3 Considerations For Your Next Roofing Project
You are sitting at your desk, pencil in hand, scratch pad before you, wrestling with a new project – your 30-year-old flat commercial roof needs to be replaced. Or perhaps you need to decide whether to invest in substantial repairs to your commercial roof or to have it completely removed and replaced – after just 15 years. Whatever your next roofing project will entail, you need to make sound decisions at its planning stage or you may find that you have to devote time and resources to solve problems during the repair or replacement of your roof. Did you know that, in 2016, the Connecticut Better Business Bureau received more enquiries about roofing contractors than any other industry classification – 4,738, 212. So – we are here to simplify matters for you. 3 Things to Ponder IBSWorld, the acclaimed industry research firm, has identified the three factors that most influence the success of a roofing business like Chaffee Industrial Roofing: And successful roofing businesses deliver options, planning, workmanship, products, and the after-care that exceed the expectations of discerning clients. So, how do you find out if a roofing company has contacts within key markets? One way to evaluate whether a roofing company has contacts in its identified target market – the commercial roofing market – is to do some research: Visit their website and look […]
What Happens Before Your Roof Construction Starts
You have decided to invest in new flat roofing or rubber roofing. You are not alone. Over 1 billion square feet of EPDM have been installed on roofs on this planet over the last 40 years, resisting UV radiation, low and high temperatures, ravaging hail, and time. Before the work of installing your rubber roofing begins, and after you have settled on your roof design with your Chaffee project manager, our operations team will have what we call a “prejob” meeting with everyone on your team who is responsible for your roof. What To Expect At A Chaffee Prejob Meeting At Chaffee Roofing, we like to hold our prejob meeting on your roof. Why? We have learned that actually standing on a roof with the people who are responsible for its care is an efficient way to learn about your roof and its environment. We learn: Now that we have established where our prejob meeting will he held, and why, let’s move on to our review of how your business operates and how this could affect our plans for the installation of your rubber roofing. These three real-world examples from past projects exemplify the kind of factors that can affect our installation plan: Our installation plan is driven by your needs, whatever they may be. We do not underestimate the cost – to you – […]
Factors in Sustainable Commercial Roofing Repairs
The definition of a sustainable roof can be someone enigmatic. It can mean different things to different people. even the terminology can be confusing. But what is clear is that sustainable roofs can save money and produce energy. Here are four key factors that you should keep in mind when looking for sustainable roofing repair or installation solution. Insulation We measure the insulation value of a roof, and any other surface and material with insulating capabilities, in terms of R-value. R-value is the rating of a material’s resistance to heat transfer through itself As roofs act as an essential barrier to different environmental forces inside and outside the building, roof insulation plays a crucial role in ensuring longevity and energy efficiency. Many roofing systems have extremely low R-values, and therefore cost their building owners money every single day. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation. With less heat, air conditioning, and other forms of energy leaving your building, you should see a decline in your utilities and maintenance bill. Energy Energy-efficient roofing material can significantly reduce the amount of energy usage, thereby lowering greenhouse gas emissions as well as the utility bills. Different climatic conditions demand different types of roofing materials to conserve energy. Light-colored, highly reflective surface, for instance, are suitable for warm southern climate, while dark, heat-absorbing roof surfaces are best in the […]
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 […]
Comparison of Roofing Membranes
There are many choices to make when you are looking to replace your commercial roof. Due to the number and complexity of options facilities managers often leave this decision to their roofing contractor. Other times, architects will decide. But arming yourself with this knowledge will give you the opportunity to ask pertinent questions. Flat roof systems are long term capital investments that will protect your building for decades to come. Making sure you’re getting the most out of your hard-earned dollars is just a sensible thing to do. Bear in mind that the best product in the world will still fail if improperly installed. Success is almost always a collaboration of (1) a quality product installed by a (2) quality commercial roofing contractor. If you remove one part from that equation it is generally unreasonable to expect that you will get the best results. Remove both from the equation? Well, I’m sure you can do the math. The following are some points for comparison in commercial roofing products: Breaking Strength A majority of TPO roofing systems that are installed are mechanically fastened to the roof deck. Breaking strength is a critical measurement of a sheet’s strength if the membrane is ever subjected to extreme forces, such as excessive wind, against the fasteners that hold it in place. The ASTM breaking strength test consists of a […]
Signs it’s Time to Repair or Replace your Mechanically Attached Roof
Sooner or later, all roofs need repairs or replacing. Ideally, your flat roof should be replaced before you start to notice things that could add up to costly repairs. Unfortunately, many businesses don’t know the warning signs to look for to determine when their commercial roof needs to be replaced or repaired. The following are a few signs that it’s time to be thinking about call in the experts: Signs :- The seams and flashings on the roof system are starting to come apart. This is common on older EPDM roof systems where the seams were glued together. Pin holes appear in the membrane. This occurs to mechanically attached roof systems, fully adhered roof systems and ballasted roof systems over time as the materials begin to break down. Once pin holes start to appear, the membrane is typically beyond effective patching. Numerous patches exist on the roof system. The more patches that exist on a roof, the harder it is to continue patching a roof, as new patches start getting applied over old patches instead of the base membrane. The membrane itself has started to wear down, potentially exposing the scrim. If the scrim is exposed, the membrane is in need of replacement, because the scrim is located in the middle of a reinforced single ply membrane. Once the scrim is exposed, […]
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 […]
About Us
Rhode Island’s Go to Industrial and Commercial Roofers for over 115 Years A century is longer than one might think. Our family business has endured and prospered for over 115 years right here in Rhode Island while servicing the rest of New England, with ownership and operation staying in the hands of the Chaffee family the entire time. You could say roofing is in our blood. Our family’s original entrepreneur, Thomas K. Chaffee began ‘The Thomas K Chaffee Company’ offering “Chaffee’s Mill White” products to the many local textile mills as an alternative to whitewash. Over the years, he expanded offerings to include roofing materials. Merely selling roofing supplies to businesses looking to perform their own roofing projects, Thomas Chaffee’s business was sourcing inventory from New Jersey using a horse and team as transportation! As the years went on, and younger generations came to learn the ropes of the family business, Chaffee expanded into roofing production – offering installations of the Chaffee products and, over time, other products as well. Thus Chaffee Industrial Roofing was born. Want the full Chaffee story? Check out the Chaffee Legacy and read about how each generation of Chaffee took the mantle of company president and made their own unique impact on the business. Why We Stand The Test Of Time Chaffee Industrial Roofing is Rhode Island’s go-to commercial and […]