Duro-Last Roof To Reduce Energy Costs In Your Business

Are you looking for a way to reduce energy costs in your business, but you don’t know where to begin?

Having a Duro-last roof is the way to go. Many commercial buildings all around the United States are choosing this type of roof, considering the amazing reduction in energy costs. 

Continue reading to learn more about why Duro-Last is a great roofing option for your business.

THE MAGIC OF DURO-LAST

Duro-Last is a roofing system known for being extremely durable and easy to install without disturbing operations in the property. These custom-made roofs provide multiple long-term benefits that can give your company the sayings they’ve been looking for.

One of the reasons why this roofing system is being used among companies is due to its energy cost saving benefit. Since Duro-last roofs are metalized polyester films, they reflect up to 88% of the sun’s rays, keeping your building cooler throughout the year.

Duro-Last roofs are perfect for commercial buildings and warehouses to protect your goods from exposure to weather conditions that may affect your room temperature. For many businesses, room temperature is key to maintaining the quality of their goods and ensuring their products are in good condition when they are shipped out.

Another important aspect about Duro-last roofs is that they’re long-lasting and maintenance-free, meaning that they are capable of lasting from 25 to 30 years. That can’t be said about most roofs used in businesses today that have a life of 10-15 years.

Overall, Duro-last roofs are a great investment for your business, whether you have a warehouse or a distributing company. A Duro-last roof reduces costs, prolongs the life of your facility, and helps maintain a good image.

DURO-LAST ROOFS IS IN CORPUS CHRISTI

Vertex Roofing is a certified Duro-last roofing contractor in Corpus Christi, TX, that offers many roofing services to the city. We want to provide our community with the best roofing options in the country. Vertex Roofing specializes in commercial roof replacements, repairs, and Duro-last. Our Duro-last roofing contractors are more than qualified to help you.

At Vertex Roofing, we focused on our 3Ps: people, process, and product, allowing us to be one of the best commercial roofing companies in Corpus Christi, TX.

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Skylights: Let Daylighting Perk Up Your Mood & Space

Daylighting is an ingenious solution to illuminate your indoor spaces in a healthy, energy-efficient way. Using a combination of ample windows, white painted ceilings, and skylights, it’s possible to transform a room from a dreary cave you avoid into a fresh, bright place you enjoy. This transformation is made possible by the power of natural light.
Research shows that people who work where there is ample natural light are more productive and less likely to be absent from work. Whether you do your job in an office or your home kitchen, a skylight lightens your mood and your tasks. Natural light shines brightly on your projects so you have a clear view of your work during daylight hours.

SKYLIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE IN MANY STYLES

Skylights are available in styles to suit any home. These features are made in rectangular, triangular, circular, and other shapes to suit your preference. If you have a very small or narrow space you want to illuminate, a tube type of solar light is available. It has a flexible vent/light stack that can be shaped to even bend around attic obstructions.
If you want the light, but don’t plan to ever open your skylight, there are stationary versions. If you’d like to use a skylight to vent stale air out of a room, there are models with solar-powered or wired-in switches. There are even models that sense when it’s raining and close automatically if you’re away from home.

SKYLIGHTS ARE MOUNTED TO THE ROOF

In order to bring in as much light as possible, a hole is made in your roof to accommodate the skylight or sun tube. There are two main ways skylights are then attached to your roof. The first method is called curb mounting, and the second is called deck mounting.
A curb mount means your roofer builds a wooden frame around the opening where the skylight will sit. The seal around the bottom of the skylight is raised up and supported. Waterproofing—in the form of flashing, caulk, and other sealants—is done to protect the curb mount.
When a skylight is mounted on the deck, the seal at the bottom of the skylight is flush with the roofline. In other words, the skylight is attached directly to the decking. This mounting style provides a more low-profile look and requires less additional work to be energy-efficient.

SKYLIGHT PLACEMENT IS KEY TO YOUR SATISFACTION

Skylights placed in a more horizontal position allow more sunlight and solar gain into the room. Skylights that are mounted at a steeper slope allow less light and heat into rooms.
If you want the most warmth you can get from your skylight in winter, it should be placed on a south-facing part of the roof. This means the room will be warmer in summer also, unless the skylight is placed under the shade of a deciduous tree.
A north-facing roof placement provides plenty of indirect sunlight while the room stays cool. This is a smart choice when you want to add more light but keep cooling bills low.
It’s also important to consider the size of the skylight relative to the room’s square footage. If you’re having a skylight installed in a small space with few or no windows, the skylight should be no larger in area than 15 percent of the floor space. In rooms with abundant windows, the total area of the skylight should take up no more than 5 percent of the floor area.
A professional roofer should always install your skylight. The job is a complicated process requiring precision measurements and experience working on roofs.
The professionals at Vertex Roofing install and maintain high quality skylights throughout the Corpus Christi and San Antonio areas. Contact us today to see what’s new in skylight designs. We also repair and replace skylights for residences and businesses.

