Author Archives: The Woodlands Premier Roofing

Does homeowners insurance cover a new roof?

Roof replacement isn’t cheap. But, if you have homeowner’s insurance and your roof has been damaged in a storm, you’re in luck. Your insurance company will likely pay for all or most of the replacement. This is true anytime your roof is damaged by what insurers call covered perils, any event like a storm, hail, fire, or high winds that are generally out of your control. How much of the replacement costs insurers cover will depend on variables such as the age of the roof or if your policy stipulates any exclusions. Hail damage, for instance, might be excluded from coverage in an area that regularly receives large amounts of hail. Insurers also typically don’t cover replacement costs because of lack of maintenance or general wear and tear on the roof. Check your policy or with your insurer to find out exactly what’s covered before you file a claim.

Is roof replacement tax deductible?

While your insurance company might fit the bill for a roof replacement, it’s much more difficult to get help from the IRS. Typically, new roofs can’t be deducted from your taxes. That’s because a new roof is considered a home improvement expense, which is not deductible.

That said, some types of roofs are eligible for tax deductions up to 10% of the roof replacement if the roof is considered more energy efficient. Eligibility depends on the following:

• The home is your main residence and isn’t a new home or rental.
• The roof must be a reflective roof, although a roof coating application isn’t eligible.

At present, this what makes a new roof eligible for a tax credit. However, because the tax codes are changed frequently, these opportunities for a deduction might change as well. Check with a tax professional to see if you qualify for a tax deduction.

How can I pay for a new roof with no money?

Because roof replacement can be expensive, you might worry about how you’re going to afford such an investment. In fact, the cost might balk at the prospect and not get the new roof, even if they need it. Cost, however, shouldn’t be a deterrent to installing a new roof. Several options exist that help you pay for it:

• Check your homeowner’s insurance policy to see if the replacement is covered.
• Look into financing options. Often roofing contractors provide options for financing or you can seek financing on your own through institutions like banks.
• Use a credit card.
• Refinance your home through cash-out refinancing.
• Get a home equity loan.
• Check out options like grants from government programs like the Weatherization Assistance program.
• Look for assistance from charitable organizations.

How to tell when you need a new roof

Unless you have a roof leak or your roof’s been damaged in an event like a storm, roof replacement probably doesn’t come to mind. Outside of something disastrous, how do you know when it’s time to replace your roof?

• Check your attic first. Gaps in the decking or stains or streaks are signs leaks are present. If you have several leaks, it’s time to replace the roof.
• Check your records to see when the last time your roof was replaced. If it’s more than 20 to 25 years have passed, your roof is due a replacement.
• Check your shingles. They should lay flat on your roof. Any signs of damage, curling or cracking, is good reason to look into replacing the roof. Damaged shingles often lead to problems like leaks.
• Check your flashing. The flashing around chimneys and vents shouldn’t be loose, rusted, or damaged.
• Check for low spots or sags. Sags or low spots on your roof indicate structural issues like rotting. Left alone for too long, a sag can lead to collapse.
• Check for moss or algae growth. The presence of these plants growing on your shingles indicates that moisture is trapped underneath. That moisture will lead to leaks and structural issues like rotting.

What is included in roof replacement?

Roofers follow a fairly standard process for roof replacement. You can generally expect them to do the following:

• Tear off the old roof to the decking.
• Inspect the decking to see if it needs to be repaired or replaced.
• Replace the underlayment or water-resistant barrier that goes over the decking.
• Install new flashing around chimneys, vents, skylights, and in valleys.
• Install drip edging, a type of flashing on the edge of the roof to control the flow of water.
• Put on the shingles.

Do gutters have to be removed when replacing a roof?

When performing a roof replacement, roofers often remove gutters in the process. This serves as a way to check seals along the edges to see if they need to be repaired or replaced as well. Removing the gutters also allows roofers to check to see if animals have damaged the soffit and fascia. In some cases, it might be necessary to replace gutters at the same time you replace your roof, especially if any repairs to the edges, soffit, or fascia is made or if the gutters are damaged in any way.

• Keep your trees trimmed and away from the roof to keep branches and leaves off your roof.
• Clean your gutters to prevent water damage to the roof and foundation.
• Ensure your roof is properly ventilated. Good ventilation keeps shingles and other components secure in high winds.

