Monday, October 30, 2017

4 Problems and Solutions for Vegetative Roofing

With the boom of being eco-friendly, bee-friendly and using sustainable practices in everyday life. The use of vegetative roofing is something that more industrial, commercial, manufacturing and even residential property owners are exploring.

Depending on the structure of the building, you can install grass, bushes, flowers, trees or even fruits and vegetable plants! If the roof is accessible, pavers can be added as walkways and tables to expand the usable space for tenants.

But is it all flowers and sunshine?

At West Roofing Systems, we want to make sure that our future clients have the best information available. For this reason, we created an article that explores the potential problems you can have with a vegetative roofing system to give you all the information you need in choosing which roof is the best fit for your facility.

The Basics: What is Vegetative Roofing

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"] Henry Vegetative Roof Assembly[/caption]

Vegetative or “Green” Roofing is when plants are installed over the weatherproofing layer on a commercial roof. This could be in conjunction with pathways and areas for people, or it could just be an environmental/sustainable push from a company.

If a facility can have a vegetative roof installed, it means that the substrate is durable and probably made of concrete. If not, the substrate needs to be reinforced to handle the weight and traffic of the green roof.

A Green Roof installation starts with a waterproof membrane. After the substrate is reinforced and the waterproofing membrane is installed, there are two options for how your vegetation is installed.

Tray Systems - The plants, or other vegetation, are planted in lightweight trays that are brought up to the roof. These tray systems can be interconnecting and specialized edges and can be concealed to create a seamless look.

Layered Systems - The second option to install vegetation on a facility roof is with a layered system; layered systems are installed directly onto the roof surface.

Problems with Green Commercial Roofing

Roof Maintenance

GREEN ROOFING FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

When you have a layer of vegetation, what happens when maintenance needs to be performed on the membrane underneath? Access to the substrate, insulation or waterproof membrane can be a big problem when you need to move heavy trays of vegetation or dig through layers of plants and soil.

Solution: There is no evidence that a properly installed and maintained vegetative roof will cause damage to the underlying roof system. The first insulation and membrane installation should be performed by an appropriately licensed contractor and installed correctly. The vegetative roof design plan should include the considerations of the removal of the vegetation to maintain the system underneath.

You can further protect your roof with regular maintenance including:

Clean and unclogged drains
Functioning irrigation systems
Replacing any rust or damaged pieces of the roof system quickly

Unwanted Wildlife and Insects

If you have cared for a garden, you know that you get more than flowers, you get all of those that live on and with the vegetation. Since the vegetation is not growing in the ground, and usually on a high roof, burrowing and larger animals will probably not be a problem. But bugs and birds could be drawn to your gardens or public areas.

Solution: By keeping any public areas clear of trash and leftover food, you can avoid birds gathering on your green roof. As for bugs, it would be best to hire or assign someone with the responsibility to keep your roof clear of nests and to perform regular maintenance with your vegetation.

Added Weight

GREEN ROOFING FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

In addition to the traditional weight of a waterproof roof system, you can add 10 – 50 pounds per square foot when you add in the soil, retained water, vegetation, walking paths and even people. This added weight could stress the structure of your building and create underlying damage to your facility.

Solution: Work with your architect or a building inspector to ensure that you are making the right choices for your vegetative roof. Luckily, you have many options when it comes to the types of traffic, vegetation, and installation. You can make smart decisions such as choosing heavy vegetation over internal support structures and lightweight vegetation in other areas.

Upkeep

Every commercial roof should be maintained regularly, but not every roof needs to be watered. When you have living vegetation on your roof, you have year-round care depending on your climate. From watering to pulling weeds, there is more work to maintain a vegetative roof.

Solution: If you have a healthy budget for your vegetative roof system, you can consider hiring a contractor the specializes in vegetative roof installation and care. Having one contact for your entire roof system is easy as a property owner/manager. For the more budget conscious projects, choosing a simple system that has easy upkeep that an in-house employee can manage, could save you money in the long run.

Why Green Commercial Roofing?

There are many reasons that building owner would choose to install vegetative roofing on their facility. Whether you are renting out space in your building or you own your building, installing a vegetative roof could bring in more money through higher prices or increased productivity.

Expand Usable Space
Upgrade Facility Aesthetics
Employee Wellness/Satisfaction
Environmentally Friendly and Sustainable

Alternatives to Green Roofing

Spray Polyurethane Foam Roofing

SPF Installation

Spray Polyurethane Foam, more commonly referred to as SPF, is a liquid that is sprayed on the existing roof and expands into a foam, creating a solid layer across an existing roof.

