Month: March 2021

4 Top Trends in Corporate Roofing

Posted on by John Maxwell

Well-constructed, high quality roofing never goes out of style, but commercial roofing is always changing as technology improves and designs shift. At Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc., we are always monitoring the top trends in corporate roofing to ensure that our customers get the best products and services.

Here are a few of the latest trends we are seeing in new corporate building roofs:

1. Designer Roofs

While flat, utilitarian roofs are still popular in commercial real estate, more companies are choosing to make a design statement with their new roofs or roof replacements. Metal roofing is becoming a more popular option for businesses. Metal roofs help a building stand out and are also one of the most durable roofing materials. Buildings with steep-sloped roofs can also use traditional materials like asphalt shingles or slate to give the business a more welcoming feel.

2. Eco-Friendly Roofing

More and more businesses are making efforts to go green, and those efforts are starting to extend to rooftops. One growing trend is to build a green roof of soil and vegetation on the roof deck. Green roofs help keep man-made chemicals from draining off buildings into the environment, and they also help prevent buildings from heating up the air around them. Solar roofs are also becoming more popular. Using solar panels, roofs can generate renewable electricity for the building.

3. Energy-Efficient Roofing

With proper insulation and carefully selected materials, the roof can play a big role in a corporate building’s energy efficiency. Cool roofs, which use a lighter color of paint to reflect light away from the buildings, have become a popular way to keep air conditioning use down in a building.

4. New Roofing Materials

Asphalt is no longer the only thing corporate offices consider putting on their rooftops. Metal, rubber, and synthetic materials have all started making their way into the roofing industry. The emergence of new materials lets corporate building owners choose what is most important to their businesses and buildings, whether it’s durability, easy maintenance, or fire-proofing.

Industry Trends

While roofing trends dictate the look and design of new buildings, the industry itself is also changing to better serve their customers’ changing needs. Trends among roofing contractors in the industry include using software to monitor maintenance schedules and are also using new technology like drones to make inspections safer and faster. 

If your company is planning for a new roof in the days ahead, make sure that your commercial roofing company is also up to date on all the industry trends. If you’re ready to get started, contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today! Our team is experienced and ready to help.

5 Ways MAXCare® Can Save the Day for Property Managers

Posted on by John Maxwell

Keeping up with commercial roof maintenance can be a challenging part of a property manager’s job. Property management companies must juggle roof problems, maintenance plans, and keep roofs clean at multiple properties at once. 

With so much to keep track of, it’s easy for property managers to miss roof repairs or fall behind on documentation. That’s why we recommend turning these tasks over to a reputable commercial roofing company. At Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc., we have a roof management program called MAXCare® that helps companies keep their properties in the best shape possible. Here are just a few of the reasons why enrolling in MAXCare® is the best long-term maintenance advice we can give you.

1. Make roofs last longer.

A commercial roofing system is one of the complex parts of a building and one of the most difficult to maintain. MAXCare® helps property managers keep up with routine maintenance by scheduling ongoing roof inspections with qualified roofing contractors. These inspections are helpful for assessing the overall condition of the current roof system, uncovering roof damage, and providing repair solutions to the client. With MAXCare®, property management companies can expect to get the full life out of their roofs and delay the expense of roof replacement.

2. Avoid costly repairs.

Minor roofing issues can become big problems if ignored. With MAXCare®, you get regular monitoring on all your roofs so that any problems are caught before they become catastrophic. At a rental property, damage caused by a roofing issue could also affect income or require payment in damages. MAXCare® helps property managers save money over time by helping to prevent major damage and costly repairs.

3. Stick to a schedule.

Every building and every roof is different. A metal roof has very different maintenance needs than a built-up roof. For property management groups with an array of different types of roofing in their portfolio, tracking maintenance schedules can be a huge headache. MAXCare® has a convenient online portal where property managers can see all parts of their roof’s maintenance schedules. We provide roof forecasts and track roofing conditions so that property managers can get on with their other work.

4. Prepare for an emergency.

Extreme weather events can happen at any time and affect even well-maintained roofs. MAXCare® gives property managers 24/7 access to Maxwell’s customer service department in case of a roofing emergency. MAXCare® customers also get priority for repairs following extreme weather events.

5. Put reports and budgets at your fingertips.

What really sets MAXCare® apart from other roof management programs is its reporting and documentation. With MAXCare®, property managers have easy access to reports on their roof’s condition and records of maintenance and inspections. This reporting makes sharing information with investors fast and simple. 

If you’re ready to get started, contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today! Our team is experienced and ready to help.

Employee Spotlight: Michael Cox

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

A native of Bramwell, West Virginia, Michael Cox has worked in the roofing industry for more than 30 years. With three decades of experience, he is an excellent fit for our team, and we’re lucky to have him as our Service Manager (and as a Service Superintendent and Foreman prior to that). Michael loves teamwork and communication, making him an asset to the Maxwell Roofing family and our customers.

Current Role

As our Service Manager, Michael inspects jobs in progress and maintains communication with the service technicians and management. He also closely monitors employee performance and safety procedures to ensure that every job is done correctly, efficiently, and safely. 

