As housing needs continue to evolve, conventional methods everywhere face the toughest challenges to survive. The direction of evolution is always progressive, that is, toward something better than yesterday. In roofing technology, the latest innovations cover a few critical aspects. These include disaster resistance, heat insulation, sustainability, aesthetics, affordability as well as eco-friendliness.

Definitive advancements are in progress as companies and research centers are coming out with the latest practical ideas. Many of these newest methods are already commercially available, whereas others still need a push for mass production. A significant share of the latest developments are unique to the roofing contractor you commission. Most companies manufacture these unique roofing systems through their owned research and development facilities. Find a brief overview of the top cut in the latest innovations in the following segments.

1.      Solar roofing materials are gaining acceptance steadily. A company is offering seven varieties of prefabricated metal shingles, their capacities ranging from 3 to 120 kw per shingle. These rugged shingles integrated with solar harvesting technology are highly disaster resistant and can withstand wind velocity of more than even 160 miles per hour. Aesthetic and eco-friendly, the solar roofs are here to stay.

In fact, most of the latest disaster proof affordable roofing solutions are metal-based. You can install metal panel overlays or underlays on the existing roofing to set up hurricane and hailstorm proof metal roofs.

 2.      Lightweight and sustainable: Studies indicate that the environmental impact of roofing materials to be directly proportional with their weight. Addressing this concern, a company in California supplies a roof that is drastically lighter than the conventional materials, yet resistant to the duress of environment. They compare the effectiveness of the material with a bulletproof jacket instead of a heavy armor.

The coating used at the top layer is something called GE alloy and the 100% recyclable material weighs merely 70 pounds per sq feet. In purview, usual materials weigh in the range of 600 lbs per sq feet. Like the solar shingles, this advanced roof also holds a good aesthetic value in colors and design.

 3.      Affordable eco-friendly roofing: Other alternatives to install affordable eco-friendly roofing include recycled shingles from rubber, plastic, or wood-fiber. Some companies also make shingles from general home waste substances, and can carry a warranty up to 50 years. Wooden roof shingles may not be the best eco-friendly and affordable solutions when they are not designed via a recycling process.

You need to contact an experienced roofer in your region or connect with any suppliers of the alternatives mentioned above. Always have an in person discussion with the roofing contractors to ensure that the service can handle the construction of a weather-resistant and eco-friendly roof adhering by standard industry guidelines.   

Whether you need reinforcements or overhauling your roof, you have to take informed decisions. Roofing is among one of the most expensive home maintenance requirements, but proper planning can help you make a worthy investment. Case studies can offer great resources to confirm your decisions.

Check out the following latest studies proving the effectiveness of modern roofing systems. The reigning trend is to develop roofs that are aesthetic, weather resistant, lightweight, durable, eco-friendly, insulated, and useful.

• Monumental energy expenditure saving by green roofing: Weston Design Consultants, a Chicago based eco-design service put the figures to dollars if all of Chicago has ‘green’ roofs. This study from 2012 indicates how the installation of eco-friendly roofs can save energy costs by about $100,000,000. This is a massive amount and it only indicates the savings from a single major city.

The green ideas presented by the service include growing a vegetable garden on the accessible roof space, growing grass on the roof and setting up rain guards for roof irrigation. Homeowners can purchase the Green Paks, which are pre-seeded soils especially for roof farming.

• Metal solar shingles: The EnergyPeak is the official name of the partnership between two major services in offering solar metal shingles. Centria Services is a Pittsburg based roofing manufacturer offering solar shingles in partnership with United Solar Ovonic, in Auburn Hills, MI. The partnership offers shingles capable of harvesting the freely available solar energy to generate electricity in the range of 3 – 120 kw per shingle.

They offer the product in seven variations and employ the BIPV technology. Building Integrated PhotoVoltaic technology is gaining grounds at last after decades of neglect. Case studies reveal the roofs can withstand wind speed up to 160 miles per hour. 

• A lightweight armor for the roof: ArmorLite—a California based company, has been offering a highly advanced polymer roofing solution. The material is extensively light, weighing a meager 70 lbs for 100 square feet of roof space. Conventional roofs weigh about 600 lbs for each square feets. Constructed with a special polymer, the material is also 100% recyclable with an impressive 0% waste in the recycling process.

