Author: Derek

Electronic Leak Detection

A big part of the roofing industry is the maintenance and inspection of already existing roofs. When it comes to this, having the necessary tests to carry out an inspection is a key part of knowing whether or not you have a leak and therefore require maintenance. One of the best tests that can determine this is the electronic leak detection test.

This is a really good test for a number of reasons. The most important part of it is that it isn’t invasive. This means that you won’t have to deal with a lengthy interruption in your home and business premises while they inspect your roof inch by inch, and it also will generally mean a less expensive investigation too.

The test works through the use of various tools that determine the conductibility of the roofing envelope. In theory, any pinhole leaks that aren’t already noticeable should have different levels of conduction due to the extra water.

Why you Should Consider a Roofing Survey

There is a wide range of problems that can develop with your roof over the years. These problems aren’t always readily apparent; sometimes they can fester for years before you’re suddenly, and disastrously, made aware of them.  A roof surveyor will have the knowledge, skills and equipment necessary for an early detection of some of these problems, and hiring one can, in the long run, save you a lot of money.

Roof surveys can be a pretty expensive service to pay for. There are a number of different techniques that they use and one you need or choose to use will determine how expensive the service is.

Some of the common tests that are used to determine whether or not there are leaks present are:

  • Spray Bar Testing
  • Control Pressure Testing
  • Electronic Leak Detection
  • Rainwater Outlet Testing
  • Rainwater Simulation
  • Flood Testing
  • Electrical Capacitance Test
  • Invasive Testing

In addition to these tests, you also have a few that, while not strictly a roof survey, can play a role in a wider investigation:

  • Water Analysis (to find the source)
  • Air Quality Testing (to check for moisture content and fungal spores)

In addition to the above tests, thermal imaging can also be important. This isn’t strictly a leak detection method but it will be helpful in determining what, if any, damage has been done to the insulation within the roof structure.

Why you Should get a Roof Survey

A roof survey will typically include a number of the above tests. This is so that the area of the problem can be determined with the highest degree of accuracy so that you don’t need to conduct a complete reconstruction of the roofing structure. For larger roofs, in particular, this can make a lot of financial sense, which is why most of those who pay for roofing surveys are the proprietors of commercial properties.

Often times, businesses that have a large property will pay for an extensive roof survey at regular intervals. This is so that, firstly, any problems can be detected before any repairs that are necessary become exorbitantly expensive. Secondly, any damage to a roof’s ability to retain heat can also be a very large expense once the heating bill becomes very large, and insulation is often one of the first things adversely affected by a compromised roofing system. This means that the longer you wait, the more money you can be losing. Thirdly, an increase in moisture content will almost certainly allow for fungal growth

Zinc Cladding and Why People Like it

There are a lot of good reasons why you should consider implementing cladding on your home. It can be a great design feature, thanks to the aesthetic benefits as well as the various functional improvements they can contribute towards.

What Cladding Does

The cladding has the tremendous ability to protect your home from the elements. In various extreme conditions, such as coastal areas with salty moisture in the air or heavily windy areas, the cladding is necessary in order to retain a home that is still fit for habitation and reduce erosion. In the long run, it can be a great cost-saving measure for your home.

The Virtues of Zinc Cladding

Zinc cladding offers many of these same benefits, but it is more expensive than most alternatives, such as wood cladding. In spite of this, zinc is one of the more popular cladding options, and there are a number of reasons why this is the case:

  • Firstly, zinc can have a very desirable appearance; even when it has aged, many still very much like or even prefer its appearance.
  • Zinc is immune to rust, which means that it can outperform many other types of metal in this area.
  • Zinc isn’t biodegradable like wood, which means it won’t need to be replaced or repaired as often either.
  • Zinc is also a pretty cheap material, at least when compared to metals like copper, and is comparable in price to aluminium.

 

A Guide To Roofing Contractors And Flat Roof Repair

The greatest cause of failure for a flat roof is the inability to correct minor deterioration and defects, in their early stages. Problems caused by weather or natural disasters, or by age, require roofing contractors and flat roof repair. A contractor will advise the building owner whether to repair or replace and will supervise the implementation of engineering plans, as needed.

 

There are four basic types of coverings for roofs. Asphalt roll consists of one layer of an asphalt-saturated base felts, made of either organic material or fibreglass, which is applied over roof felt, using nails and cold asphalt cement. After the covering is used, the seams are covered with roofing compound. In general, asphalt roll roofs last around ten years before requiring replacement.

 

Multiple-ply is another covering. Multiple-ply consists of overlapped rolls of coated felts or mats, interspersed with layers of a cementations substance called bitumen. The rolls are then surfaced with a granular roofing sheet, ballast, or tile pavers, to prevent weathering of the underlying materials. Weight, which consists of crushed stone, embedded in asphalt or coal tar, makes roof inspection challenging because it covers up seams. (more…)

Installation of Roof Shingle Systems

Roofs are among the worst hit areas of a property in terms of the natural elements, and roof shingles are able to outperform most other contemporary forms of roofing systems in a number of different ways. Roof shingles comprise a number of positive aspects that are absolutely necessary for roofs in general:

  • They are cheap
  • They are easy/cheap to install
  • They’re effective
  • They last a long time
  • They are easy to replace

All of these aspects are very important to a roofing system, but arguably the most valuable two of these are that they last a long time and are easy to replace. The ease through which you can replace a shingle is essential

The ease through which you can replace a shingle is essential in many respects. If you compare it to flat roofing systems, in order to repair and replace broken sections of the system can be a significant undertaking, while doing so with a shingle is both easy and cheap. All you need is to replace the specific, broken and damaged shingles, which severely limits the cost and time involved in doing so.

Shingles are also only appropriate with slanted roofs, which are undeniably the most reliable type of roofing system. They exemplify slanted roofs in their ability to deal with run-off water effectively. They can last anywhere from 10 years to 30, depending upon what materials you’ve used and the climate. Importantly, even when they wear out, shingles can be quickly, cheaply and easily replaced.