It?s natural that fire is one of the last things we think about when selecting a roofing system. Durability, protection against the elements and toughness often take priority. But when it comes to fire prevention, purchasing the wrong roofing material can be a life-or-death decision.

A flame-resistant roofing system is particularly important for buildings protecting something irreplaceable?people. When covering schools, hospitals, factories, hotels and other buildings bustling with human activity, a roofing membrane with flame-resistant properties will help protect lives.

Materials Matter

Low-slope roofs face a number of incidents, including electrical shorts from mechanics on the roof, lightning strikes, accidental fires caused by individuals working on the roof and even embers from wildfires, fireworks or other sources. How a roof membrane reacts in the face of those challenges is all about what it?s made of.

This video illustrates the difference between four common roofing systems. Notice that FiberTite self-extinguishes due to the optimal chemical composition.

All buildings must meet fire codes. Choosing a roofing system with far superior fire-resistant characteristics is important in all buildings.

Long-Term Effectiveness

When material that hasn?t been exposed to the environment is lab tested for fire-resistant properties, it still contains 100% of the fire-resistant properties. Over time, roofing systems face UV rays, weather and other environmental factors that make them less effective. FiberTite?s DuPont Elvaloy Ketone Ethylene Ester (KEE) ensures the product retains its quality and stability decades longer than other roofing membranes and delivers lasting fire protection.

Real-World Protection

For many decades, FiberTite has been tested repeatedly in the field. Its proven performance standing up to fire helped influence some demanding customers to choose it:

• A Fortune 500 customer replaced a relatively new roof with FiberTite after fireworks caused a roof fire on their distribution center.
• After an electrical short on some rooftop solar panels caused a small fire, a building owner selected FiberTite for the replacement roof.
• The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville specified FiberTite for its appearance and durability to protect its building and artifacts from roofing damage.
• A large theme park in Orlando specified FiberTite specifically to mitigate fires that may be sparked by their nightly fireworks displays.

The difference between meeting building code and exceeding it with an inherently flame-resistant roofing material can be the difference between a non-event and significant damage.

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For a deeper look at how some of the commonly used roofing materials perform when faced with fire, view this comparison.

Fire-resistant materials can play a crucial role in both preventing fires and limiting their damage, making proper fire testing and certification critical if you want your roof to be safe, protective and long-lasting. This whitepaper provides an in-depth look at the comprehensive FM and UL testing processes that expose roofing systems to incredibly challenging environments and threats, and how these major testing agencies assign roofing system classifications based on performance. Download your copy of this whitepaper below for a deeper dive into fire ratings and how we prepare for the worst-case scenarios.

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Roof framing is a challenging job. Like surgeons, all cuts should be accurate to achieve the desired result. Many Houston roofing contractors agree that roof framing requires more skills and knowledge compared to any other framing activities. There are several roof styles and mathematical equations carpenters have to use in order to build a wonderful house. Many experienced home builders admit even master carpenters who build different roofs are not experts in roof framing. This only confirms that the fine art of wood cutting is hard to master.

Simple Craft to Master

The craft of roof framing happened several years ago. Many tricks and refinements require long years of experience to master; however, some basic roof framing tricks can take only half an hour to master. The level of difficulty in framing depends largely on the roof. Many homeowners want to combine multiple roof types in a single roof. One of the most common is a hipped-roof mixed with gable dormers.

Framing Determines Roof Shape

The assembly of one or two roof types is one of the key elements in creating the architectural design of a house and oftentimes makes the craft difficult. Hips, overhangs and dormers add to its framing intricacies. Roof shapes command a degree of difficulty and will confirm the amount that should be spent for the building of the entire roofing structure. Gables, flat or shed roof types are more affordable; however, a combination of these is relatively expensive. Generally, shed is the easiest roof type to assemble.

Framing Factors

To create a beautiful architectural design, Houston roofing contractors must take into account several factors.

