Blue Nail Roofing & Construction Blog

Solar roof tiles are changing the roofing industry. Did you know that the total installed solar power capacity in the U.S. reached 71.3 GW in the third quarter of 2019, with a new capacity of 2.6 GW added during this quarter? It was also the best quarter in history for residential solar, which has experienced remarkable growth throughout the decade. Solar is currently the type of renewable energy generation that is growing the most.

When a big storm or other weather event leaves your roof damaged, it can be tempting to start repairs immediately. While you don’t need to wait until your insurance company pays out, it’s essential to take the proper steps before scheduling a cost estimate or undertaking any repairs. You must make sure you can prove the cause and extent of the damage to get the most out of your claim. Homeowner’s policies generally cover most roof damage, but they will look hard at the cause. It’s essential to check your policy to see how your provider handles roof insurance claims. If you have worked with a reputable roofing company doing regular inspections, those records may be helpful in the claims process. In addition, any service should include a warranty. The cost of replacement for different roofs varies considerably, as do deductibles and the amount of actual cash needed for replacement cost coverage. Using quality materials and regular roof inspections are also necessary. If your roof was in poor condition to begin with, it might be too late for a professional roofing contractor to do simple repairs. You may require a roof replacement after severe storm damage from a wind storm. When buying or selling a home, one of the items on an inspection report that mortgage companies and mortgage lenders pay attention to is the roof’s current condition. They also factor in any anticipated repair costs depending on the type of roof. As a consumer, it helps to have regular conversations with your insurance agent, keep your homeowners’ insurance policy updated, and accessible copies of all your documentation.

A sturdy roof will protect you from rain, snow, wind, heat, cold, and general bad weather. A bad roof will leak and won’t maintain its integrity in the wind. The layers of a properly built roof are important to understand. The following list of roof parts are the major components of a complete roof and their functions in a modern home design.

Data from the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) during 2007-2011 shows that U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 22,600 fires per year started by lightning. Of these, 19% occurred in homes, and another 7% involved businesses and non-residential buildings. When lightning strikes, it doesn’t matter if the materials it hits can conduct electricity or not. If the roof is covered with combustible materials such as wood shakes or extremely flammable asphalt shingles, they are easily ignited as it channels through to the ground via the house’s pipes and electrical system. Fire is the most severe risk of a lightning strike to your home. Lightning can spread in the attic and within the walls after jumping from the roof, seeking the most conductive path to the ground. In addition to structural damage, your home can experience a surge of electrical current through water pipes, phone lines, and electrical outlets that impact devices such as a television, electrical appliances, landline or corded phones, cordless phone chargers, computers, and other expensive electronics.

According to new fourth quarter (Q4) data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index, more contractors in the roofing industry are facing a shortage of building materials as the pandemic continues. Most contractors (71 percent) say they have faced at least one material shortage, up 17 points from 54 percent in Q3 2020. In addition, there has been an accelerated increase in material cost for board feet of lumber and tertiary wood products. On top of materials shortage and rise in construction costs, roofing companies have experienced an unusual delay in deliveries of all available products.

Hurricanes are high-energy tropical storms and can have winds over 150 miles per hour in addition to very heavy rain. Preparing your roof for hurricane season is an essential step and preserving your roof from major damage. High winds can rip off tiles and shingles during the storm season and even tear off the roof deck. Here are some preventative steps for hurricane season preparedness you can take as part of your regular maintenance to reduce hurricanes’ damage, whether you’re a homeowner or have a commercial roof.

Wind damage from unusually high-speed winds and tornadoes is increasing in the United States. Structures built to meet or exceed current model building codes for high-wind regions have a much better chance of surviving tornados and other violent windstorms and not needing roof repair. The Standard Building Code (written and updated by the Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc.) is one source for guidance on building recommendations that help ensure your home can withstand a tornado. Although no house can withstand a direct hit from a severe F4 or F5 tornado, solid construction and products rated for high-wind use can help your home endure many of the more common weather events.

Roof design affects the likelihood of wind damage because the varying strong force winds apply different forces to your roof. For example, houses with gables are more vulnerable than those with hip roofs. Like the corners and eaves, certain areas of the roof are at greater risk of being compromised. The materials and installation also affect the resilience of your roof.

