Archives for November 2020

Women in The Roofing Industry

November 23, 2020 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

Currently women make up only about 0.5 percent of the roofing industry in America, and in Canada roughly 3 percent compared to men. As time progresses women continue to become more involved in the roofing industry as CEO’s, marketing directors, and other leading roles. Women have been pursuing roofing sales, distributing, manufacturing, and even on roofs. When speaking with business owners of roofing companies they express that people may think women in the construction field is out of the ordinary, but in reality they are some of the most qualified applicants.

Many organizations have dedicated their time to expanding roles that women play in roofing and construction. One example of this is the NWIR (National women in roofing), who are an American based volunteer organization that launched in 2016 at the IRE (International roofing expo). Although they were only founded a short time ago they have gained over 1,100 members who are all dedicated to empowering and advancing women in the roofing industry. Companies such as IKO sponsor and support the NWIR to advocate for females to join their organizations, they are excited to educate women within the field and also help recruit.

“I didn’t have any roofing experience when I first joined the industry more than 20 years ago, so I relied heavily on my mentors and educated myself through meeting with our manufacturing, sales, research groups and distributors to determine what contractors needed and wanted,” said Perkins. “But now, an organization like NWIR has built-in mentorship and educational opportunities that help new female professionals entering the industry, as well as seasoned pros.”

Women Owned Roofing Companies

Women like Alicia McMahon have been in the roofing industry for more than 10 years doing marketing, says she continues to see women step into leadership and even ownership positions. “When I first got into the roofing business, women were typically seen working in roles like accounting, marketing and administration,” McMahon said. “But now, women are branching out of corporate roles and making strides not only as laborers, but as business owners, too.”

Successful women owned roofing companies continue to pop up like Ardmor Construction, based in Minnesota. The owner Sarah Ahrendt was once a nurse but hated the hours that she had to put in and felt burnt out. She had a boyfriend in the construction field and was intrigued by his work, so she picked up a job as a roofing sales person. She admits that at first some customers weren’t sure about her, if she was only working in this role to support her boyfriend or if she was actually dedicated to the job. However she proved them wrong and quickly gained respect backed up by her work ethic and vast knowledge. She acknowledges that some women do face discouraging work environments when pursuing a roofing career, but she was lucky in that her boss fully supported her in her endeavors. “He saw people as people, not as male or female. He saw the value that I brought. I was very fortunate in that,” Ahrendt said.

She always had a strong desire to help others which is how she ended up in the nursing field, she compares this to her now role in the roofing industry because taking care of people’s roofs also helps protect them and their home, which is most valuable. “I was happy to start in a field where there is so much potential to make a difference,” Ahrendt explained. Shortly after an opportunity came up to get her hands dirty and she jumped on. She began working on rooftops, organizing the laborers, and even operating the equipment. She enjoyed learning the technical details and as new opportunities presented themselves she kept growing.

Ahrendt dabbled in finances and marketing, then was offered a full time position as manager at another roofing company. She soon after developed her own ideas about running a roofing company, and after putting them into practice Ardmor Construction was born. Her company being only a year old has already brought in 1.5 million in total sales. Ahrendt says she has spoken with women who have been interested in the roofing industry and other parts of construction but get discouraged. Her advice to them was “It’s not nearly as hard as you might think it’s going to be. As a woman in roofing, if you really know your stuff, you’ll impress the customer quickly.” “Don’t give up just because someone tells you no,” she added. “If that’s what you really want to do and you’re passionate about it, you’ll succeed.”

Professional Women in Roofing

Women have been involved in every aspect of the roofing industry, from the office up to the roofs. An example of leading women making a difference from every corner is this amazing group that calls themselves “The Women Roofers.”

The Women Roofers is a group of volunteers that started out repairing a roof for someone who couldn’t afford to hire a professional. After the completion of the first roof Kernodle and Herrick began the idea of gathering a larger group of women to help the church by repairing and replacing roofs of people in need. Working with the Rutherford Housing Partnership the woman group has been roofing since 2002. The group recently got involved with helping out at the Troop House at Camp Ginger Cascades for the girl scouts. They began their work on a Saturday morning and fished by noon! The women spent the rest of the day enjoying camp. “If a woman wants to go into something, there is no reason she shouldn’t consider it if she chooses!”

Choosing the Right Roof for a Historic Home

November 17, 2020 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

Owning a historic home can be challenging to restore and maintain but preserving its beauty is worth it. If you are lucky enough to own a home in a historic district then you know that there are certain guidelines that you must follow to be sure all the details are correct. The roof is arguably the most important feature in any home because it protects everything beneath it. The roof keeps the structure of a historic home and all its features safe from the outside elements and water intrusion.

