Metal Roofing Blog

Before we can explain how to prevent an ice dam from forming on your roof let us first explain what an ice dam is, what causes them, how they are formed and why we have to get rid of them in the first place.

An ice dam is nothing more than a ridge of ice that forms at the bottom edge of your asphalt shingle roof that prevents snow from draining off your roof. They are formed when the heat from inside your home rises through your ceiling and the attic and warms the roof surface. This is turn causes the bottom layer of snow to melt and flow down to the parts of the roof that remain below the freezing point.

This is easily visible on houses that have a section of the roof that extends past the structure of the home. So how is this harmful? The water that flows down freezes and forms a layer of ice that prevents the melting snow from flowing off of the roof. The water that is being held back from the damn will then begin to freeze. From this point the water can seep under the shingles and freeze pushing the shingles up and allowing more water to seep in under the roof covering and possibly into parts of your home. So how can this be prevented?

How to Prevent an Ice Dam

Since the main culprit of the formation of an ice dam is indoor heat loss the easiest way to prevent them from forming is keeping a consistent temperature in your attic. If you ask any shingle roofing contractor, the best way to ensure consistent temperatures is proper insulation and ventilation.

The experts at Global Home Improvement will inspect your ceiling and attic insulation to make sure there are no areas for heat loss that can affect your asphalt shingle roof or fiberglass shingle roof. It will be necessary to seal any gaps around pipes, cables, and wiring that were previously drilled through the attic floor. From the inside of your home you may have to weather strip your attic door and seal any recessed light fixtures. And, while it may seem counter-intuitive, you have to keep attic vents open so the air temperature under the roof is the same as the air temperature over the roof.

For more information on Preventing Ice Dams or to set up a free in-home estimate call Global Home Improvement at 888-234-2929 or visit online.

Copyright Global Home Improvement 2013. Serving PA, NJ, NY and DE.

If you are searching the web for answers on how to properly ventilate an asphalt roof you have already discovered that there is no definitive answer. There are several things that go into the equation when calculating roof ventilation. What you have probably read is the importance of roof ventilation. In the summer months ventilation will reduce excessive heat and humidity build-up. In the winter months, ventilation will reduce condensation and prevent ice dams.

A roofing expert will have to determine total attic square footage, slope of your roof, venting requirement, and what type of product will be the best fit for your particular home. A roofing expert has to keep in mind what type of climate your home is in to properly ventilate your asphalt roof. In humid climates too much air intake can create moisture problems in your attic. In dry climates too little air intake can have the opposite effect. So what can happen if your roof has inadequate ventilation?

• Wood member rotting
• Formation of ice dams in winter months
• Buckling of roofing shingles
• Moisture accumulation in roof deck
• Shortened life cycle of roof

Did you know that attic ventilation is required by the Uniform Building Code, International Building Code, Standard Building Code and the BOCA National Building Code? Unfortunately for homeowners there is not one application that can be used for all asphalt roofing systems or fiberglass shingle roofing. So how do you ventilate your roof?

Asphalt Roof Ventilation Equation

For most residential roofs the standard for home builders and roofing contractors is a ratio of 1 sq/ft of ventilation for every 300 sq/ft of flat attic area. The caveat is that there has to be equal air intake and air exhaust. Your common sense may be telling you to put additional insulation under the roof sheathing or between the rafters of your roof.

Doing so can cause moisture and lead to damage to both the sub-roofing as well as your shingles. Excess insulation can also lead to increased temperatures in your attic and your roof shingles. Roof temperatures can decrease the longevity of your roof.

Benefits of Roof Ventilation

• Maximizes roofs longevity
• Prevents condensation
• Prevents ice-dams
• Reduces heating and cooling costs

Quick Ventilation Fixes

If you do not have an air intake or an exhaust ventilation system you will probably need to install a continuous soffit intake and ridge line outlet vent. If you have only soffit vents only you will probably need to install continuous ridge venting. If you only have ridge vents you will probably need to install continuous soffit vents at the eaves. If you only have gable vents you may need to add a continuous soffit intake along with ridge outlet vents. If you have any questions or would like to learn more contact our shingle roofing experts now.