While SPF roofing is not the most known type of roofing material, the technology has been around since the early 1960s for industrial, commercial, and residential facilities.

Single-Ply Membrane Roofing

Single-Ply Membranes are sheets of rubber and other synthetics that can be chemically adhered to insulation or ballasted creating a layer of protection on your commercial facility.

There are two main types of single-ply membrane commercial roofing: Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) and Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer (EPDM). They differ in their chemical makeup, how they are installed and the energy efficiency.

Vegetative roofing is not a typical roof type for commercial, industrial and manufacturing facilities. If your facility can host vegetation, it is an excellent option for tenant/employee morale, while giving back to the environment.

West Roofing Systems, Inc. installs sustainable and efficient roofing systems for commercial, industrial, manufacturing and municipal buildings. In over 37 years, we have installed over 56,000,000 square feet of commercial Spray polyurethane foam (SPF), single ply membrane and other popular roofing systems.

Is your roof not suitable for green roofing? Read about the most common commercial roofing to start your project.

Source Here: 4 Problems and Solutions for Vegetative Roofing

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Why Is My Commercial Roof Leaking? 5 Common Causes of Commercial Roof Leaks

No one wants to see water leaking through their roof. Even with regular roof maintenance, harsh weather can roll through, and you can find a puddle on your floor.

Over the past 38 years, our team of roofing experts has seen this happen more than we can count. But if you are prepared and maintain the leak, you can prevent further damage to your facility and the property inside.

Signs of a Leaking Commercial Roof

Stained Ceiling/Walls - Whether you have ceiling tiles or other types of ceiling systems in your facility, extended exposure to water will create a discolored area of your ceiling.

[caption id="attachment_23923" align="alignright" width="300"] Roof Leak in Office Building[/caption]

Odor/ Mold - A foul smell in your facility could be a red flag for hidden mold. Mold grows in moist environments, so if water is continuously entering your building, there is a high chance that mold could grow and spread.

Water Dripping/Puddles Inside - The most sure fire sign of a commercial roof leak is when you can visibly see water entering your building, whether it is a puddle on the floor or dripping above your head.

Common Causes for Commercial Roof Leaks

Poor or No Drainage

When commercial roofs are installed, the contractor should take into account where the water will drain. There are multiple points of vulnerability when draining your commercial roof: drains, gutters, downspouts, and scuppers. These need to be regularly cleaned to ensure they are clear and moving water off of the roof.

When water is not draining from your roof properly, you can have standing, or ponding, water on your roof. In addition to sitting water risking a leak through the membrane, the water can add a lot of extra weight on your building structure.

Open Penetrations

Roof penetrations are found on many flat commercial roofs. Roof penetrations are HVAC units, vents, drains, pipes, gas lines and other systems that come through the roof membrane. While these are vulnerable areas for leaks, they can be properly sealed during a roof installation or spray coating.

Damaged Roof Flashings

A roof flashing is the pieces of metal that are installed around conjoining areas on the roof. Roof flashings are installed in areas such as chimneys, skylights, roof edges and interior walls. When a flashing is not installed correctly or, or when a metal flashing is aged, it can be damaged by wind or temperature changes, allowing water into the roof system.

[caption id="attachment_24545" align="alignright" width="268"] Commercial Roof Repairs[/caption]

Damaged Membrane

The membrane of a commercial roof is the waterproof layer. When there is damage to the membrane from the weather, foot traffic, mechanical damage or any other numerous situations, it can allow water to leak through the waterproof membrane and saturate the underlying insulation.

Sometimes there can be a quick patch to repair the area, other times you need to replace the insulation and large pieces of membrane.

Aged Roof

Most commercial roofing systems last between 15 and 20 years; this lifespan can vary depending on the type of roof you install on your facility. While enrolling into a roof maintenance plan can extend the lifespan of your roof, after a certain number of years, it’s time to replace your roof system.

Commercial facility building codes allow up to 2 roof systems to be installed on your building, after that, you will need to tear them off before installing another system.

What to Do When Your Commercial Roof Leaks

Whether you walk into a puddle in your facility or feel water dripping on your forehead, it’s always a stir of emotion when you are faced with a potentially costly roof project.

Don’t Panic!

That’s why we put together this action plan for when you find a leak in your commercial, industrial or manufacturing facility.

Minimize Interior Damage - When you see water flowing into your building, clear the area of people, equipment, and supplies to reduce damage.

