Read more about this new roofing technology at MIT Technology Review online

Electrical engineering Professor Shanhui Fan (center) led the novel building cooling research with and graduate students Aaswath Raman (left) and Eden Rephaeli (right). Credit: Stanford.

Source: http://www2.smartbrief.com/servlet/encodeServlet?issueid=E828CBA6-42F0-44BB-881A-1E85B42D1008&sid=379bbe2d-b386-49fc-b96a-ea7cb86fe44d

Located slightly northeast of Denver, Brighton enjoys all of the usual Colorado elements: wind, sun, hail, snow, all of which can cause a great deal of damage to roofs. But from small businesses to large companies, Brighton business owners know that A & H Roofing provides the best commercial roofing services in Brighton.

http://www.startribune.com/local/yourvoices/204647481.html

According to State Farm insurance company, who along with policyholders spent $3.9 million in 2012 related to wind and hail damage, the top 10 states who had the most wind and hail damage in 2012 are:

1. Texas: $47,000
2. Illinois: $41,000
3. New York: $34,000
4. Ohio: $31,000
5. Missouri: $25,000
6. Tennessee: $24,000
7. Indiana: $23,000
8. New Jersey: $23,000
9. Kentucky: $22,000
10. Colorado: $16,000

A & H Roofing is experienced with working with many different insurance companies and homeowners to handle repairs caused by wind and hail damage. Give us a call today at 303.659.8088.

By answering a few brief questions, you take the first step to getting the best service for all your roofing needs.

We would also love to answer any questions you have by phone:

303.659.8088

GET AN ESTIMATE

Denver demands a lot from its roofs. The elements here in Colorado are extreme – high winds, lots of snow, pounding sunshine.

A & H Roofing understands the special roofing needs of Colorado homeowners. We have been in business since 1998, and are proud to say we have over 30 years of experience in the roofing and gutter industry.

A & H does not take deposits and we never ask for any money down. Rather, A & H Roofing prefers payment upon completion of the job, and only after the customer is 100% satisfied.

Call for an estimate: 303.659.8088 or fill out our online form:

Here are some things to know about “modern” roofs and how roofing practices have changed over the years. Thank you to DailyHerald.com for a great article, and to Betsy Kosowski of Kosowski Roofing in Chicago for the great information to pass on to our customers! 

Read article below…

If you haven’t put a new roof on a house in many years, you will be surprised by the changes. For instance, almost no one puts a new roof over an existing roof anymore. Tearing off the existing roof is always preferable so that the wood underneath can be checked and replaced, if necessary, and so that the new shingles can be applied correctly, according to Betsy [Kosowski of Kosowski Roofing in Chicago]. A few towns even require tear-offs.

In addition, the old three-tab shingles have been almost completely replaced by architectural shingles which give a home more character and architectural interest.

These new shingles also offer increased longevity, wind resistance and some increase in hail resistance, thanks to their extra mass and the way they are layered on a roof.  Typically, architectural shingles are tested to withstand a minimum of 70 mph winds, with many being tested to hold up to 80 and 90 mph winds. The standard three-tab shingle is tested to only 60 mph winds.

“Architectural shingles have much more curb appeal than traditional shingles,” Betsy explained. “Traditional shingles were installed to look like bricks with vertical slots. Architectural shingles have no vertical slots so they look much more interesting.”

Modern shingles have also been treated with a chemical that resists staining and algae, which have become common problems in the area. Big streaks on aging roofs, interestingly, are generally caused by algae growth on the limestone in the shingles, she stated.

Municipal codes also now require that ice and water shields be installed either three or six feet up from the gutters, all around the roof. These shields are used to protect sloped roofs from water penetration due to wind-driven rain and water backup resulting from ice dams. They also offer leak protection in trouble-prone spots like valleys, skylights, protrusions and other flashing areas.

When it comes to color choices, it is still a personal preference, Betsy said. Most people choose something in an earth tone or weathered wood color likes tans, browns and grays. Black roofs are still popular on colonial-style homes, but that color attracts more heat in the summer, so some shy away from it for energy conservation reasons.

Green and red are also occasionally chosen, but they have to fit the style of the particular home.

Kosowski does not install wood shake roofs, but they do tear them off occasionally, Betsy said.

“People don’t realize that, besides being very expensive, wood shake roofs become breeding grounds for hornets and termites. We tore one off last year and it was loaded with hornets,” she recalled. “They also have to be resealed every two to three years at a very high cost. If you don’t reseal them, they will rot and won’t hold up to our extremes of hot and cold in Chicago.”

“If it is installed correctly, the average shingle roof in Chicago should last 21 to 25 years. People may say, ‘I have a shingle with a 30-year warranty,’ but what they don’t realize is all of the variables that affect a roof, like ventilation, weather and even tree branches rubbing on the roof,” Betsy explained.

Source: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130330/entlife/703309997/?interstitial=1

Here is a great video from DIY expert The Real Tim Jones on spring cleaning tips for your roof, including gutter cleaning, bush trimming, and penetration inspection:

While financial terms of the contract weren’t disclosed, a spokesperson for Xero Flor said the deal “is a big one.”

Working with independent farms across the country, Xero Flor grows its product to the regional needs of the customer so the Javits project Sedum will be grown over a period of nine to 12 months in upstate New York.

Xero Flor recently covered its own office building in Durham with Sedum grown at a North Carolina farm.

The company is the brainchild of Dr. Clayton Rugh, an Ohio State graduate with an extensive background in plant research who decided back in 2002 to locate the company in Durham, liking Triangle lifestyle.

So what does the multi-layer Xero Flor process do?

As David Aquilina, the media spokesperson for Xero Flor, explains it:

“Xero Flor acts like a big sponge,” thus cutting down tremendously on storm-water runoff. Given the size of the Javits project, that’s a lot – an estimated 6.8 million gallons a year.

The field of green also cuts down on energy costs by insulating against heat and cold by 26 percent.

For example, when it’s New York City hot, instead of 120 degree heated air circulating over a roof, Aquilina points out, Xero Flor keeps the air pulled into air conditioning systems at the ambient temperature.

Then there is the matter of saving wear and tear on the roof itself. Aquilina says the Xero Flor helps roof structures by shielding them from solar radiation.

Big projects are nothing new for Rugh and company. A Xero Floor has covered the big Ford Motor Company River Rouge Plant – the biggest such project to date in the U.S. – for nearly a decade.

So here’s a tip of A & H Roofing’s cap to Durham-based Xero Flor where going green means doing so quite literally.

Source: http://wraltechwire.com/durham-firm-lands-big-deal-for-green-roof-at-nyc-javits-center/12062508/