Protecting your roof from on-going water damage is important for the prevention of expensive roof leaks. When it’s dry, only rains a little, or if you have small leaks that are being absorbed by the attic, a leaky roof will go unnoticed. Most leaks form when it’s not raining. In some ways, small leaks can be worse than major leaks because they go unnoticed and, over time, lead to much more expensive damage, such as rot and mold.

When a winter storm strikes your home, it is important that you understand the type of precipitation and what winter roof effects are being created from the weather.Freezing rain or sleet is more dangerous to your roof than standard hail. As sleet builds up into a layer of ice, it can further damage an aging or weaker roof.

In 2020, the United States experienced roof hail damage from 4,611 large hail storms, according to the NOAA Severe Weather Database. Falling hail gets caught in circular updrafts, contacts water vapor, and freezes again. The stronger the updrafts, the longer a hailstone circulates up and down until gravity no longer allows it to remain aloft, and at that point, the hailstone falls to the ground. Roof hail damage differs according to hailstone size, wind speed, wind direction, roof material and age, and slope. Damage can be functional or cosmetic, but broken edges and granule loss that appear cosmetic can cause serious complications.

Modern green roof designs include a layer of vegetation planted over a waterproofing system typically installed on top of flat roofs or a slightly sloped roof, although the green roof concept can be applied to intensive roofs of any configuration, even on walls. In general, residential green roofs are much lighter and more straightforward with a modest roof load than those on large multistory buildings, including trees, and require minimal maintenance. While records of traditional sod roofs and rooftop gardens go back to 500 B.C.E., modern green roofs started becoming common in Europe, especially Germany, over 40 years ago with the layering system used today. The basic structure of the green roof layers consists of a variety of plants, several inches of growing medium (typically different than a layer of soil), filter membrane, drainage layer that provides aeration for plant roots, waterproof/root repellant layer, roofing membrane support for plantings above, thermal insulation, vapor control layer, and structural roof support. With a wider variety of plants come improvements in biodiversity (sometimes called brown roofs), management of stormwater runoff, and improved air quality by filtering pollutants in cities. As they become more popular in the U.S., green roof symposia, green roof professional training courses, and social groups are springing up in many areas.

A cool roof is designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. Cool roofs can be made of a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or shingles. Nearly any kind of building can benefit from a cool roof, but consider the climate and other factors before installing one. Reduce energy bills by decreasing air conditioning needs of indoor spaces that are not air-conditioned, such as garages or covered patios. These are two significant ways to achieve a cool roof. Besides reducing energy costs, decreasing roof temperature can extend roof service life considerably. There are many types of cool roof technology systems available, but the surface exposed to the sun is the one that determines if a roof is cool or not. You can usually make a new or existing roof cool by selecting the appropriate surface.

Preparing your roof for storms and the environmental challenges that come with both standard and extreme storm events is about threat mitigation on your property. Do you have large trees with weak root systems, overhanging limbs, or damage to your roof? The combination of risks is unique to your property, but here are some common things to look for before the spring and summer storm season.

Your home’s roof protects you and your belongings from the outside world. However, when you have a roof leak, the structure and stability of your home declines along with it. It’s crucial that you repair your roof immediately to avoid more serious damage later on that could lead to a roof replacement.  However, there are common roof repair mistakes that are often made during the repair process. How can you know if you’re doing a good job?  Proper installation includes some subtle considerations such as nail placement and correct location as well as identifying any underlying issues that may contribute to premature failure.  An improper installation may look acceptable, until it rains.

Days that reach sub-freezing temperatures can do the most damage to your roof, some of which may not be apparent right away.  Here are several common roofing issues that you should be aware of before the winter months.

At least 5% of American homeowners incur the hefty cost of roof replacement every year.

Understanding the signs of roof storm damage can be very helpful when consulting with a roofing professional and insurance company, especially if you may have an insurance claim.  Hail and wind damage are two of the most common and most expensive types of damage, especially to shingle roofs. Some signs are obvious, but there are others that you will have to do a careful roof inspection to find signs of damage.