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Maintaining Your Commercial TPO Roofing System

Maintaining Your Commercial TPO Roofing System

If you do not know a TPO roof from a gingerbread house, you may be missing out on a great solution to Tampa’s tremendous heat and blazing sun.

Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) is a single-ply, highly reflective membrane. A TPO roof is an increasingly popular choice for commercial roof installations because of its resistance to heat, its resistance to chemical degradation from ultraviolet light (UV), and its easy workability.

A Typical TPO Roof

A TPO roof is made from polyprophylene and ethylene-propylene rubber. These two chemicals are polymerized into a single mixture, together with fillers like talc, carbon or fiberglass. The typical Tampa TPO roof is notable for its durability and water resistance.

According to experts at TPORoofing.org, TPO combines the best property of EPDM roof membranes —  durability — with the fast installation technology of hot-air weldable seams. This leaves the TPO roof with seams three to four times stronger than EPDM. It also lowers installation costs to building owners, since the material can be worked on site with the same water-resistant results expected in a custom single-ply PVC roof.

How is a TPO Roof Installed?

A professional Tampa roofer will install a TPO roof in one of two ways:

  1. A fully adhered system
  2. A mechanically attached system

Either method allows the white, light gray or black membrane to stay exposed throughout the life of the roof.

TPO: The Popular Option

Most TPO roofs capture all the advantages of PVC roofs without the higher costs associated with extremely long-wearing PVC. Since TPO is installed and seamed on site, the custom-fitting and higher costs associated with factory-seamed single PVC membrane roofs are not factors.

Another great advantage of white TPO roofing, especially in Tampa’s hot climate, is its energy efficiency. A white TPO roof will reflect infrared (heat) radiation back into the environment, instead of allowing it to enter your commercial building. It means your HVAC system will not have to work as hard to keep your building cool and comfortable.

Make It Last

To make your TPO roofing last as long as possible, develop a plan with your commercial roofer to include:

  • Annual inspection and repair to prevent leaks
  • Roof preservation to maximize your capital investment
  • Quick emergency service, should a leak develop

For a superior roof for your Tampa business, please consider Aderhold Roofing Corporation, your partner in perfect roofs. Contact us today to learn how TPO roofing can be an advantage to your Tampa business, financially, structurally, and environmentally.

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3 Ways Florida Weather Wears At Your Flat Roof

Effective roof maintenance is key to preventing Florida’s worst weather from affecting your flat roof.

Tampa’s climate combines at least three roof-destroying forces: wind, rain, and sun. Your local commercial roofer can work with you to schedule a program of roof maintenance to counter this one-two-three punch.

One: Wind

Scouring comes from a prevailing wind pattern, blowing small bits of sand and debris across your commercial roof. Without healthy roof maintenance, this persistent pattern will eat away at single-ply membrane, ballasted roofs, or built-up roofing (BUR).

Annual or even semiannual cleaning, as part of a program of roof maintenance, can eliminate some of the material tossed around like sandpaper against your roof. We do not recommend attempting to clean your commercial roof by yourself, or with your maintenance crew. It takes a trained roofing specialist to safely and effectively clean a roof without damaging it.

Extremely high winds, such as the forces felt in hurricanes, can cause serious damage:

  • Winds can open seams
  • High winds can create a pressure differential to make an entire roof lift from its fasteners
  • Winds can drive water under flashings, around HVAC curbs, and into seams
  • Wind can lift up and tear away TPO membrane or large sections of modified bitumen roofing

Two: Rain

Tampa gets 50 inches of rain annually, according to Sperling’s Best Places. That is nearly a foot more than the U.S. average. It does not all fall in hurricanes, either. One way rain can start to deteriorate flat roofs is through ponding. Rooftop insulation becomes compressed, the roof sags, and water collects. Eventually, water will infiltrate, or plants can take root.

The antidote to rain damage is roof maintenance. Have your commercial roofer inspect seams and parapets to confirm no water can infiltrate before a heavy rain occurs. If the rain has already passed, have them inspect the same areas to see if water is ponding or cannot shed from your roof properly.

Three: Sun

Tampa’s near-tropical sunlight hits at a high angle (more directly) for more of the year than much of the rest of the U.S. This means long periods of ultraviolet (UV) exposure and a lot of infrared (heat) radiation soaking into your roof.