Mark the Point of Entry - Make sure you mark where your leak is located. Marking the visible leaks is important for when you talk to your contractors and insurance agents.

Look for More Problem Areas - Hopefully, your leak is only limited to one area, but chances are there are other leaks in your building. Look around your facility for more problem areas.

Call a Commercial Roofing Contractor - After you maintain the situation…you have to get that leak fixed! Reach out to area contractors to have them assess your roof and provide a project quote.

Free Download: Roofing Contractor Quote Checklist

Call Your Insurance Agent - If your facility has received internal or roof damage, make sure you let your insurance agent know.

Review Your Warranty - Look back in your files to review your current roofing system’s warranty. Your roof may be under warranty from the contractor or manufacturer, and it may be covered depending on what the damage is from.

No matter how you treat a commercial roof leak, it’s important to remedy the problem before it grows. Even the smallest leak can cause serious problems if not treated. Water getting through your roofing system can cause considerable damage to your building from mold to structural damage.

If you are looking for maintenance, repair or replacement for your facilities roof, fill out our quote request form for your free no-obligation commercial roof quote from our team of experts.

Monday, October 16, 2017

Rigid-Foam Insulation for Commercial Roofing: Polyiso vs XPS vs EPS

Since typical membrane roofing does not include the insulation factor, as a customer you have more options to choose from to insulate your facility’s roof. There are a few types of insulation options the facility manager/owner can choose from:

Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso)
Extruded Polystyrene (XPS)
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)

Here at West Roofing Systems, we’ve been installing Membrane Roofing for over 38 years. And in that time, we are asked a lot of questions about not only roofing membranes, but types insulation as well. Because it is not only important to keep water and weather out but to keep your warm and cool air in.

What is a Roofing Membrane?

[caption id="attachment_25030" align="alignright" width="300"] Single Ply Membrane Commercial Roofing[/caption]

A roofing membrane is the top waterproof layer of roofing. The insulation underneath the membrane insulates the building while the membrane is the layer to keep water and other weather out.

Roofing membranes can be made out of a variety of materials:

Synthetic Rubber
Thermoplastic Membrane
Modified Bitumen

Rigid Foam Insulation Installation

Prepare Roof Deck

The bottom layer of a single-ply membrane roofing system is the roof deck or substrate. The roof deck can be plywood, metal, concrete or wood planks. The first step with roof installation is to prepare the roof deck by getting rid of all dirt, dust, and contaminants. This can be done with air pressure, vacuuming, or even just sweeping.

Cut to Size

After the roof deck is prepared, the rigid foam boards need to be cut to size to fit snugly together on your roof. Rigid foam is produced in various size panels (4 ft x 8 ft, 4ft x 4ft, etc.). The panels need to fit together tightly to help prevent warm air from leaving the top of the building.

Attach to Deck Board

[caption id="attachment_25118" align="alignright" width="300"] Rigid Foam Installation[/caption]

After the roof deck is ready, the rigid foam insulation is installed. Depending on the type of insulation you choose and the desired R-Value you want for your facility, you may need to build up a few layers of insulation. The R-Value is a measurement of the heat loss and heat gain. The higher the R-Value means there is a higher ability to retain heat or keep heat out of a facility.

Building Energy Codes Program

The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) suggests at least two layers that are installed with staggered seams. The layers are screwed down or adhered to the underlying roof deck and the seams on the top layer of insulation board are taped to add protection against water.

Types of Roofing Membrane Insulation

Polyisocyanurate

As the most used insulation type for roofing applications, Polyiso is a closed-cell foam that is created by heating chemicals and synthetic materials into a composite material that cools into rigid-foam panels. Closed-cell foam indicates that all the cells are enclosed, not connecting with other cells or combined with air.

The average cost of polyiso insulation is $0.70/sq ft. for a 1” thick panel. The R-Value starts at R-8 when installed, degrades down to R-5.5 over time.

[caption id="attachment_25122" align="alignright" width="300"] Rigid Foam Installation[/caption]

Extruded Polystyrene (XPS)

Usually defined by the blue, green or pink color, XPS falls in-between Polyiso and EPS in the range of price and performance. Extruded polystyrene consists of a blended polystyrene polymer heated and ran through an extrusion process. (Facilitiesnet.com)

XPS is semipermeable with a perm rating of 1. The average cost of extruded polystyrene insulation is $0.42/sq ft. for a 1 in thick panel. The average R-Value is R-5.

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)

With the highest R-value per dollar, EPS is used for roof, wall and floor insulation. EPS can be used with for ground contact and does not retain water over time.

