Standing Seam Metal Roof with Solar Panels

A metal roof with built-in solar panels is the most energy efficient and longest lasting solar roofing solution. A metal roof will usually last in excess of 50 years, and solar PV panels usually last 30+ years with minimal loss of efficiency or or electric power production. The combination of the two creates a one-time green roofing investment that will pay for itself over time, and then it will produce free electricity. Such a smart combination eliminates the chance of roof leaks, since there are no roof penetrations, and gives a homeowner piece of mind and confidence in their green metal roof.
Why go with a metal roof, instead of asphalt shingles:
Why would you want to install PV solar panels with a metal roof, instead of installing it on the existing asphalt shingle roof? The answer is very simple; asphalt shingles last an average of 15 years, while your solar panels should last at least 30 years. That means that even if you install your solar panels over a brand new asphalt shingles roof, you will have to remove the whole solar system in 15 years, replace the roof, and then put the solar panels back onto the roof. With the installation costs of a solar PV system being about $2 per watt, and an average solar system size of 3 KW, you will have to pay an extra $6000 (in today’s dollars, before any inflation is calculated) to reinstall your solar panels, and another $1500-2000 toremove the panels, so that the roof can be replaced. With today’s average solar system price of $9-11 (including solar panels, inverter, all wiring, rack-mounting system, permits, installation, etc.), theremoval an re-installation price amounts to about 25% of the total solar system cost.
A properly installed standing seam metal roof will easily outlast any asphalt shingles roof by 3 time or more, and it will also outlast a warranty period on any solar panels. When your solar panels get old,and start producing less electricity than what they were designed for, you will have an option to either keep the old solar panels or install the new ones (as a side-note – average efficiency loss of a solar panel is 0.5% per year or 10% over a 20 year warranty period). All your infrastructure will already be in place, and you can simply swap the old solar panels for the new ones. You may also have to swap the charge controller / inverter. In 20 or 30 years, as technology progresses, the efficiency of solar panels and inverters will be much higher, and the cost per watt will be considerably lower. At the same time you will still have your metal roof, performing at 100% efficiency – being leak free and beautiful, that is.
Installing solar panels on a standing seam metal roof
Solar panels can be attached to a standing seam metal roof in two different ways. One is to use a thin film Solar PV panel laminated inside the pan of a standing seam metal roof – a so called solar metal roofing concept, when solar panels are integrated with the roofing material. The limitations of solar metal roofing include lower efficiency (per sq. foot or sq. meter) of thesolar PV laminates. Therefore you would need double the roof area to get the same number of kW of a solar system. Also the size limitation of each solar PV laminate (18 feet long panels) make it impossible to install them on roofs with a roof run of less than 18.5 feet.
A better way to install solar panels onto a metal roof is to use S-5 clips or mounting brackets, specially designed to add adequate strength and support of rack-mounting systems installed on standing seam metal roofs. S-5 clops are made of cast aluminum blocks, with stainless steel tightening screws. S-5 clips are attached to the ribs or locks of a standing seam panel, and provide great pullout ratio, meeting and exceeding Miami-Dade county building code requirements for wind uplift.
S-5 Solar Panels mounting clamps allow for a quick and inexpensive installation of the solar rack-mounting system. Solar panels can be attached directly to the clamps, or to horizontal / vertical rails. The overall cost of such solar racking system is reduced from about $1 per watt, to about 50 cents per watt, or less. Also, you do not have to worry about any roof leaks, as there are no roof penetrations, and all mounting hardware is attached to the ribs of the metal roof panels.
You can also get a double tax credit for your solar roofing installation – Your first tax credit would be a 30% tax credit for solar panels, and and another one – up to $1500 cool roof tax credit. An average cost of metal roofingmaterials will exceed $5000 per roof, so you will be able to get a full 30% cool roof tax credit. With today’s metal roofing prices for steel standing seam ranging from $15000-20000, a $1500 tax credit will save you about 7-10% off your lifetime metal roof.

