Preparation Is Key

As of June 1st, hurricane season is officially here. Is your roof prepared?

Are all of your flashings properly sealed?
Are your drains and gutters free of debris? Do they quickly remove water from the roofing system?
Are there any voids, open seams or penetrations that will allow water under the membrane?
Is every piece of rooftop equipment properly secured to the roof?
Are the perimeters of your roof properly fastened for wind uplift?

They may seem like unimportant questions, but hurricane (or even tropical storm) force winds, can cause major damage if your roofing system is not properly prepared.

Is Your Roof Ready For Storm Season?

Your roof is often the only line of defense against Mother Nature’s fury. At this point, do you know the conditions that exist on your roofs? Not just your anticipated maintenance expenses and such, but which pitch pockets have issues or if there are voids or punctures in the membrane? Are the drainage ports properly sealed?

If you are not sure, give us a call now. As a RAMCON client, we will send an inspection crew at no expense to inspect your roof and determine how the roof is performing and if there are any areas that are likely to allow for direct water intrusion.

We’ll bring the existing assembly, age, conditions and concerns to your attention so you can make an educated decision towards how you wish to address the problems. There’s no sales pitch and no gimmicks, just a chance for us to help our clients and bring peace of mind.

To schedule your inspection for this week, please call (813) 663-9667 and ask to schedule a roof inspection.  We’ll handle the rest and you’ll have all the resources you need.

Hurricane Resources

Websites:
•   www.floridadisaster.org
•   www.redcross.org
•   www.hurricanpreparedness.com
•   www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/mis/HurricaneLinksTips.htm
•   www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml

Phone Numbers:
•   American Red Cross Disaster Assistance (866) 438-4636
•   American Red Cross Missing Persons (877) LOVED-1S or (877) 568-3317
•   National Hurricane Center (800) 525-0321
•   FEMA Register for Assistance (800) 621-3362
•   FL Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services (800) 435-7352
•   FL Dept of Financial Services Consumer Help Line (800) 342-2762
•   FL Dept of Financial Services Consumer TDD (800) 640-0886
•   Florida Division of Emergency Management (800) 320-0519
•   National Flood Insurance Program (888) 356-6329
•   National Flood Insurance Program TDD (800) 427-5593
•   Traffic Information (Travel Updates) 511 (From Cell Phone) 

 

 

RAMCON is Now a Certified Maintenance Professional

RAMCON has recently joined a program which certifies us as a maintenance professional. So what exactly does this mean? It means that were recognized as innovative leaders in the market. The statistics don’t lie; RAMCON has the highest quality rating in the entire state, the best safety record, and offers the longest and most comprehensive warranties available.

In order to qualify as a Certified Maintenance Professional, we had to commit to rigorous inspection protocols using the industry leader’s exclusive maintenance educational programs and standards. By becoming a Certified Maintenance Professional, we will perform the following vital services for your roof:
•   Perform yearly inspections
•   Communicate roof maintenance needs to you
•   Make maintenance related repairs as necessary
•   Provide documentation to you (and your manufacturer) that needed repairs have been made

At RAMCON we understand the importance of preventative maintenance and we know how a little preventative care can help you avoid major expenses in the long run. We understand that a preventative maintenance program can reduce or eliminate problems related to common causes of roof deterioration.

In fact, RAMCON and many industry manufacturers are so committed to helping you ensure the long term performance of your roof (which will maintain your guarantee coverage) that they have put together a Guarantee Extension which is designed to reward you for establishing an annual inspection and preventative maintenance program with us. Your participation won’t just help you meet the maintenance requirements of your manufacturer, but it will also extend the length of your manufacturer warranty by 25%- with no additional guarantee fee!

So how do you qualify for the 25% warranty extension? Its simple! As a certified maintenance professional, RAMCON will perform one or more annual inspections of your roof, perform any necessary maintenance and submit all necessary documentation to your manufacturer in order for you to qualify.

When A Roof Leak Is Really A HVAC Leak

When a building occupant spots water dripping from the ceiling, he doesn’t know or even care what the source of that water is. To him, it’s a roof leak.

We would like to address one common source of so called “roof leaks”: HVAC units mounted on the rooftop.

Bottom discharge vs. side discharge:
Bottom discharge HVAC units typically are mounted on a raised curb on the rooftop, and the ducting is mounted to the bottom of the unit and penetrates down through the curb. No ductwork is exposed to the weather in this situation. Side discharge units have with the ductwork exiting the side of the unit and continuing some distance along the rooftop until it penetrates the building.