If your roof has been damaged in a storm and you need roof storm damage repair in The Woodlands, TX, get help from the experts at The Woodlands Premier Roofing. We provide a full range of repair services for all types of roofs. Get your roof repaired today by calling 832-246-7884.

How do I know if my roof has storm damage?

If a storm has passed through the area recently, you might wonder whether or not your roof has been damaged. While some storm damage might not be readily apparent, most damage is relatively easy to spot. Some things to look for include:

• Missing shingles indicating wind damage. This is often the first thing you’ll spot after a storm if high winds were involved. Look for missing or damaged flashing as well.
• Bruises and indentations caused by hail. Often you’ll see a series of divots in the shingles, especially around the edges. Dents will also be visible on flashing.
• Cracked shingles caused by fallen debris or branches. Remove any debris on your roof after a storm and check for cracks and leaks.

Does insurance cover roof damage from storm?

When you’ve discovered damage to your roof following a storm your next course of action is normally filing a roof storm damage insurance claim. This is usually a good idea because most insurance policies cover such damage because storm damage is generally accidental and not easily prevented.

If you file a claim, the amount you’re reimbursed for damaged could be affected by your roof’s age, the type of roofing materials, as well as how often you’ve filed claims. Insurance also might just cover the affected areas of your home. If just a few shingles or tiles have been damaged, for instance, you may only be reimbursed for the damaged tiles and not for the whole roof. You could also get your claim denied if it damages don’t exceed your deductible or you could even lose coverage if you’ve filed claims in a short time, usually within three to seven years. Check with your insurer if you have any questions about your coverage.

Should you replace roof after hail?

If your roof has been struck by hail, it will ultimately depend on how serious the damage is that will determine whether or not you’ll need to replace your roof. You might be fortunate enough to experience no storm damage from the hail. Or you might just need a few shingles repaired.

The best thing to do after a hailstorm is to call in professionals like those at The Woodlands Premier Roofing to inspect your roof. While most hail damage is apparent, not all of it will be. And neglecting to repair the damage, even if it looks minor, can lead to serious water damage problems in time including leaks and mold growth. An inspection will determine just how serious the damage is and whether the roof needs to be replaced.

What to do if roof is leaking?

Anytime you have roof storm damage, it’s likely your roof will develop a leak. If the leak develops suddenly, especially while it’s still raining, you’ll want to prevent as much water damage as possible. To do this you’ll want to follow these steps:

• Move any furniture, rugs, or other items in the vicinity of the leak.
• Get the leak contained as much as possible, placing buckets or even rolling plastic trash cans under the leak.
• If water is collecting in the ceiling, you’ll see a bulge forming. Use a screwdriver or similar tool to poke a small hole in the ceiling to release the water. This can prevent the whole ceiling from collapsing.
• Once the rain has subsided, try to get a tarp over the roof to prevent further water penetration.
• Document the damage for insurance with photos.

Storm damage to flat roof

Flat roofs on commercial or even residential buildings can be particularly vulnerable to storm damage. You especially have to be careful of ponding, in which water collects on the surface of the roof, as this can lead to leaks. Certain materials like TPO and PVC are less susceptible to ponding, and adding a roof coating can help protect your flat roof from such issues. When it comes to protecting your roof from hail, many building managers prefer EPDM for its impact resistance. Regular maintenance and inspections will also ensure your flat roof is better protected from storms.

Roof damage from tropical storm

If you live long enough in The Woodlands, TX, and surrounding areas, your home is going to be affected by a tropical storm or hurricane. High winds and rains are the primary threat to roofs in these types of storms. While good ventilation will help secure your shingles from high winds, you might also want to consider installing impact resistant shingles. Although these types of shingles are known for their ability to withstand hail, they’re also designed to withstand the types of wind gusts associated with tropical storms and hurricanes.

Why are Green Roofs Bad?

There are a number of excellent advantages to green roofs. However, in order to make an informed decision, one must also weigh the disadvantages. Please review the following bullet-pointed list to discover more.

• Green roofs are more slightly expensive than traditional roofs.
• Green roofs are heavier than traditional roofs.
• Green roofs require more maintenance.

Can You Walk On a Green Roof?

Are you wondering about whether or not you can walk on a green roof? You may be surprised by the answer. According to the experts, you can occasionally walk on a Sedum roof. When you fertilize the roof once a year, walking n Sedum plants isn’t an issue. However, this is not true of Sedum when it freezes. If you walk on plants while they are frozen then you may damage the plants.