Extreme Shingle Testing

See why GAF-Elk shingles are your best and safest choice as we subject our Timberline® shingles to
Hurricane-force" winds, Torrential downpours, We even blow 'em up!
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Metal Roofing Insurance Savings

Lower Your Insurance with Weather-Resistant Metal Roofing
If you live in an area that experiences extreme weather from time to time, be it hail, heavy wind or forest and canyon fire, you should be aware of the availability of impact-resistant UL Standard 2218 tested metal roofing (classes 1 through 4) and fire-resistant Class A, B and C metal roofing. While important for the safety and security reasons alone, these quality metal roofing products may also earn you discounts on your homeowner's insurance!
UL 2218 Discounts Available: Although all insurance packages may vary, many homeowners' insurance agencies allow discounts for homeowners with specific weather-resistant metal roofing products.

How To File A Roof Repair Claim With Your Insurance

First you should call a professional roofing contractor to come and inspect your roof for damage. Before you call the roofing company check them out with the Better Business Bureau or ask family, friends, or your insurance agent for a personal referral. Not all roofing companies are qualified to inspect for hail damage. The hail may or may not have been large enough to cause damage. If the roofing contractor says you do have hail damage than proceed to the next step.After your roof is inspected be sure to call your insurance agent or the insurance company. A few days later you will be contacted by the insurance company's adjuster. Do what you can to schedule an appointment so that the roofing contractor can be at the appointment when the adjuster arrives. Together, you and the contractor and the adjuster can go over the specifics of your roof damage. This way you will know exactly what to put on the roofing claim and ensure the greatest possible accuracy.When you meet with the adjuster he will let you know if the insurance company will pay the claim or not. If they pay the claim you should receive a package from the insurance company in about a week or less. The package will contain approximately 5-10 pages of a breakdown of the items and amounts the insurance company is paying. It will also include a check.You can sit down with your roofing contractor and go through these pages line by line to verify their figures. On the last page it will have a breakdown of the dollar amounts. They will include Total Claim, Depreciation, Deductible, and the end number. This value should be the same amount as the first check you received with the packet.Also note that the check from the insurance company may be solely made out to you in which case you would just deposit it into a secure account or it might be made out to you and your mortgage company. If this is the case you will have to contact the mortgage company and find out their process of getting them to endorse the check. Unfortunately all mortgage companies handle this process differently and there is no set standard.

Suggestions for Choosing an Oklahoma City Roofing Company

One of the sad facts about living in Oklahoma City is that sooner or later, a storm is going to come by and wreck your roof. With that in mind, you should probably give some consideration to how to choose a Oklahoma City roofing company that will able to handle the unique demands of the city’s environment.What you definitely want to watch out for are companies that aren’t real Oklahoma City roofing companies. After a big storm comes through, you’re going to find that a number of companies from out of the area moving in to take advantage of the new work, and that brings its own problems.It’s not that the roofing crews that come in are necessarily incompetent, even though there are quite a few scam artists and generally inexperienced people that will be sniffing around looking for money. The problem is that when they come from some other place, they may not understand how to repair or replace a roof so that it it won’t fly away the next time the weather gets a little hairy.
So, obviously, the first thing you need to make sure of when you hire an Oklahoma City roofing company is that it actually is an Oklahoma City roofing company. This is essential, because understanding the demands of the sometimes extreme weather that hits the city is something that only comes from experience.A roofing crew from another state, no matter how talented, just isn’t going to be able to understand and work around the small nuances that are necessary to get a roof that will withstand a tornado. It might be tempting to use an out of town crew, but it will cost you in the long run.And, of course, if your roofing company isn’t from Oklahoma City, where will you find them if you have a problem? You want a company that will be around if you have issues, preferably a company where the owner actually lives in your area and is available if you need to talk to him.
The next thing you want to look for is that you’re hiring an experienced roofing company. There’s no licensing agency or accreditation agency for contractors and construction, so anyone, regardless of experience, can print up some business cards and go to work.Many times, the roofing sales people that follow a storm just have a few hours training. Their job is to close the deal at any cost! These people aren’t really there to help you, they’re there to make a commission. Then they hand over the job to someone else and are nowhere to be found if there is a problem.Again, it’s not necessarily that people with less experience will do a poor job, but it’s a lot easier to find out how good they are if they’ve been around your area for a while. Indeed, the mere fact that they have been around for a while is decent evidence that they are reliable and talented, which is key in not just Oklahoma City roofing but any kind of construction.The next thing you need to consider is what kind of roofing the company does. You don’t want to hire an Oklahoma City roofing company that specializes in large, commercial roofing to do your house, or vice versa. This ensures you get somebody who has the exact skill set that you need.

