Alpha Roofing Industries

Whether it is over your home or your place of business, your roof plays a critical role in protecting you and your belongings from the weather. You might find a puddle of water, but water stains on the drywall, mildew on. Attic insulation plays an important role in keeping the temperature of your home at a comfortable level year-round while reducing your energy costs. A properly insulated attic helps prevent the transfer of heat between your attic and your living areas. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, between 2008 and 2011, there were an average of 24,300 fires each year in the U.S. directly attributable to fireplaces, chimneys and chimney systems.

Whether it is over your home or your place of business, your roof plays a critical role in protecting you and your belongings from the weather. You might find a puddle of water, but water stains on the drywall, mildew on the ceiling or water inside a fluorescent light fixture are more common signs of a leaking roof. Many people believe that hail, high winds and aging are the most common reasons for a roof to leak. Property owners sometimes damage their own roofs by using the wrong nails to attach holiday decorations or by walking on the roof during extremely cold or very hot weather.

Flat roof buildings have been around since the earliest days of construction. In some ancient civilizations, a flat roof provided additional living space, doubling as a sleeping area during summer months, a well-ventilated "kitchen" or storage area. Some cultures built homes with a flat sod roof for their livestock to protect the animals from predators or theft. Today, many commercial buildings and a growing number of residential developments include a flat roof. Over the years, a number of different roofing systems have been developed for flat roofs.

Whether you are a residential or commercial property owner, your roofing system includes a number of metal features. This is true whether you have asphalt shingles or a complete metal roofing system. Because every roof is different, it is often necessary to fabricate the metal features individually to match each specific job. A roofing company with its own metal fabrication facilities and skilled personnel can create custom roof panels for a full roof as well as the accessories. Even if the structure has architectural features (such as turrets or complex lines) that might be problematic when using pre-fabricated panels, the metal shop can produce panels to facilitate the installation of a metal roof.

For owners of commercial properties, roof integrity is extremely important. A leak can cause extensive damage to assets. Manufacturers may suffer damages to equipment that can temporarily halt the production line. Inventory contained in a warehouse can require repackaging or be made unsaleable. Professional offices can lose computer equipment, files and phone equipment. Residential commercial property owners may have to deal with irate tenants whose furnishings suffered water damage. Thus, no matter what type of commercial property you own, it is important to make sure that your roof is kept in good repair and replaced when it is needed.

Whether repairing or replacing a roof, the job can be messy. Asphalt shingles tend to drop granules when they are disturbed, underlayment often comes off in tatters and there are also the old nails to consider. New products must be unwrapped and trimmed to fit. When new shingles are needed, it is always a good idea to remove the old shingles. This allows the roofer to inspect the roof deck and make any repairs needed. It also gives a smooth base for installing the new shingles. Reputable roofing contractors make sure that they have tarps or dumpsters at the customer's site to hold the debris generated by the removal of the old shingles.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, between 2008 and 2011, there were an average of 24,300 fires each year in the U.S. directly attributable to fireplaces, chimneys and chimney systems. Furthermore, the area of the roof surrounding a chimney is one in which roof leaks frequently occur that can damage the interior of a home and its furnishings. A fireplace can add warmth and beauty to your home. It is important that your chimney system be kept clean and in good repair. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that homeowners have their chimneys professionally inspected at least annually to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and chimney fires.

Guttersare one of the most-overlooked aspects of a home's exterior. Your gutters play a critical part in the protection of your home's foundation and roofing system — and therefore, your home's interior. The gutters channel water flowing off the roof and deliver it to downspouts, which in turn carry the water well away from the foundation. When gutters are clogged, the water can overflow and back up underneath the shingles or drain immediately beside the foundation. Damaged, sagging or missing gutters can cause the same problems.

A leaking roof can quickly ruin your home's furnishings, such as your carpeting and furniture, but it can also cause severe damage to structural elements, such as your roof's deck, wall supports and subfloor. Leaks can be result from a variety of causes, but no matter why your roof is leaking, it is critical to address the situation as quickly as possible. Therefore, any condition that currently allows, or has the potential to allow, water to penetrate beneath your shingles should be treated as an emergency.