The Benefits Of Solar Roofing

 Before blindly jumping into a decision to install a photovoltaic (PV) roofing system, it helps to understand which of the technology’s potential benefits applies to you, as well as the practical implications of installing and maintaining such a building component. Let’s focus on 4 benefits.

Financial savings. The cost savings created by reduced electricity is actually a cost-effective payback that offsets the up front cost of purchasing and installing a PV roofing system, when you factor in the federal, state and utilities financial incentives, such as tax credits and subsidy programs. Even with this ROI, the up front cost of a PV system is substantial.

This situation has led to the development of solar power purchase agreements (SPPA), a financial arrangement between a third-party developer that installs, owns, operates, and maintains the PV system for the organization. The organization agrees to host the PV system on the roof or property and to buy the electricity from the provider for a predetermined period. This set-up allows you to receive electricity at a predictable cost, with the potential to have a positive cash flow via reduced electrical costs from the day the system goes into service. The solar provider receives the tax credits and the income the sale of the electricity generated. It’s a win-win situation.

Hedge against rate hikes. PV systems are not vulnerable to electrical rate increases, which have averaged about 6 percent in recent years. The PV panels produce electricity at a fixed rate over the life of the system.

Peak energy savings. PV systems can reduce the cost of peak power. A PV system produces the most power in the summer at mid-day, when the sun is highest. So it supplements the need for expensive power at peak operating times.

Public relations. PV technology can have a legitimate positive influence on the general public, which might think more highly of the organization for taking action to protect and improve the environment.

With billions of square feet of unused roof space around, PV systems are likely in your future. RAMCON is one of the very few contractors who has installed tens of thousands of kilowatts of solar panels on roofing systems. Contact Kyle Burdine at kburdine@ramconllc.com for more inquiries.

Understanding A Wet Roof Deck

Wet roof decks simply can’t be ignored. Recovering a wet roof deck won’t make the problem go away. That’s because recovering a roof deck will likely only cause the roof to blister, or cause other serious problems that won’t be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

Here’s how to tackle a wet roof deck the right way. First, identify wet areas in the roof. To do so, one of three types of moisture surveys should be completed: infrared, nuclear or capacitance. None of these actually measure moisture. Instead, they measure the effect moisture has within the roofing materials.

For the best results, match the type of moisture scan with your roof because each moisture scan works differently. Infrared surveys measure the heat retained or lost in insulation that has become damp. Ballasted roofs aren’t a good candidate for infrared surveys because the rock itself retains a lot of heat, giving potentially false readings. Nuclear moisture surveys measure hydrogen atoms in the roof, meaning that any membrane with a large hydrogen chemical component will send a positive reading. Water is a good conductor of electricity, and capacitance surveys measure electricity traveling through the roofing material. This survey won’t work on a roof with wet or ponded areas, and EPDM roofs may require modified instruments.

The amount of moisture found in the roof, if any, may dictate the choice of whether to recover or replace. The more areas of moisture found, the more expensive it will be to replace those areas. If you have 100,000 square feet of roof and four 8-by-10-foot areas are wet, replacing those sections makes sense. But if 30 percent of your roof is wet and it’s scattered throughout the roof, the labor to replace all of those sections probably equals the cost of just tearing off the entire roof.

But what if the roof is leaking just after a recent replacement? It’s not that far-fetched. Due to poor design or installation, many roofs experience water leakage soon after construction. In many instances, water leakage through a roof membrane can go unnoticed because a vapor retarder at the bottom of the roof system captures the water. The captured water absorbs into the insulation, significantly decreasing the thermal value of the insulation and causing premature deterioration of the roof system.

A properly prepared and implemented design can prevent water from migrating into the roof. Generally, the membrane in the roof’s field does not allow bulk water leakage. Most leaks through a system arise from unreliable detailing. For example, in most instances, roof terminations consist of surface-mounted conditions (exposed termination bars or metal flashing) or reglet-set flashing (a small cut in a wall system to insert the metal flashing).

The team at RAMCON is uniquely qualified to identify and address saturated roofing systems and wet roof decks. We’ll perform moisture surveys and noninvasive testing that will determine whether or not repairing or replacing a roof is the most cost efficient solution.

Roof Maintenance In Severe Weather

This year alone, roofs have collapsed at a store in Georgia, a manufacturing plant in Ohio, a warehouse in Maryland, a firehouse in Ocala, an arena in Texas and a church in Tampa. And with severe weather an ongoing problem in Florida, it’s smart for you to think about ways to keep your buildings off that list.

Avoiding that fate isn’t difficult, but it does require taking some time to set up an ongoing roof maintenance program and post storm inspections.

Of course, before taking these steps, you want to know that the roof has been properly installed. David Hawn, a registered roof consultant advises, “You want a good installation and a good slope for draining.” For most buildings, that means a fall of at least a quarter inch per foot of roof area, sloping toward the drain. A RAMCON inspection can ensure you meet this criteria.

It also makes sense to become familiar with the ANSI/SPRI ES1 standard, which applies to the design, specification and installation of edge materials used with low-slope roofs. The standard focuses mainly on design for wind resistance, and any roofing or re-roofing project has to meet it. RAMCON maintains one of only a few ES-1 certified metal fabrication machines, which run off the latest Windows® software.

Inspection Checklist
Assuming the roof has been properly installed, it pays to complete a visual inspection at least once a year. Routine inspections can help catch small problems before they become disasters. It’s wise to make repairs before severe weather is ready to hit. If you only look at the roof the day of the storm, you don’t have time to react. Both low- and steep-slope roofs can be vulnerable to water damage if the drains and gutters aren’t kept clear. That’s particularly the case when the roof is surrounded by a parapet (a low wall) along its edge. If the water isn’t able to move freely into the roof drain, it will pond, get behind flashings and enter the facility.

Also part of preparing the roof for a severe storm is taking care of the rest of the structure. If the windows or doors break during the storm, air pressure inside the building can build and contribute to roof failure. So, when you board up windows before severe weather, you’re also helping to reduce the likelihood of roof failure. Studies have shown that the increased pressure inside, combined with uplift from outside, are a major cause of roof failure. Large warehouses are particularly susceptible to this, given the sizes of both the buildings themselves, and the openings, such as larger doors near loading docks.

A well-crafted inspection and maintenance plan is a crucial factor to your roofing system. RAMCON’s Star Program has 3 plan levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold) tailored to your specific building to address these needs. It’s simple, cost effective and will save you thousands of dollars and yes…headaches.