Monday, February 26, 2018

Spray Foam Roofing Installation [Infographic]

Here at West Roofing Systems, we’ve been installing Spray Polyurethane Foam Roofs for over 38 years. And in that time, one of the most common questions we’ve received from customers is, “How does spray polyurethane foam work?”

What is Spray Foam Roofing?

Spray Polyurethane Foam, more commonly referred to as SPF, is a material that is sprayed as a liquid so it can expand 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. An SPF roofing system can be used in any climate, and when properly installed and maintained, can last over 50 years.

How is Spray Foam Installed?

Before the installation can start, the existing roof (or substrate) 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. This can be done with air pressure, vacuuming, or even just sweeping.

The first layer put down by the contractor is the polyurethane foam. This foam is created by combining two liquids (a polyol/resin and an isocyanate) as it’s sprayed onto the existing roof substrate.

As the liquid is sprayed onto the existing roof, it creates a foam that expands 20 times in size to form a solid, seamless foam surface. When the foam has expanded, this layer can be between 1 and 1.5 inches in thickness. Since the polyurethane foam adheres to most common surfaces, it can be installed on any roof slope.

When the SPF layer has been completed, it is then coated with a layer(s) of elastomeric silicone or acrylic coating with embedded granules. This layer is generally between 20 and 30 mils (a mil is a thousandth of an inch — .001 inch.) in thickness. The coating protects the roof and SPF from UV light, weather, normal wear and provides the required fire ratings.

When the installation is complete, it will create a seamless, durable, moisture-resistant renewable foam roof covering.

Spray Polyurethane Foam Roofing Systems are revolutionizing roofing for commercial, industrial, and manufacturing facilities. Contact West Roofing Systems today to talk to our expert staff about your future Spray Polyurethane Foam Roofing Systems.

Source Here: Spray Foam Roofing Installation [Infographic]

Monday, February 19, 2018

Single-Ply Membrane vs Built-Up Roofing [Infographic]

Here at West Roofing Systems, we’ve been installing Single-Ply Membrane Roofing for over 38 years. We have helped many customers decide which roofing systems is best for them.

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 single-ply membrane and built-up roofing systems to give you all the information you need in choosing which roof for your facility.

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.

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.

Built-Up Roofing

Built-Up Roofing Systems have been in use in the U.S. for over 100 years. These roof systems are commonly referred to as “tar and gravel” roofs. Built-up systems are installed by alternating layers of asphalt or tar and supporting fabrics directly onto the roof. You can choose the number of layers (or plies) that are installed. The final layer of a built-up roofing system consists of stone or gravel.

For an average commercial roof, it will usually cost between per $5.50 – $8.50 square foot in materials and labor to install a typical built-up roofing system. This price range can change depending on the materials you choose.

Here is an infographic to compare Single-Ply Membrane and Built-Up Roofing Systems:

Single-Ply Membrane Roofing Systems have been the go-to roofing for commercial, industrial, and manufacturing facilities for decades. Contact West Roofing Systems today to talk to our expert staff about your future Single-Ply Membrane Roofing System.

Source Here: Single-Ply Membrane vs Built-Up Roofing [Infographic]

Monday, February 12, 2018

West Roofing Systems, Inc. Takes Home Four Industry Awards During Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance Convention

LaGrange, Ohio (February 7, 2018) – West Roofing Systems, Inc., Cleveland’s choice for high-quality, sustainable, SPF (spray polyurethane foam) roofing solutions, is the recent proud recipient of three 2018 Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance National Industry Excellence Awards. The awards were accepted last week at the 2018 Spray Foam Convention & Expo in Mobile, Alabama from January 29 to February 1.

[caption id="attachment_25479" align="alignright" width="300"] roof restoration Colonnade Towers Metal Roofing Restoration[/caption]

At the annual industry awards gala, West Roofing Systems competed against a roster of industry-related projects across the country. A national panel of industry experts judged nominations on parameters including value for money, the speed of delivery, environmental sustainability, innovation, best practices, problem-solving and risk mitigation.

West Roofing Systems achieved first place recognition for its outstanding work on the Colonnade Towers Metal Roofing Restoration project, in the category of Elastomeric Roof Coatings.

“In the case of the Colonnade Towers, the goal was to restore the previously abandoned buildings to working order for the future office location of Southern Co. while keeping the iconic ‘big red’ roofs that can be seen for miles. The extreme steep slopes and heights of the roofs combined with difficult logistics proved to be a challenge that West Roofing Systems was determined to solve, putting safety and quality first.” Jack L. Moore Jr., President/CEO

[caption id="attachment_25455" align="alignright" width="225"] Cleveland Airport Foam Excellence Award Cleveland Airport Security Checkpoint[/caption]

Also, the company took home second place for the Cleveland Airport Security Checkpoint in the category of Foam Roof Under 40,000 square feet.

“While the skylights located in Concourse B of the Cleveland Hopkins Airport bring in much appreciated the natural light, the glare from the sun and frequent leaks proved inconvenient for the TSA agents on staff. We were able to seal off the skylights to prevent light from coming through and reinforce the area to prevent future leaks, to create a more comfortable environment for staff and travelers.” Jack L. Moore Jr., President/CEO

Lastly, the company took home second place for the and Grace Baptist Church Passion Play Stage Set in the category of Specialty Applications categories respectively. West Roofing Systems and Grace Baptist Church in Brunswick have worked together on multiple projects for their church productions.

