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Another one of the many environmentally conscious efforts in the commercial, industrial, and institutional roofing industry is using materials made from recycled content and/or may be recyclable in the future when replaced.  Our previous installment on environmental advances in roofing systems was the TPO roofing system.  We continue our series of eco-friendly roofing systems by discussing the metal roof.  Since we want to be your #1 choice for a roofing contractor, it is another of the many systems we offer to our clients in Philadelphia, Bucks County, Montgomery County, the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas.

With the ever-expanding focus on protecting the environment, metal roofing options have grown by leaps and bounds within the roofing community. Metal roofing systems have a number of positives associated with them. Though the initial costs of such a roof are often higher than some other options, the long-term investment potential cannot be overlooked. Already, roofing systems made of steel offer one of the lowest life-cycle costs of any roofing material. In addition to being very long lasting, they can provide substantial energy savings for buildings, and they increase a structure’s resale value. In addition to energy savings of as much 40% (or more, depending upon your location), it can also reduce a building owner’s insurance premiums.

Unlike their metal counterparts, non-metal roofing systems may begin deteriorating just as soon as they are installed and become exposed to the elements. Wind, ultraviolent rays from the sun, winds, dramatic changes in temperatures - all have a higher impact on non-metal roofs versus metal roofs. It worst-case scenarios, the impact of the elements can dramatically decrease the service life of these systems. Depending upon the system chosen, the typical life-span of the non-metal roof is somewhere in the neighborhood of 15- and 20-years. Conversely, a metal roof can last as much as 3 times that long, depending on style, quality, and workmanship. Aesthetically, metal roofs come in a an expanding variety of designs, colors, and styles. Ask us about the options available to you.

Available metal roof materials include aluminum, steel, and copper… with the most common types being the steel and aluminum. All are available in a myriad of thicknesses but are most commonly 24-gauge steel and 1/32″ aluminum. Each type is incredibly durable and surprisingly easy to work with. This makes them a fantastic choice for both V.A. Morelli Construction, Inc. and our clients!

According to the American Iron and Steel Institute:

Steel roofing systems are also more environmentally efficient than other alternatives. Industry-wide, the overall recycling rate for steel is 68 percent – higher than paper, plastic and glass. And while most other materials are degraded in the recycling process, steel can be recycled over and over again without ever losing quality. Steel roofing systems in particular are 100 percent recyclable, and many manufacturers use as much as 50 percent recycled materials in fabricating their product.

Additional benefits associated with metal roofing systems:

• They don’t warp, crack, rot, curl, split, break, burn, or blow off.
• Most resistant to adverse conditions like hail, wind, freezing/thawing, high-temps.
• Available in wide variety of styles, patterns, designs, and colors.  It looks incredible!
• Lightweight - most styles are less than one-third the weight of asphalt systems.
• Energy efficient - can lower your utilities costs and increase employee comfort.
• Low maintenance.
• Long lasting and durable.
• Long warranty, some as long as 50-years!
• May reduce the cost of your building insurance and may increase the re-sale value of the structure.

Please give us a call and see if a metal roofing system will work for your organization.

Did you know?   You do now!  The economic stimulus package offers federal tax deductions for commercial buildings.  Yes, your Philadelphia commercial roofing contractor can even offer the occasional tax tip.

A tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot is available to owners or designers of new or existing commercial buildings that save at least 50% of the heating and cooling energy of a building that meets ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2001. Partial deductions of up to $.60 per square foot can be taken for measures affecting any one of three building systems: the building envelope, lighting, or heating and cooling systems. The systems must be or have been placed in service from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2013 to qualify for the federal tax breaks. On October 3, 2008, President Bush signed into law a five-year extension of the deduction through December 31, 2013.   The extension was included in HR 1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 which passed the Senate on October 1 by a vote of 74-25 and by the House on October 3 by a vote of  263-171.

A full deduction of up to $1.80/sf is available if it can be certified that the combined energy and power costs will be reduced by at least 50 percent. A partial deduction of up to $0.60/sf can be taken for those projects achieving energy improvements that don’t reach the 50% threshold for the full deduction. To qualify, the particular system must be certified to reduce total building energy and power costs by at least 16.67 percent. The deduction is prorated by the amount of reduction between $0.60 and $1.80/sf.

What about Pennsylvania state tax benefits?

