When Is the Best Time of Year to Replace a Commercial Roof?
If your commercial roof is constantly leaking, whether due to bad weather, snow build-up or wear and tear, you probably need a roof replacement. Also, if you’re spending too much time and money on maintenance and repairs, it’s probable that your commercial roof is dilapidated and needs replacement. Most commercial roofing materials last between 15 to 30 years. So, if you’re getting closer to this time, it’s time to start planning when to replace your commercial roof. Although most commercial operators understand the seriousness of roof replacement, most don’t know the best time to replace a commercial roof. Below we will try and answer this question and explore the best time to replace your commercial roof. The Best Time to Replace Your Commercial Roof In New England, the simple answer to this question is between March to December. As a general rule of thumb, replacement during January and February is not ideal, unless we have a mild winter. Most roofing products can be installed during this time, with technology like heat boxes and heat blankets. However, it is always easier to install a roof when nature is on your side. The biggest downside of a winter installation is the temperature of the roofing materials during the installation. During the colder months, the membrane rolls themselves are cold, making them very tight. Once the warmer weather […]
5 Signs You Should Replace Versus Repair Your Roof
Knowing when to replace a roof is a very valuable skill. You may do repairs through the many years of its life, but there comes a time when replacing the roof is the only option. Getting the timing right is vital.It will save you money.Looking for signs of replacing rather than repairing is the place to start. Five clear and obvious signs leave nothing to doubt.Let’s take a look at the five signs that indicate you need to replace your roof. The roof is marking its 25th anniversary Age catches up with a roof. All those years of being exposed to cold, wet, and windy weather, as well as hot summers, take their toll.Take a look at when the roof went on the building. If it is 25 years or more, annual repairs will most likely not be enough on a standard roof system.Repairing a 25-year old roof is not cost-effective on most roof systems. The roof is sagging in too many places When a roof begins to sag, you know you are in trouble. Typically, it means that the underlying insulation is in very poor shape or, in extreme cases, the structural wood or steel decking is beginning to collapse. If the contractor can repair a weakness, then you may be safe for a few years.When the roof as a whole begins to sag, […]
TPO versus EPDM: which system is better?
One of the most common questions we get is: Which roof system is better, black “Rubber” EPDM or white “Thermoplastic” TPO? Both are similar in price, both come with 15-30 year warranties, both are made by reputable manufacturers, and both are widely installed throughout New England. So that begs the question, is one roofing material actually better than the other? Key Differences In my view, neither roof system is definitively better than the other. However, they do have key differences that may have an impact depending on your building. These differences include: Our approach at Chaffee Roofing is to evaluate each building’s unique needs and requirements before recommending a roof system. In a restaurant, for example, TPO is typically the better option due to grease and oil output. On a manufacturing plant that operates at a higher temperature than typical inside the building, EPDM would be a better option. On a strip mall, with multiple different tenants, it’s a toss-up based on current and future use. In our view, neither system is definitively better than the other, it’s more about how your building is used and which roof system is a better match based on the building’s needs. Call Us Your roofing project is only as good as the installing company and the product they use. On TPO roof systems, this is especially important since […]
Heating versus Cooling Your Roof: Which is Better in New England?