Choosing a bright color for your flat roof will cut down on heat absorption; choosing strong, UV-resistant membranes like TPO or PVC will delay UV damage.

Prevent the worst damage weather can cause to your flat roof. Contract with the professionals of Aderhold Roofing for an effective, affordable roof maintenance program to keep up against the onslaught of wind, rain and sun. Contact Aderhold Roofing today to get a site visit from a trained professional.

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Proper Planning Can Prevent Emergency Roof Repair

You no doubt have seen the sign in businesses like copy centers and freight shipping offices: “Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.”

It is a favorite among folks who serve an often-anxious public, but it applies equally well to commercial roofers dealing with those frantic calls from commercial building owners.

Plan to Fail?

Another aphorism (perhaps from Ben Franklin, no less) says if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. This is especially true of your low-slope or “flat” roof, which literally shelters the rest of your entire business. Consider what goes on under that roof:

  • Building supplies that must stay dry to be usable
  • Residential buildings with finicky tenants inside
  • Hospitals and nursing homes with frail residents
  • Businesses catering to customer foot traffic

Without roof preservation, you are risking a roof leak that could shutter your business while repairs are made. No customers. Moving patients, or paying tenants to stay at expensive hotels and motels. Ruined inventory; the list is nearly endless.

Roof Preservation

The logical alternative to disrupting your commercial building’s occupants with emergency roof repair is roof preservation. Plan a regular schedule with your local roofer. Set up inspections, routine repair work, and systematic cleaning.

With roof preservation, you lessen the chances that an unexpected leak will appear to ruin inventory or tenants’ possessions. Roof preservation lengthens the life of your roof, too, with protective coatings.

When you partner with a local, reliable roofer, you get a crew that becomes familiar with your company’s individual low-slope roof. Careful documentation can help crews focus on problem areas like flashing, degraded internal drains, or loose mechanical fasteners.

Tampa Weather

Roof preservation is also your protection against Tampa’s harshest weather. From hurricanes to blistering heat, Tampa’s climate taxes even the best commercial roof. With roof preservation services from Aderhold Roofing, you can be prepared for the next Category 5 or the next heat wave. Roof preservation also makes storm repair work easier, faster to fix, and less expensive.

Aderhold Roofing is ready to help with emergency roof repair, but we also can be your partner for long-term roofing maintenance and roof preservation. Contact us today to see how our extensive program of roof preservation can help you properly plan to avoid roofing emergencies. Our trained crews can monitor and protect your roof year-round and respond to storm damage when needed.

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Vital Elements Connected To Flat Roof Functionality

Any of Tampa’s amazing physical therapists will tell you that your body is a finely tuned, balanced system. When one little part — your lower back, an ankle, or a hamstring — goes out, your whole body gets out of whack. The same is true of your commercial flat roof. It is an integrated system of many interconnected parts, and each part has a role to play in keeping your Tampa business dry, climate-controlled, and safe.

S is for Scuppers

The parapet scuppers (those openings that allow water to drain off your not-quite-flat roof) must be kept clear and free-flowing, so Tampa’s strong storms do not overwhelm your roof.

Scuppers and internal drains allow wastewater to flow quickly off the roof and away from your building’s foundations. This has several positive effects:

  • Foundations stay dry, tight and strong
  • Roof surfaces dry quickly
  • Water has no time to pond

Clean scuppers are key to keeping your commercial building dry and at the ideal humidity.

S is Also for Seams

If your roofing material has seams, you have only two options for keeping them sealed:

  1. Heat — Heat-sealed seams are strong, waterproof, and long-lasting if done correctly; deferred maintenance or poor installation workmanship can spell trouble
  2. Chemicals — Adhesives will hold the seams together only if the correct adhesive, specific for the roofing material, is used

Increased interior humidity and higher energy bills are typical problems rooted in open seams.

B is for Built-Up Roofing

One of the longest-lasting and economical roofing solutions for many Tampa commercial properties is built-up roofing (BUR). Unlike a PVC membrane, BUR is itself an integrated system of layers. Therefore, BUR requires some special care.

Experts at Facilities Net identify several common problems a strong commercial roofer will spot (and solve) quickly:

  • Alligatoring — When the asphalt used in the various layers begins to shrink, alligatoring (crazing) can occur; as these worsen, splits in membrane can cause water leaks
  • Blisters — Trapped moisture beneath the top surface causes blisters; remove the moisture and the blisters can be patched
  • Ridges — Damaged insulation below the BUR layers can separate from those layers, which expand and contract with Tampa’s volatile temperatures

Your local, trusted commercial roofers at Aderhold Roofing are ready to help you. Contact us today to learn more about the elements of your building’s flat roof, and how our highly trained roofing technicians can solve just about any problem you are having.