Avoid Roofing Repair Stings and Failures

Storm chasers are scam artists who roll into town in the aftermath of natural disaster to prey on those affected. Oftentimes these said professionals are in the roofing business, and they are particularly skilled at taking your money. To be sure that the company that you are hiring is legitimate, there are a few simple rules to follow.
Always be wary of someone who solicits you. These scammers know that hundreds of people in your area are waiting for insurance checks and vying for the services a handful of local roofing companies. It is indicative of a fraudulent company to show up at your door with a low cost deal to offer. They may say that they have remaining materials from a previous job and would like to pass the savings on to you, or they may empathize that you are waiting on an insurance check to cover the costs and offer to absorb your deductible if you are willing to pay all or half of the costs upfront. Storm chasers will usually be pushy about beginning right away not allowing you anytime to research and find them out. Some will take your money and leave never to begin working, while some will create the look of work being done by hauling materials to your property and "working" on your roof before abruptly disappearing.
If you want to give someone the benefit of the doubt, check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for complaints against the company, ask for local references, and insist on seeing a license. Take note, however, that a professional scammer may anticipate these moves and be able to placate your demands. The safest way to find a legitimate contractor is to do the foot work yourself.
Start with your insurance company who may have recommendations of contractors they have worked with in the past and asking friends and neighbors for references if usually a safe bet. Some otherwise legitimate companies can create scam-like nightmares by significantly underbidding to lure your business, but insisting that incidental costs accrued during the repair and ultimately charging you more money, so it is suggested ask for references and to check credentials with the BBB before hiring anyone. Before any work begin, detail clear expectations in a contract including when and how much you will pay. It is reasonable for a contractor to require some upfront money, but be suspicious if all, most or even half of the agreed costs. Not all out of town businesses are con-artists on the hunt, but most sting attempts will made by those claiming to be in town to help out.
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EagleView Technologies™ and GAF® Announce Partnership | Earth Times News

EagleView Technologies™ and GAF® Announce Partnership Earth Times News

Roofing: Hiring a Good Contractor

Reputation and longevity is everything in the roofing business. Unfortunately, the contracting racket is filled with shysters and fly-by-night companies that are just around long enough to make a buck or two before leaving. A shoddy reputation means little to them because they are on to the next town with a new name before anyone can catch on. So stick with companies that have a lot of experience and have been in the area a long time.

Energy Savings with Cool Metal Roofing

Energy Savings with Cool Metal Roofing

Landmark Solaris™ - Premium Designer - Residential - Roofing - CertainTeed

Landmark Solaris™ - Premium Designer - Residential - Roofing - CertainTeed

Horror stories about roofing contractors

We've all heard horror stories about roofing contractors, overcharging, doing shoddy work, etc. A few jerks give the whole industry a bad name. Here are some tips, Go With Somebody Local, Check Their Insurance, Check With The Chamber Of Commerce, Get References, Check the Better Business Bureau. Remember you're looking for a professional."