Michael genuinely enjoys working with his team. He appreciates their strong relationships and propensity for teamwork. “There are 16 people on our team. We all have a strong bond, and we all work together to make the service team strive for success,” said Michael.

Why Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. Stands Out

Michael came to Maxwell Roofing after moving from Pennsylvania to Tennessee. He found that he loves being part of our team because of the open and honest communication and support. “I think we all are excellent communicators and relate easily to others,” he said. Among the other qualities that Michael admires and enjoys about his team is their teamwork, respect, and understanding. “I’m grateful for the responsibility that everyone takes in their positions,” he adds. 

Maxwell Roofing thrives on communication and respect, upholding the integrity of work that our customers expect. Michael’s contributions to our values are just one more reason why we’re happy to have him with us.

Personal

When he’s not overseeing projects, Michael can be found working on his new hobby, painting. You’ll also catch him outside, camping and riding motorcycles. Michael and his wife of 18 years both live with their pet cat, Loretta.

4 OSHA Standards Your Roofing Contractor Must Follow for Government Buildings

Posted on by David Maxwell

Since commercial roofing is a high-risk industry, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) carefully regulates commercial roof systems and the work done to them. Thus, government agencies must be particularly careful about choosing companies that comply with OSHA standards.

Civic, state, and federal government agencies that are on the search for a commercial roofing company should pay attention to the OSHA standards commercial roofs must adhere to in order to ensure they are choosing a safe and reputable contractor. Here are the basic OSHA safety regulations that any roofing company should follow:

1. Fall Protection

The single most important roofing safety requirement is to provide fall protection equipment and training. In construction, OSHA requires fall protection for any employee at risk of falling more than six feet. Fall protection includes things like guardrails, toe boards, and, in certain situations, safety harnesses and ropes. Workers who will be working with fall protection equipment are also required to have job hazard training. This training should be documented and certified to prove that it was performed. 

2. Eliminating Surface Hazards

OSHA requires companies to ensure that their workers have a safe surface to work on. This includes clearing roofs of slip hazards such as ice and ensuring that a roof is structurally sound enough to walk on. For government agencies that need building roof work that is structurally unsound for walking, it’s important to ensure that your roofing company has the equipment and expertise to keep their workers safe under dangerous conditions.

3. Covering Roof Holes and Impalement Hazards

Falling off a roof is not the only danger that roofers face. Buildings often have impalement hazards—or exposed construction materials or building equipment—that need to be covered while workers are on a roof. Roof penetrations like skylights also need to be covered or surrounded by guard rails to prevent workers from falling through them. 

4. Keeping Work Materials Close

Climbing up and down a roof exposes workers to danger. So, to minimize risk, OSHA requires roofers to keep any construction materials they need close to where the construction is taking place on the roof. 

Reputable roofing companies will already have these safety protocols in place. So, be sure to ask your contractor about their compliance with OSHA standards.

If you’re ready to find out how you can implement the proper safety protocols on your commercial roof, contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today! Our team is experienced and ready to help.

What Every General Contractor Should Know About Rooftop Penetrations

Posted on by John Maxwell

No one wants a hole in their building’s roof, but any general contractor knows that sometimes rooftop penetrations are necessary for the functioning of a commercial building. Vent pipes, skylights, HVAC blocks and metal pipes are all common on commercial roofs, and experienced roofing contractors build these out regularly on construction projects.

While general contractors and construction managers need a basic understanding of roof penetrations, it’s always a plus to involve a professional roofer in the process. Here are the things every general contractor should know about rooftop penetrations in order to best inform the process.

What Is a Rooftop Penetration?

A roof penetration is anything that requires a break in the roofing membrane and roof deck. Penetrations are common on flat roofs because they often require pipe penetrations, drainage, and ventilation. Almost every commercial roof will require some type of penetration for the building to function properly. Penetrations are one of the most complex elements of commercial roofing construction, and these areas are the most vulnerable parts of a completed roof.

How Roof Penetrations Work

Roofers use a mix of metal and sealing tools to protect penetrations and keep them watertight. These include flashing and seals, pipe flashing, and roof jacks. Some older commercial roofs may also have pitch pans, which are metal boxes that surround the penetration and are filled with grout. Most commercial roofing companies no longer build new pitch pans because they leak easily. 

Finding the Right Roofing Contractor for Penetrations

A reputable commercial roofing company should be familiar with roofing penetrations. Whether a building needs a vent roof or a flashing roof, the roofing company should be able to design, build, and maintain the penetrations. General contractors should limit their search to roofing contractors that focus on commercial buildings. A lot can go wrong with a roof penetration, so finding a reputable company with experience is paramount. 

Maintaining a Roof Penetration

General contractors should be aware that a roof with penetrations will require more regular maintenance than one without. Flashing, sealant, and other elements of penetrations should be monitored in order to keep the roof waterproof. Even well-built roofing penetrations are vulnerable parts of a completed commercial roof. Be sure to develop a plan with your commercial roofer for how to protect roofing penetrations and keep personnel away from them.

If you’re ready to get started on a new roof project, contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today! Our team is experienced and ready to help.