Historical homeowners main concern when preserving its features is water intrusion, as this will damage the home in ways that oftentimes cannot be fixed. Most of these older homes are made from less durable materials than homes that are built today, this means that water intrusion has a much larger impact. When preserving the roof as it was in the past, you can usually keep the home in good condition that is time-period appropriate with hard work. If you diligently conduct routine roof inspections, and work with qualified local roofing contractors from the best roofing company, who have mastered historical techniques it is very possible to keep your historical home intact.

If you own a historic home chances are it is located in a historic district, and in these districts there are guidelines that must be followed. We at Infinite Roofing have replaced many roofs on historic homes located in historic districts within Saratoga Springs and we must adhere to their guidelines. These rules and regulations are to keep important character defining features of the building in or as close to the original as possible. The shape of a roof, materials used, and its details all contribute to the historic character of the home. As a roofing contractor it is our job to research specific guidelines that a city implements to properly conduct the job. Saratoga Springs has supplied historic district design guidelines so you clearly know how to preserve the building.

Oftentimes restoration experts decide to install a modern roof on a historic home, keeping all the details in place with the best interests of the property and budget. When working with the best roofing company they will agree that adding modern materials provides superior protection and much less maintenance costs, also adding a new roof will increase the homes value. Always check with the historical authority to make sure the materials you plan to use are approved, it is possible to use newer materials while still keeping the look of the past. Installing a more modern roof doesn’t ruin the architecture, in fact many newer materials can replicate older styles and details to match original materials.

The first thing you should do is start researching your type of historic home’s roof, this can take several months, especially when you need approval from a historic authority. If you are experiencing major leaks or other issues you might need to temporarily path up the roof yourself in order to protect the home. If you have your local roofing contractor patch an area of your roof, make sure they are careful about how to patch it. You don’t want them removing evidence you might need later on, such as an old layer of roof under the current one. In this case it’s best to not opt for a DIY patch, using a roofer with restoration experience is recommended.

Review Documents

If you have access to any documents pertaining to the house such as old pictures, journals, original blueprints, or newspaper clippings, review them for ideas on original materials and colors of the roof. This can be helpful to keep the integrity of the roof preserving details, an example of this would be if wooden shakes have been cut in unusual angles or shingles that were laid non-traditionally. It is important to take down any details to give to your local roofing contractor.

Look at the Physical Evidence

Try to keep all previous materials such as old wood pieces, nails, and scraps that may be helpful to tell which type of roofing system was used. Your local roofing contractor may be able to tell what kind of roof was used and also which materials can be swapped out for optimal preservation. Choosing a roofer with previous knowledge and experience with restorations is crucial to have the best chances of replicating the home’s previous roof.

Consulting with Historical Organizations

As stated previously if you own a historic home chances are that it is in a historic district, and within these districts there are rules and regulations that must be followed. You may have to face many restrictions about which changes you plan on implementing to your home’s roof. Some other restrictions include building codes but some areas will make expectations for historical homes. Even if you have to use traditional roofing materials that are available, oftentimes the use of modern underlayment can be used. This is because it better protects the roof from weather influences and is not visible or interfering with the outer appearance.

Types of Historic Roofs

Time	Style	Materials used
Pre-Revolution	Georgian or Federal	Wood Shingles
18th Century	Federal Style	Wood shingles or Slate
19th Century	Italianate, Greek, Gothic	Metal, Wood, Slate
20th Century	Bungalow, Craftsman	Asphalt shingles, Slate

Historic Roofing Materials

Material	Time Period	Details
Wood Shakes	All periods	Type of wood used was dependent on the area.
Clay tiles	Starting at the 17th Century	Primarily used where there was a Spanish influence.
Slate	18th Century	Seldomly used because of its price and difficulty to install.
Metal Roof	19th Century	There were several styles and materials used.
Shingles	20th Century	3 Tab asphalt shingles.

Wood Shakes/Shingles

This was the most common historical roofing material in the earliest days to the 19th century. The type of wood material used and techniques varied so if your home had wood shakes or shingles you will need to gather more information on how to replace it. Wood is the fastest roofing material to deteriorate so it must be treated in order for it to last.

Clay Tile

This type of roofing material was mostly used in the colonial period where there was Spanish influence. When clay started to be used in the Northeast the tiles were flat compared to traditionally rounded tiles, this was due to English and French influence. Replicating the shape and colors of old clay tiles can be very challenging, if your home has clay tiles you might need to explore other materials.

Slate

Slate began being quarried in America starting in 1785, it was rare to see on many homes but it was available. Once the railroad was developed slate spread and made it much easier to transport the heavy slabs. Because of its limited availability and significant weight, slate was not a popular choice when comparing it to wood shakes/shingles. Although it has many benefits clay tiles are a much cheaper alternative.

Metal

Metal was a popular roofing material but it was very expensive and at the time only lead and copper were suitable. This roofing material was more common on churches and government buildings rather than residential homes. In the 1870’s metal was cut from sheets and made into shingles, some had patterns and mainly used for gable roofs. Metal gained more popularity in the 1920’s also when asphalt became popular.