Making proper use of the immortality of plastic products, this new roof is also resistant to fires, fierce winds, and earthquakes. They also offer decreased expenditure on transportation and a reduced load on the environment. Tested by experts at the Modern Energy Corporation, the roof is above par with building codes and Energy Star standards. In addition, the roof is highly durable and you can easily stand on it without the risk of it breaking.

Considering these case studies, you can select a suitable provider for your roofing needs. The latest innovations ensure your roof is the best, while still maintaining the aesthetic appeal at the top.

Water conservation with green roofs:

Roofs are not just meant to provide shelter, but they also perform a major role in water conservation. Rapid reduction and abolishment of scarce natural water resources is a challenging threat for mankind. Using innovative methods of building ecological roofs, which also help with water preservation, is a brilliant idea to deal with such threats.

What is a green roof?

Green roofs are made of highly engineered environment friendly polymers. Growing plants, greenery and vegetables are the next step to enhance eco-friendliness of these shelters. Presence of living plants increases sustainable qualities of the roof; which also helps to conserve water.

How is water conservation performed via green roofs?

The presence of green plants helps the roof act like a sponger, which leads to conservation of water even during heavy rainfall and thunderstorm. However, the rainfall patterns affect water conservation to a certain level. The idea of collecting rainwater directly, using a botanical setup is a brilliant idea. Conserving water through this method is already pure and requires less purification efforts.

Green roofs are also known for adding a certain degree of insulation to the entire building. They make the building look attractive and help with increasing the level of purified air in the surroundings. These roofs are made by clubbing multiple layers. Also, a proper water storage and drainage system is needed to be built to avoid maintenance issues. Along with this, a proper soil system is needed to be established for successful water conservation. In cases of flood and draught, special technical arrangement might be required. Experts recommend installing the required elements in the advance, at the time of roof installation only.

The idea of water conservation via modern age roofing systems is a brilliant way to bring back ecological architecture to life. It is a perfect blend of technological excellence and environmentally friendly ideas to preserve water.

Roofing professionals are witnessing new and improved inventions in the roof installation industry. To keep up with fast changing trends, roofing professionals need to interact with like minded people. For this reason, various trade shows, exhibitions and interactive events are organized.

These events, enable professionals from the roofing industry to learn more about advanced practices in roofing installation, repair, and maintenance processes. They discover the essentials to accomplish a successful roof set-up process. An inclination by industry experts to have these events and trade shows has helped these trends grow rapidly over a small period of time.

Meeting minded experts via roofing trade shows to boost mutual growth:

Trade shows and exhibitions are meant to bring such professionals together, who share similar business and aesthetic interests. Meeting in a common platform helps them explore new business dimensions, discover new challenges in the market place, and newly introduced roofing technologies.

Attending these events help specialists explore more about:

• Leading roof installation trends
• Innovative ideas for roof aesthetics
• New resistance technologies to build durable and sustainable roofs
• Energy efficiency and eco friendliness factors related to roof installation
• New techniques to enhance insulation abilities of the modern roofing system

Expanding the existing customer base becomes easier once the professionals attend special exhibitions and trade shows. After all, it is the most appropriate method to keep up with the market trends.

Benefits of roof trading shows in business growth:

Attending such shows and exhibitions, not only broadens network of roof installation and repair companies, but also strengthens their knowledge base. They improve their skills and performance to serve their customers in better ways.

Certifications and accolades received by attendee companies from such events and trade shows reinforce their market presence. In turn, the reliability level of  companies increases amongst the targeted customers and they can achieve their desired business growth.

Keeping track of latest trade shows:

Trade shows keep happening throughout the year. Companies involved in the roofing industry cannot afford to miss some of the popular annual exhibitions and other events. Industry experts recommended that companies should keep track of such events to have the opportunity to put their ideas forward and to also learn about inventions brought in by other market players in the same field.

Decisively, the role of industry oriented events and exhibitions are remarkable in uplifting the existing level of market place. The contribution of industry experts in making these events successful is noteworthy and appreciable.

