All homeowners and roofing companies know how important roofs are; a good roofing system protects families from the elements and keeps you dry and warm. But today the question isn?t what your roof can do for you; it?s what you can do for your roof! That?s right, it?s time to give back to your roof and make sure it is running as smoothly as possible. Soffit vents are the way to achieve this.

Are soffit vents right for your home?

Experienced roofing contractors know that soffit vents can help optimize your roof in many ways. First and foremost, they aid in evening out the ventilation in your roof and provide a steady flow of air to your attic that will extend your roof?s shelf life. An increase in air flow will also prevent ice dams from forming, as well at attic condensation in cooler months. In warmer months, soffit vents will allow fresh, cool air into the attic, while your roof vents blow out the hot air. They will help keep your home cooler, thus, saving you money on air conditioning costs. As you can see, there are many benefits of soffit vents for your roof.

How many soffit vents do I need?

If the bountiful benefits of soffit vents seem appealing to you, it?s time to figure out how many you will actually need for your home. To determine this, you will want to check the building code for your city, and see if there are any rules or regulations for soffit vents for residential roofing. You can also call roofing companies in Columbus Ohio and ask if they can tell you how many soffit vents are needed for your home. Some companies might even send their roofers to your home for a free evaluation.

What types of soffit vents should I have?

There are several types of soffit vents in which you can choose from for your roofing system. Most roofing companies in Columbus Ohio will be able to help you decide which will work best for your home. For instance, you can have continuous soffit vents?which as their name suggests, run the whole length of your soffit. You can also have circular soffit vents, or you can opt for perforated vents, which are especially made for vinyl siding.

Installation time

The installation process for soffit vents is actually not as complicated as one might think. If you want to make it a DIY project, it will probably take you two to four hours to complete. You will just need to cut holes in the soffit and screw the vent over the hole, making sure the soffit vents are installed right under the eave. Be sure to have gloves and a mask/goggles handy, for protection. If you aren?t the weekend warrior type, don?t hesitate to call a few roofing companies in Columbus Ohio to receive estimates.

After reading this article, you are ?so fit? to pick out the perfect soffit vents to optimize your roofing system.

Start with Able Roofing!

Food processing and data center industries provide a huge demand for durable and reliable roofing systems. These industries face extensive threats when it comes to building maintenance, sanitation and safety?many of which can be prevented with the right roofing system and installment.aIn part two of this blog series, we discuss the Three Biggest Concerns for Food Processing Facilities When it Comes to Roofing. Today, we're talking about data centers and the importance of the right roof structure.aWith more than 35+ years of experience, FiberTite has proven that performance speaks for itself and has a reputation to back it up.

From Big Data to Small Ingredients:

Why Roofing is Relevant

1. Temperature and Humidity Sensitivity

Due to data center equipment?s high temperature and humidity sensitivity, it is important that the facilities invest in a roof that protects from moisture build up and harsh UV rays. Maintaining the temperature and humidity within these facilities can be difficult and costly.

Many data centers are seeking redundancy when it comes to their roofing specifications. FiberTite?s Hybrid Multi-Ply roofing systems utilize the FiberTite membrane as the cap sheet along with FiberTite SBS Modified Bitumen base sheets. This hybrid membrane provides superior protection from severe environmental conditions and penetration resistance.

2. Water Damage Prevention

From light rain to severe winter weather, roofing systems must be able to endure any adverse conditions?especially when they are covering hundreds to thousands of computer servers and other expensive technologies. Data centers in particular, require a roof system that prevents standing pools of water that ultimately cause water damage.

Pooling and standing water can be detrimental to a roof?s durability and longevity, but with FiberTite?s uniquely designed, high-fiber membranes, water damage is preventable and protected. FiberTite?s membranes are equipped with the industry?s heaviest base fabric layer that ensures superior puncture and tear resistance to prevent water damage.

3. Protecting the Equipment

Data centers house millions of dollars? worth of servers, high-tech processors and cooling equipment. This machinery requires a considerable amount of upkeep and maintenance to make sure they are meeting efficiency standards and functioning properly. The average cost of data center downtime is nearly $9,000 per minute, which makes protecting this collateral imperative.

In order to protect these facilities? equipment, many data centers rely on a multi-ply roofing system to ensure optimal strength and stability. FiberTite is the only four layer, monolithic membrane in the industry that includes an extra step adhesive, a high performance back coat and a face coat with a KEE Elvaloy membrane. Compared to traditional multi-layer laminated membranes, FiberTite?s unique combination of components provide the optimal formula for a long-lasting roof.