Where are Green Roofs Most Popular

Green roofs are very popular in Europe and have been used for many years with great efficacy. Major cities in the United States, like Portland, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. have the leading amounts of green roofs. While it is important to consider that green roofs have more associated expenses, it is also important to remember that green roofs offer environmental and economic benefits. 

How Deep is a Green Roof?

If you are wondering how deep a green roof is, you will be happy to find out that green roofs are usually about six inches deep. Green roofs can support a wide array of plants. Depending on how deep the roof is, you can expect a veritable meadow of grasses and perennials. Low-growing succulents are also a great choice for green roofs.

What’s Green Roof

Green roofs possess a wide array of benefits for property owners. One of these benefits includes reducing stormwater runoff. This is because green roofs have plants that retain rainwater and return a portion of the water back into the atmosphere. This occurs through a process known as evapotranspiration, or evaporation and transpiration. If stormwater is a problem in your area, as it is in urban areas, a green roof is certainly a viable option.

What Are Green Roof Installation

You may be wondering at this point what exactly is a green roof installation. A green roof installation is understood to be an addition that is made to the roof of an existing building for the purpose of growing flora. There are different kinds of green roofs, which is why it is possible for the plants to be modular or to have drainage layers.

Why Green Roof

If you live in an urban area, there are a number of different reasons why you should deeply contemplate and consider a green roof installation. After all, a green roof has plenty of benefits at the economic, ecological, and societal levels. Green roofs provide a rainwater buffer, will purify the air, reduce the ambient temperature, regulate the indoor temperature, and more. Many roofing contractors and architects push the advantages of green roofs because they save energy and encourage biodiversity in the city. With conversations about climate change occurring, it becomes more and more important to include green roofs in the discussion.

If you would like to discuss the installation of your green roof in The Woodlands, TX, please reach out to us at 832-246-7884 today.

Each is popular as a single-ply membrane, yet they each have differences that make them different from each other. 

What is the best material for flat roofs?

When evaluating the different commercial single-ply roofing material types, things to consider are the lifespan, the price, and the maintenance of each option. PVC roofing is the preferred choice for many projects, considered to be the best flat single-ply roofing material today. 

 PVC roofing is more expensive than TPO single-ply roofing material or any other, but it has a range of benefits for the price. The first benefit of PVC roofs is the reinforced membrane that makes it impact resistant and crack resistant. These facts mean what will shorten the lifespan of other single ply roofing materials, doesn’t PVC. PVC roofing offers low maintenance too, and usually, roofing contractors provide a twenty-year warranty when they do the installation. The white color of PVC makes it reflective, and that aids in lowering energy costs for cooling the building. 

What is single-ply TPO roofing?

Thermoplastic Polyolefin, TPO for short, is a single–ply roofing membrane that has gained popularity for commercial single-ply roofing systems. TPO membranes are made of a single layer of synthetics and scrims reinforcing that is manufactured in sheets in three widths: Ten, Twelve, and Twenty feet. These sheets are rolled up and delivered to the job site. TPO single-ply roofing material is UV ray reflective and has a 40% presence in the commercial roofing market today, quickly gaining on PVC single-ply roofing material. 

Which is better EPDM or TPO?

When comparing EPDM vs TPO, both are excellent roofing systems that protect a commercial building and its contents. Which one to choose can be dependent on the geographic location and consideration of hailstorms, heat, rainstorms, and other external factors like installing solar panels. Both of these single-ply roofing systems are mechanically-fastened, an excellent choice in cold-weather regions, and both can be fully-adhered, giving them durability. Fast facts about EPDM and TPO flat single ply roofing materials: 

• Historical:  TPO 20 years vs EPDM 60 years
• UV Rays: TPO reflects vs EPDM retain the heat
• Attached: TPO chemically vs EPDM mechanically
• Seam Fusion: TPO hot air gun vs EPDM seam tape
• Color Choices: TPO multiple vs EPDM black only
• Lifespan: TPO 15 to 20 years vs EPDM 25 to 30 years

PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride Flat Single Ply Roofing

• PVC is a thermoplastic membrane that utilizes scrim reinforcing between the two layers of equal thickness. The top ply contains cool roof pigments and UV stabilizers, along with other components that extend the membrane’s lifespan. The bottom ply includes ingredients that provide a constant weld of the bottom and top layers and fillers. The material is warrantied up to 25 years for commercial buildings, and the PVC single-ply roof system has a life expectancy of thirty years or more. 