Expanded polystyrene consists of the polystyrene polymer impregnated with a foaming agent. The material expands when exposed to heat and is molded into a uniform, closed-cell insulating material. (Facilitiesnet.com) Commonly known as beadboard, EPS is also used to manufacture products like coffee cups.

Insulfoam: EPS Environmental Advantages

The average cost of expanded polystyrene insulation is $0.26 /sq ft. for a 1 in thick panel. The average R-Value is R- 3.6 to 4.2, depending on panel density.

Single-Ply Membrane Roofing Systems have been the go-to roofing for commercial, industrial, and manufacturing facilities for decades. Contact West Roofing to talk now or subscribe to learn more about commercial roofing systems.

Post Source Here: Rigid-Foam Insulation for Commercial Roofing: Polyiso vs XPS vs EPS

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Green Vegetative Roofing: Installation and Performance

Have you ever walked down a street, looked up and seen a tree on top of a 15-story office building? Your eyes are not deceiving you, that building has Vegetative (or Green) Roofing.

Why Choose Vegetative Roofing?

Expand Usable Space – By adding more places for people to hang out, eat lunch or hold meetings, you are capitalizing on a square footage that your building offers.

Upgrade Facility Aesthetics – Having a well-maintained space upgrades the perceived value of your facility. A rooftop patio or garden can be an offering that tenants are willing to pay for.

Employee Wellness/Satisfaction – The more dedicated relaxation areas you can provide to your employees, the higher employee morale will be.

Environmentally Friendly and Sustainable – Not only can vegetative green roofs save energy costs associated with heating and cooling the facility, therefore reducing your building’s carbon footprint

Vegetative Roofing Installation

If a facility is able to have a vegetative roof installed, it means that the substrate is strong and probably made of concrete. If not, the substrate needs to be reinforced to handle the weight and traffic of the green roof.

A Green Roof installation starts with a waterproof membrane. This membrane can be one of a few choices:

Rubberized Asphalt
Modified Bitumen
Spray Polyurethane
Single-Ply Membrane
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

After the substrate is reinforced and the waterproofing membrane is installed, there are two options for how your vegetation is installed.

Tray Systems

A tray system is a rather easy way to bring vegetation to your facility roof. The plants, or other vegetation, are planted in lightweight trays that are brought up to the roof. These tray systems can be interconnecting and specialized edges, along with growing plants, can conceal the trays to create a seamless look.

Advantages of tray systems:

Maximum stormwater management with trays designed to capture waterfall
Easy installation
Plants can be grown before installation

Layered Systems

The second option to install vegetation on a facility roof is with a layered system; layered systems are installed directly onto the roof surface. There are two types of layered vegetative systems: Extensive Systems are more modular, and Intensive Systems are deeper.

When the vegetation is not limited to trays, more layers need to be installed to protect the facility from water damage:

Water Retention Layer – Properly holds water for the plants and other vegetation, it’s important that the water is available for the plants but doesn’t sit on the facility structure where it can cause water damage.

Drainage Layer – Helps the water drain properly and prevent water from sitting on the roof and causing damage.

Advantages of tray systems:

Lighter option when including trays
More choices with installation shape

Vegetative Roof Assembly: Interactive Diagram from Henry

Disadvantages of Vegetative Roofing

Commercial roof design to grow vegetation can be a lot of stress on the facility and added work to staff. Not all facilities are equipped to handle the disadvantages of vegetative roofing:

Roof Maintenance – When you have a layer of vegetation, what happens when maintenance needs to be performed on the membrane underneath? Access to the substrate, insulation or waterproof membrane can be a big problem when you need to move heavy trays of vegetation or dig through layers of plants and soil.

Unwanted Wildlife and Insects – If you have cared for a garden, you know that you get more than flowers, you get all of those that live on and with the vegetation. Although some may not see this a disadvantage.

Added Weight – In addition to the traditional weight of a waterproof roof system, you can add 10 – 50 pounds per square foot when you add in the soil, retained water, vegetation, walking paths and even people.

Upkeep – Every commercial roof should be maintained regularly, but not every roof needs to be watered. When you have living vegetation on your roof, you have year-round care depending on your climate. From watering to pulling weeds, there is more work to maintain a vegetative roof. Read More: Cautionary Tale on Installing Vegetative Roofs

Vegetative roofing is not a common roof type for commercial, industrial and manufacturing facilities. If your facility is able to host vegetation, it is a great option for tenant/employee morale, while giving back to the environment.