Do you have experience with industries that require quality roofing to ensure proper building maintenance, sanitation and safety? Tell us about it in the comments!

This blog post was written by a Seaman Corporation intern, Dalton Ulm. Dalton is a Public Relations and Strategic Communications major at Miami University. Learn more about Dalton and his work.a

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Hail can cause serious damage to roofs and homes. At times, homeowners cannot visibly see the damage, which can lead to long-term problems. Undiagnosed hail and water damage can end up shortening the life of your roof and costing thousands of dollars in repairs. If a large hail storm has hit your home, call a professional to take a look.

What Does Hail Damage Look Like?

Most homeowners believe hail damage simply means a dented roof, but it?s often more than that. Much of the damage from hail cannot be seen from the ground, which is why it?s important to bring a professional to your home. If you have an older roof, you may already have unseen damage. Water damage and damage to underlying layers could be affecting your home?s structure.

Missing Granules

Damage also includes bald spots and missing granules from shingles. Although this damage is not visible from the ground, homeowners may see excess granules on the ground or gutters. The granules on a roof provide a good deal of protection. When the granules start to fall off and wear out. Your home could become vulnerable to all kinds of damages.a As bald spots appear on shingles, the sun?s UV rays cause brittleness and cracking. The cracking will expose the roof?s underlayers to water damage. Left unfixed, the water will eventually leak into the rafters and attic.

Circular Cracks

Strong hail storms can sometimes leave behind circular cracks, with or without dents. The cracks can be whole circles or moon-shaped. The problem arises when the cracks allow for water to seep into your roof. This problem can only be diagnosed from the roof and cannot typically be seen from the ground.

Missing or Broken Shingles

Hail or wind storms can cause shingles to lose adhesiveness and fall off. When hail repeatedly hits the same shingle, it can easily knock it loose. When shingles are missing on a roof, the lower layers are more likely to be damaged, allowing water to seep into the roof.

Soft Spots

Hail can also result in soft spots, especially on older roofs. The spots will be damp and soft, often holding the shape of the hail collision. Older roofs are more prone to soft spots, as the shingles have already been worn down and are more susceptible to damage.

Fixing Hail Damage to a Roof

The extent of repairs needed on a damaged roof will depend on the roof?s material, age, and how hard it was hit. Sometimes, older roofs with hail damage will need to be completely replaced to guarantee the integrity of the structure. Other times, a repair will be enough to extend the life of the roof.

Able Roofing, Serving Ohio with Integrity

As highlighted in Part 1 of our 8 Essential Questions to Ask During a Roof Inspection, there are many situations that can harm your valuable roofing system. By uncovering these failures prior to an entire system failure, you will be able to make the appropriate repairs and maintain the integrity of your roofing system. Outline below are the last 4 questions you need to ask in order to get the most value out of your roof inspection.a

5. Am I covered in regards to penetrations?

There are two categories of penetrations that you need to ask about depending on your specific roof; curb and round/square penetrations. First, looking at a curbed roof, it is important to ask your inspector whether or not the field sheet is terminated. If the edges weren't properly sealed, your roof is susceptible to damage. You also need to make sure the flashings were adhered and that the welding of the corners was done properly.a

For round/square roofs, you also need to ask if the field sheets were terminated. Flashing, however needs to be adhered to a field wrap. You also need to ask whether or not the pre-molded pipe flashing was installed correctly. If not, it can lead to damage of your pipes. Checking to see if the pipe is dirty is also an important aspect of your inspection.a

6. Are my pitch pans still in top shape to perform the way I need?

Pitch pans are typical sources for leaks that could damage the integrity of your roofing structure if not properly installed. Ask your inspector about the material your pitch pans are made out of - they should be clad metal. Prior to filling the pan with sealer, the contractor should have cut the insulation off of the pipe. Have your inspector double check if that work was done, and if not, you should think about having it repaired. The last thing to check for is whether or not the filler was topped off. If it wasn?t filled when the installation was completed, going back in and doing so now can help prevent further damage or leakages.a

7. Do I need to update my drains?a

Drains can make or break a roofing system. Pools of water on your roof can create long-term problems that are costly to repair. To ensure that your valuable roof maintains its integrity, ask your inspector if the correct target sheets were used and if they were then terminated properly. Without the proper termination, your roof can succumb to damage caused by the elements, dirt, and dust. Your field sheets should also be overlapping properly, past the fasteners.a