Heating versus cooling a flat roof in New England has always been a hotly contested debate. I have been to countless seminars on this subject, and have heard the following arguments: In New England, we are heating our buildings more often than cooling them. On the average building in New England, it’s undeniable that we are heating our buildings more often than cooling them. Air conditioning typically runs consistently from June to August (3 months). On the other hand, heating typically runs consistently from October to April (7 months). As a result, the argument is that we are better off installing a black roof system that heats the roof than a white roof system that cools the roof. The heating benefit lasts for 7 months compared to the cooling benefit, which lasts for only 3 months. The strongest argument that I have heard against this theory is that during the winter, once the snow falls, the roof is white regardless. The black membrane may help melt a small amount of snow, but much like your driveway, once snow builds up, you have a snowy white surface instead of a black surface. This doesn’t happen during the summer, so the cooling benefit is there during the entire season. Rooftop equipment benefits from a cooler surface. During the hottest points of the summer, a black roof system […]
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 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 […]
5 Signs That Your Roof May Have Sustained Water Damage
Your roof is an extraordinarily important part of your home or business: When you stand in front of your living room, or conference room, hands on your hips, marveling at the torrential rain that is falling to the earth, your roof is protecting your building. Just as it should be. Or is it? Some of us monitor the health of our roofs regularly, making sure that all is well above our heads, and some of us, well, we just ignore our roofs, assuming that everything is going alright. Your roof may be suffering as you live your days oblivious to its condition. And should your roof ever become so unhealthy as to allow water to flow through it, causing your ceilings to crumble here and there, your friendly neighbor insurance company may not cover the costs of repairing the damage. As a homeowner or business owner, it is your responsibility to maintain your roof, including checking it for water damage. Here are 5 signs that your roof may not be feeling very well: Do you know where your shingles are? If a shingle, and a few of its friends, have flown away with a great gust of wind, you should have them replaced as soon as you possibly can. Without a shingle, a small part of your roof is exposed to the elements, which could […]
Roof Snow Removal: Don’t Risk It
Sparkling snow on a country field, perfectly unmarked, is a beautiful thing, and should you cross-country ski in a park like Chatfield Hollow in Connecticut, you will be left in awe of how winter transforms forests into magical places. But what about the snow that sits on your roof, making you uneasy as you squint in the sunlight, staring up at it – should you remove it? What do the experts say? Buildings are structurally designed to handle a certain amount of ice and snow.The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has published a Snow Load Safety Guide, which you can read here. As FEMA points out, most buildings are perfectly safe when there is snow on their roofs; they are structurally designed to put up with a certain amount of snow and ice. The amount of snow that each building is designed to hold varies from state to state, town to town. Massachusetts building code currently requires the following for each town: Read Here. Section 1608.2 states that ground snow loads are used to determine snow loads for roofs. As a result, look for “Pg” in the Table 1604.11. Please keep in mind that these are based on today’s 8th edition building code. The requirements were likely different when your building was built. You would not be safe up there Climbing up on a roof […]
Commercial Roofing Issues to Watch for in Winter
Winter weather is especially hard on your roof. The snow and ice and the freezing and thawing can create several problems that may lead to costly roofing repairs if not adequately addressed. Wind Damage Many commercial buildings have flat roofs to accommodate mounted HVAC systems. While we call the roof flat, there is still a slight pitch to direct water off of the roof so that it is does not pond on the surface and rot out the roof. Yet when you add the extra element of wind, the roof can sustain enough damage to allow moisture to get underneath the felt sheets, bitumen or EPDM roofing materials. Start with a commercial roof inspection before winter weather comes (sometime in the fall is the best time to do this), and check for areas where the seal between strips of commercial roofing material might be coming loose, signs of standing water or water damage, or things like rusted flashing and metal fasteners. It doesn’t take much wind to cause significant damage to flat commercial roof systems. A damaged commercial roof can lead to building damage, endanger the people working or shopping in the building, and put your company at risk for significant structural damage and lost productivity if it collapses or becomes damaged during the winter months. Avoid these potential disastrous scenarios by preparing your commercial […]
Chaffee Lends a “Green Thumb” to Fenway’s Garden Roof
Fenway’s Garden Roof In a recent article Fenway Park announced the creation of a new rooftop garden behind gate A in the most historic section of the ball park, named “Fenway Farms”. The 5,000-square-foot roof space will generate an estimated 4,000 pounds of produce annually, and will be used in food sold at the park, including dishes served at the EMC Club, the exclusive restaurant and seating area located behind home plate. Green (vegetated) roofs have been in existence since ancient times. The first known historical references to manmade gardens above grade were the ziggurats (stone pyramidal stepped towers) of ancient Mesopotamia, built from the fourth millennium until around 600 B.C. In France, gardens planted in the 13th Century thrive atop a Benedictine abbey. Norwegians developed sod roofs centuries ago as a means of thermally insulating their buildings. In fact, sod homes are still used as protection against extremely cold winters in Norway and the United States. Five roof gardens were installed atop the seventh floor of the Rockefeller Center in New York City, New York, between 1933 and 1936. And while Fenway Farns itself is getting plenty of press, many people don’t realize the work and planning that goes into creating the roof that can sustain such an agricultural accomplishment. But Chaffee Roofing did. In 2013, Chaffee Roofing replaced and improved the roof behind […]