As summertime approaches, you may start thinking about those notorious Texas thunderstorms that come rolling through. Itaisn?t uncommon for these bouts of serious weather to bring with them heavy rain, high winds, and hail. Hail is a roof?s worst nightmare and can cause some serious damage. After a hailstorm, you should always go up onto your roof for a visual inspection. If you are unable to get onto your roof, call a professional roofing contractor. Here are a few ways that you can identify hail damage and repair it before it turns into a costly catastrophe.

Identifying Hail Damage

Not all hail damage is readily apparent. Sometimes hail damage can be sneaky and cause water damage before you notice any outward damage on your shingles. The first step is to look at the metal flashing or vents on your roof. Hail is more likely to damage the soft metal first before causing your shingles to fail. Sometimes you will see small dents or holes in your shingles. That hail damage can cause water to seep under the shingle, leading to expensive repair if not caught right away. Ifa you notice any of the above, call a professional roofer.

How to Repair Hail Damage

Natural gas and coal have long owned the domain of the largest national energy suppliers, yet that may soon be changing.

Solar has already gained ground in states like California where, as of March of this year an amazing 60 percent of the state?s total energy came from solar ? a number that broke records ? and in unexpected places like Germany, which now powers a train entirely from solar energy.

Yet in another unexpected place, solar hit a new milestone. Now, according to the National Grid, almost 25 percent of all electricity used in Great Britain comes from solar power ? an amazing 8.7 gigawatts. Paul Barwell, chief executive officer of the Solar Trade Association concludes, ?This is a colossal achievement ? and sends a very positive message to the U.K. that solar has a strong place in the decarbonization of the U.K. energy sector,?

Not just does is this a record number for solar in the U.K., but also the first time solar panels generated more electricity than nuclear plants.

And perhaps we shouldn?t be surprised. Solar energy has experienced consistent growth fueled not just by innovation like Tesla?s new solar roof, but also a steady decrease in the cost of solar panels, making it no longer out of market reach. Further, in the U.S., more people were employed in generating electricity from solar last year than from coal, oil, and gas combined, accounting for a number larger than the total number of Americans employed by Google, Facebook, and Apple combined.

As long as the sun keep shining, it seems, solar energy will keep growing.

Metal Roofing and Hot Climates

Residential metal roofing enjoys especially strong popularity in warm climates. This is because high temperatures and intense sun are especially damaging to roofing materials, prompting homeowners to seek out more durable, lasting, and energy efficient options. Let?s take a look at why metal roofing is popular in hot climates, as well as special considerations to keep in mind when thinking about a metal roof in a hot climate.

Durability. The roof is not a pretty place to be. In all climates, it is subject to severe winds and punishing rains. But in hot climates, it also has to endure extreme heat and great amounts of sunlight. Heat and sun cause most roofing materials to break down rapidly. They dry out, crack, curl, and disintegrate. As this happens, their lives are shortened and they become more susceptible to leaks and wind damage. But metal doesn?t do that. It is virtually impervious to heat and sun.

The special consideration in regards to this is color retention. Many older paint technologies perform well but the sun is their enemy. It brings about fading and chalking also occurs. Homeowners today, though, who are seeking a painted metal roof can find products which have PVDF coatings. These high quality coatings, known as Kynar 500« and Hylar 5000« PVDF resin-based finishes, are highly fade and chalk resistant and out-perform other paint systems. Their durability comes from the PVDF resin which, based upon the mineral fluorite, creates a very tight molecular structure to hold the pigment in place, not allowing it to chalk. Additionally, these coatings use only inorganic pigments for their color ? pigments known for being highly fade resistant.

Fire Safety. As many roofing materials dry out in the hot sun, they lose their fire resistance and can pose a great fire risk to homes and their contents. This is not the case with metal. Metal roofs create a lasting barrier against airborne sparks, providing ultimate home protection.

The special consideration is that metal roofs are also very low weight. This means that, in comparison to other roofing materials (often 3 ? 10 times the weight of metal), a metal roof has poses a much lower risk of cave-in should a fire start inside of a home. This allows firefighters to fight the fire from inside the home rather than just control it from the outside.

Wind Resistance. Many areas prone to high temperatures are also prone to high winds. Most traditional roofing materials depend upon gravity or age-prone sealants to keep them from blowing up in high winds. Quality metal roofs, on the other hand, depend upon seams, crimps, and interlocks between the panels, helping them hold tight in even the strongest winds.

The special consideration for Wind Resistance is that, as they age, most roofing materials are more prone to wind damage. That is not the case with metal. It continues to stay intact and tight even as it ages.