How HVAC systems work:
A greatly simplified example of how an HVAC unit works will eliminate a discussion on how the refrigerant cycle works and concentrate on air flow. This starts when warm air from the interior is drawn into the return plenum, which then proceeds to the unit itself. At this point, the warm air flows through the filters and condenser coil, which looks like a car radiator and serves a similar function in cooling the air that flows through it. Air then flows through the blower fan, and finally down the supply ducts to provide cool air to the interior of the building. Since the return and supply sides of the unit are on opposite sides of the blower fan, the air pressure will be lower on the return side and higher on the supply side. What this means for us is that the return (lower pressure) side wants to suck in air (and any adjacent moisture), while the supply (higher pressure) side wants to blow air out. That is why most leaks occur on the return side.

Investigating Leaks:
Investigating leaks at HVAC units will start just like any other leak investigation, by visually checking conditions at the leak location inside the building. If the leak is at an HVAC unit, the return and supply plenums should be readily evident. The first step should be to determine exactly where the water is coming from. For example, is the water dripping down the outside of the unit from where it penetrates the roof deck? This may indicate that the leak is coming from the roof itself, but it is still possible the unit is the source. On the other hand, if water is dripping out of the bottom of the unit, and there is no water on the outside of the unit, the source will almost certainly be the unit.  Many times this investigation can be done while the unit is not actively leaking by following water stains. If the entry point cannot be determined by following stains, a water test may be needed. If the unit is  suspected of being the source of the leak, it would be a good idea to get the HVAC service tech involved, so he  can shut the unit down and the inside of the unit can be safely accessed. This will also prevent any disputes about the findings of the investigation. A cooperative approach is the way to go. After all, even if the HVAC unit is leaking, it’s usually not the service tech’s fault. His priority is that the unit heats and/or cools as it is designed to do.

At this point, the investigation will proceed onto the roof. Of course, this is the time to check the roofing components, flashings etc. When checking the unit, the place to start is the return section. This will usually mean opening the filter access panel, and may involve removing the filters to get a clear view. A common source of leaks is the seal at the access panel, and many times water is evident as soon as the panel is opened. It may be necessary to check the return itself. Reaching into the unit with a digital camera and taking pictures will sometimes address this issue. If the exposed ducts on a side discharge unit are suspected, they simply need to be sealed properly.

Making repairs:
Once the source of water entry has been determined decisions will need to be made on what to repair and who will do that repair. As a rule, if the leak is coming from inside the HVAC unit, i.e. from a bottom discharge unit, we prefer that the HVAC contractor perform the repair as he has more experience with the mechanics of the unit. However, if the leak is coming from exposed ductwork outside the unit, then we can certainly perform the repair, however either party you select can stop this as a leak source.

Maximizing Your Roofing Investment

Today, even seemingly simple choices can be complicated. So when you’re faced with a decision that requires a major expense or  even capital investment, how  can you be sure you have the  information you need to make the right decision? This is especially true with roofing, because a bad decision can result in:
•    premature roof replacement
•    unbudgeted repair expense
•    aggravated or injured occupants
•    and even lawsuits!

Not surprisingly, roofing represents less than 4% of a typical building’s cost, but the majority of construction litigation! With these kinds of risks, making the right roofing choices is critical. But how do you  go about it? GAF’s four-step process can help you make the right decisions about your roofing project, and can  dramatically increase the chances  of its long-term financial success.

Step #1: Understand
Roofing system selection cannot be made without a thorough understanding of the property and its use. Key factors to consider include:
• Investment Objectives
• Property Use
• Property Location
• Building Construction

Regrettably, too many roofing decisions are made without a thorough understanding of these and other relevant factors, or their impact, resulting in sub-optimal performance of the roofing system. Remember, as you progress in your decision process, RAMCON can assist you with design to help assure that key issues like local code compliance and performance considerations are properly addressed.

Step #2: Select
Every property is unique and has its own set of roofing needs.  Customizing a roofing system that best matches those needs is one of the keys to a financially successful roofing project.

At RAMCON we install every type of roofing system for just about every manufacturer in the industry. This allows us to select the right solution for your specific application, with no limitations.

RAMCON’s project teams are recognized by leading owners, contractors and consultants for their expertise, efficiency, and professionalism.

Step #3: Install and Inspect
The complexity of a roofing system has increased and new roofing technologies have made proper installation and inspection even more critical for reliable, long-term performance.

RAMCON is selected by more owners, managers and contractors in Florida for one simple reason…the RAMCON team is very good at what they do. The statistics don’t lie; RAMCON has the highest quality scores, the best safety record (.63 EMR), record installation speeds and offers the longest and most comprehensive warranties available.

