Month: August 2019

What to Know About Roof Curb Installations

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

For commercial buildings, a roof is much more than just a protective covering. Large industrial and commercial roofs need to do more than provide a ceiling; they also must support heavy equipment that is critical to the function of the building. To handle this extra hardware, many commercial roofs should have one or several roof curbs.

What Is a Roof Curb?

A roof curb is an elevated platform on a roof that supports some piece of equipment or roof penetration. Because roof curbs are sometimes a part of a roof, they must be able to keep out moisture and debris, while providing a spot to anchor the equipment.

Most commercial buildings will require some type of roof curb. They are used with everything from exhaust fans and HVAC units to skylights and vents. Each type of equipment requires a different kind of curb, and each type of roof material carries different considerations.

Who Can Install a Roof Curb?

Installing rooftop equipment and roof curbs typically involves more specialists than other aspects of a building’s construction. The general contractor and the equipment manufacturer will likely do a great deal of the work, but to get the job done right, it’s also important to bring in a professional roofer. 

While other specialists may be more familiar with the product going on the roof, only a qualified roofer can ensure that the roof itself will still function as needed once the equipment is installed. Maintaining a weatherproof roofing surface is critical to the health and longevity of any commercial building.

Other Things to Consider with Roof Curb Installation

Some of the most common problems with roof curb installation occur when rooftop equipment is replaced. Rather than call a professional roofer, many facility managers will simply have the contractor use an after-market roof curb. While going this route may save some money up-front, after-market roof curbs can often create airflow and temperature issues once installed. 

To ensure the continued safety and functionality of the roof, it’s best to use a fully-welded and assembled custom roof curb. Though this may cost more money up front, a custom roof curb improves longevity and protects the investment in the roof and the roof-top equipment. Finding a roofer with its own fabrication department is the most cost-effective way to get a quality product. 

To learn more about how Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. can help supply your building with quality roof curbs, contact us today.

Understanding the Connection Between Insulation & Commercial Roofing

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

Everyone knows that a roof keeps buildings dry, but many might not realize the role roofs play in keeping a building warm. Insulation is a critical part of any roofing system, but the bigger the building, the more susceptible it is to temperature change. This is what makes proper insulation so important for commercial buildings in particular.

What Does Roof Insulation Do?

Insulation is a special material that sits between a roof’s outer layer and the waterproofing layer and/or deck. While there are many different types of insulation, they all work to protect a building from the elements outside. Here are a few things that roof insulation does for a building:

  • Regulates temperature: Insulation’s primary purpose is to prevent heat transfer between the building and the outdoors. Insulation seals the cold air out of a building in the winter and traps cool air inside in the summer, keeping the building at a comfortable temperature.
  • Reduces energy costs: Insulation seals out nasty weather, meaning that an HVAC system has less work to do to keep a building at an acceptable temperature. With insulation, just a little bit of temperature modification can go a long way because it will stay in the building longer without escaping through unsealed parts of the building.
  • Provides fire resistance: Most insulation is fireproof and can help dampen flames or restrict their spread in case of a fire. Some building codes require insulation in some cases to improve a building’s fireproofing.
  • Provides moisture protection: Insulation provides another line of defense between outdoor moisture and a building’s interior. Using the proper form of insulation can help prevent condensation under the roof membrane.

Proper Roof Insulation

Insulation goes into almost every building, but not every contractor knows how to insulate a roof properly. While some homeowners may install insulation themselves, this process becomes much more complicated with commercial roofs. It’s unlikely that a contractor or facility manager would know how to insulate a metal roof or how to insulate a concrete roof.

Improperly installed insulation can lead to leaks, moisture problems, and diminish a building’s ability to retain a comfortable temperature. With any insulation job, the most important thing is having the right roofing partner to avoid problems in the future.

Contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today to learn more about how insulation can benefit your roof.

How to Know if MAXCare Is Right for Your Commercial Roof Needs

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

Even the best-constructed commercial roof won’t last without maintenance, which is why developing a roof management plan is so important for any commercial facility manager. Roof management should be proactive, thorough, and performed on a regular basis, but for many facility managers, tracking the health of a roof is just too much to add to their ongoing responsibilities. 

For busy people with multiple buildings to manage, a roof management program, like Maxwell Roofing’s MAXCare® program, can help manage the stress of planning and executing an ongoing maintenance plan.