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How Tampa Roofing Contractors Prep A Roof For Summer

Just as the kids are getting out of school with dreams of carefree days ahead, a conscientious Tampa roofing contractor can use the early days of summer to educate local commercial building owners about the brutal realities of Tampa’s summer rainy season.

Summer Prep

A typical Tampa roofing contractor will inspect your roof with an eye toward the impending heavy weather:

The earlier in the season you can partner with your trusted Tampa roofing contractor, the better your roof will be able to withstand summer’s unpredictable (but usually harsh) weather.

Some trouble signs to watch for:

  • Excessive drying that leads to cracks and crazing in roofing surfaces
  • Corrosion in flashing
  • Depressed insulation that leads to ponding and water infiltration
  • Perennially clogged or troublesome internal drains and parapet scuppers

Some of these issues may be within your facilities crew’s skill set, but many times, a well-intentioned rooftop maintenance visit can lead to bigger problems and the safety of your crew is a number one priority. Contacting a contractor to inspect your roof is a much safer choice.

What Not To Do

Most Tampa roofs are low-slope, which reduces (but does not eliminate) slip and fall hazards. Neither you nor any in-house crew members should attempt summer prep work on it. Instead turn to a reliable, local Tampa roofing contractor to get the steep-slope roof in good condition for the wet season ahead.

What To Do

Instead of risking your facilities crew, turn to a Tampa roofing contractor with all the right equipment, training, and key personnel. A professional contractor will prepare your commercial roof for the rainy season to come, ensuring questionable seams are adequately closed (either chemically or with heat), that all drains are working properly, and that flashing is firmly in place.

Aderhold Roofing is thoroughly familiar with Tampa’s rainy summer season. When you contact us, we can help you with inspections, summer preparatory work, and quick repairs. We can also advise on dealing with Tampa’s summer thunderstorms, the ensuing hurricane season, and more. Your roof will never be better protected than when you trust Aderhold Roofing, your dependable Tampa roofing contractor.

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Miracle Roofs Come From Manageable Maintenance

What Jadev Payeng has done, he did not do in a day. Payeng has single-handedly planted a forest larger than New York City’s Central Park on an island in a river in India. He has been at this task every day since 1979. You visit the island and you see a forest; you do not see the daily work Payeng put into his labor of love. This is equally true with a commercial roof maintenance plan. You may not notice how your company’s “miracle roof” got that way if you never noticed (or knew about) the roof maintenance plan involved.

Miracle, or Roof Maintenance Plan?

Some Tampa commercial roofs look blessed as if neither wind nor rain has ever affected them. Your own commercial building may be the beneficiary of an unknown roof maintenance plan before your company moved in.

You see a smooth, flawless PVC membrane, or a well-ballasted BUR roof, but you may not realize all the crew hours and contractor labor that went into getting it into pristine shape.

Such a roof maintenance plan is the heart of any rooftop “miracle” you may see in surrounding commercial properties.

Keep At It

Just as Payeng kept at his task of transforming an eroding island into a thriving forest, you have to keep at roof maintenance. If your organization is lucky enough to have inherited a well-maintained Tampa roof, keep at it. Capitalize on the work. Try this roof maintenance plan:

  1. Work safely — We understand that preventing problems on your flat roof may entice you or your maintenance crew to climb on the roof or walk around. We do not advise walking on your commercial roof as foot traffic can puncture the protective membrane and commercial roofs are inherently dangerous.
  2. Inspect the deck — Have your commercial roofer help you inspect the roof deck itself, which is often accessible from within the building; structural damage or defects can telegraph to the roof surface, causing water leaks or a degraded roof
  3. Inspect regularly — Experts at Facilities Net remind us that regular inspection is key to proper maintenance, as discoveries from inspection guide the repair and maintenance work

With a call to Aderhold Roofing, or by contacting us, you can establish a clear partner for a roof maintenance plan that can make your company’s roof look like a miracle. Only you and Aderhold will know all the hard work and planning that went into your Tampa roof.