For more information on Asphalt Shingle Roofing or to set up a free in-home estimate call Global Home Improvement at 888-234-2929 or visit online.

Copyright Global Home Improvement 2013. Serving PA, NJ, NY and DE.

Gutters are a much needed, much ignored and often overlooked element of our homes. Ironically, nearly every building inspector will insist on every home maintaining working gutters while nearly every home builder slap on the cheapest product that can be found. Why not, gutters are only there to direct rain water off of your roof, right?

Wrong, the truth is that gutters are one of the main means of protecting your home as poorly functioning gutters can cause not only leaks in your roof but excess water near the foundation of your home making it vulnerable for penetration inside your home. So what is the difference between cheap gutters and seamless gutters installed by the experts at Global Home Improvement?

Not all gutters are created equal. Here are several reasons to choose seamless gutters over the leading competitor:

1. Beauty: Our seamless gutters are created and installed at location. This allows the homeowner to choose from a variety of colors, not just white that you commonly see around your neighborhood. And you will not have to worry about repainting your new gutters because the color is added in the manufacturing process and is designed to not fade.
2. Tougher: Gutters installed by Global Home Improvement include more than 20% more metal than the other guy’s product giving it the ability to withstand the elements and preventing sagging in all the wrong places.
3. Leak Prevention: Traditional gutters have joints or seams every eight or so feet. Those joints are just another place that water can leak. With few exceptions seamless gutters have no joints. Less joints equals less leaks.
4. Warranty: How many gutter manufacturers provide a limited lifetime warranty? The answer is not too many. If something goes wrong with your gutters or the installation, you are covered. We guarantee our product.
5. Maintenance Free: Our gutters are completely self supporting and include a self-filtration system to keep gutters unclogged. How many gutter companies can say their product is virtually maintenance free?

Still not convinced? Global Home Improvement not only uses oversized downspouts and integrated gutter options to ensure your gutter remains debris free but guarantees that they will function correctly for years to come.

For more information on EPDM 20 Year Flat Roofing or to set up a free in-home estimate call Global Home Improvement at 888-234-2929 or visit online.

Copyright Global Home Improvement 2013. Serving PA, NJ, NYand DE.

The inherent problem with vinyl windows is in its name, vinyl. All windows expand and contract with temperature changes but vinyl itself expands more than most of its traditional counterparts and twice that of wood. In fact, the windows used by most vinyl window contractors begins to soften and distort at 165°F, a temperature that is easily reached on a sunny day. So how does temperature cause my window to fail?

Your window is made up of two major parts, the vinyl structure of the window and the glass itself. Because vinyl expands an estimated seven times father than glass with each degree of temperature, it will often cause the seal between the vinyl framework and the glass to fail. What makes matters worse is that the problem will increase with the size of the window. The larger the window, the larger the sash, the greater the probability of failure.

According to a 2006 United States Department of Energy fact sheet, the vinyl used in vinyl windows “may expand and warp at high temperatures and crack at low temperatures.” This reoccurring cyclical expansion and contraction causes enough stress to break window seals allowing moisture to fill in the air space between your window panes. Common sense tells us that if you live in an area of the country that experiences varying temperatures throughout the year, vinyl windows, although inexpensive at first may not be the best answer.

In addition to the aforementioned problems, sunlight and UV rays can fade vinyl replacement window colors other than white and cause yellowing in the surface of the vinyl. And, unfortunately vinyl products including window frames cannot be painted easily. UV rays can also lead to cracks and damages in the frame of the windows. Over a period of time the frame will chip away so that it needs to be replaced or repaired with sealant. This cracking can also lead to air leakage and weathering problems.

Another unsightly problem is warping due to extreme temperature changes. This can lead to dry rot in the surrounding wood frame, which may lead to yet another home project, only time it will be more than installing a replacement window.

For more information on EPDM 20 Year Flat Roofing or to set up a free in-home estimate call Global Home Improvement at 888-234-2929 or visit online.

Copyright Global Home Improvement 2013. Serving PA, NJ, NYand DE.