You can use MAXCare® if…

  • You want your roof to live out its full life. A roof is exposed to the elements all day, every day, and it’s bound to experience some small problems over the course of its life. MAXCare helps catch those small problems before they become big problems that require a roof repair.
  • You want comprehensive forecasting. Every MAXCare relationship starts with a roof forecast assessment. Maxwell technicians come out, review the life of the roof, and generate a report on its condition. The report makes recommendations for the short- and long-term, allowing facility managers to properly budget for big expenses.
  • You value documentation. Maxwell’s reporting protocols are the best in the business, and with MAXCare, customers get full, detailed reports with every assessment or repair. MAXCare manages everything from warranty compliance to record management so that building managers don’t have to.
  • You value customer service. MAXCare customers get first-priority roof maintenance services from Maxwell and 24/7 access to the company’s unparallelled customer service department. MAXCare also comes with access to our online engagement portal, which gives our customers access to discounted services, as well as additional information about your roof.
  • You manage multiple buildings. With MAXCare, management companies with multiple commercial buildings can track all of their roofs’ conditions in one place. By integrating all buildings in one service, facility managers can better plan for expenses and schedule maintenance without worrying about conflicting building schedules.
  • You want to save money. Commercial roofs are incredibly complex and expensive systems, and maintenance is the most important thing for protecting that investment. Though you pay up-front with MAXCare, the program saves facility managers time and money in the long run by making roofs last longer and by eliminating unwanted surprises.

To learn more about how MAXCare can help your company extend the life of its roof, contact us today.

Why Nashville Companies Choose Maxwell Roofing for Commercial Roof Replacement

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

Deciding when to replace a roof is a difficult decision. Facility managers must consider their budget, their long-term plans for the building, and how the roof will be used. But, the most important decision to make before determining how to replace a roof is deciding which company to use.

There are plenty of options for commercial roof replacement but, in Nashville, Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. stands above the rest. Here are just a few of the reasons why customers return to Maxwell again and again.

  • Maxwell’s stellar reputation: With nearly 70 years of experience in Nashville, Maxwell has proven to be the area’s most trusted roofing partner. Maxwell built this reputation through years of over-delivering on their customer’s roofing needs by making themselves available and always producing a quality product.

“When you’re a property manager, and a roofing issue appears, accessibility matters,” said Maxwell customer Steve Horrell, the president of the Horrell Company. “That’s the kind of difference in Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc.’s level of care that has helped them maintain their high-ranking reputation throughout Middle Tennessee.” 

  • Expert personnel: Maxwell treats its employees better than the competition, so it expects its employees to live up to higher expectations. Maxwell’s team is always professional, courteous, and knowledgeable. In the Nashville area, there is no better team for assessing and carrying out a roof replacement.
  • Excellent customer service: Maxwell prides itself on a high level of customer service. While other companies work just to get the job done, Maxwell’s employees strive to ensure that every customer feels as though they are a part of the process. Maxwell employees are willing to walk customers through every step of the roofing process from answering simple questions like, “How much does it cost to replace a roof?,” all the way through technical issues.

“There’s never been a time when Maxwell Roofing has not been on site within 24 hours,” says Terry LeTourneau, the facilities manager of Maxwell customer JLL-Mars. “They always make us feel like we’re the most important customer, which gives us a peace of mind when potential roofing issues might occur.”

  • MAXCare®: How often should a roof be replaced? With MAXCare®, Maxwell’s roof management program, customers get regular roof forecast assessments to answer these important questions. MAXCare® helps customers proactively care for their roof, preventing disasters down the line.

“It’s better to know any potential roofing problems or needs upfront than have surprises throughout the year,” says Greg Victor, the director of facilities at Ensworth School, a Maxwell customer. “As a facilities guy, you can’t always use who you want to use, but with Maxwell, we got lucky.”

  • Full-service roofing services: Most roofing companies put all their focus on roof construction, but Maxwell offers customers a full-service approach with maintenance and fabrication services. Not only can Maxwell replace a roof, but they can produce custom sheet metal pieces to cut down on costs and deliver exactly what each customer needs.

If you’re ready to learn more about how Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. can help with your commercial roof replacement, contact us today.

The Importance of Commercial Roofing 24/7 Emergency Response

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

No one gets to choose the best time for a life emergency, and the same is true for a commercial roof. A roofing emergency can occur in any season, at any time of day, on holidays or on weekends. There are plenty of ways to prepare for a roofing emergency, but having access to a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week emergency response team is the most important thing to have in your emergency tool box.

What Qualifies as an Emergency

A roofing emergency is any type of sudden damage that threatens the integrity of a roof or building. Fallen trees and storm damage are the most frequent and obvious sources of emergency roof damage, but even small events can cause an unpredictable disaster. 

How to Prevent a Roof Emergency

It’s important to develop a regular maintenance plan to catch small problems that could become larger ones later, but some emergencies are inevitable realities for commercial roofs. Roofs are exposed to the elements all day and all night, and there’s no way to completely protect them from harmful debris or weather. The best way to prepare for an emergency is to plan for one with a budget and an emergency response team that’s available at all hours.