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Keeping Leaks At Bay Through Florida Seasons

A basic principle of physics is thermal expansion. When materials heat up, they gain energy and expand. This is as true of steel as it is of single-ply roofing membranes like PVC. Materials also shrink in cold weather. This constant expansion and contraction can wreak havoc with roofing materials. Although Tampa-area roofs seldom suffer freezing temperatures, Tampa’s four seasons can lead to roof leaks without regular roof maintenance.

Eroding Efficiency

A typical Tampa roof benefits from reflectivity; the near-tropical sun’s direct rays are reflected back from bright, shiny roofing materials. With aging and gradual wear, that reflectivity diminishes, bringing increased cooling costs and more frequent start-up of cooling equipment. Add a roof leak to that and you are now fighting increased humidity inside your building.

Tampa’s four seasons, even with an admittedly mild winter, cause your building’s roof to degrade over time. Conscientious roof maintenance can forestall the time when roof replacement is your only option. With annual inspections and regular maintenance, weak spots, incipient leaks and vulnerable seams can all be monitored. This keeps leaks at bay through the rainy season and through wet winters.

Regular Roof Maintenance

Every commercial roof is different, but for most low-slope roofs, an integrated system from your roof deck up keeps your entire building dry, temperature-controlled, and safe. Insulation, decking, drains, flashing and parapet walls all work together with the roofing material to keep water out and keep climate-controlled air in.

Regular roof maintenance addresses every one of these areas:

  1. Drainage — From internal drains to scuppers, gutters and downspouts
  2. Decking — Inspection from inside your building can identify weaknesses in structural members, corrosion in metal, or cracks in wooden supports
  3. Insulation — Deformations in the surface signal insulation issues beneath
  4. Roof membrane or other roofing material — Whether single-ply, TPO, modified bitumen or another material, your roofing material is your first line of defense against leaks
  5. Flashing — Intersections between unlike materials are safely sealed

Spotting Leaks

Periodic roof maintenance and annual inspection can find leaks faster than waiting for tell-tale signs inside your structure. By inventorying rooftop issues, your commercial roofer can help you decide where best to spend roof repair money to keep leaks out through all four season.

Partner with the professionals of Aderhold Roofing to combat high humidity and damaging roof leaks. Our regular roof maintenance plans can keep your Tampa-area business high and dry from spring through winter. Contact Aderhold Roofing today.

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Preserving Your Commercial Roof Investment

Which costs more, ten years of conscientious roof maintenance or five years of deferred maintenance and a new roof? That should be a no-brainer for most Tampa-area business owners and facilities managers. No commercial roofing material lasts forever, but with the right annual maintenance and roof preservation program, your Tampa-area commercial roof can outlast your competitors’ roofs, giving you a key advantage: expansion capital, rather than overhead costs.

Pricey Process

GLE Associates, a Tampa engineering consultancy, pegs the typical cost of a commercial roof, based on roofing material, as follows:

  • Single-ply — $3 to $5/sq. ft.
  • Built-up Roofing (BUR) — $3.50 to $6.50/sq. ft.
  • Metal roof — $7 to $12/sq. ft.

For a typical Tampa business with a 50-foot by 100-foot facility, the 5,000 square feet of roof translate to these typical costs for a new roof:

  • Single-ply — $15,000 to $25,000
  • Built-up Roofing (BUR) — $17,500 to $32,500
  • Metal roof — $35,000 to $60,000

This is a serious investment for any business. Preserving your commercial roof pays off handsomely, as each additional year of service saves you many thousands of dollars.

What a Roof Maintenance Plan Does

For a very small fraction of roof replacement costs, you can invest in your roof’s longevity through an annual inspection and preservation program. Partner with your trusted commercial roofer to determine your best options:

  • Annual inspection and minor repair
  • Substantial repair followed by quarterly inspection
  • Reroof and roof preservation

Aderhold Roofing, for example, can offer combinations of services best suited to your roof. Every plan must start with an on-site inspection so your roofer can determine the best program to get your roof in its best shape, and then keep it lasting for many years.

Every dollar you invest in preserving your roof helps you buy more time before a huge capital outlay. It also allows you to plan for roof replacement on your schedule, not as an emergency.

Preserve and Protect

Roof preservation generally goes beyond roof maintenance to include waterproof coatings and thorough, down-to-insulation repair. An annual inspection generally is less intensive. Spot roof repair is only responsive as a need arises. Generally, preservation provides your best return on investment (ROI).

