Posts Tagged ‘Minnesota Roofing Contractor’

Minneapolis Green Roofing

Written By: CopperSmith Gutter | Minnesota Seamless Gutters, Minneapolis Copper Gutters Contractor | Published On: 9th September 2009

roofing 150x150 Minneapolis Green RoofingWhen someone refers to having a “green” roof, this doesn’t mean that the roof is the color green. This means that the roof has certain properties that make it environmentally friendly. But not only is a green roof an environmentally friendly roof, it is a roof that saves you money in energy costs because you’ll be using it less often. A green roof is a sustainable roof that has high reflectivity and also has recyclability.

Here are some other statements regarding Minnesota green roofing:

  • Having a white roof offers more reflection than a black roof. Black absorbs heat. Lighter colors will reflect sunlight, which means the home does not absorb so much heat. Not only does this result in a cooler home, but a cooler home results in lowered energy costs.
  • Rooftop garden systems are gaining popularity due to the fact that a natural environment is placed upon the structure. These work best on flat roofs. Some businesses have them and use them as areas in which their employees can enjoy their breaks, while also offering a proper drainage system and natural reflection of sunlight. When someone refers to a “green” roof, this is actually what is being referred to.
  • Some may also consider adding solar panels to their roof “green” roofing. Solar panels provide a certain degree of solar energy into the home or business rather than using electricity. Although the initial cost may seem high, the overall savings far exceeds that cost.

“Green” is used to define roofs that use some kind of technology that conserves energy and is safe for the environment. Many roofing products may sport the Energy Star logo, which shows that the Environmental Protection Agency has certified the product as one that can save you money and is better for the environment. This can apply to attic fans or any other item that you need to make your roofing system complete and more energy efficient.

And even if you don’t have the budget to replace your entire roof, you can look into reflective paints and coatings to lighten your roof so that sunlight is reflected and not absorbed into your roof. Basically, all you need to do is change the color, but the type of roofing that you have will determine whether or not you can do that. This is something you can talk to your Minnesota roofing contractor about so that you can try to achieve a “cool roof” or achieve one to an extent without breaking the bank.

So if you’re passionate about saving the environment or you just want to save some money with a good roof, you now know what a “green” roof is. It is a roof that implements some kind of energy saving aspect. A green roof uses environmentally safe materials, saves energy (which is also great for the environment), and saves you a lot of money during the life of the roof. With more people in Minnesota taking this route, the MN roofing company are definitely gaining their experience.

Minnesota Roof Underlayment Protection

Written By: CopperSmith Gutter | Minnesota Seamless Gutters, Minneapolis Copper Gutters Contractor | Published On: 4th September 2009

Your roof underlayment is a very important part of your roofing system. It is the material that sits beneath your shingles and protects your home from leaks. There are several types of protection that roof underlayment provides on roofs in Minnesota. Those types of protection are:

  • A layer of secondary protection when the wind rips shingles off of your roof
  • Secondary protection when hail or flying debris penetrates your shingles
  • Protection from rain that is wind driven because the rain can find its way between the shingles
  • Secondary protection when shingles are at the end of their life and cracked or blistered shingles cause mat penetration.

Another reason why Minnesota roof underlayment is important is because manufacturer warranties are most likely void without it.

Performance Standards

The roofing industry has set forth certain standards for roof underlayment, so it is very important that the underlayment meet those standards before it is ever used. If it does not meet these standards, then it is possible that warranties may not be covered. The worst issue is the fact that your roof could experience significant damage if you were to lose shingles and your underlayment was not up to par. You could then have to pay out more money for repairs to your home than you would for a better quality underlayment.

Types of Underlayment

There are different types of underlayment that are used with steep slope roofs and residential shingles. Those types of underlayment are:

Roofing felt – Roofing felt comes in different types that range from basic to heavy duty and organic fiberglass. They all differ by weight, but even the heavy duty felt is not as thick and heavy as it used to be due to new technological advances in how to make the felt stand up to the elements better.

Synthetic underlayment – Synthetic underlayment is rather new on the market. Many of these are marketed as tear resistant and wrinkle free. Some Minnesota roofing systems do have these synthetic materials as their underlayment. Many synthetic underlayments exceed the performance standards set forth by the roofing industry. Synthetic is also mold resistant.

Self-adhering underlayment – This type of underlayment is a Minnesota underlayment for the simple fact that it is frequently used in northern states where ice damming is a frequent occurrence. Self-adhering underlayment is frequently installed around the eaves of the roof and in the valleys for the utmost protection. Self-adhering underlayment is also frequently used on low slope roofs such as those on porches or patios.

Finding the Best

Because your underlayment is an important part of your roof and is amongst the materials you will need to choose when staying within your budget, you will need to talk to your Minnesota roofing contractor about what options are available to you. They will be able to provide you with insight on what will work for your roof on your particular budget. You can then make your decision from there and make the best decision for you and your home.