What 24/7 Emergency Response Does

Most roofing companies operate during regular weekly business hours, which can leave a gap of hours or days between emergency roof damage and a necessary repair. With 24/7 emergency response, customers can report the damage when it happens and receive a quick response from a qualified roof technician. In cases of serious or dangerous roof damage, companies with 24/7 emergency response will have roofers on-call and ready to respond.

Why 24/7 Emergency Response Is Important

While some roof repairs can wait a few days or weeks, very serious roof damage can cause additional deterioration to the building or harm to the people who use it. Exposed roofs, holes, storm damage, and other issues can create a fire hazard or further destruction to a building’s structure if left alone. Quick repairs are the only way to ensure that roof damage stays isolated to the roof, and that’s where 24/7 emergency response comes in.

When an accident happens outside of normal business hours, a 24/7 emergency response team will be able to make an urgent repair and prevent further damage. Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. prides ourselves on our great customer service and ability to respond anytime to your roofing needs. 

To learn more about Maxwell’s preventative maintenance plans and our 24/7 emergency response services, contact us today.

The Benefits of White Reflective Roof Cleaning

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

White reflective roof membranes, or cool roofs, are one of the most popular choices for commercial roofs. The light color reflects the sun’s rays away from the building, lowering the roof temperature and easing the effects of harmful UV rays. 

It’s true that using a light-colored roof surface can help lower electricity bills and even prolong the life of the roof, but this only works if the roof maintains its light color and reflective properties. The best way to ensure that a cool roof stays cool is to get regular cleanings by a professional roofer. 

Most roof manufacturers recommend building managers have commercial roof cleaning services contracted to be performed at least once a year. While it may be tempting to attempt this cleaning with in-house janitors, roofs require special care. Only certified roofing companies have access to proper commercial roof cleaning products and the safety equipment necessary for performing a precise cleaning.

The Benefits of Commercial Roofing Cleaning

  • Roof cleaning keeps white roofs white. Roofs are a building’s first line of defense against the elements. Roofs are constantly exposed to rain, mud, dirt, pollen, and air pollutants, and even the most cared for commercial roof will eventually become dirty. Only regular cleanings can keep grime from building up and permanently discoloring a roof.
  • Roof cleaning improves energy savings. In order to maintain its heat-reflecting properties, white roofs need to remain free of debris and dirt. A clean roof will better reflect sunlight away from the building, deflecting extreme temperatures and lowering cooling bills.
  • Roof cleaning improves longevity. Not only can dirt and grime make a roof look shabby, it can also lead to damage. Pollutants in the air can build up and break down a roof’s waterproofing materials, causing leaks and holes. Contracting a roof company for commercial roof cleaning services allows opportunity for roofers to uncover small damage that otherwise would have gone unnoticed and could have led to major repairs.
  • Roof cleaning prevents mold. While white roofs have a lot of advantages, there are some studies that show they may be more susceptible to mold due to moisture. Regular roof cleanings eliminate the possibility that a commercial roof will develop a mold problem.

To learn more about commercial roof cleaning and preventative maintenance, call Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today.

5 Tips for Commercial Roof Leak Prevention

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

Roof leaks can pose serious problems for commercial buildings, causing structural damage that extends far beyond the leak. Facility managers should have someone on call who knows how to fix a leaking roof, but the best protection against leaks is to prevent them in the first place.

Tips on How to Prevent a Roof Leak

Perform regular inspections:

Storms and fallen trees aren’t the only things that can cause leaks. Damage can occur slowly over time and go unnoticed without regular inspections. Facility managers should walk their roofs regularly to examine for leaks and call in a professional roofer at least several times a year to perform more thorough inspections.

Call in a professional:

A lot of facility managers may have someone on staff who knows how to patch a roof leak in an emergency, but only a professional roofer has the know-how to prevent further damage and leaks. Just because water has stopped coming into the building doesn’t mean that a leak is fixed. A professional roofer will have special equipment to detect hidden leaks and know how to identify damage that isn’t obvious.

Create a maintenance schedule:

The best roofers don’t just know how to fix a roof leak, they are partners throughout the entire life of a roof. Every new roof should come with a maintenance plan and a forecast assessment. When it comes to leaks, a good offense is the best defense.

Trim trees and clear debris:

A building’s surroundings determine the longevity of a roof almost as much as the quality of the roof does. Surrounding trees can fall in a storm, posing serious threats to a roof. Trimming nearby trees and clearing debris from a roof after a storm can protect roofs from developing leaks.

Be aware of problem areas:

Leaks can happen anywhere on a roof, but there are a few common hotspots that tend to attract leaks. Roof penetrations, like skylights and vents, are vulnerable to wear and tear that may develop into a leak. High traffic where workers regularly stand, like areas near HVAC units or other equipment, spring leaks often. Facility managers should give these areas regular attention and monitor them for leaks.

For a quote on a management program for your commercial roof, contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today.