Asphalt Shingles

This roofing material was introduced in the 1900’s but did not become widespread until the 1920’s, the look resembled our 3-tab shingles today.

When restoring a historic home using substitute roofing materials has become more popular although some historical societies vote against it, others do agree protecting the home as a whole is more important. Modern materials provide a longer roof performance and keep the original structure intact. Seeking out alternative materials can also be very cost effective while keeping the same style of the original roof. Many more homeowners may choose to restore historical homes if the cost and hassle are reduced.

How To Inspect a Roof

November 10, 2020 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

When it comes to doing maintenance around your home, the roof is easy to forget about. Doing a professional inspection once a year is recommended but you can easily inspect your roof on your own. Being aware of the condition of your roof will help you get the most out of it, by correcting any issues you see before more damage is done. The most common cause of water damage is from a leaky roof so it is important to be sure to properly inspect it at least once per year, and also after any major storms. We can easily help you identify things that may be problematic on your own, so you can then make a decision if a repair or full replacement is needed. Inspecting your roof has never been easier with these steps!

What happens during a roof inspection?

First step would be to walk around the exterior of your home, inspecting your roof from the ground to see what you can see at eye level. Inspecting your roof from the ground can still give you a good example of its condition if you don’t have a ladder or you’re afraid of heights. Look for signs of any damage, sagging, or ageing and take notes on what you think might be an issue to let your local roofing contractor know. While you are looking up at your roof, be sure to check out the flashing. Flashing is the main entry point for water and needs to be kept in good shape to work properly. Damaged flashing can cause immense damage under the surface of your roof. If you see damaged flashing a professional inspection may be necessary to be sure there are no underlying issues.

If your home has skylights examine the inside where the seams meet your ceiling and also on the exterior, where the shingles meet the skylight. If you see old shingles around your skylights you may have water damage. Looking closely at soil stacks, if your home has one. This is important to check for any cracks and issues with the “stack boot,” and not to opt for a cheap version that will not last you. Installing a soil stack that won’t last you as long as your roof will only cause you bigger problems down the road.

Inspecting your chimney is an area that you are able to check out without having to hop on top of your roof. Make sure to look around the perimeter of the chimney where water is directed away from your house, during heavy snow or rain, precipitation lands right at the chimney which can cause leaks or damage over time.

Look for moss, algae, or piles of leaves on your homes roof, these areas are notorious for costly leaks and water damage. Moss can severely damage the integrity of a roof because moss absorbs moisture and puts down roots causing degradation. These roots can lift shingles allowing constant moisture which can lead to mold and many other problems. Algae can adhere to the roof causing permanent stains and eventually damage underlying materials. If moisture seeps into the wood of your roof, it will cause rotting and compromise the strength of your roof.

As you are walking the perimeter of your home looking up at the roof, check to see if there are any curled or cracked shingles. Hot air from the attic often can cause shingles to curl away from the roof, putting you at risk for water damage and poor ventilation. Another important place to inspect is the attic, checking for rotted wood on the roof, and how well the insulation is holding up. If the insulation is poor there might be excess wear on the roof where heat can leak through. During cold winter months your homes heat leaking out can create serious issues causing ice dams to form. This happens when snow melts on the roof and runs down freezing along the way.

As you are looking at the condition of the shingles on your roof, also try to check for granule loss. Granules are the texture part of the shingles that feels slightly like sandpaper, these help deflect UV rays, make shingles fire resistant, and also makes packaging much easier. If you see loss of granules it may indicate your shingles have aged or been largely affected by severe weather. If you have a lot of granular loss then the shingles are no longer protecting your home from the elements, and you should consider calling your local roofing contractor for a professional inspection.

Another area commonly overlooked by homeowners is the gutters. Cleaning out your gutters is so important because that is why most water damage is caused by being clogged. A gutter system can accumulate up to 300 pounds of water and debris each year. The best time to clean out your gutters is in late spring, this is the prime opportunity to remove the buildup that accumulates from blooming and lingering winter. Along with maintenance for your gutters, pressure washing them out along with your roof at least once per year is suggested.

When should you inspect a roof?

Inspecting your roof should be a year routine maintenance, like we have said previously it is a great idea to get a professional roofing inspection once per year, usually in the spring, but you should inspect your roof and exterior of your home every few months. If you always have your eye out for potential problems it is much eraser to address the issues before they get too big and expensive.

You’ve completed inspecting your roof, now what?

After you have finished inspecting your roof with the help of these easy tips, review your findings. If you have found potential problems or concerns contact your local roofing contractor and make an appointment. Being proactive as a homeowner will save you a ton of money in the long run. As always when seeking out the best roofing company be sure to read reviews from their customers and look at pictures of their work.

