Employee Spotlight: Dan Maxwell

Born and raised in Nashville, Dan Maxwell grew up interested in manufacturing. After graduating from high school, he went to Tennessee Technological University and then entered an apprenticeship program for tool designers. After graduating, Dan entered the manufacturing industry, where he spent 15 years. Dan joined the family business almost 30 years ago when his brother John was looking to expand.

Current Role

Dan works at Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. as a company Vice President and Senior Estimator. He works alongside the sales department to determine the approximate costs of different projects. To do that, Dan and his team determines the scope of work for a given project and establishes pricing for each element. Based on this proposal, Dan and other estimators write proposals for the project and work orders for the materials once the project is contracted. To make these estimates, Dan works with facility managers, building owners, designers, and general contractors. Dan’s precision and technical knowledge is what makes him so valuable to the Maxwell team. He is dedicated to solving problems and establishing the proper scope of work. Dan is able to look at the overall building envelope and assist in discussing other issues or conditions with anyone from facility managers to building owners, while also diagnosing the roofing problems and providing cost-effective solutions. 

Why Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. Stands Out  

Dan loves working on the Maxwell team because of the company’s core values of professionalism, quality, and safety. By being a family-owned business, Dan says the team feels closer and more accountable to each other.

“I love working alongside individuals who display integrity and professionalism,” Dan said. “I think that’s what makes Maxwell Roofing like a family and what makes the company successful.”

Personal

When he’s not working, Dan likes to spend time with his wife and five kids at home. The family also has a cat and a dog. Dan and his son enjoy biking, hiking, and camping together, and when he’s at home, Dan likes to work on his house. Dan’s favorite place to travel is to Florida’s beaches. 

Client Spotlight: RCP Companies

RCP Companies was founded in 2013 as a boutique real-estate company focused on mixed-use properties. RCP’s portfolio includes everything from commercial spaces to offices and residential properties. RCP handles every aspect of real estate development, from construction through planning and property management. The company focuses on properties that contribute positively to a community and help create extraordinary experiences for the people that use the spaces.

RCP consists of a team of 15 highly-motivated team of individuals with diverse expertise and backgrounds in real estate development, marketing, construction, finance, management, and vertically integrated elements including retail, hospitality, and tech. RCP’s unique skill set and cohesive process contribute to its mission—to promote innovative economic and cultural drivers and authentic places that improve the quality of life within the communities they serve.

The Opportunity

RCP’s clients and customers consist of a wide variety of businesses. As is a highly-proactive, boutique real estate firm, RCP’s clients are international and national tenants, non-profits, architectural firms, members of the community, and more. It’s because of this company model that RCP eventually found the services of Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. in 2014. For the past six years, Maxwell’s team has provided RCP with a variety of services on multiple facilities for RCP, including: emergency leak repair services, larger scope repairs that address ongoing issues in localized areas, and budgeting and project development to assist in the re-roof process. 

The Solution

When it comes to what makes the relationship with Maxwell Roofing so good, RCP’s Property Manager Jessica Partington says, “Maxwell Roofing provides cost-effective and detailed service to our projects. The team’s detailed reporting assists us in tenant and other vendor communications regarding any rooftop deficiencies.” This high level of service is a big part of what makes Maxwell such a great roofing partner for RCP. Since working with Maxwell Roofing, RCP has seen and improved workflow when it comes to its ongoing commercial roofing needs. Partington affirms, “Maxwell’s roofing inspections have allowed better long-term project forecasting to prioritize facility needs.” Since RCP works with businesses of all types and sizes, having a commercial roofing partner like Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. has proven to be of utmost importance.

How to Maximize the Life of Your Commercial Roof

Commercial roofs are a big investment. Business owners who are about to spend big money on a new roof are probably wondering, What is the life expectancy of a roof? 

Brand new roofs should last long enough to make the building owner’s investment worth it, but that isn’t always the case. So, what is the life of a roof? It depends on how you treat it. There are many factors in determining the life expectancy of a roof. Here are some tips for making that new roof last as long as possible:

1. Schedule regular inspections.

Professional roofing inspections help catch roof problems early on and repair them before they can affect the long-term health of the roof. Facility managers should perform regular self-inspections for obvious roof damage, and a professional should come by a few times a year for a forecast assessment. Roofing forecasts can help predict future maintenance needs and help facility managers plan for upcoming costs.

2. Create a maintenance plan.

Maintenance is the single most important thing that a building owner can do to extend the life of a roof. Using information from professional forecast assessments, building managers should be able to create a detailed schedule for minor repairs and roof part replacements. Programs like our own MAXCare® create no-hassle roof management plans for property owners. MAXCare® automatically schedules maintenance and inspections so property managers never miss an important roof check up. 

3. Plan for emergencies.

Even the best maintenance plan can’t control the weather. Storms, falling trees, and other emergencies are always a risk. To be sure that an uncontrollable calamity doesn’t affect the life of your roof, you should have an emergency plan. Responding quickly in an emergency can prevent the need for a major repair or roof replacement, this is why MAXCare® includes 24/7 emergency response. 

4. Choose more durable materials if buying a new roof.

The typical life of a commercial roof made with conventional materials is anywhere between 10 to 30 years, depending on installation and how it is treated, but what is the life of a metal roof? Metal roofs can last up to 70 years depending on the materials used. If you’re buying a new roof or are in need of a roof replacement, consider a long-lasting material like metal.

To learn more about how to extend the life of your commercial roof, contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today.