Most homeowners refer to them as rubber roofs. Most roofing contractors refer to them as ethylene propylene diene monomer roofs, or EPDM roofs for short. With a life expectancy of 50 years and a 20 Year Warranty there is no wonder why rubber roofing has become the most common choice for flat and low-sloping roofs in the United States.

A recent study performed by Environmental Resources Management, a leading sustainability consultant company, and published in Professional Roofing Magazine, evaluated a number of EPDM Roofs across 9 states that had been installed for at least 16 to 26 years. All 33 roofs evaluated were found to be “watertight and functional with no obvious effect from long-term exposure to water, ultraviolet radiation, ozone, heat and thermal cycling.”

Why Choose EPDM?

The product itself has superior flexibility and high strength and can easily contour to fit the shape of just about any roof. Worried about going Green? Newer generations of rubber roofing are made of recycled tires, saw dust and slate and  are coated with a silver epoxy that add energy reflectance and energy efficiency by keeping your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. This epoxy provides increased reflectivity which allows customers to conserve energy and realize additional savings instantly.

Performance Benefits

• Has the roofing industry’s longest average service life
• High resistance to severe weather conditions including hail and pooling water
• Superior resistance to extreme heat and fire
• Recyclable and made from recycled materials
• Durable to thermal shock
• Shows superior resistance to ultraviolet radiation
• Has superior resistance to cyclic fatigue

Installation Benefits

• No torches or asphalt are required, making installation safer
• Less weight on your roof than mod-bit 2-ply systems
• Larger rolls mean fewer seams, allowing for quicker installation
• Faster installation means less disruption for building occupants
• Year round application

If you live in the northeastern region of the United States you are no stranger to extreme weather conditions. With weather temperatures varying between 100°F in the summer and 0°F in the winter, you simply cannot afford to choose the cheap alternative when it comes to protecting your home. EPDM Roofing by Global Home Improvement will flex and resist all changes in temperature without cracking or peeling. And most roofs can be covered in one piece which means less chance of a leak between seems.

For more information on EPDM 20 Year Flat Roofing or to set up a free in-home estimate call Global Home Improvement at 888-234-2929 or visit online.

Copyright Global Home Improvement 2013. Serving PA, NJ, NYand DE.

While you may be hearing about this product for the first time, fiber cement or cementitious siding has been around since the late 1980’s. Designed to look like wood but have the longevity and benefits of vinyl siding, fiber cement siding it is manufactured to never rot, burn or serve as food for certain wood eating insects.

In fact, for the 7^th consecutive year Remodeling Magazine has ranks upscale fiber cement exterior home siding as the #1 improvement project when it comes to delivering the highest return at resale. Do you need more benefits of James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding? Here Goes!

Reason # 1
Design Versatility – With a variety of different textures and profiles James Hardie fiber cement includes color accuracy, color matching, consistency of the paint application, fade resistance and finish longevity.

Reason # 2
Great Warranty – James Hardie Fiber Cement siding comes with a 30 year limited transferable warranty and all ColorPlus Technology finishes are warranted for 15 years.

Reason # 3
Environmentally Friendly – In addition to the Jamies Hardie using only raw materials found within 500 miles of its manufacturing facilities, the product itself is made with low toxicity of raw materials including wood pulp, cement, sand and water (recycled up to 4 times).

Reason # 5

Exceptional Durability – James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding is designed to last against cracking, rotting, hail damage, and is resistant to wood boring insects. In severe weather climates like the hot summers and cold winters that we see in the northeast Unite States, there is no siding more durable.

Reason # 6
Fire Safety – James Hardie manufacturers durable, non-combustible fiber cement siding that does not catch on fire and will not ignite, and thus carries a Class A flame spread rating. It resists flame spread and is recognized for installation where non-combustible construction is required.

Reason # 7
Cost – According to R.S. Means data the total installed cost, which includes materials, installation, and paint/stain for fiber cement on a new home is roughly 75% less than natural stone, 35% less than cedar, and 25% less than wood.

Reason # 8
Paint – Fiber cement siding is often primed during the manufacturing process and then painted during installation to protect against moisture penetration. Fiber cement is made to hold paint well with certain products warranted to hold paint up to 25 years.