In addition to potential tax benefits for building new or upgrading existing building which exist in our state, the commonwealth’s new, $25 million High Performance Building program will provide grants and loans to families and businesses constructing or renovating buildings that meet standards that measure a building’s overall sustainability. The program’s guidelines were approved just this week by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, a great incentive for commercial roofing projects in the Philadelphia area.

Funds are available to anyone building or renovating a primary residence and to businesses with 100 or fewer full-time employees.

Loans of up to $2 million are available for small businesses; the maximum loan for an individual residential project is $100,000. Grants are not to exceed $500,000, or 10 percent, of total eligible costs, whichever is less. Applicants may apply for a grant or a loan, but not both.

The CFA also may provide loan guarantees not to exceed $2 million for a business and $100,000 for an individual.

Applicants may use the funds to acquire the land, buildings, rights-of-way and easements that are necessary to build an eligible project; to clear and prepare land; for planning, designing, modeling or consulting services; to register and certify the project with the U.S. Green Building Council; or for construction and renovation.

Costs incurred prior to the approval of a project are ineligible.

After our article discussing Green Roofing Systems, we bring you another in our ongoing series of environmentally-friendly roofing options in the Philadelphia area. The TPO White Roofing System.

When your roof begins to fail, the typical response will be to manage what starts off as a small leak.  One small leak turns into several leaks.  The unseen damage can begin to take an even bigger toll.  The roof decking has been compromised.  Mold may start to develop.  Steel decking will begin to rust and weaken.  Tiny holes become larger holes and then bigger holes still.  It’s not long before you are spending many labor hours trying to manage leak sources and protecting the internal parts of your business critical to efficient operation: file systems, server and IT rooms, computers, desks and furniture, carpeting, ceiling tiles - the list of risks is endless.

It’s time to replace your 10-year old, 20-year old, 25-year old (or more) roofing system.  Aside from being outdated technology - it’s failing and putting your operation at risk.  Today’s technology is state-of-the-art, using advanced materials and coatings.  These technological advances have several major advantages over the traditional roofing materials that likely comprise your current roofing system.  Better still - it can provide a significant return on your investment.

Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofing membranes have been available for more than 10-years and have become one of the most popular single-ply membranes for commercial roofing applications. Additionally, reflective white TPO has the potential to provide a significant return on a building owner’s investment by aiding in the sometimes significant reduction in energy costs.

Life-cycle costing is a mix of the following four criteria, where average cost of each component is factored in and projected over a 10-year period or over the period equal to the anticipated length of the roofing warranty:

• Actual installation costs.
• Actual energy costs (i.e. yearly air-conditioning costs).
• On-going maintenance costs.
• Leak and repair costs.

Installation costs are only a small portion of the bigger picture when it comes to evaluating potential roofing systems. Too often, clients focus on the membrane or material square-foot price rather than the installed cost of the roofing system. Truth be told, less expensive roofing materials require significantly more labor to install than the more expensive ones. Also important to consider is that a low initial cost could turn into a high priced re-roof or tear-off much sooner in the future than anticipated. To get a true understanding of the cost, building owners need to take the installed cost and not simply the material price into consideration.

One often overlooked but very important component in the life-cycle equation is the color of the roofing surface. A white or light-colored roof (called reflective roofing systems) which reflects the sun’s energy play an important role in reducing the building’s long-term energy (heating and air-conditioning) costs.  Traditional black roof systems convert the sun’s light energy into heat that saps a building’s air-conditioning efficiency and effectiveness.  The roof’s surface approaches 200 degrees Fahrenheit!  Understand that this unwanted heat will be transferred into the building, creating a greater strain on air-conditioning. This, in turn, means higher energy requirements and additional costs for the building’s owner.

The facts and figures support the predicted cost savings.  Factored over a 10-year period, a white roofing system in hot, southern states can save an estimated $250,000+ in energy costs alone when compared to a black-surfaced roof. The same model shows a savings of over $35,000 in colder climates (such as the Philadelphia area)  from a white-surfaced roof vs. a black. The computer model, funded by a manufacturer of white roofing systems, compares white and black roofing systems for a 100,000-square-foot, air-conditioned building. As this data indicates, energy savings decline the further north a building is located, but savings are still significant enough to warrant the evaluation of energy-efficient roof materials even in the northern states.  We’re doing more and more of these white-roofing systems every year. Since light-colored roofing is energy efficient, it allows designers of new buildings to consider other cost-saving advantages such as smaller air-conditioners, or eliminate air-conditioning altogether!

