Archive for the ‘Commercial Roofing’ Category

Beaverton Roofing

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

As the fourth largest city in Oregon, Beaverton has a diversity of building types. Both residential and commercial roofs can come in different styles and colors. This variety underlines the importance of hiring a Beaverton roofing contractor that knows the best installation, maintenance and repair methods for the OR roof types that are common in the area.

Finding Beaverton Roofing Consultants

With the number of roofing consultants in the Beaverton area, you need a solid approach to finding the best roofing contractor in OR for you. You can find many of the Beaverton roofing companies in your local directory and on the Internet. Finding a company is the easy part, though. You will have to ask them a few questions to help you determine which Beaverton roof company you should hire.

Hire an Experienced Beaverton Roofing Contractor

Homeowners and business proprietors should ask prospective Beaverton roofing contractors how many years they have been in business. It often makes the most sense to hire roofing consultants in Oregon that have several years of experience.

A local roofing contractor in OR with many years in the business will likely know more about the different types of roofing systems that work well in the Beaverton area. For instance, Beaverton gets a lot of precipitation, so you need to find roofing consultants in Oregon that know how to install flat roofing systems that will eliminate water build up.

Similarly, the large number of trees growing in many Beaverton neighborhoods can cause problems for drainage systems and gutters when they drop their leaves. A Beaverton roofing installation and maintenance contractor that has worked in the area for several years has probably seen her or his fair share of clogged pipes. This experience often leads to finding the most effective ways to solve the problem.

Find an OR Roofing Contractor Who Offers a Guarantee

When you talk to roofing consultants in Oregon, you should ask them if they offer any guarantees for their work. A guarantee might include entire roofing systems or regular maintenance to keep the OR roof in good condition.

Ask them to list the details of any warranties that they offer. That way, you will know what you are responsible for if a storm damages your roof. Most consumers find it prudent to keep copies of any guarantees and warranties in safe locations so they can consult them whenever they have roofing problems.

Beaverton Roofing Consultants With Free Inspections and Estimates

Customer services such as free inspections and estimates are other perks that many roofing consultants in Oregon offer. An inspection will help you and the roofing contractor decide which roofing system is best for your building. You might choose a Beaverton roofing installation that uses wood, metal or asphalt shingles. Some of them might even offer green roofing systems made of dirt and plants.

Ask your prospective roofing consultants in Oregon to provide written price quotes. This makes it easier for you to determine which roofing contractor has the best price for the roofing system that you want for your home.

The Importance of Underlayment and Decking

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

When examining the success of a roofing job in Portland OR, most attention goes to the roof covering. As the only immediately visible feature of a residential or commercial roofing structure, residents typically consider this to be the indication of quality roofing.

In actuality, there is much more to a roofing system for your Portland home or commercial building. A qualified roofing contractor in Portland understands how the various components of a roofing system contribute to a sturdy, long lasting OR roof. Find out more about the importance of roof decking materials and roofing underlayment.

Roofing Portland OR — The Vital Elements of a Roofing System

Your roof may seem like a straightforward structure. However, in truth, proper residential and commercial roofing in Portland results in a complex system that works to provide shelter from the Portland weather and circulate air throughout your home or office building.

The roof covering is actually the last component of your roofing system. In order to construct a durable roof, each element must be properly installed.

Your roofing contractor in Portland can provide details about the necessary components of a quality roofing system. In general, the roof starts with a support structure, or frame, referred to as the truss. Following the truss comes the roof deck, which provides a watertight shield to prevent moisture from reaching the support structure.

The roofing underlayment sits atop the roof deck, followed by proper placement of shingles or tiles. Flashing is then installed to provide waterproof transitions between the roofing structure and roof protrusions, such as vents, chimneys and skylights. The roof covering is then secured in place with roofing nails.

Roofing Portland OR — Roof Decking Material

In residential and commercial roofing in Portland, the roof decking is a vital component to any roofing structure because it provides a waterproofing membrane to prevent moisture damage and ensure the longevity of your roof. Without a roofing deck, your home is vulnerable to the Portland weather, which is known for frequent rainfall.