Advances in Roof Technology

November 3, 2020 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

As technology advances in everyday life, so does the way in which we are able to book, install, and maintain your roof. At your local roofing company we stay on top of the latest roofing trends so we can better improve how to serve you. We do all the research to present you with all your options so you don’t have to. It is our goal to ensure that you get the best roof for you and your family, at the best price.

The roof is the first line of defense for all buildings, keeping out the elements and maintaining a hot or cold environment inside. It makes sense that over the decades people are concerned with advancing roof technology since the times of straw and mud roofing systems. When thinking about new roofing technology, the first things that may come to mind are picture apps, programs, and new ways of communication that revolutionize the business side of the roofing industry. However, most of the fascinating technologies are taking place on the roof itself.

There is a lot more that goes into roofing than just nailing down shingles, the level of precision on installing roofs have been perfected with useful tools like satellite measurement imagery and much more. New materials have been introduced to improve energy efficiency and the safety of workers have significantly improved. Before modern advancing roof technology and practices, people used anything that was available to cover their homes and protect themselves.

Clay tiles were mostly used by advancing cultures as early as the neolithic age, it took longer to reach North America. As times progressed other materials were used such as wood, clay, and tin. These materials were very heavy and unreliable, some even posing as a fire risk with no ventilation. The advancement of asphalt shingles represent a dawn for modern roofing gaining momentum ever since.

People now have so many options that go well beyond original designs, with new technologies anything is possible. Roofing is still a necessity but now your roof does so much more than just keeping the rain out; it is a beautiful piece of architecture that optimizes the internal environment you want to create.

New shingle materials and designs

When choosing the best materials for your new roof installation, the key is to check longevity against purchase cost and installation. Although rolled roofing is one of the cheapest options, it is definitely not the best quality option for longevity. Comparing an expensive shingle that will last 50 plus years is a much better value than a cheaper one that only lasts 10.

Architectural shingles

Architectural shingles are one of the most popular, cost effective materials on the market. These shingles have been around since the 80’s but have made major advancements since then. These shingles are manufactured from fiberglass to mimic wood and slate, to give your home beautiful curb appeal without the mass amount of weight that comes with it.

Metal shingles

Most people have heard of metal roofing, it is used mostly on commercial buildings but becoming more popular on residential homes. Metal roofs last almost a lifetime and add a modern sleekness to a home. Metal shingles are slightly different, made in smaller sections to mimic the appearance of other materials like stone or wood. This concept has created new life in the metal roofing industry, with new methods of manipulating metal to stay strong but also give an appealing look.

Solar shingles

Solar panels are nothing new, many people already have them on their homes and most people have at least heard of them. Solar shingles however are much newer and have broken through the 21st century. This invention was monumental for the roofing industry, this meant that solar panels can be combined with roofing materials to create shingles. Instead of ugly large panels on top of your homes roof, advancing roof technology merged to make small attractive shingles that are barely noticeable to even be solar panels. Another plus to these small compact panels is getting all the benefits of solar without the added weight on your roof. Ask your local roofing company if they are experienced with solar shingles before making a decision.

Synthetic slate shingles

Made to resemble authentic slate tiles, synthetic slate shingles are the perfect alternative. Slate is beautiful and timeless but also very expensive and bears a ton of weight. Slate shingles are also difficult to install needing a very experienced roofing company to take on the job. Synthetic shingles are made from recycled materials that have less hassle and more durability. With proper installation and maintenance this roofing system can last a lifetime.

Cool shingles

These shingles were designed to reflect the sunlight, made with a special coating that doesn’t absorb UV rays. A standard roof can heat up to 150°F in the summer season, and this directly heats up the inside of your home as well. With these types of shingles that are ultra-reflective, the roof’s temperature can drop at least 50°F. A cooler roof means much more energy savings and also increases the longevity of your AC unit.

Other advancements that have been made in the roofing industry that are more behind the scenes, rather than on the roof itself are within the technology that is used. Generating leads through the web has never been easier with the help of certain programs and apps. Some apps allow you to search certain specifications to find buildings that may be in need of renovations or repairs. Other time saving mobile applications that have been created allow a contractor to measure a building’s roof without ever going to the actual building. You are able to upload pictures and video to share with other members in your company, send out estimates, create invoices, and add contact information. advances

Do roofers use drones?

Drones have become increasingly popular within the roofing community. They have made it possible to get great before and after photos of a roof, and also generate a building inspection without climbing on a ladder to do so. A good quality drone can be expensive but you can find a reasonably priced drone at your local electronic store. Some apps even sync up to your drone creating a cohesive system to download images you want to use for advertising.

As technology advances so does the way in which materials are made, communication between roofers improves, and installation practices become more efficient. We at Infinite Roofing stay up to date on all new technologies and advancements so we can share them with you.