In addition, RAMCON has manufacturer inspectors on every project we do. We’ll bring the manufacturer’s field services representative, to monitor every project, providing outside and unbiased feedback on our performance. Our policy is to not leave a project until it scores a 100% on the quality survey.

Step #4: Maintain
The single best way to extend the life of your roof is to perform regular inspections and maintenance.

Every reputable roofing manufacturer requires regular inspection and maintenance to maintain guarantee coverage. Regular inspections can also prevent costly problems from causes that are not covered by manufacturers’ guarantees, like damage from vandalism, damage done by other contractors on the roof, or structural deterioration.

The best one to maintain your roof is a MyRAMCON Roof Star plan. This program utilizes specialized crews, who have the knowledge, experience, and training to  spot and correct potential problems before they  happen. Savvy property owners realize that a comprehensive maintenance program will save them many times over during the life of their roofing system.

In fact, some manufacturers are so committed to proper maintenance that we’ll extend the length of your warranty duration by a full 25% for at no cost if you perform regular inspection and maintenance through RAMCON. It’s a win-win scenario for all parties involved.

Commercial Roof Maintenance: Take A Proactive Approach

If you are a building owner or facility manager, roofing costs have always been among your major concerns. In its January report, Reed Construction Data indicated that a faster-than-projected economic recovery will accelerate commercial construction activity and push material prices even higher than general inflation. Combined with today’s soaring energy costs, it’s clear that managing commercial roofing costs is critical, especially for owners and facility managers with multiple buildings. Education and strategic budget planning are the best defense to managing a building.

Where to Begin?
Proactive versus reactive maintenance is a good place to start. Owners and facility managers who react to problems as they occur, pay an average of 25¢ per square foot annually for maintenance. Owners and facility managers who inspect and repair routinely (proactively) – before problems happen – spend an average of only 14¢ per square foot annually. Plus, proactively maintained roofs last an average of 21 years compared to an average lifespan of 13 years for reactive maintenance. The longer you can extend your roof’s life before replacement, the more your overall savings increase and your life cycle costs decrease.

Repair or Replacement
A roof undergoes serious wear and tear throughout its lifetime, with factors such as weathering and degeneration taking their toll. Through scientific testing and analysis, RAMCON can outline the current condition of your roof and to help you decide if roof repair or restoration is an option or whether roof replacement is necessary. At RAMCON, we install every type of roofing system for just about every manufacturer. There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. We believe your building and specific circumstances should dictate the roofing system, ensuring compliance with building codes, energy solutions and specific roof conditions (there are 9 major roofing systems and more than 60 subsets—so we help you make the best decision for your specific system and building type). Choosing a roofing provider that offers repair and restoration options, not just replacements, improves the likelihood of an accurate analysis and a successful plan for your roof and your budget.

Technology is an Important Tool
The construction industry has been notoriously slow to adopt information technology, even though research has shown that contractors who use technology have:

• Lower costs
• Higher productivity
• Better organized schedules

RAMCON has made a considerable investment in technology that helps you take the guesswork out of your roof repair and maintenance decisions. Our MyRAMCON software can help you manage roof assets easier, and through a variety of tracking and reporting options, including inventory management, in-depth reporting, invoice tracking and data tracking, you can more accurately determine your roof’s lifespan and avoid unexpected costs associated with emergency repairs.

We also use technology internally which ensures to provide cost-efficient procedures and operations. GPS tracking enables our management team to supervise technicians from anywhere, which has been shown to increase technician productivity by 23%. In turn, this reduces costs to you. Lastly, electronic invoice auditing combined with the GPS tracking and proper accounting software can ensure that you are billed accurately and fairly.

Experience Matters
Surprisingly, weather is not the most common threat to a roof’s durability. Approximately 40% of all roof problems occur because of human error due to workers going on your roof for window washing, HVAC repair, etc., faulty maintenance or poor installation in the first place. Therefore, proper training, experience and consistent performance are all essential when choosing a roofing provider.

Experience refers to both the roof technicians and the company because there are literally thousands of substandard, unqualified contractors out there who might not be in business long. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in just the last three-year period, 45% of all roofing contractors were newly formed while 41% of existing contractors had gone out of business. To truly measure stability and longevity, it is best to work with a provider that has been in business for at least 10 years.

You need to really know who is on your roof. Ask potential roofing providers about their self-performance policy. Contractors who self-perform vs. sub-contract can offer more peace of mind because you know the roofing technicians have been properly trained in safety and trained in uniform standards. Even though contractors claim they perform background checks and e-Verification, if they are sub-contracting the work, those technicians may not have gone through the same type of screening.