Your roofing contractor in Portland may choose plywood or insulation panels for your roof decking, among other options. Generally, plywood is most widely used due to is versatility and resistance to rotting.

However, insulation panels can handle more weight and provide better insulation. The choice of decking materials for a roofing job in Portland OR largely depends on the type of roof installation. For example, heavier roofing materials, such as slate, will require more support from the decking structure.

Roofing Portland OR — Types of Underlayment

For residential and commercial roofing in Portland, the most common type of underlayment is builder’s felt. Once the builder’s felt is in place, the remainder of your Portland OR roofing job must be taken care of quickly, so as to avoid creases and tears.

Another type of underlayment is made of synthetic material, which is substantially lighter and easier to install than builder’s felt. Synthetic underlayment is also a preferred choice for preventing the growth of moss and algae, which can be a concern for Portland homeowners and commercial property managers.

Roofing Portland OR — Hire a Professional to Install Your New Roof

There’s a lot more to a quality roofing structure than laying a few tiles, hammering some nails and calling it a day. Hiring an experienced roofing contractor in Portland is the best way to enjoy the hassle free benefits of a long lasting roof.

Green Roof Technology: Extensive Living Roofs

Thursday, May 14th, 2009

Green roof systems, like extensive living roofs, can be a smart decision for both residential and commercial buildings in Portland OR. By learning a bit about what green roof systems can offer you and the environment, you might find that having one installed by a reliable roofing contractor in Portland is a good idea.

Environmental Advantages of Extensive Living Roofs

Many Portland residents are concerned about the environment, and the city is at the forefront of policy administration that favors clean energy and ways to reduce the harmful effects human civilization can have on nature. It should not be surprising, therefore, that several residential and commercial roofing contractors in Portland provide green roof systems.

Roofing contractors in Portland OR who offer green roofs install vegetation systems instead of metal, asphalt or other types of roofing. This creates a natural filtration system for water in Portland.

When it rains, the plants and soil used in extensive living roofs capture much of the pollution to prevent it from easily re-entering the water cycle. The vegetation also absorbs a significant portion of rainfall so the city’s sewer system does not have to process it all. This is important in areas like Portland that receive lots of precipitation.

Extensive Living Roofs — Advantages for Property Owners

As if helping the environment is not enough, extensive living roof systems also offer financial advantages to property owners. The vegetation, dirt and sealants used for green roofing in Portland OR helps regulate the house or commercial building temperatures by providing an insulating barrier that keeps warm air in during the winter and cool air in during the summer.

If enough residential and commercial property owners in Portland decided to install extensive living roofs, everyone would see a reduction in air conditioning costs because the city’s temperature would actually decrease. The asphalt, concrete, metal and shingles that are so common in the city absorb heat, making Portland hotter. Covering Portland roofs with green roof systems would help reduce that temperature, making air conditioning less necessary.

Extensive Living Roofs Are Easy to Maintain

Extensive living roof systems use grasses and plants that have shallow root systems and require little water. This makes upkeep a breeze. Since the roots are shallow, you will not have to worry about cutting the grass. Since they use little water, you don’t have to worry about droughts.

Metal Roofing Systems and Information

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

Exploring Different Types Of Metal Roofing Options

When many people in the Portland area first hear about metal roofing the first thing that comes to mind are the old images of barn roofs with tin corrugated metal roof coverings. Those barns used the tin coverings, which kept the barn free from rain, wind, and other weather disturbances. The tin roofs were not very attractive and were often found to be very loud and noisy when rain or wind was moving through. Today metal roof manufacturing has made tremendous improvements to the look, feel, style, and performance of metal roof options. Metal has been long used for its strength, durability, and resistance to fire, wind, rain, corrosion, and severe weather. Now Portland homeowners can choose very attractive, light weight metal roofs, which are easy to install, very attractive, and highly fire resistant. Metal roofs can come in many different colors providing a Portland homeowner with many custom choices. Metal roofs also have many shape, sizes, and appearances to look like wood shake, slate, tile, and other common materials. Within metal roofing there are a few drawback mostly related to cost, and there are many positive aspects, which make metal roofing contractors in Portland very highly sought after.