[caption id="attachment_25454" align="alignright" width="300"] Specialty Foam Applications Grace Baptist Church in Brunswick[/caption]

The company was also awarded Top National Roofing Contractor by roofing products manufacturer Accella Performance Materials, A Carlisle Company.

West Roofing Systems, boasting extensive experience working on industrial, retail, municipal, religious, school and hospital buildings, has consistently exceeded the expectations of its clients when installing new roof systems or maintaining and repairing existing structures.

Meeting professional standards set by the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance, the company remains committed to improving its staff and product through continual education and accreditation. As a national award-winner, West Roofing Systems, Inc. is poised to apply their expertise to a plethora of future local commercial installation projects.

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More About West Roofing Systems, Inc.
West Roofing Systems, Inc. was established in 1979 and now has locations in Ohio and Georgia. Holding over 22 industry awards and having installed over 50 million square-feet of commercial, industrial and municipal roofing, West Roofing Systems, Inc. is the only roofing contractor you'll ever need. For more information visit westroofingsystems.com.

Originally Published Here: West Roofing Systems, Inc. Takes Home Four Industry Awards During Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance Convention

Got Brown Spots on Your Ceiling? Causes & Solutions for Water Stains

Whether you’re installing a new commercial roof or taking care of an existing system, it's important to maintain your roof regularly and address problems quickly. You may not know you have a problem with your roof until you see signs inside your building, such as brown spots on your ceiling or puddles on your floor. These are signs that you need to have someone inspect and repair your commercial roof immediately.

At West Roofing Systems, we take pride in the new roofs we install and the maintenance we provide for our customers and their commercial, industrial and manufacturing buildings. Our M.a.R.S. (Maintenance and Repair Service) Program is available for new and existing roof systems.

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

Our technicians answer many questions from facility owners and managers. One question we often get is, “What are these brown spots on my ceiling?” That’s why we wrote this article to show you what water stains are, the dangers of water stains and how to repair your facility.

What Are Brown Spots on My Ceiling?

When you see brown spots, or patches, on your ceiling and interior walls, they are water stains caused from a leak above. This leak could be a malfunction in your commercial roof systems or a leak with another part of your facility such as HVAC units or leaking pipes.

Common Causes of Water Stains

There are a few causes that we commonly find while inspecting internal leaks that cause water stains. Some are caused by a failure of the roof, but there are also many other reasons that water is leaking into your building.

Vents/Skylights

[caption id="attachment_23979" align="alignright" width="300"] TPO Single-Ply Membrane around Roof Penetration[/caption]

Most commercial roofing systems have accessories attached such as skylights, air vents, plumbing vents and more. To accommodate for these units, your contractor needs to cut their roofing material to fit around the unit. These areas are not seamless roofing material, so they are vulnerable to leaks through the penetrations. This problem will show when you have stains around vents or skylights in particular.

HVAC Units

HVAC units can cause issues in a few ways:

Improper installation around the HVAC unit
Water leaking from the actual HVAC unit (not a roofing problem in this case)
Water leaking from the unit on top of the roof causing problems if it doesn’t drain properly

Whether you call your roofing or HVAC contractor, they should be able to help you narrow down the cause of your HVAC area leak.

Leaking Pipe

Sometimes water stains are not caused by a roof issue at all. Leaking pipes in ceilings and walls can slowly drip water until a stain appears in your building. Pipes can be prone to leaks when they are aged and with extreme changes in temperature.

Roof Flashing Failure

Flashings are pieces of metal that are installed on a roof where two areas join together. The purpose of these metal pieces is to prevent water from leaking through the vulnerable area. Since the area underneath is at risk of leaking, it’s essential to keep your metals flashings in proper working order.

If there is a failure with your flashings, water may be able to leak not only through your roof, but you will often see water stains down walls as well.

Damaged or Aged Waterproofing 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.

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. The older a roof is, the less reliable it can be for leaks. While enrolling in 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.

Download: Commercial Roofing 101

How to Repair Water Stains

The quicker you are in responding to your water stain, the better it will be repairing it. Your first step is to address the cause of the stain. If you only address the water stain without fixing the cause, it will not only reappear, but it will cause more damage in the long run.

The extent of your repair depends on the amount of damage your facility has sustained. Hopefully, you caught the problem early and took action quickly. Some options to repair and clean up water stains include:

Use a bleach/water solution to blot and wipe the stain away
After the area dries, if it is still stable, you can directly paint over the area
Remove the damaged part of the ceiling/ceiling tiles, drywall and replace with new, clean sections
Sand off the damaged layer and seal the area (wood ceiling)

Watch for Mold

Indoor Mold If your stains have yellow or green colors, chances are you have mold in that area as well. As mold grows, it becomes darker and more dangerous over time. If you have mold in your facility, you need to take action right away for the safety of everyone in your building. Mold needs to be killed, whether it is a simple bleach/water mix or if you have to call a mold removal company.

Investing in a commercial roofing project can be a daunting task. But by being prepared and asking the right questions, you can find the right contractor to deliver high-quality work at the right price.

Choosing West Roofing Systems as a turnkey roofing company will provide you with highly trained teams and award-winning service. Our services are flexible and diverse; we can recoat, repair or replace your facility’s roof so that it lasts decades.