Is your roof not suitable for green roofing? Read about the most common commercial roofing to start your project.

Post Source Here: Green Vegetative Roofing: Installation and Performance

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Commercial Roofing Installation and Costs: SPF vs Single-Ply vs Metal Roofing

When we meet with future clients, they are usually comparing several types of roofing systems. We are always asked: Which is better? Which is more reasonably priced?

At West Roofing Systems, we want to make sure that our future clients have the best information available. For this reason, we created an article that explores the differences between Spray Polyurethane Foam, Single-Ply Membrane and Metal Roofing systems to give you all the information you need in choosing which roof for your commercial facility.

The Basics

Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Roofing

Spray Polyurethane Foam, more commonly referred to as SPF, is a material that is sprayed and expands into a foam, creating a solid layer across an existing roof.

While SPF roofing is not the most known type of roofing material, the technology has been around since the early 1960s for industrial, commercial, and residential facilities.

Single-Ply Membrane Roofing

Single-Ply Membranes are sheets of rubber and other synthetics that can be chemically adhered to insulation or ballasted creating a layer of protection on your commercial facility.

Metal Roofing

Metal Roofing is one of the oldest commercial roofing systems on the market.

Most metal roofing systems use corrugated galvanized steel, although other materials such as aluminum or tin can also be used. After a metal roofing system is installed, a coating can be added for waterproofing, rust protection, and UV protection.

Installation Process

Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Roofing

Before the installation can start, the existing roof needs to be prepared. Rather than stripping the existing roof, the contractor will most likely prepare the substrate by getting rid of all dirt, dust, and contaminants.

The first layer put down by the contractor is the polyurethane foam. This foam is created by combining two liquids as it’s sprayed onto the existing roof substrate. As the liquid is sprayed onto the existing roof, it expands to form a solid foam surface.

When the SPF layer has been completed, it is then coated with a layer(s) of elastomeric silicone or acrylic coating with embedded granules.

Download: The Essential Guide to Spray Polyurethane Foam Roofing

Single-Ply Membrane Roofing

The beginning of the installation process is similar between TPO and EPDM single-ply membrane roofing systems.

After the existing substrate is prepared, either by cleaning or removing the existing roof, the insulation is installed. There are a few types of insulation options the facility manager/owner can choose from Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso), Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), Extruded Polystyrene (XPS)

After the existing substrate is prepared, either by cleaning or removing the existing roof, the insulation layers are installed and covered by a cover board.

There are three ways to attach the membrane to the cover board: ballasted, with an adhesive or mechanically fastened.

The significant difference between TPO and EPDM comes when it is time to adhere the membrane seams together. TPO uses a hot-air gun to melt down the membrane at the seams and fuse them together. EPDM is joined together with a seam tape.

Download: The Essential Guide to Single-Ply Membrane Roofing

Metal Roofing

Since metal roofing material is rather light in weight, it can be installed right on top of the existing roof. A contractor will install a frame, or substrate, with trusses and purlins for the metal roof to be fastened to. WRS Employee Rappeling for Sloaped Roof Installation

After the existing roof is prepared, your contractor will install a layer of insulation. There are a few types of insulation options available:

Roofing Felt
Fiberglass
Rigid Board
Bubble Insulation
Spray Foam

After the insulation is installed, metal panels are cut and attached to the frame with screws. These panels are installed with overlapping edges to cover all the exposed insulation underneath. Flashings are mounted on the joints of the roof.

Cost

Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Roofing

For an average 20,000 sq. foot commercial roof, it will usually cost between $4.00 and $7.00 per square foot in materials and labor to install a typical SPF roofing system. This price range is for an SPF roof of average thickness and building structure.

Single-Ply Membrane Roofing

For an average 20,000 sq. foot commercial roof, it will usually cost between $3.50 to $7.50 per square foot for EPDM and $3.50 to $6.50 per square foot for TPO, including materials and labor warranty.

Metal Roofing

For an average commercial roof, it will usually cost between $5.00 and $10.00 per square foot in materials and labor to install a typical metal roofing system. This price range can change depending on the type and style of the metal panels you choose.

As you can see, SPF, single-ply membrane and metal roofing are all popular and comparable for commercial roofing. They each have their advantages along with disadvantages, depending on your facility, location and climate you and your roofing expert can choose the right roof system.

If you are looking for maintenance, repair or replacement for your facilities roof, fill out our quote form for your free no-obligation commercial roof quote from our team of experts.

Article Here: Commercial Roofing Installation and Costs: SPF vs Single-Ply vs Metal Roofing