• Architectural parameter ? This includes building height, geographical location, materials to use for building construction, additional corners, and valleys.
• Advanced Technology ? Roof framing should be built using advanced techniques. Applied roofing technology determines the strength of the trusses to support all the roofing materials when they are ready to install.
• Attic ? In crafting roof shape, the carpenter should consider the attic since it can be used as a living room or just a simple storage room.
• Skylights ? This added structure creates a weak spot, so the carpenter must ensure that the framing is strong enough to support the additional structure.
• Materials to use ? There are several types of materials that can be used for crafting roof framing. Materials vary from plastics, metals, and solid woods and the latter is the material of choice by most roofers.

Roof framing ranges from simple to complex. Houston roofing contractors must have knowledge on framing irregularities and different roof shapes and the required knowledge for this kind of endeavor can?t be acquired overnight. Lawyers and physicians spend several years perfecting and learning their necessary job skills; the craft of roof framing needs the same time to master. With the modern advances in roof technology, ways were discovered to easily calculate and cut the desired length of rafters by determining the roof pitch and building line. Framing is not hard; however, it does require learning and practice to excel!

Massive storms rolled through North Texas last night, bringing with them lots of lightning and damaging hail. These extreme weather conditions cause millions of dollars in damage each year to Texas homes, specifically to roofs. Last night?s storm was no exception.

The most damaging hail moved east across Plano shortly after 10:15 p.m. Hail was reported as large as 2 inches in diameter. A severe lightning storm also set some roofs on fire. Take a look at the interactive map to see how the storm affected your area.

What to Do After a Hail Storm:

• Walk around your house and check for any damage. Record any issues and take photos.
• Inspect your roof for damage. Keep an eye out for bruising, granule loss, missing shingles, underlayment fracturing and wood splitting. However, many damages are not visible so it?s always best to call a professional right away for a free roof inspection.
• After the inspection, the roofing professional will tell you if your roof has sustained any damage. At this point you?ll need to get your insurance involved. This can be a frustrating process, but don?t worry: Peak Roofing & Construction is an expert on navigating insurance claims and we?ll be there every step of the way.

Things to Remember:

• Always choose a roofing company that offers free roof inspections, is insured and bonded, and has years of experience in the area.
• Having many roofers come out and get on your roof could cause more damage, so try to limit how many people are walking on your roof.
• Don?t wait to call a professional roofer about potential hail damage. The longer you wait the worse off it could be.

When you hear about the metal roofing Ohio offers, whether it?s someone putting one on their home or business, do you know exactly what they?re getting? Are you aware that there are different types of metal roofs consisting of a variety of metals?

If you?re not well versed in this area, below is a breakdown of some of the types of roofs you can have installed on your home or business, as well as a list of benefits.

Metal Roofing: The Benefits

The metal roofing Ohio homes and businesses are adorned with offers a lot of great benefits, but the main one is longevity. These systems have a tremendous lifespan; the lifespan of a metal roof is typically four or five times the length of an asphalt shingled roof.

But lifespan isn?t the only benefit of having a metal roof. They are typically lighter and easier to install than other materials, and can often be installed over a current roof. Also, metal roofing can help prevent fires from spreading when fire-engulfed items fall on them.

The Most Popular Metal Choices: Galvanized Steel and Aluminum

When you?re talking about metal roofing in Columbus Ohio, the materials these roofs are made of are likely galvanized steel or aluminum. Galvanized steel is a heavier and sturdier option to aluminum, whereas aluminum is a lightweight option?used mostly on homes. And while galvanized steel is coated to prevent rust (typically with a zinc coating), aluminum naturally prevents rust. As far as painting is concerned, galvanized steel roofs typically come with a durable painted finish, whereas aluminum roofs typically need to be painted.

Other Metal Options: Copper, Alloy, and Stainless Steel

Although it?s typically more expensive than other roofing installation materials, copper has a myriad of benefits. Copper roofs have a longer lifespan and are very low maintenance; they will not rust, and don?t require a finish that can peel or scratch over time.

If you?re looking for a very tough option for your metal roofing, Ohio, you may want to look into alloy roofing. With alloy roofing, it can be pricey, but you?re going to get a strong product that weathers well and is very durable. If you don?t want to deal with any rust or corrosion, you may want to look into stainless steel roofing. Like copper and alloy, stainless steel tends to be on the expensive side, but its ability to prevent rust or corrosion may be enough for which to spend the extra money.

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