Another Busy One? Initial 2011 Hurricane Season Prediction Is Out

It’s time to start looking ahead to the 2011 season, which starts tomorrow! The famed storm prognosticators at the National Hurricane Center issued their crystal-ball look at the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, and they’re again calling for an above-active one.

That forecast comes in the wake of their 2010 estimates, which correctly projected – although ultimately underestimated – a busy hurricane season.

Researchers are predicting that we’ll have 17 named storms next year, nine of which will strengthen into hurricanes. The 50-year average is 9.6 named storms and six hurricanes. The National Hurricane Center is also projecting that there will be a 73 percent chance of a major hurricane making landfall along the Gulf Coast. The annual average is 52 percent.

The basis for the above-average projection is extended-range statistical predictions that utilize nearly six decades of past data. While El Nino conditions are unlikely next year, the researchers said sea-surface temperatures in the far North Atlantic remain at record warm levels. La Nina conditions in the equatorial Pacific are generally conducive of an active hurricane season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

During the 2010 hurricane season there were a total of 19 named storms, tying 1887 and 1995 for third highest on record.

The Hurricane Center team projected there to be 15 named storms before the season began in June 2010. Of those 19 storms, 12 strengthened into hurricanes. That ties 1969 for the second highest on record. Five of those became major hurricanes, reaching Category 3 or higher. But the Hurricane Center said two major factors kept most of the storms from threatening the U.S. mainland. First, the jet stream that roasted and dried out much of the eastern U.S. acted as a natural barrier to keep many storms out at sea. Then because so many of the storms formed in the eastern Atlantic close to Africa, they began curving northward before they even reached the Caribbean. Simply put, here in Florida, we were lucky.

Regardless of the predictions, let’s not forget Hurricane Andrew, which caused devastating damage in South Florida. Andrew was actually part of a rather mild Hurricane Season, but proves that just one storm can make it seem active for us. Take the proper precautions and get RAMCON out to your facilities for a pre-storm inspection. As a RAMCON client, it’s free and will help identify problem areas and keep you safe from Mother Nature’s wrath.

Time for Some Spring Cleaning

...and that spring cleaning should include your roof. A simple low pressure cleaning and removal of any debris that has accumulated over the winter months can help prolong the life of the roofing system by removing anything that could cause premature deterioration of the membrane.

At RAMCON, our professional technicians utilize low-pressure cleaning methods on your roof. Don’t let high pressure (3,500 psi) washing damage your roofing system. Our low pressure (300 psi) cleaning process removes dirt, mold and algae via cleaning agents developed exclusively for RAMCON. We rely on the process, not the pressure to clean make your roof look like new.

In addition to protecting and extending the life of your roofing system, a clean roof looks better to your customers and tenants and improves the overall image of your facility. For more details on low pressure cleaning of both low and steep slope roofing systems, visit http://www.ramconroofing.com/low-pressure-roof-cleaning.htm.

Roof Recovery Has Big $$$ Advantages

It is important to understand how roofs fail in service and identify those factors that contribute to their failure. Roofs begin deteriorating shortly after they are applied and continue deteriorating until they are replaced. The rate, severity and extent of deterioration are affected by a wide variety of factors, such as their exposure to the environment, quality of installation, level of maintenance and simple age.

Deterioration and damage are not always the result of environmental exposure. Quite often, roofs have to fulfill several functions they were not intentionally designed for. They are often replete with mechanical equipment that requires periodic servicing, exposing the roof to damage from roof top traffic.

Inevitably roof failure will occur, whatever the cause.  You are then stuck with the difficult task of selecting the appropriate course of action. At one time, the current materials and designs limited available options. If the roof failed, the alternatives were to attempt repairs or tearing-off and replace all, or part of, the roof. Increasingly, another option is becoming a viable alternative to complete tear-off and replacement.

Gaining popularity, an alternative to complete re-roofing is to re-cover to existing system. FM Global, a world-wide commercial and industrial property insurance and risk management organization, defines recovery systems as a roof where, “the existing roof system is left in place and new components are installed over it.”

Recovering has a number of economic and practical advantages, including lower overall costs, the potential for reusing the existing roof insulation, provided it is dry and in sound condition, avoiding financial and environmental costs associated with roof tear-off, minimizing disruptions to building operations. In addition, it offers a higher degree of security and protection from the elements while the work is being carried out.