Reason #9
Historical Homes – Fiber cement products can be used in historic preservation areas where most other cladding materials are forbidden.

Reason #10
Moisture Resistance – The combination of James Hardie fiber cement siding with the HardieWrap weather barrier offers a premium, non-woven water-resistive barrier that is manufactured thicker for exceptional tear resistance while providing a balance of water holdout and breathability.

For more information on fiber cement siding or to set up a free in-home estimate call Global Home Improvement at 888-234-2929 or visit online.

Copyright Global Home Improvement 2013. Serving PA, NJ, NYand DE.

It is no secret that cost is a big factor when it comes to choosing the best material to clad your home, which is why twice as many homeowners in the United States side their homes with exterior vinyl siding than any other material on the market. Taking it one step farther, Insulated Vinyl Siding is a good low-cost alternative than many comparable products.

Compared to traditional vinyl siding, its insulated vinyl counterpart increases the R-value of your home which means reduced energy bills throughout the year. While both types of siding come in a variety of colors to choose from and require little to no maintenance, insulated vinyl siding also offers better weather performance and better sound control properties.

1. Many options to choose from – comes in a variety of finishes, styles and colors so you can be sure to find what you are looking for
2. Energy efficient – our insulation provide the industry best energy savings for homeowners with a system R-value of up to 5.3
3. Less seams – 39% longer than the traditional twelve foot panel our product will wield a straighter, cleaner exterior and even reduce wall irregularities
4. Return on investment – installation of insulated vinyl siding can yield higher than an 80% return on investment due to increased energy efficiency and lower energy bills
5. Aesthetics – there is no dollar figure put on improving the look and feel of your home through the variety of styles, colors and finishes offered
6. Weather durability – can handle virtually all types of weather including high temperatures, extreme seasonal weather changes and strong winds
7. Maintenance requirements – requires little to no maintenance as the vinyl siding will not face over time
8. Easy installation – a high r-value housewrap can be installed in less than a day so you won’t have to worry about the annoying contractors around the house
9. Repairability – in the rare case that a part of your siding is damaged it can be easily replaced by the even the homeowner
10. Durability – insulated vinyl siding will not rot or become damaged from water, mold, insects or long-term exposure from the sun

Still Not Convinced?

If you are still not convinced that Prodigy Insulated Vinyl Siding is your best choice for cladding your home consider this: air leakage can account for up to 30% or more of a home’s heating and cooling energy. Vinyl siding offers no form of insulation for your home while insulated vinyl siding installed by the experts at Global Home Improvement can have a system R-value of up to 5.3. Need even more?

Sustainable Solutions Corporation recently conducted a life cycle assessment, which identifies the environmental impact of a product over its lifespan including the extraction, processing, manufacturing, transportation, distribution, use, reuse, maintenance, recycling and disposal of the product. Insulated vinyl siding has one of the lowest life cycle assessments in the industry easily outperforming brick, stucco and dry-vit.

For more information on recycling asphalt shingles or to set up a free in-home estimate call Global Home Improvement at 888-234-2929 or visit online.

Copyright Global Home Improvement 2013. Serving PA, NJ, NYand DE.

Where do you recycle asphalt shingles? Why should I recycle asphalt shingles? Why doesn’t everybody recycle asphalt shingles? These are all great questions worth asking and all great questions worth answering.

Rough estimates predict that between two-thirds and four-fifths of houses in the United States are equipped with asphalt shingles. Constructed as a by-product of petroleum refining, approximately 12.5 billion square feet of shingles are manufactured in the United States each year. So what happens to the old shingles when a homeowner decides out with the old and in with the new?

Well approximately 11 million tons of asphalt waste is generated in the United States each year. In fact asphalt shingles alone make up 8% of building related waste and nearly 10% of construction and demolition debris. Studies show that recycling one ton of shingles is the equivalent to avoiding the use of one to two barrels of oil. Imagine, if we were to recycle all asphalt shingles we could be saving the equivalent of 11 million to 22 million barrels of oil.