A survey of the safety issues in roofing revealed some very grim statistics. It proved in figures, the extreme high rate of fatality in the construction industry, indicating an overwhelming amount of accidents. Data shows that at least 10,000 people in the construction industry suffer from debilitating to mortal injuries annually.

The different parties of the arrangement

The construction sector constitutes only eight percent of the American workforce, but it encompasses 22 percent of all workplace related injuries. Placing these numbers into perspective, it is vital to employ optimum safety measures in roofing work. In fact, the government has very stringent regulations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) to ensure companies provide maximum safety measures for their workers.

General trends indicate that companies with fewer employees are more prone to violations than major services. Homeowners must confirm the presence of adequate convenience and safety mechamisms in hiring any roofing company, especially the smaller services.

Non-compliance with the law can result in employers facing hefty fines from repeat violations. Besides the financial loss, companies also lose their business reputation as the administration issues public notices with the names of the offenders. Workplace safety is one of the major issues in the construction industry.

Safety consultants, labor unions, and contractor associations must work in tandem to guarantee that roofers return home to their families at the end of the workday.

The high-risk areas

Any type of roofing work is overall risky due to a number of factors including the nervousness of heights, vertigo, and sometimes fear can directly induce a fall.

Roofs are usually tilted and offer a very hazardous grounding. The highest risk areas of a roof are skylights and the edges. The borders separating multi-level roofs must have adequate protections as well.

Adequate protective arrangements

Setting up skylight covers and roof railings can significantly reduce the threat of accidents. It is definitely a good idea to have permanent arrangements since you may need to access roofs yourself sometimes.

Installing roof walkways does not have to be permanent, but you should ensure that the roofing service has all the necessary arrangements in place. Besides these, the personal safety equipment such as harnesses, lanyards, connectors, and lifelines of good quality should be available for the workers. The staff must also have adequate training to employ the best safety standards at work.

Roofers deserve a normal workday and not risking possible disabling injuries or death. All parties involved in the arrangements need to cooperate to ensure maximum workplace security.

Oklahoma, Texas, and Florida are three major states in the path of the infamous ‘Tornado Alley.’ Other states include Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Iowa, and Minnesota among others. These states have the dangerous reputation of facing up to six tornadoes every year per 10,000 square miles.

Importance of roof stormproofing

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration grades tornadoes on a scale of F1 (minimum intensity) to F5 (maximum). The climate data from 1993 to 2010 reveals that a total of 13 states in the U.S. have to bear about three F5 tornadoes every year. If you live in any of these states, it is vital to take adequate precautionary measures.

You must take into account that the doors (including garage doors), windows, and roofs can withstand the impacts of those insane wind spirals. The roofs need special attention, as a roofless home is as unsafe as staying outside in the violent hurricanes.

The fortifying measures

Homeowners must look into stormproofing the roofs. Consult an experienced roofer in your area to decide whether the repairs are sufficient or if you need a complete overhaul of the roofing. Experienced professionals suggest the second option, especially if the roofs are more than 15 years old. A substantial buildup of granules in the gutter is a sure sign that your old roof is crumbling. Nevertheless, suitable repair works can go a long way in fortifying the longevity of the roofs. Besides, complete replacements are relatively expensive.

• Gabled roofs are highly vulnerable. Contact a roofer to install galvanized metal straps for enhanced attachment to the walls. A gable roof has two slopes whereas a hip roof has four. Studies show a 30 degrees sloping angle works best.
• Metal roofs are best for hurricane protection. Check out the costs of installing metal roofing with an experienced contractor. In fact, it is a worthy investment because you may have to spend more than the overhauling cost now if the tornado blows off the roof.
• Undertake vital repair measures such as replacing missing or damaged shingles, fortify the skylights and chimneys, and clear the clogged roof vents.
• Incorporate advanced aerodynamic features such as the installation of a centra shaft connecting the roof ridge and the internal space.
• Limit the length of roof overhangs to 20 inches.
• Install wind resistant roof covering as per certified standards.
• Set up proper underlayments.
• Use modified bitumen or self–adhering asphalt to tape in the roof seams.
• Roof decking has to be secure.
• Incorporate soffit vents and baffled ridges.

Adequate and timely precautions can actually save you from being roofless in the event of a devastating turbulence. Set an appointment with an experienced roofer to examine your current structure to implement the best methods that are reasonably still within your budget.