Unfortunately, not all building can be recovered for numerous reasons, including the number of roofs currently on the facility, etc. If your roof is a trouble maker and you are looking for a low cost solution with the same warranty as a new roof, be sure to talk to RAMCON about a recovery system.

Single-Ply Roofing: The Ultimate Guide

The story of single-ply roofing systems dates back to the 1970’s oil crisis and the search for a roofing system less reliant on asphalt material led to lightweight, flexible roof membranes. Today, these systems have evolved into a variety of single ply systems, including TPO, PVC and EPDM.

Single-ply membranes are usually broken down into two subgroups — thermoplastics and thermosets. Thermoplastics have a common characteristic not found in synthetic rubbers — they can be heated and reshaped or melted multiple times. Because of this, the most common method of seaming a thermoplastic is by heat-welding the membrane. Properly melting the edges together fuses the membrane into a strongly bonded seam. The two major thermoplastic membranes in the market are polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO).

Thermoplastics
TPO membranes have become widely used as roof membranes in the past ten years. A TPO roofing membrane is typically made from polypropylene and ethylene-propylene (EP) rubber polymerized together using state-of-the-art polymer manufacturing technology. Unlike some other popular thermoplastic roofing membranes, the TPO polymer does not contain chlorine and no chlorine-containing ingredients are added during sheet production. Because TPO membranes are inherently flexible, unlike PVC membranes, additional plasticizers are not required in the formulation so there is little danger of plasticizer migration.

Thermosets
Virtually all thermoset roof membranes are EPDM. Once EPDM has cured, it cannot be melted and reshaped. Consequently, the rubber membrane is seamed by an adhesive — generally either a field-applied contact cement or an adhesive tape that is applied in the field or factory and activated by removing a release paper. A major benefit of EPDM is that it can stretch and relax, so it can easily accommodate thermal expansion and contraction on large expanses of roof.

Reflectivity
The majority of thermoplastics come in white. These white membranes give an initial high reflectance value that can help keep the temperature of the roof and consequently the inside of the building cooler. As the roof becomes older and collects dirt, however, this initial value will decrease unless the roof is periodically cleaned (see a case study at our website http://bit.ly/hby3NJ). Thermosets are available with a white surface, but most likely comes as a dark grey, almost black color.

For more information regarding single-ply roofing systems, give RAMCON a call at (877) 726-2661 or visit our Single Ply Roofing section at the RAMCON website.

4 Factors of Long Term Roof Performance

Maintaining institutional and commercial facilities is crucial for today’s building owners and managers. One of the most important steps in achieving this goal, yet the most overlooked in many organizations, is the roofing system. Why do so many organizations overlook the roof system, which is by far the most problematic building component? In general, roofs present a host of major challenges, from specification and installation to maintenance and replacement.

The Right System
Choosing the right roofing system for your facility is likely the most important decision you will make. Unfortunately, there is not a ‘best roof’ out there. Each type of system has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. We’ve installed practically every type of roofing system available and can help you to choose the right system for your project.

Top Installation
The installation crews installing your roof is a crucial factor, and in some cases, the greatest influence on roof performance. If the contractor does not install the roof properly, the roof will not perform up to expectations, no matter the quality of the roof design or materials. Your primary consideration when choosing a contractor is ensuring it can provide a highly experienced, skilled, and conscientious roofing crews and supervisors. At RAMCON, this is what we do best and are known for industry wide.

Materials Management
New and improved waterproofing products continually enter the market. Unfortunately, new and improved often means less expensive. The cost of the membrane, not its proven performance, too often is the overriding factor in choosing a roof system. But you must keep in mind the difference in cost between a high-quality, time-tested roofing membrane and a low-cost commodity brand is usually less than 10 percent of the system’s total cost. RAMCON has case studies to show you the proven track record of most major roofing systems.

Maintenance Matters
It’s vital that you implement a proactive inspection and maintenance program immediately after the roof is installed. Too many times, owners and managers believe that because a warranty covers the new roof, they can ignore maintenance as it’s be covered by the warranty…WRONG. Historically, over 65% of all roof leaks fall outside the coverage of the manufacturer’s warranty. The sad part is, most are completely avoidable. Practically every manufacturer mandates you perform and document routine maintenance as a condition of the warranty. With RAMCON, this is a piece of cake. We’ve got the best service teams available, ready for you 24/7.