Fix Little Leaks Right Away to Help Your Roof Last

In the world of roofing, having a little leak is like being a little bit pregnant. There is no such thing as a little leak if the meaning of little is insignificant or unimportant. Once the integrity of a roof has been breached, a small problem soon becomes a large one and finally an enormously expensive one.
The roof of your commercial or industrial building is one of the most important protections you have for the rest of the building. Once you have discovered a leak, the problem already exists and it must be addressed. Your only choice at that point is to take care of it now, or do it later. It's much like the old line in the TV commercial, pay me now, or pay me later.
Once the leak is there, the damage has already occurred because left unchecked, it will only grow in scope and cost. We are experts at making repairs to existing roof systems. Just because a leak has been spotted doesn't necessarily mean your roof needs to be totally replaced. Perhaps it can be repaired if the problem is tackled soon.
The best plan is to prevent the problem in the first place. We will be happy to inspect your roof to see how it is holding up to the weather. There are many different styles of roofs on commercial and industrial buildings including metal, tile, asphalt shingle, bitumin, and rubberized flat roofs. Each style has it's own weatherproofing characteristics that are key to the protection of the underlying structure and its contents.
Each style has some vulnerability to the sun and wind and freezing and hail that can occur during the lifetime of the roof. If yours has some age on it, it is better to be safe than sorry and have it inspected. Most people do not realize that roofs actually move. They don't get up and walk away, but as the summer heats up, the roofing material expands with the heat.
If it's 100 degrees on the ground, the roof temperature is over 110 degrees. This expansion, or movement over time can cause seams to grow weak and leak. Conversely, in the bitter cold and freeze of winter, the roof contracts and becomes brittle. This can also cause problems.
The term for this contraction and expansion is normal wear and tear. As you can see, there doesn't have to be a storm or a falling object like a tree limb to make a roof leak. If your commercial or industrial roof has been up there for fifteen or twenty years, it's time to have it checked out before you see any signs of a leak. It will save you money in the long run

New Website

Check out our new website!!
http://www.bestokcityroofing.com/

Facebook | Dorsey Roofing

Facebook Dorsey Roofing
We are proud to announce that Brian Dorsey was elected to the North Texas Roofing Contractors Association (a regional association for residential and commercial roofing contractors, distributors, manufacturers) board of directors.

Preventive maintenance adds 30%-100% service life to a commercial roofing system

Eventually, every commercial roofing system must be replaced. But, with inspection, maintenance and repair, building owners can extend a roofing systems life cycle to maximize their return on investment.
According to the National Roofing Contractors Association preventive maintenance adds 30%-100% service life to a commercial roofing system. That means repair costs could be triple the cost of a preventive maintenance program over the life cycle of a commercial roofing system.
Another facilities management factor to consider in maintaining roofing systems is energy management. Wet insulation in a roofing system loses energy. According to the Building Owners and Managers Institute, good maintenance practices and good energy management go hand in hand. Some of the highest rates of return on energy conservation are generated simply by performing maintenance.
The key element to an effective facility asset management process is having professionals inspect those assets on a regular basis. On a periodic schedule determined with the building owner or manager the following should be done;
* Inspect the entire roofing system including flashings, drains or gutters and leaders, masonry, etc.
* Document each inspection (roof plan, inspection forms, and photo documentation). Each technician should carry a digital camera to document noteworthy roof conditions. Digital photos can be included with inspection reports.
* Perform infrared testing as needed to provide thermal energy reports to identify moisture within a roof system
* Remove all debris, clean gutters, leaders and drains
* Make minor repairs at the time of inspection.
* Provide estimates for roof repairs (or replacement if necessary)
* Comply with and document compliance with the maintenance requirements of any roofing system manufacturer warranties in effect.
Physical rooftop inspections and color infrared camera surveys are the keys to the effective documentation and analysis of energy loss, roof repair and maintenance issues.
In addition to the information gathered during roof inspections, the importance of maintaining warranty, design, installer, as-built materials data, and repair history information should be emphasized. Contractors will benefit from assisting in the compilation of this additional data.
If this process is followed, the repair, maintenance and energy conservation of commercial roofing systems will be as cost-effective as possible, and with this process, facilities-manager clients know years in advance of when a roofing system will have to be replaced, and what its projected expense will be.