TPO – Thermoplastic Olefin Flat Single Ply Roofing

• TPO is a thermoplastic membrane that utilizes scrim reinforcing between the two layers with a 35/65 % thickness for the top layer and bottom layer both. The top layer contains cool roof pigments and UV stabilizers and other components that extend the lifespan of the membrane. The bottom layer includes ingredients that provide consistent weld to the layers and fillers.  Material is warrantied for up to twenty-five years, and the TPO flat roofing system has a life expectancy of up to thirty years. 

EPDM – Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Rubber Flat Single Ply Roofing

• EPDM Rubber is a black, rubber-like membrane that is not reinforced and commonly applied fully adhered with glue, including the flashings and seams. The material is warrantied for 40 years, and the EPDM flat single-ply roofing system is warrantied for up to 35 years. If roof leaks prove to be from ponding water that causes the seams to fail, the warranty is void. 

Roofing a commercial building’s flat roof may seem simple from somebody that has never dealt with industrial roofing. Some many components and factors need to be considered when choosing—finding a commercial roofing contractor that is experienced in all single ply roofing materials so they can assist you in selecting the right one. Call 832-246-7884 today if you need help choosing between EPDM and TPO.

What are the different types of roof flashing?

There are four different types of flashing that completely cover the parts of your roof that need it. As mentioned, the purpose of flashing is to keep your roofing system entirely dry from the points that can be defined as perpendicular or would otherwise have an opening without flashing. However, as referenced with parts of the home that use masonry, there is a specific part of flashing called counterflashing. Other forms of flashing include:

• Drip Edge: Along the eaves of your roof, drip edge keeps water that overflows from the gutters from doing any damage to the roof. How it works is the drip edge blocks the overflown water from the roofing on the edge and the fascia boards.
• Valley Flashing: Where an angled dip forms between two sections of the roof, a roof valley is where rainwater naturally flows down. On top of the first layer of roofing and underneath the shingles, this flashing is designed to be durable against the elements. This is an area of your roof that ice dams form as well, which can be damaging if left unchecked. 
• Vent Pipe Flashing: For the piping that passes through your roof, vent pipe flashing does exactly what it sounds like by applying a covering for exposed piping. 
• Step Flashing: More than likely, you will recognize step flashing through seeing it on your chimney, skylights, and larger sections outside the roof. The purpose of this flashing is explained in the first section and is the most common next to the drip edge. 

When living in a state like Texas, a homeowner will likely need most of these if not all four forms of flashing for their roof and home. Thanks to the often unpredictable storms that pass through the state, it tends to be necessary protection that defends against leak damages.

Does flashing go over or under shingles?

Generally, the way flashing is installed depends on the type and the part of the roof. Step flashing, for example, is commonly placed over the shingles with sealant applied beneath the system so moisture is kept out of the roofing system. If it is underneath the shingles, which is also common, the flashing will stretch around eight inches beneath as a protective measure.

While a roofer can repair and replace flashing on the roof, some will need particular suggestions to extend roofing services to flashing if the part of the roof is in poor condition. More professional roofers, like those found at The Woodlands Premier Roofing, will re-calk or adjust the flashing even if it’s in perfect condition to be doubly sure it will do its job at a sufficient level.

How do you perform a roof inspection?

A professional roof inspector will perform the roof inspecting from the ground and at the eaves the following area:

• Roof covering: The roof inspection is to determine if the roof covering is providing adequate weather barrier for the structure to prevent water intrusion and water damage. This also includes the underlayment, roof geometry, local weather, type of roof roofing materials.
• Fasteners: A roof inspection will include checking the fasteners on the roof surface are corrosion-resistant type, driven in straight, flush, and snug.
• Deck sheathing: Determine if the sheathing is solid.
• Slope and underlayment: Providing protection under the roof covering and is keeping the roof covering and substrate separate.
• Ice barrier: The underlayment is modified for ice dam prevention and keep water from seeping under the roof covering.
• Drip edge: Should be made of metal that is installed at the eaves and rake to end the underlayment and asphalt shingles smoothly so that water is shed efficiently.
• Shingle Off Pattern: Three-tab strip asphalt shingles should be aligned in every other course in either a 5” or 6” pattern according to shingle manufacturer guidelines.
• Flashing: The metal valley flashing should 24 inches wide minimum and the asphalt shingles should overlap the metal flashing by 4 inches.
• Nail Penetration: For deck sheathing that is ¾ inch, the nails should penetrate ¾ of an inch in but not through the sheathing.
• Flashing: The following flashing components are in place and secure include the apron flashing, the step flashing, the backer flashing, and the counterflashing.