Depending on the roofing system selected, on-going maintenance can be an expensive annual budget item for building owners who choose the incorrect roofing system.  Typical maintenance for a TPO roofing system is fairly minimal and really only involves making sure that roof drains remain free and clear so that the roof can shed water efficiently. It is recommended to check drains at least twice each year, usually in the early spring and in the late fall, and after any major storms. In addition, as with any type of roof system, annual roof inspections are recommended.

If a TPO roof becomes damaged, repairs are relatively easy to make since the membrane remains thermoplastic and heat-weldable throughout its life. Repair costs can be incurred any time during the roof’s life where the damage is not covered by the roofing warranty. This includes damage to the roof caused by maintenance personnel. Depending on the type of roof, costs can include removing wet materials, repairing the deck, replacing wet insulation, and even tearing off the old roofing system.

The decision on which roofing system to choose should take into account all factors, not just the dollar figure. These should, as appropriate, the immediate cost, the current roofing system on the building, the building design, and the experience and recommendations of our experts. The way to make the best decision is to take into account all the installation and maintenance costs and don’t forget to factor in the potential energy savings of each option. This is the best way to make an informed decision and get a clear picture of the true cost of a roofing system. Armed with the appropriate information, your decision will make the best sense in the long run for your organization’s future.

Next in our series: Metal Roofing Systems…

Foremost on everyone’s mind nowadays are ways to reduce our “carbon footprint.”  We see terms thrown about such as: eco-friendly, environmentally friendly, and “green” systems in every conceivable industry.  The same holds true in the roofing industry, be the project commercial, industrial, institutional, and even residential roofing.

There are several ways to go about installing roofing systems that are environmentally friendly in the Philadelphia area.  Today’s focus will be on truly green roofing systems which focus on installations that include plantings and soil systems as part of the overall project.

There are as many different approaches to such systems as there are businesses, states, counties, and communities.  What works best will depend on your locale.  The types of plant varieties chosen will direct how we install the necessary depth of the soil system required to sustain it.  It guides the design of the overall project.  The roof deck’s structural capacity must be the first consideration and the National Roofing Contractors Association divides green roofing systems into three distinct categories:

1. Extensive (or Shallow): A green roofing system with an engineered soil-based growth medium approximately 2- to 6-inches deep.
2. Semi-Intensive (or Moderate Depth): A green roofing system with an engineered soil-based growth medium approximately 6- to 10-inches deep.
3. Intensive (or Deep): A green roofing system with an engineered soil-based growth medium more than 10-inches deep.

A green roofing system is a combination of waterproofing and roofing concepts.  As the roof will have moisture present within the system, both must be taken into account.  Waterproofing the membrane will be appropriate and necessary in these circumstances.  We have the ability to consider the following design and installation options (among others):

• APP and SBS polymer-modified bitumen sheet membranes.
• EPDM membranes.
• PVC membranes.
• Hot-fluid-applied polymer modified asphalt membranes.
• One- and two-component fluid-applied elastomeric membranes.

The one chosen will depend on the structure and desired effect that the client wishes to see, and we can conference with you every step of the way.  When a project like this is completed, aside from the aesthetic beauty of the green roofing system (see pictures below), the following performance and environmental improvements are possible:

• Increased thermal efficiency (and lower utility costs).
• Noise reduction.
• Extended roofing system service life.
• Improved storm water management.
• Increased efficiency of photovoltaic panels.

With society focusing now more than ever on environmentally-friendly concepts, we anticipate our clients and our business to increase in these types of initiatives.  Our company strives to be kind to the environment.  We have available to our clients just such roofing systems to achieve that goal.  Please contact us today to find out if one our eco-friendly roofing systems will meet your requirements.

Clients such as hotel chains, hospitals, landscaping businesses, among others are interested in these types of green roofing systems.  Maybe you should be, too.

Stay tuned for our next segment on environmentally-friendly roofing systems for commercial, industrial, and institutional applications in Bucks, Montgomery, Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas: The TPO White Roofing System.  In the meantime, take a look at some of these vegetative roofs:

Photos courtesy of:

• 416style
• Pnwra
• Thingermejig
• Adamsofen