Energy Efficiency. Attics in hot climates get horribly hot. That heat transfers down into the home, dramatically increasing air conditioning costs and also making living spaces uncomfortable. Metal roofing offers three primary ways in which it keeps homes cooler and reduces air conditioning costs often by 20% or more. First, light colored metal roofs or metal roofs with special pigments in dark colors reflect radiant heat. Second, metal roofs lose any gained heat very quickly to the sky when the sun sets or goes behind a cloud or even when a slight breeze blows. Other roofing materials capture and retain the sun?s heat. Third, many metal roofs ? especially the shingle, shake and tile look ones ? have an integral airspace between the metal and the roof deck. This airspace acts as a thermal break, stopping conductive heat transfer.

The special consideration for Energy Efficiency is ventilation. Almost any roof and attic assembly can be made more efficient with good intake and exhaust ventilation. Metal roofs are easily vented and re-roofing is an ideal time to increase attic ventilation.

Algae. Many homes in hot climates also have humid climates. Many roofing materials quickly get ugly black streaks in humid areas. This is a form of algae that grows in roofs. Metal roofs are known for being resistant to this sort of streaking and staining, keeping their good looks far longer than other products do. Metal roofs have an aesthetic life that lasts as long as their functional life. Other roofing materials look aged and like they need to be replaced before they actually do need to be replaced.

A special consideration is posed by trees. Trees overhanging or around any roof can drop debris as well as sap. That debris and sap can stick to a metal roof the same as to any roof. The benefit with metal those is that these things do not shorten the life of the roof.

Value. At the end of the day, when you look at the durability, energy efficiency, fire safety, and other benefits of metal roofing, metal is a great choice for any climate and especially for hot climates where other roofing materials fail quickly.

The special consideration to Value is that metal roofing is a higher investment. It is over time that metal roofing really shows its cost per year benefit over other products. Because roofing prices historically double about every ten years, metal is ideal for homeowners who intend to stay in the same home through at least one re-roofing cycle. While nationally the average lifespan of a standard shingle roof is about 17 years, we see them being replaced in as few as 5 to 7 years in hot climates. While all of your neighbors will be periodically paying to replace their roofs, the owners of metal roofs will be able to spend their hard-earned dollars elsewhere!

Kynar 500« is a registered trademark belonging to Arkema Inc.
Hylar 5000« is a registered trademark belonging to Solvay

Compile as Much Information as Possible When Registering the Project

When starting a job, the FiberTite roofing contractor should register it on the FiberTite website to initiate the installation planning process. The website acts as a repository for important details and information regarding a specific roofing job. Type of roofing membrane being installed,atype of products used, if there was any re-roofing or reconstruction done and what substrate type used are some of the initial pieces of information that should be gathered. Then, the information outlining the types of warranties offered for the various membrane and project types should be reviewed with the client. Generally, the square footage of the roofing project will help decide what type of warranty will fit the desired project. The type of roofing membrane combined with the type of warranty will determine what the overall cost of installation will be. After submitting the registration, FiberTite reviews the PreInstallation Notice (PIN) and responds to the contractor with a request for more information or approval.

Follow Up and Provide Reassurance

After a contractor submits a registration, follow up is crucial. I often follow up with the building owners I work with and invite them to experience a FiberTite roofing installation project that?s currently underway. Allowing the building owner to witness the FiberTite installation process firsthand at the job site builds a sense of trust between FiberTite and the client.

Installation

It is important that all current installation instructions furnished by FiberTite are followed, using proper equipment and techniques. Installation tipsaare available to help installation go smoothly.

Extra Quality Assurance

After a roofing membrane is installed, FiberTite sends out a quality assurance inspector. The inspector is responsible for grading a roofing project. Depending on the grade received, there may or may not be additional repairs or changes needed before a warranty is granted.

Quality Warranties

It is important that the building owner takes time to read the warranty and understand it. The true cost of a roof can often be seen in the real value offered by the warranty. Downtime, damage and hassle from a roof failure can cost thousands, proving that performance is more important than the number of years a warranty covers. Points to consider when selecting a roofing membrane and reviewing the warranty.

The Proof Is in the Final Product

I?ve been walking on FiberTite roofs since 1987, and I stand by the trusted process that continues to provide durable roofing membrane installations. Having a foundational understanding of the FiberTite membrane installation process can provide you the reassurance you need before embarking on your next roofing membrane installation.

What do you think is important for a successful roofing membrane installation? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

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