How often should you have a roof inspection?

The recommendation for a professional roof inspection is twice. Find a roofing contractor you can trust and inquire what their roof inspection estimate is, most have a maintenance plan you can subscribe to.  As a homeowner, you should do a monthly visual or after a storm, do a visual from the ground.

Will the do a roof inspection in rain? Yes, in fact, this is the best time for a roof inspection. Unless there is lightning or a torrential downpour that can make it dangerous for the roof inspection, this is the best time to have a roof inspection performed.

This includes a roof inspection for your own home maintenance, roof inspection for insurance, or for the purpose of selling the property. In all cases, a roof inspection during the rain can find unknown leaks and other problems, like a wet basement or tiny attic leaks that have the potential of becoming a larger leak.

How long does it take to inspect a roof?

It will depend on the size of the house, the rooflines, and the access to the attic or attics. Typically, on an average-sized, one-story house, a roof inspection is 45 minutes to 1 hour. A larger house with multiple attics and rooflines could take several hours.  Regardless of the size and other factors, it is usually done in one day.

Your home is of great value to you, and the roof is a part of that value. Keeping regular roof inspection and maintenance is important in making sure your home is protected by that roof. Get started on your roof inspection in The Woodlands, TX today when you dial 832-246-7884!

How do you maintain a foam roof?

A foam roof needs relatively little maintenance to live through to its general long lasting lifespan that can extend some time past fifty years. Maintaining the product however to get to that point is not an arduous process and requires little effort in order to fulfill a full lifespan. Such methods of keeping your foam roof healthy include:

• Bi-annual roofing inspections
• Primed and recoated every decade
• Some cleaning such as sweeping off debris
• Monitoring damages such as cracks and punctures 
• Making sure remove puddles of standing water

With that in mind, whether its parts of your roof or your whole roof that uses spray foam roofing, the method proves itself to be reliable when a minor amount of care is involved. Just like your floor, if you take some time to remove the buildups that naturally occur on any roof, it will last your livelihood reliably, Foam roofing for that matter also has more benefits than just being able to last you with a massively long lifespan.

How do you seal a foam roof?

Spray foam roof sealing, whether its another roof with spray foam or a spray foam roof, is relatively simple. It does require the capacity to get up onto the roof and apply the foam. For this, you will the following tools and materials:

• A foam repair kit (found at home improvement stores and online)
• A latter or entrance onto the roof
• Detergent, water, and a towel for drying
• Roof sealant 

The process of sealing your foam roof whether due to repairs or in general can be done by an untrained person, but it is recommended that a certified professional do the work for the best result. The process goes as cleaning the area around the location that needs sealing, apply the foam, allow it to dry for around twenty-four hours, and then apply the roof sealant. There is a misconception with foam roofing that dictates people cannot walk on the product’s surface. The answer depends on what kind of foam roof you have and how it was applied. For entire foam roofs, people are able to walk around on the surface due to the significant mass and product applied. Whereas, places that have a minor amount of spray foam are more so meant to be complimentary and reinforce the other parts of the roof.

They attach your roof to rafters when building the house. Those are the boards you see on the attic ceiling. The fascia boards close the rafter edges up, without them, it would be wide open into your attic. Fascia boards are necessary for a gutter system to be installed, which is important to keep rain moving off your roof and away from your siding and foundation.  A soffit and fascia are paired together, and the fascia board is where the roof and the outer walls meet.

Do gutters need fascia?

Not necessarily.  If your house doesn’t have fascia board, and you want to install gutters, you’ll need roof straps and fit them to the hanger inside the gutter runs then attach them to the roof directly.