Energy-Efficiency Tips for Commercial Roofs

Commercial roofs protect buildings from weather and house important building equipment, but many people don’t know that roofs can also play a big role in making a building more energy efficient. With the right kind of roof, building owners can better insulate their building, improving energy efficiency and saving money each month on electricity bills. 

Here are a few common questions about energy efficiency and roofing:

What roofing material is most efficient?

The cardinal rule of roof energy efficiency is to use a lighter-colored roofing material. A white or light-colored roof will reflect the sun away from a roof, making the building easier to cool in the summer. 

The most efficient roofing material will vary from climate to climate but many different kinds of material can be painted white, including membranes and rubber that are commonly used on commercial roofs.

Are metal roofs efficient?

Metal is one of the most efficient roofing materials. The reflective material can help building owners save up to 40 percent on energy costs. Cool metal roofing uses a highly reflective coating to extend these energy savings even further. These materials are ENERGY STAR® rated for their superior energy efficiency capabilities.

Metal roofs also seal in temperatures excellently. Because metal is more durable than other materials, it protects the insulation that lies beneath it. This makes insulation last longer and perform better than with other types of roofing material. 

What roofs qualify for a tax credit?

Residential home improvements that include an energy efficiency element can usually qualify for a tax credit. Similar energy efficiency tax credits for commercial buildings expired in 2017.

The only tax credit now available for commercial roofs is through a general equipment deduction made available through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which passed in 2017. The particular type of roofing material doesn’t matter for this tax cut, and building improvements up to $1 million may be covered.

Will a new roof save energy?

The potential for a new roof to save energy depends on a number of factors, but it’s likely that a new roof will be able to deliver some energy savings. To maximize the energy efficiency for a new roof consider the following tips:

  • Choose a reflective material like metal to direct the sun’s rays away from the building.
  • Ensure that the roof provides proper ventilation.
  • Paint your roof a light color or coat it with a reflective coating.
  • Consider fasteners for solar panels or set up a vegetative roof.

To learn more about how to improve the energy efficiency of your commercial roof, contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal today.

4 Ways Architecture Can Affect Commercial Roofing

As the chief designer of a building, an architect’s decisions affect every part of a building, including the roof. While the architect is responsible for the overall building, they will usually hire a consultant to ensure that the building’s architecture works together with the roof’s design. Here are a few ways that roofing architecture can affect the function and design of a commercial roof.

1. The building envelope.

Roofs play an important role in waterproofing and weather-proofing a building. The protective membrane that roofs use to keep the inside of a building safe is known as the building envelope. Architecture and design of a building can change the types of membranes and protective coverings that can be used on a roof, which in turn can affect how well the roof functions as the building’s most important protective service. Architects often rely on roofing consultants to help ensure that the building envelope can be optimized to work well with the design and still prevent leaks.

2. Weather ready design.

Different climates and weather patterns determine roof needs. Buildings in places with hurricanes or heavy rain and snow need roof designs that protect it from those weather events. Architects may opt for certain roofing materials or vary the pitch of a roof to deal with these weather phenomenons. The building’s architecture will affect the way the roof is designed, but architects should consult a roof technician to ensure that the roof design will be able to fend off the weather.

3. Green design.

The roof is one of the most important elements of buildings that are designed for optimal energy efficiency. Many green buildings use their roofs to support solar panels or vegetative roof systems. Other buildings will use the roof for insulation or skylights. All of these require particular roof architecture and design. Green roof specialists can help with this design process.

4. Architectural roofing.

Architects will often use a roof for a particular design element. While this can do a lot to affect a building’s look and feel, it can also affect the functionality of a commercial roof. It’s important that an architect consult a commercial roofer before completing the final drawings of a building. Roof pitch, roof material, and roof size can all affect the way the roof functions, which can affect the long-term protection of the building.

To learn more about how architectural design and commercial roofing work together to create safe and functional buildings, contact Maxwell Roofing and Sheet Metal today.

5 Reasons Comprehensive Roof Assessments Are a Must

Plenty of things can go wrong with a commercial roof system, but it takes a trained eye to find the small problems. Only a trained roofer can tell what parts of a roof need maintenance and repair, which is what makes regular comprehensive roof assessments a must for any facility manager. Here are just a few of the reasons that roof assessments are so important:

1. Stop a small problem before it becomes a big problem.

What’s an almost undetectable maintenance problem today, could become a leak or major repair down the road. Comprehensive roof assessments give roofers a chance to fix the little things before they become big, expensive problems.

2. Proactively plan your budget.

It’s a lot easier to come up with the money for a repair when you know that it’s coming. A regular roof assessment is the only way to know your roof condition, which allows you to plan for whatever maintenance is in the future.

3. Prepare for the changing seasons.

A small puddle in the summer can become an ice blockage during a winter freeze. An assessment gives a roofer a chance to clear the roof of anything that might become an issue when the season’s change, preventing a major problem later on.

4. Ensure you get the most out of your warranties.

Many roof parts and equipment come with good warranties. To take full advantage of these warranties, the roof needs to be well-maintained and the equipment with the warranty needs to be monitored carefully. Regular roof assessments are a chance to make sure everything is functioning as it should be and to cash in on those warranties if it’s not.

5. Extend the life of your roof.

When paired with maintenance, roof assessments are the best way to extend the life of a commercial roof. If left alone, a roof can develop problems that will eventually threaten its structural integrity. With a regular roof assessment, small repairs are completed before they can become a major leak.

6. Save money.

Roof inspections prevent roofs from developing costly problems, saving your business time and money. While there is an upfront cost for an inspection, it’s nothing compared to the cost of a major repair or re-roof.

To learn more about how Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. can help make your roof last longer with regular assessments, contact us today.