If your roof uses clamping rings, it is important that the correct sealant is used. This will protect the joint from moisture and other weather damage. The clamping ring should also be fitted tightly. A loose clamping ring will not be able to perform at the intended level and thus result in damage for your roofing structure.a

8. Were test cuts performed to verify the weld at the seam?a

Ultimately, all of your seams need to be tested as they are a vital part of your roofing structure. A good test cut will help you sleep better at night - knowing that the job has been done properly. Ask your inspector whether these test cuts were ever performed and if they were, whether or not repairs were made.a

Once you?ve asked your inspector these 8 essential questions, you will be fully armed with the information needed to properly maintain your roofing structure. If you need a reminder of what the first 4 questions are, please visit part one of our blog series here. Are there any other questions you ask during a roofing inspection that are vital to maintaining the integrity of your roofing structure? Share them in the comments!

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The majority of roofing slate in theaUnited States is quarried in the Northeast region. aIn Canada, the Glendyne quarry is the largest producing slate quarry.a In this post we will recap recent visits to various quarries in places such as Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Quebec, Canada.

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Pennsylvania Slate

First, I began with the PA slate quarries of Penn Big Bed found in Slatington and Pen Argyl. aPA quarries were producing over half a million square back in the early 1900?s and there were over 100 beds being worked on. aThis number has shrunk to 2 to my understanding. aJoe Jenkins book the Slate Roof Bible is also an excellent resource for information on slate from various areas.

The quarries are only about an hour and a half north of Philadelphia so it was not longaof a drive. I arrived at Penn Big Bed and was shown around the facility and explained that the slate from this region is softer than most Vermont slate and easier to work with. PA slate can be used for blackboards, crafts, flooring tile, roofing material, turkey calls, as well as many other uses. This winter was horrific for the PA quarries and they were shut down from January until June. Below are some pictures of the quarry frozen over.

Ice filled slate quarry

100+ft of ice

This has left the producers in an unfavorable position because they were unable to supply customers throughout that period of time and now have a backlog of orders. Being unable to fill orders disrupts cash flow and production. Even though there is still demand for PA slate, it is difficult to quarry enough slate for supply. Quarrying slate in Pennsylvania has seen better days.

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VermontaSlate

Taken at a slate quarry in Vermont that produces both black and green slate

This picture is taken of a Vermont quarry that has been worked on for over 20 years. aIt produces both black and green slate in different areas of the quarry. aA Vermont quarry canatypically produce a couple hundredasquare of roofing slate a week. aThis is minuscule compared to a Spanish quarry which can produce over a thousand square a day. aThis wide margin is because roofing slate is much more prevalent in Europe and there are many more employees working a quarry. aThe process usedato mill itais also much more automated than here in the US which adds to production.

There are still many quarries found throughout ?Slate Valley? which primary is found in the cities of Granville, NY, West Pawlet, VT, and then north to Fair Haven, VT. The area is very well known for slate because of the high quality of material as well as the variety of colors produced. Quarries in this area are once again confounded with the issue of production in that it?s difficult to keep up with it. For instance, if a big government building a needs a thousand square of roofing slate, this could take the quarry weeks to produce and orders are still coming in.

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Glendyne Quarry ? Quebec, Canada

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Glendyne Quarry is the largest operating slate quarry in North America.a It is located in Saint-Marc-du-Lac-Long, Quebec, Canada.a Glendyne has an exclusive distribution agreement with North Country Slate for the North American market.a Internationally, Glendyne sells into a number of countries including, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, Luxembourg etc.a aTheir slate is an S-1 grade (>75 yr durability) stone with a dark grey and hint of blue finish, free from pyrite and any other metallic intrusion.

Quarry producing roofing slate

Glendyne routinely takes core samples to insure the highest qualities. This is a core sample shed with hundreds of cores

A skid of 7mm thick slate to be exported to the UK

A field of inventory skidded up and ready to ship

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Glendyne is striving to continually reduce its waste in the quarry.a They currently operate at approximately 90% waste (many quarries operate at 95%) and they are projecting this number to decrease to 0% waste by year 2020. aThis is done by finding alternative uses for the stone and by better methods of extracting.a This seems like quite a lofty goal, but Glendyne is working very hard to achieve a more sustainable, eco-friendly quarry.a Inside the mill, the selection process and cutting techniques are very similar to those used in the Spanish quarries.

The hand splitting process is incredibly simple and leaves a very smooth surface thin slate

Not all slate is split for roofing. These blocks may be used and walkways/steps

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