For an old house, experts recommend NOT lifting the shingles up to attach the strap. This could cause the shingles to break or crack.  Because metal gutters need a strong back, go with a vinyl gutter system if your house doesn’t have a fascia board. Yes, you can add a fascia board, but its time-consuming and will have to be cut precisely at the right angle.  If you get the fascia board too big and can block the windows.

What is the best material for soffit?

Fascia boards come in different materials:

• Aluminum: This is a popular choice when replacing wood fascia because it is more durable and flexible, easy to wrap around corners for weather protection. Because it is flexible, it makes it easier to install.  It comes in an assortment of colors and can be painted if you change in your home’s color scheme.
• Composite: Made with recycled wood chips and sawdust that epoxy resin is used to bond together, which makes it more costly than aluminum fascia. It is the cost that makes it less popular, but if you’re looking for colorfast, durable and resistant to rot, composite fascia board is the way to go.
• Vinyl: Just like vinyl siding, vinyl fascia board is durable, easy to install and when it comes to maintenance, the vinyl fascia board is the best. IF it becomes discolored, it easily brought back to life by having it power washed.
• Wood: If you want the most affordable fascia board, wood is your choice. It is multifaceted and water-resistant when the right finish or treatment has been applied. Painting it will extend its life expectancy.

Soffit Panel Advantages

If your house wide eaves and a smaller attic, soffit panels are the better choice because your house doesn’t require as much ventilation. Here, if you went with a continuous soffit vent, your house would feel cold.  One alternative is to alternate between solid panels and vented soffit panels. 

If you’re shopping for an old house to be a fixer-upper, you’ll be better off with the soffit and fascia there now even if they may need pieces repaired or replaced. The cost of soffit and fascia install will vary due to house sizes, but on average, you can expect $30 per linear foot for the soffit. The fascia board costs as much as $20 per linear foot.  These prices are the national average for installation, so depending on where you’re located, you could pay more, or you could pay less.

Just like old houses have old plumbing, it often takes the expertise of a professional plumber to find where drain lines and sewage lines are blocked.  With their sewer camera, inspection is easy for them, whereas, for a basic homeowner, it is a hit and misses trying to find a blockage.

Maybe you still aren’t convinced that your house needs a soffit and fascia board, and if you have an older home that will need some work, it’s understandable with cost-saving efforts. Once you live in a house with a soffit and fascia, you’ll appreciate the purpose they serve in keeping the weather, mainly rain and wind, out of your attic. Call 832-246-7884 today for soffit and fascia in The Woodlands, TX.

Today, an insurance company is more favorable for metal roofing on houses because they are fire-resistant and have fewer damage claims after hailstorms and high winds. Anything that can save an insurance company from paying out claims, they are in favor of, like anything you can have done to prevent foundation repairs, busted plumbing pipes, etc. 

Is it cheaper to get a metal roof or shingles? 

New metal roofing is 2 to 3 times more expensive than traditional asphalt shingles. There are several factors that influence metal roofing prices. Factors like the metal type, roof-style, geographic location, and the complexity of the job. 

Keep in mind that residential grade level metal roofing requires parts and pieces like metal seam strips and screws. Also, there are advantages and benefits of metal roofing that asphalt shingle doesn’t offer. Those benefits include: 

• 50 years or more lifespan with exceptional performance
• Multiple styles to match your home’s style
• Wind resistant due to interlocking panels
• Resistant to fire
• Energy-efficient year-round
• Lightweight preserves the structure’s integrity
• Environmentally Safe

How do you take care of a metal roof? 

As durable and reliable as metal roofing is, it isn’t indestructible. That said, here are some tips on keeping your metal roofing in good shape: 

• Keep Trees Cut Back and Debris Cleared: When a tree can keep rubbing against a metal roof, it will damage the finish and high wind can compromise the fasteners.  Debris left on a metal roof will decompose and strip the finish. A basic window cleaner and a long pole are all you need to clean your metal roofing.
• Keep Gutters Clean: Keeping the gutters clean is essential in extending the lifespan of your roof. Dirt and leaves left in the gutters will clog the gutters. The water then overflows and puddles around the foundation of your home. After enough time, the foundation will crack, and the structure of the house weakens. 
• Avoid Walking on It: Other than occasional cleaning or if our HVAC system is roof-mounted, there is no need to be walking on your metal roofing. You should always advise any HVAC technician you have metal roofing so they can take precautions. 
• Repair Broken Fasteners: As soon as you notice any dislodged or loose screws, they need to be tightened or replaced promptly. When fasteners and screws aren’t tight or replaced, it allows the metal sheets to loosen and eventually, a leak will develop. 
• Check the Sealant: This is one area that you will want to check twice a year. As good as technology has advanced, they have not invented a sealant that lasts the same lifespan as metal roofing itself.
• Repair Holes and Separations. This is better left with an experienced roofing professional that works with metal roofing. It needs to be addressed immediately to protect the roof’s integrity. When left alone, they leave the roof susceptible to creating leaks. 