In any natural disaster, your roof takes up a significant share of the duress to ensure your safety. Among the various natural agents, strong winds can cause severe damage to the roofs in several ways. Understanding the full extent of wind damage to roofs is vital for homeowners and industry professionals to assess the full impact of the situation. In addition, homeowners benefit from understanding the status of their roofs to be able to find adequate insurance compensations or as they search for a home insurance plan. Roofers need to have an idea of the damage to undertake adequate repair strategies or to present a quote for the work that is needed.

The importance of precautionary maintenance

The worst thing that can happen to your home is having the wind peel off the roof altogether from the top. Hurricanes and tornadoes exert an immense amount of wind pressure. Roofs need to have strong anchoring arrangements to hold up to the most extreme pulls. Metal riveting at the corners and the edges are vital as these zones experience the maximum impact.

In addition, homeowners should take precautionary measures to fix openings in roof membranes and broken edges of shingles. The wind acts heavily on these weak points, making them the fulcrum of causing extensive damaging.

Types of wind damage 

• Positive and negative pressures: The pushing force or the positive pressure is the most common category of wind damage. The negative pressure or suction is the pull roofs need to bear during tornadoes.
• Damage from flying objects: The heavy winds frequently hit the roof with flying objects such as broken branches, loosened shingles, or anything that has become a plaything to the wind. Roof-installed air conditioning units pose a serious risk of detaching under the turbulence.
• Damage from hailstorm: Many winds also carry hailstorms. These can seriously shatter the membranes and loosen the shingles with a battery of constant assault.
• Long term damage factors: The debris flown in by the wind clogs the drainpipes causing water stagnation issues on the roof.

A damage restoration service needs to attend to all the above factors. Asphalt shingles are the most common materials for roofing in the states. These can take up a lot of hittings as dark spots, cracks, chipped edges, and holes. Tornadoes often uproot shingles altogether, creating missing spaces in the roof.

Whether you need reinforcements or overhauling your roof, you have to make informed decisions. Roofing is easily one of the most expensive home maintenance requirements; proper planning can help you make a worthy investment. Case studies are great resources to refer to prior to making a final decision.

Check out the following latest studies demonstrating the effectiveness of modern roofing systems. The reigning trend is to develop roofs that are aesthetic, weather resistant, lightweight, durable, eco-friendly, insulated, and useful.

• Monumental energy expenditure saving by green roofing: Weston Design Consultants, a Chicago based eco-design service, concluded that the city of Chicago could save energy costs of over $100,000,000 if all of Chicago’s rooftops were green. This study from 2012 indicates that the installation of eco-friendly roofs can save a ton on energy costs!

The green ideas presented by the service include growing a vegetable garden on the accessible roof space, growing grasses on roof, and setting up rain guards for roof irrigation. Homeowners can purchase the Green Paks, which are pre-seeded soils specially designed for roof farming.

• Metal solar shingles: The EnergyPeak is the official name of the partnership between two major services in offering solar metal shingles. Centria Services is a Pittsburg based roofing manufacturer offering solar shingles in partnership with United Solar Ovonic, Auburn Hills, MI. The partnership offers shingles capable of harvesting the freely available solar energy to generate electricity in the range of 3–120 kW per shingle.

They offer the product in seven variations and employ the BIPV technology. Building Integrated PhotoVoltaic technology is gaining grounds at last after decades of neglect. Case studies reveal that the roofs can withstand wind speeds as high as 160 miles per hour.

• A lightweight armor for the roof: A California based company has been offering ArmorLite, a highly advanced polymer roofing solution. The material is extensively light, weighing a meager 70 lbs for 100 sq. ft. of roof space. Conventional roofs weigh about 600 lbs for each square foot. Constructed with a special polymer, the material is also 100% recyclable with an impressive 0% waste in the recycling process.

Making proper use of plastic products, this new roof is also resistant to fires, fierce winds, and earthquakes. They also offer decreased expenditure on transportation and a reduced load on the environment. Tested by experts at the Modern Energy Corporation, the roof is above par with building codes and Energy Star standards. It is also highly durable and you can easily stand on it without the risk of it breaking. 

