Has a particularly strong storm passed by recently and you think your property has suffered some damage? Residential and commercial property owners cannot afford to delay their insurance claim because your roof needs to be ready for the next storm, whenever it comes.a

Safety Check and Leaks

You must remember that not all storm damage is visible, however, and even careful inspection may not yield accurate results. You need a pro to double-check. Failing to spot damage on your roof may cost you more time, effort and money. Still, choose your contractor carefully; you might put your home and your family at risk when the damaged roof is treated improperly by an amateur.

Leaving damaged roofs untended will also lead to leaks. This would cause other issues, mold growth being the least of them. It might even soak through exposed cabling and wires, which would short them and even spark a fire.

How Roof Insurance Claims Work

This is where a roof insurance claim comes in. When you file one, the roofing contractor (like us) will conduct a thorough inspection of your home, note any damage and record it. Afterward, the roofing contractor will advise you to set an appointment with the insurance adjuster to analyze your claim.

When the claim has been approved, the contractor will then restore your roof, which may involve you choosing from the available roofing products and customizations, if any. This may take some time, but at the end of it, we will give you an invoice and a receipt of what has been done to repair your roof.

With growing awareness about recycling, energy efficiency and other methods of going ?green,? the construction industry has begun to embrace these ideas as well. Contractors are changing methods to both please customers and make a positive impact on the environment. There are newer techniques in energy reduction, both in the building process itself and in insulation and thermal-tightness, which extend to the roof. So it is a good idea to find a contractor who knows about green building methods.

Definition

So what constitutes a green roof? There are actually two distinct definitions for this term, each one differing from the other.

• Energy Efficiency ? ?Green? in terms of roofing refers to the building method, insulation, thermo-efficiency and other means of keeping heat in or out, thereby keeping utility demands down. Lowering energy needs trickles down to lessening the carbon footprint on this which is the main goal of energy efficiency and going green.
• Environment ? There is also the more literal definition of a ?green? building top which is environmentally friendly in its own way. There is an increasing trend to utilize otherwise wasted space on flat-topped buildings to grow things such as flowers, vegetables, plants, which creates many benefits. Plant life increases the quality of the air through the release of oxygen; by using such a space to grow food reduces food expenses and provides a method of growing clean, healthier produce with decreased water use that would otherwise run off and into sewers. Vegetation also acts as natural insulation.

Techniques

In terms of green construction, there are various techniques. Some are new and some are simply improvements on ideas that have been in use by builders for decades.

• Sun Angle ? Some concepts include building new construction either facing toward or away from the direct rays of the sun depending on the geographic location as well as by utilizing better heat-reflective surfaces.
• Solar Collectors ? Solar collectors have been around for years but are becoming more visible as more are installed to save on utility bills. Some new developments to capture solar energy that used to require big, expensive panels on a roof can now be achieved with photovoltaic shingles, solar films for lining metal roofs and cylindrical solar tubes Solar tubes collect energy from all directions including reflective energy that bounces back from the roof when a reflective insulation has been installed under the top surface.
• Insulation ? The other main area where technique affects efficiency is in insulation. The days of rolling out layers of pink fiberglass in attics to provide insulation are dwindling. Builders now know that this does practically nothing in comparison to using thermo-reflective barrier insulation, ISO (Polyisocyanurate) foam panel insulation and other newer, more technologically-advanced products. Additionally, more work is being done to be sure that seams and gaps are adequately insulated since this is where a lot of air escapes. Staggered layering of insulating panels, sealing off cracks and gaps and other methods of covering seams and filling in otherwise empty spaces between the inner and outer roof surfaces is a great help and definitely worth the effort involved.

While these are just the main ideas in going green with home roofing, it is definitely worth looking into for the various benefits offered. While making such modifications may be initially expensive, the savings will continue for years to come. There are also government programs and tax-reducing benefits for making such improvements to a home. Most contractors know about these programs and can suggest how to take advantage of them. All in all though, a green effort is a ?win-win? situation and a decision that anyone can feel good about making!

Call Schulte Roofing ? The Roof Houston TX Company For a Green Roof!

Are you looking for the right roof Houston TX company to create a green roof for your building? Call Schulte Roofing at 800-367-7663 and ask them about installing an environmentally friendly roof for greater Houston area customers!

Did Strong Winds Damage Your Roof?

Blustery straight-line winds swept through much of the central and eastern United States in recent days. Some reports had winds nearing hurricane force. More strong winds are predicted for the coming days and this is all before winter has even started! Are you wondering if your home?s roof can stand up to this punishing weather?

Now is the time to look at your roof! Whenever you have a severe windstorm, it is always wise to do a visual check of your roof from the ground. If you see missing or damaged shingles or even shingles from your roof on the ground, it would be wise to have a professional come do an inspection to see if repairs or replacement are necessary. Missing or damaged shingles can leave your home vulnerable to water infiltration. And, with winter coming, your roof will also be particularly susceptible to intrusion by melting snow.

If you?ve ever dreamed of a metal roof to protect and beautify your home, now is a great time to act! Not only to protect your home but also to take advantage of the federal tax credit of up to $1500 which is set to expire the end of this year.

The issue of global warming has everyone questioning whether the phenomenon is actually man-made or just a normal climate fluctuation. No matter the answer to that question; one certainty is that all the media coverage has increased consumer awareness of the environment. One proof of this newfound awareness is the increasing number of families that have applied green roofing Houston concerns to their own roof.

Green roofing is not an entirely new roofing concept. In fact, this particular method of roofing was around during the era of the Vikings and during the Middle Ages. During the late 19th century, the same roofing method was also well known in farm houses located in northern Scandinavia. People back then placed sod on top of several layers of birch bark and sloping wooden roof boards to serve as a roof for the house. There are two purposes for this crude roof design: the sod presses down on the layers of birch bark to hold it in place and the sod also serves as an insulator during the cold months.

Environmental Benefits

Modern roofing Houston designs do not require sod to hold the roofing material in place to be considered environmentally friendly; however, for those truly concerned about this there are many things that can be done for the environment, including modern green roofing.

It is well-known that plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. With green roofing in place, a home can have a positive impact on the environment by reducing the amount of air pollutants, particularly carbon dioxide. During the rainy season, the thin layer of soil on the roof top will act as a filter and absorb the pollutants and heavy metal in the rain water allowing filtered water to flow down. The green plants also encourage habitation of wildlife.

Insulation Benefits

Aside from the environmental benefits, there are also several practical benefits from green roofing, particularly thermal insulation and sound insulation. The soft property of sod is capable of cancelling both high and low frequency noise. Sod acts as a sound barrier, preventing external noise from entering which results in a quieter indoor environment. During summer or winter, sod also serves as an insulating force, keeping extreme cold or heat outside and preserving an even temperature inside. This helps to lower the energy consumption of air conditioners. The additional layer of sod also helps protect the underlying roofing material and can result in a longer roof life.

Increasing Awareness and Usage

So far, the number of houses adopting green roof usage in the United States is increasing in number. Other countries have also taken the lead in implementing green roofing including Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Canada, and Australia to name a few. This increasing number is due to the practical as well as aesthetic benefits of green roofing.

Implementing a green roof on any home is simple, inexpensive, and beneficial. Before jumping on the green roofing bandwagon, bear in mind that there are structural requirements for installing a green roof. The additional weight of the soil and plants as well as the water that the sod will absorb could cause excessive static pressure on the roof and possibly cause the roof to collapse. So before implementing a green roof, consult a professional roofing Houston contractor to assess whether the roof is structurally adequate.a If the structure is sound, consider using green roofing on your home!