Metal roofing is gaining popularity. It gives a home not only durability but a unique appearance without being too different. It will eliminate the constant maintenance of a traditional asphalt shingled roof, and the improvement will make your home worth more when placed on the market. If you never sell your house, you will reap the benefits and enjoy the ROI over the years. Dial 832-246-7884 today for metal roof installation in The Woodlands, TX.

With that explanation, we are going to discuss the benefits between cool roof vs regular roof and cool roof and waterproofing systems in this piece. We’ll answer some common concerns and frequently asked questions that commercial building owners have expressed about having a cool roof.

What is the coolest roof material?

With 90% of the rooftops in American built with materials that are dark, heat-absorbing, and non-reflective, they have become the big contributor to disproportionate heat issues. Rooftops today can reach 90 degrees above the main air temperature, contributing to the “heat islands” in cities that are densely populated. Thus, the drive to create cool roof materials.

Fortunately, manufacturers have created cool roofing materials for different roofing types to combat this, or at least minimize the effect we’re all experiencing.  The EPA has produced a list of over 3,000 cool roof materials that are Energy Star rated. They base each upon the building type and roof type and the location. 

• Asphalt Shingles have a relatively low SRI with the composition of fiberglass and organic felts. White asphalt shingles are approximately 30% reflective and colored asphalt shingles are even less. 

• Metal roofs are known to reflect UV rays by over 70%, one reason it has become more popular. Metal roofing is durable, lightweight, weather-resistant, is 100% recyclable.

With that information, it is easy to see that metal roofing is the cooler roofing material between the two. The durability and weather resistance, along with being 100% recyclable, finding why not to choose metal for a cool roof choice would be challenging.

How much energy does a cool roof save?

A cool roof will save you money in several ways. Starting with rebates and incentives to have a cool roof installed. The bigger and longer-lasting is the energy savings to come for years. A cool roof can allow you to downsize your HVAC system, which saves on energy costs, and it will extend the lifespan of the roof as well. Energy costs vary from city to city, region to region. There are online tools that can tell you more precisely how much energy and money a cool roof will save.

Does cool roof paint work?

Cool paint, aka Heat Reflective Paint, absorbs less head while reflecting the sun’s UV rays. Applying this coating has been shown to reduce the temperature on rooftops, which drops the temperature inside the building. It is common for commercial roofing to have a cool roof coating applied. A certified, experienced roofing contractor will guide you to the roof coating, aka roof paint, to choose.

What color roof is the coolest?

Commercial buildings are typically flat-roofed and either silver or white. Studies have proved that dark roof surfaces absorb heat while light, white roofs are the cool roofs. Within the cool roof colors, weathered white can reduce the energy used for cooling up to 55% while the dark grey color will reduce energy use by only 20%.

In residential roof use, color is more desired by homeowners, yet they desire to save on energy costs too. Manufacturers are finding ways to give homeowners both color and energy savers with colorants or pigments that replicate invisible, near-infrared radiation. It is only time before that extends on to the rooftop of commercial structures.

Utility costs are the biggest benefit of a cool roof, anywhere from 7% to 15%. There are many other benefits to be had from a cool roof too:

• Lower building temperature during the hot months.
• Reduced maintenance expense because a cool roof will extend a roof’s lifespan.
• Energy costs are reduced because the building needs less air conditioning.  
• Lessened heat island index in urban areas.
• Air pollutant emissions are reduced because less air conditioning is used.
• Air quality is improved because of those reduced emissions.  
• Utility rebates are available in many areas.

 Building maintenance is all about being proactive. From drain cleaning to cool roof coating, the preventive things a commercial building owner does today will be reflected tomorrow and into the future. Dial 832-246-7884 today for cool roofing from The Woodlands Premier Roofing in The Woodlands, TX.