Benefits Of Metal Roofing:

Besides have a very appealing outer appearance metal roofing has a very long list of positive advantages. It should go without saying that metal will out last any other conventional roofing material used in a Portland area roof setting.

· Durability And Life Expectancy- Nothing lasts longer then metal roofing. A well installed metal roof should last as long as the home is standing. Metal will stand up to rain, wind, sun, insects, mold, mildew, rot, snow, ice, and hail without limitations. In severe winter storms a metal roof will easily shed itself of snow and ice. A metal roof should last at least forty years and in many cases they can hold up for nearly eighty years and beyond depending on the materials used and the installation techniques.

· Light Weight- Metal roofing is very light weight, which means it can easily be transported to a job site. Its light weight also allows a Portland home build to have less support beams in the attic to hold the metal roof up. Even when a re-roof job is required a metal roof is light weight enough that it can be placed directly over the existing roof materials. When ever specifications of re-roofing are required it is best to contact a professional Portland roofing contractor with those detailed questions.

· Design And Shape- The only limitations to a metal roof’s design are that of the builder’s imagination. Great expansive curves can easily be incorporated, as well as large bull-nose shapes. Even on a slightly pitched roof the metal materials will hold up and prevent leaks from occurring even in the rainiest Portland winter conditions. The overall beauty of a metal roof is unparraled.

· Ease To Install- Qualified metal roofing contractors have the ability to quickly and easily install section or sheets of metal roofing on a home’s roof structure. The time to install metal roofing is often a fraction of that of any other roofing material. Most of the time the metal can be cut and bent directly on the job site for a perfect fit of every panel. Each panel or piece can either be screwed together or snapped in place, which makes the time to install a metal roof much less then that of an asphalt shingle or a tile roof.

· Fire Resistant- One of the best features of a metal roof is its ability to resist fire. Metal roofs are not combustible and have received a Class-A fire rating, which is the highest rating given.

· Energy Efficiency- Most metal surfaces naturally reflect the sun’s heat and create a minimized daytime heat gain. Heating and cooling costs are often much less when using a metal roof. Many metal roofs are also made from recyclable materials.

Disadvantages Of Metal Roofing:

While nothing is perfect in this world there are some drawbacks that require mention when discussing a metal roof. The biggest concern other then the higher cost will be the need to have a very knowledgeable and highly qualified professional metal roofing contractor work in these projects. Without careful installation and the required building specifications a metal roof can become noisy, incompatible materials could be used together, which could cause a horrible corrosion.

· Cost- A metal roof will cost as much six to eight hundred dollars per square, which is one hundred square feet. The price will pay for itself over the years with absence of repairs and replacing tiles. Also when a new home is being designed the cost of a roof’s structure is less when a metal roof is being used at the covering.

· Movement- A metal roof will expand and contract with the rise and fall of ambient temperatures. This can create unwanted noise, as well as requires very specific design and installation to allow for this natural movement to occur.

· Noise- Rain, hail, and blowing debris will all make a distinct and often loud sound on a metal roof. Some are not bothered by these sounds, but some are affected by the noise. A noise buffering insulation can be installed to prevent unwanted sounds from disturbing the Portland homeowner.

· Denting- With any metal that takes an impact a dent may occur. If some one is not careful when walking on a metal roof, dents may also occur.

Types Of Metal Roofing Systems:

There are two main roofing systems used in metal roofing, which are called Standing seam, and Batten roofing. Standing seam roofs have a self-sealing, raised seam, which connects the metal panels or sheets together. These types of roof systems drain on the outside of the metal surface. Batten roof systems use a raised cap with an internal drainage channel. The height, width, and shape can vary depending on the application. A batten roof will control moisture and the expansion and contraction process better then a standing seam roof system.

Materials Used In Metal Roofing:

· Iron

· Galvanized Steel

· Zincalume (Microzinc Roofing)

· Steel Alloys

· Metal Tiles

· Stainless Steel

· Aluminum

· Copper

· Stone Coated Steel