At the time this article was written a barrel of oil cost $97.10, according to CNN.com. This would amount to over $2 billion worth of oil. But how are these recycled shingles are used? Recycled asphalt shingles can be used for:

• paving applications
• aggregate for road construction – helps minimize dust, reduce vehicle noise and leads to a longer road life
• manufacturing new shingles – with mixed success some manufacturers are making advances in using factory scraps
• cold patch asphalt – the mix improves performance because of the fiberglass or cellulose content of the shingles
• feed stock/fuel for cement kilns and coal-fired boilers
• energy recovery

The cost of recycling asphalt shingles at a local plant is generally less than the disposal cost at a landfill so not only is recycling cheaper for the contractor but it eventually can be cheaper for the homeowner by pass through costs. When these shingles are then reused for paving, studies show a significant reduction in paving costs. How does this affect you?

The public sector spends billions of dollars operating and maintaining roadways in the United States each year. Economic estimates from the Northeast Recycling Council conclude that incorporating even 5% of scrap shingles can reduce the cost as much as $2.80 per ton of gravel used. Additionally, performance tests indicate that the use of shingles in asphalt mixes help reduce ruts and cracks leading to a longer life cycle of roads. This means lower highway construction and repair costs for taxpayers.

For more information on recycling asphalt shingles or to set up a free in-home estimate call Global Home Improvement at 888-234-2929 or visit online.

Copyright Global Home Improvement 2013. Serving PA, NJ, NYand DE.

If you have taken part in any major home improvement in your lifetime you are familiar with the term R-value. Without going into too much detail you probably know that in theory the higher the R-value the better insulation the product provides. What R-value measures is a product’s resistance to heat flow through a given thickness of material.

Regardless of where you live in the United States and what time of year it is your home should be constructed with enough insulation to keep you comfortable. After all, a home with enough insulation will help lower the cost of heating and cooling your home throughout the year. Insulated vinyl siding is designed to reduce heat flow keeping warm air inside in the winter and warm air outside in the winter.

Many homeowners are lead to believe by contractors that the best way to increase the R-value of perimeter walls in an existing home requires gutting walls, re-insulating, and patching any holes created. While this will most certainly increase the total R-value of your home there is a more modern, less invasive alternative; insulated vinyl siding.

Why do I need Insulated Vinyl Siding?

Twice as many homeowners in the United States side their homes with exterior vinyl siding than any other material on the market. The truth is while ordinary vinyl siding offers no form of insulation for your home, insulated vinyl siding can prevent some of the air leakage that can account for 30% or more of a home’s heating and cooling energy, according to the United States Department of Energy.

This air leakage occurs because of thermal bridging, or more simply put if an insulating product joins a non-insulating product heat will find the path of least resistance and heat transfer will take place. In the case of your home the heat will escape through wall studs as opposed to insulation between the studs. Insulated vinyl siding creates a continuous heat barrier that can fully seal the exterior of your home.

Is Insulated Vinyl Siding an Energy Star Rated Product?

Most energy codes and government programs recognize insulated vinyl siding which can help qualify new homes under the Energy Star program. And, the Department of Energy and the United States Environmental Protection Administration recognize the energy efficiency benefits of insulated vinyl siding. ASTM International developed the standards and performance requirements, which include a minimal R-value of at least R-2.0. The industry leading insulated vinyl siding installed by Global Home Improvement can have a system R-value of up to R-5.3

Do you want the vinyl siding with the highest R-value?

The experts at Global Home Improvement install the thickest, energy-saving insulated vinyl siding product the industry has to offer. If the over 20 colors to choose from in variety of styles is not enough to persuade you perhaps the industry leading lifetime-transferable warranty is. Other benefits of insulated vinyl siding include:

• possible substantial reduction in energy bills
• locking mechanism that stand extreme winds
• colors that are protected from weathering for life
• scratch and ding resistant performance compound
• thickest foam in the industry up to 1-1/2 inches

For more information on insulated vinyl siding or to set up a free in-home estimate call Global Home Improvement at 888-234-2929 or visit online.

Copyright Global Home Improvement 2013. Serving PA, NJ, NYand DE.