With a call to Aderhold Roofing, you can begin the steps needed to lock in value in your commercial roof. Our roof maintenance programs can extend the life of your existing roof while helping you plan for eventual roof replacement. Contact us today to learn more.

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Be Ready Now for 2019 Storms

Here on Florida’s Gulf Coast, it’s virtually impossible for a commercial property to escape wear and damage from stormy weather. Being prepared in advance gives you the best chance to limit the extent of damage to your building’s roof from both minor and major weather events. Here’s what you can do to help preserve your roof and the building it protects from the bad weather that Mother Nature delivers in 2018:

Have Your Roof Evaluated Regularly

Partnering with a well-established Tampa commercial roofing contractor now can help ensure that your roof is in the best possible shape to withstand storms. Your roofer should perform a thorough inspection of the roof at least twice a year, and give you a detailed report on its condition and what’s needed to keep it watertight.

Get Expert Advice About Routine Maintenance

Another valuable service an experienced roofer can provide is guidance on roof maintenance that your staff should handle on a routine basis. Such tasks may include keeping the roof free of potentially-damaging debris, cleaning out the scuppers, drains and downspouts regularly, clearing away standing water on the roof field after a rain to avert damage from ponding, as well as performing a basic rooftop damage assessment and checking the building’s interior for signs of water infiltration after a storm.

Tackle Necessary Repairs Promptly

The inspection reports your roofer provides should list any existing and emerging issues with your roof system that need attention, along with recommendations for preservation measures that can help extend its service life. After every inspection, be sure to follow your roofer’s advice and suggested timeline for completing repairs and taking other actions. Staying current with needed repairs reduces the likelihood of leaks during storms that can result in all sorts of costly damage.

Maintain Trees on Your Property

Trees add to your property’s curb appeal, but if they succumb to high winds during a storm, they can cause considerable damage to your building’s roof. To avoid roof punctures and membrane damage from falling trees, limbs and branches, have an arborist assess the condition of any tall trees sited near the building. Then, get any unhealthy trees removed, and have limbs and branches that overhang the roof pruned back a safe distance. For targeted advice and assistance with preparing your commercial property to better withstand 2018’s upcoming storms, contact us today at Aderhold Roofing, your reliable Tampa commercial roofing pros.

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How Only a Tampa Roofer Can Help After Storm Damage

When a destructive storm hits the gulf coast of Florida, the news typically attracts many out-of-state roofers to our area. Some come here with the best of intentions, while others are hoping to make some easy money, then promptly leave. Regardless of an out-of-town roofer’s ethics, they simply don’t have the local knowledge able required to make effective repairs to commercial roofs in the Tampa area.

Reputable local roofers are extremely busy after a storm, so when you’re approached by an out-of-state roofing outfit, it can be difficult to turn down a tempting promise of quick repairs. You’ll find it easier to resist if you consider the following three reasons why it’s wiser to hire a Tampa commercial roofing professional instead:

Experience With State and Local Building Codes

Both Florida and the local municipalities have put stringent building codes in place due to the severity and frequency of storms in the state. Roofing contractors based in Tampa work with these codes on a daily basis, so they understand how to meet all the requirements from proper permitting and making compliant repairs to passing the necessary inspections. One such code requirement that an out-of-state roofer may not be aware of the need for installing tapered insulation to improve the slope and drainage on a flat commercial roof and reduce the likelihood of ponding water.

Wind Mitigation Knowledge for Insurance Purposes

Depending on the design of your commercial roof system, you might decide that the need for making storm-related repairs is an opportune time to implement wind mitigation improvements to lessen the risk of damage from future storms. A local roofing contractor understands the wind mitigation inspection process and requirements, and how to complete repairs and improvements that can pass a follow-up inspection so you can lower your property insurance premiums.

Florida Licensing and Insurance

When you hire a locally-based commercial roofer to make storm repairs on your building, you have immediate peace of mind that they’ve met Florida’s strict licensing requirements. Here in Tampa, commercial roofers must pass a state certification exam, meet requirements for education and experience, submit a credit report to verify financial stability, and undergo a background check that includes fingerprinting. They also have to provide proof of insurance for public liability, property damage and workers’ compensation coverage.

If you need the services of a dependable, knowledgeable Tampa commercial roofing professional for storm repairs, contact us at Aderhold Roofing.