North American market for Commercial Roofing Material to be worth $5.9 billion in 2014

North American market for Commercial Roofing Material to be worth $5.9 billion in 2014: "The third-largest segment in 2009, thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), is projected to increase at a CAGR of 3.8% through 2014, rising from $336 million to $406 million.The green roof segment, though relatively small, is expected to increase at the highest CAGR, 24.5%, from 2009 to 2014, growing from $28 million to more than $83 million. Commercial roofing in North America defines the livelihood of more than 28,000 roofing contractors, thousands of manufacturing employees, and distributors. Although it was hard hit by the recent economic downturn, the roofing industry remains a vital part of the economy."

North American market for Commercial Roofing Material to be worth $5.9 billion in 2014

North American market for Commercial Roofing Material to be worth $5.9 billion in 2014: "The North American market for commercial roofing materials was worth an estimated $3.2 billion in 2009, for a 5-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.7%.The largest segment of the market, metal roofing products, is expected to reach $875 million in 2014, after increasing at a CAGR of 12% from the estimated 2009 value of $496 million. The spray polyurethane foam (SPF) segment was the second-largest in 2009, and is expected to increase from a value of $420 million in 2009 to nearly $1.1 billion in 2014, for a CAGR of 20.6"

Hail And Auto Glass Keep Questionable Claims On The Rise - Personal Insurance - Property and Casualty Insurance News

Hail And Auto Glass Keep Questionable Claims On The Rise - Personal Insurance - Property and Casualty Insurance News
As insurers report increases in 2010 catastrophe losses, many times due to storms with hail, an analysis by the National Crime Insurance Bureau (NICB) reveals a 107 percent increase in questionable claims referrals for hail damage claims.
The NICB has worked with law enforcement “in pursuing suspected unscrupulous roofing companies that take advantage of storms to fake or deliberately cause damage to roofs in an effort to pay for a replacement roof that wasn’t damaged by a storm,” said Joe Wehrle, NICB president and chief executive officer, in a statement.
Overall, the NICB found a 14 percent increase in questionable claims referrals during the 2010 first half compared with the first half last year.
The report examines suspicious property, casualty, commercial, workers’ compensation, vehicle and miscellaneous claims submitted to the NICB by member companies for review and investigation. There was an increase in referrals in four of the six categories as of the end of June.
In tracking first-half referrals since 2008 there has been a steady increase in all property referral reasons except for fire/arson, which actually decreased 3 percent in 2010 from 2009.
The most common referral reason was suspicious theft or loss with 3,647, a 16 percent increase comparing the first halves of 2009 and 2010.
Among 16 vehicle referral reasons, there were more than six times more referrals for auto glass fraud during the 2010 first half than there were during the same time in 2009. Previous signals of desperation due to the economy, referrals for owner give-ups, suspicious vehicle fire and questionable theft were all down in the first half of this year.
More than 39 percent of all casualty referrals were due to allegations against a medical provider such as excessive treatment, billing for services not rendered, inflated billing and solicitation. More than 7,000 referrals were submitted for a faked or exaggerated injury, an 11 percent increase. Staged accidents continue to be a problem as there were 27 percent more referrals for this than in the first half of 2009.
Referrals for questionable commercial and workers’ compensation claims decreased 6 percent and 9 percent, respectively.
One claim can have several referral reasons, the NICB explained

Solar roofing panel - conducive to generate solar energy - Roof-Help.net

Solar roofing panel - conducive to generate solar energy - Roof-Help.net

Solar roof shingle - sucks sunrays and create solar energy - Roof-Help.net

Solar roof shingle - sucks sunrays and create solar energy - Roof-Help.net

CertainTeed's Solar Rooftop Ventures Boosts Sustainability Efforts at New Jersey Distribution Center

CertainTeed's Solar Rooftop Ventures Boosts Sustainability Efforts at New Jersey Distribution Center

Energy-Efficient Roofing and Building Star Legislation

Energy-Efficient Roofing and Building Star Legislation

http://www.carlisle-syntec.com/index.cfm?act=case_study_detail&Press_ID=593

Cool Roofing – Trending Up | Roofing Contractors IN

Cool Roofing – Trending Up Roofing Contractors IN

Roof Repair Cost - How to Hire the Right Roofing Contractor

Roof Repair Cost - How to Hire the Right Roofing Contractor