients ask a lot of questions about PVC for commercial roofs. What’s so good about PVC roofing? Does PVC have any benefits over its competitors? Are there any unique properties to PVC roofing? We are always helping you, the client, to make the right choice for your roofing project. Regardless of size, location and prevailing weather conditions, we find PVC can be a great solution to many roofing needs. With this in mind, we put together a post, to highlight the unique roofing benefits of PVC. Four unique benefits of PVC for your commercial roof would be: Durability Resistance to chemical spills and food grease Excellent at keeping water out Long life expectancy Let’s take a closer look at each point. Durability You want a roofing material which will survive the job at hand. A roof which deteriorates under a hot summer sun or one which lifts during high winds of the fall is not the answer. The roof is out of sight, doing a vital job of protecting your building. You do not want to worry about it every change of season. By investing in a PVC, you are investing in the future. It is a durable roofing membrane which will stand up to the toughest of conditions. Resistance to chemical spills and food grease Chemicals and food grease can burn through […]
4 Not So Obvious Signs Your Commercial Roof Needs Replacing
Your commercial roof needs replacing when it leaks, buckles, splits or blows off in a storm. These are the obvious signs that the roof needs replacing. How about the not so obvious ones? The signs your commercial roof needs replacing, which don’t even occur to you? After all, you’re busy running your business, and the roof should be the least of your concerns. At Chaffee Roofing we often see roof damage which goes unnoticed. With this in mind we’re putting together this post to help clients spot the not so obvious signs of when a commercial roof needs replacing. The 4 not so obvious signs your commercial roof needs replacing are: Let’s take a closer look at each point. Utility bills going up We all see increases in our utility bills from time to time. The problem is when you notice a consistent rise over many bills. As flat roof systems begin to fail and start leaking more often, the underlying insulation can become compromised, especially when the underlying insulation is fiberboard. This can mean that your once energy efficient roof system is no longer keeping energy inside the building as the insulation gets soaked and loses its “R” value. As a result, your heating and cooling systems are going to have to run more often to keep up with the demand. In addition to […]
5 Ways To Make Your EPDM Roof Last Longer
At Chaffee Roofing we know the roof completes a building. You invest money in the structure and you want it to last. Quality always does. Many of our clients choose EPDM because of its long-life properties alone. One question we get asked a lot by clients is: ‘how to make the EPDM roof last longer?’ Every roof requires maintenance, and it is not any different with EPDM. With this in mind we put together a few tips to help make your EPDM roof last longer. Our list of 5 ways to make your EPDM roof last longer is: Let’s take a closer look at each point. Regular inspections are key As with all roofs, you need to keep an eye on EPDM. After a storm you should inspect the roof and repair any damage. This should be a detailed inspection, looking at joints, seams, and flashings. You should also check rooftop units to make sure everything is where it should be. Only by finding a problem before it takes hold can you minimize the damage from storms and bad weather. Prevention is better than the cure This is very true when it comes to roofs. Take a look around outside your building. Overhanging branches can do a lot of damage during a storm. Trim trees and keep any new plantings away from the building. Reduce […]
Choosing The Right Roofing Material For Energy Savings
At Chaffee Roofing we get a lot of queries about energy savings. Clients ask questions such as ‘we’re spending a lot on heating, will replacing the roof make a difference?’ We have put together some guidelines help our clients find answers. On our guidelines for choosing the right roofing material for energy savings are the following: Let’s take a closer look at each point. Choose a material which is puncture and shrink resistant Damage to your roof will see a lot of heat lost during a cold spell. The more water gets into your roof system, the more it will damage your roof insulation, reducing or even eliminating the “R” value that it provides. Depending on the type of insulation you install, this can happen quickly or slowly. Fiberboard insulation, for example, soaks up water very easily and is very prone to damage. Polyisocyanurate insulation resists water much better, so it will take longer for roof leaks to damage the insulation. The best solution is to have a good, weathertight roof system that doesn’t leak. Both TPO and EPDM are very puncture resistant. They can withstand storm and debris damage and where holes do occur, both materials are easy to repair. Get the thickness right The thicker the material, the better it is in keeping the heat in during the colder months and in helping […]
Local Roofing Company Celebrates 110 Years
The year was 1908. It was a simpler time, where aviation and long-distance radio were still considered wonders and novelties of a new millennia. A mere decade had passed since the formal end of the Spanish-American War, and the United States was still only a few years short of entering into World War I. In the small state of Rhode Island, a family company would emerge that would stand to change the industry of textile and roofing installations throughout generations. When Thomas K. Chaffee Sr. came to Providence, leaving his small hometown of Faribault, Minnesota to live with his sister and her husband, he came seeking new opportunities and a chance to make a mark on a growing industry. The Industrial Revolution had paved the way for large mills and commercial buildings that would require impeccable maintenance and care in order to keep production streamlined. Thus, the Thomas K. Chaffee Company was born. Chaffee Industrial Roofing :- Throughout the years, Thomas K. Chaffee Company has seen its share of new ownership and even a new name, but it has always remained in the careful hands and guidance of family. From Thomas Chaffee’s son, Henry, to his grandson Steven, generations of Chaffee members have sought to bring the best and newest technology in commercial and industrial roofing products to New England. Countless brothers, sons, nephews and […]
Leaky Roof? Should You Repair Or Replace?
At Chaffee Roofing we love solving roof problems. Only last week we got an email with the subject line ‘Leaky Roof.’ It’s the sort of inquiry we get regularly, and our answers aren’t always the same. Every leaky roof is different, but the solution will boil down to ‘repair or replace?’ We’ll ask the client a few questions, to get a better idea of the problem. Clients with leaky roofs get questions like: Let’s take a closer look at each question. What type of roof do you have? This is a key question that most people don’t know the answer to! Since roofs are long term products, people don’t usually know much about their roof systems until there is a problem. We always work with our customers to explain what type of roof they have, and what their problems are. Once our customer understands what the problem is, we discuss solutions. About 95% of our business is commercial, but we will do shingle roofs as well. In almost all situations, we need to visit the roof system to get an idea of what the problem is. All flat commercial roof systems have different pros and cons that can be contributing to leaks. The cause and severity of the problem always effects the solution. How old is your roof system? Older roofs have plenty of […]