Considering these case studies, you can select a suitable provider for your roofing needs. The latest innovations ensure your roof is the best, while still looking aesthetically appealing at the top.

Roofs take up the harshness of the weather to guarantee safety to your home. Hail, snow, and ice are three key agents of natural disasters. Proper precautionary measures and repairing works are vital to counter roof damage. Homeowners need to have a clear idea on the nature of the impacts to find a good roofer or to select a suitable home insurance plan.

The problem with hailstorms

Heavy hailstorms practically loosen a merciless battery of assualt on the roof. The momentum of the hail can cause extensive bruising all over the asphalt surface. Other roofing materials are equally prone to develop cracks, chips, and broken edges under a hailstorm. Sometimes, a big chunk of hail can shatter the skylight or displace shingles altogether. Any gap in the roofing membrane or shingles acts as weak points under the massive pounding.

The wind amplifies the weak spot and often causes extensive damage in its adjacent areas. The detached granules from the membranes and shingles result in long-term damage by clogging the drains and causing water stagnation.

The weight of snow

The accumulated weight of snow is a major concern as it can even cause an entire roof to collapse. It is vital to clear snow from the roof as soon as possible. Besides the direct impact of the weight, ice dams—these develop when you delay in removing the snow and it melts— further aggravate the situation. A two-foot deposit of snow on the roof exerts a massive pressure equivalent to 19 tons, or 38,000 lbs.

The water accumulates in the drainpipes, which interrupts the flow because of the clogging, and eventually freezes at sub zero temperatures to cause ice dams. In turn, this results in stangnation, seepage, loss of insulation, and the risk of collapse. Homeowners need to hire efficient roofers to assess the roof after every single snowstorm.

Importance of preventive maintenance

Homeowners need to employ adequate preventive maintenance measures to counter the issue. Installing strong systems such as roof anchoring, advanced duress resistant shingles, and waterproofing membranes go a long way to ensure the safety of the home. Besides looking evaluating the roof, homeowners also have to insulate the attics properly to avoid the formation of ice-dams.

In addition to the damage to the roof, the snow, ice, and hail can make the roof very slippery. Tilted roofs become a maximum hazard for the workers, often resulting in serious disabilities and fatalities. Homeowners must be hiring a suitable service that provides adequate workplace safety measures.

The roof is the most significant element in the building construction process. Whether you are building your own home or commercial project, installation of sustainable roofing remains an integral and most essential part. However, roofing technology is getting improved on a daily basis. New engineering techniques are introduced to design green and eco-friendly roofs.

Special kind of polymers are used in constructing eco-friendly and long lasting roofs. These shelters are designed to perform longer than a traditional roofing system. They stand intact against different weather conditions and this adds to the life of the entire building.

Expectations from new & improved roofing technologies:

Inventions strike when requirements become unavoidable, this is what has happened in the roofing installation field. New technologies are introduced because previous ones are outdated. They don’t exactly fit with the idea of modern architecture as they don’t fulfil the expected performance criteria.

Modern polymer based and highly engineered roofing systems are preferred over the traditional ones because they are:

• durable and eco-friendly
• weather resistant
• easy to install
• up to par with the requirements of insulation
• light weight

Lightweight roofing options have emerged as it adds value to the overall construction process. These roofs require the least amount of possible maintenance, hence the least maintenance cost is involved.

Revolution in roofing industry:

With time, impressive advancements have taken place in engineering and architecture sector. Weather resistant and smartly engineered roofs are installed to deal with the outdoor environments. This has not only has enabled people to live stress-free, but they can also enjoy contributing to better environmental management.

Modern roofing systems consist of multiple layers. The uppermost layer of such shelters are made out of GE Geloy, which is a polymer, renowned for its weather resistant abilities. The successive layers are designed by keeping the needs of building insulation in mind.

The design factor is also a noteworthy element of modern tiling system. These roofs are available in multiple designs and unfold a myriad of options for creativity in home building. After all, it’s not just the interior that adds grace to a house, the exterior has equal significance too.

Conclusively, it can be said that advanced technologies for highly engineered and polymer based roofing are getting popular in both commercial and residential building sectors. They are not only sustainable and insulation beneficial, but also adorn the topmost part of the building with their innovative design patterns.