Roof Care: What Homeowners Need To Know About Heat And Humidity Control

heat-humidity-control
The hot, wet coastal climate of Corpus Christi causes you to seek respite in your cool, dry house on summer days. However, the humidity and heat aren’t only affecting you—they are affecting your house. Your roof bears a significant heat load during the summer months. Years of exposure to a warm, wet climate can have damaging consequences.
Here’s what you need to know about how the humid weather can affect your roof and what you can do about it.

THE EFFECTS OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY

Unfortunately, the combination of heat and humidity can often significantly decrease the longevity of your shingles. Also, continual exposure to heat from the sun increases your roof’s temperature. Your air conditioner will have to work very hard to cool a home with a hotter roof—a job that is already more difficult when the air is moist.
Humid climates can also lead to moisture problems in the attic. This is especially common in older homes. Many “cookie cutter” or kit homes used house plans that aren’t designed specifically for a humid climate. More recently constructed homes are usually built with the climate in mind, making indoor moisture problems from a poorly designed roof less common.
Finally, moist air can promote mold and moss growth on certain shingle types. The presence of constant moisture and warmth creates a prime growing environment.

WHAT HOMEOWNERS CAN DO

Fortunately, you don’t have to experience any of the problems listed above with some careful planning and maintenance.

PROPER VENTING

You can minimize the effects of heat and humidity on your home’s roof with proper venting. Venting should be installed beneath the roofing layer to help dissipate heat and prevent condensation from forming on the interior of a much cooler home.
Without venting, mold can begin to grow on interior surfaces. You might even start to see signs of water damage as interior condensation begins to drip from the inside of the roof to the top of your ceiling.
Water damage is also common around windows because the exterior walls extend up into the attic space and can collect more moisture. The water slowly leeches down, making pathways around windows. Bubbling drywall and swelling window frames are both signs that you have a serious moisture problem.
Finally, make sure all appliances like your dryer and your bathrooms are properly vented to the outside instead of to your attic.

SHADE

Shade is natural way to reduce the external heat of your roof. Reducing the temperature of your roof can decrease the amount of interior condensation because the difference in temperature will not be as great. Also, shade over your roof surface will decrease the strain on your AC unit.
Planting a shade tree close to your home can be a great, natural investment for your roof.

COOL ROOFING MATERIALS

The most popular roofing material in America is the asphalt shingle. Unfortunately, asphalt is not the best shingle choice for hot and humid climates. If you need to replace your roof, it’s best to choose something with a little more heat resistance that naturally lends itself toward venting. For this reason, clay shingles with their domed design are popular in warm climates.
You can also try using metal or rubber shingles, but always choose a shingle with a light-colored finish. Light-colored roofing materials will reflect more light, meaning they also help to reduce your roof’s temperature.

TIMELY REPAIRS

Postponing a roof repair is never a good idea, but staying on top of repairs when you live in a hot, humid area is especially important. Since many homes have wooden interior structures, anytime the wood is exposed to humidity, the wood may swell and structurally weaken your roof foundation.
You can also try using metal or rubber shingles, but always choose a shingle with a light-colored finish. Light-colored roofing materials will reflect more light, meaning they also help to reduce your roof’s temperature.

DEHUMIDIFIERS

Decrease attic humidity by running a dehumidifier, even if no one uses the attic for living or storage space. You want to prevent mold growth from condensation and increased heat capacity in moist air, so a dehumidifier is a must for all homeowners.
Contact us at Vertex Roofing to install the venting or cool roof material you need to protect your house from humidity damage.

5 Things To Know About Making An Insurance Claim On A Damaged Roof

Damaged roof
If your roof has been damaged, you may be worried about repairs or wondering what to do. Luckily, in many cases, your home insurance policy will pay for the cost of a new roof. Wondering how the process works? Here’s a look at the most important details and the truth behind some common myths.

1. COVERED DAMAGE

Insurers offer different levels of coverage, and you should contact your insurance company directly to see what’s covered. However, in most cases, homeowner’s insurance covers unpreventable damage such as that caused by fires or vandalism. For example, if a firecracker lands on your roof and starts a fire, your homeowner’s policy should usually cover that type of damage.

Similarly, acts of nature including hurricanes, tornadoes, hail storms, and wind are also usually covered.

2. AMOUNT OF COVERAGE

Some policies cover the entire cost of replacing your roof. In these cases, you only pay your deductible. The insurance company pays for all the materials and labor to fix the roof.
In some cases, however, your policy may prorate your claim. For example, some homeowner’s insurance policies have a clause where they only cover partial replacement costs once the roof is past a certain age. For example, if you have a 30-year warranty and your roof is 20 years old, a prorated policy may cover a third of the cost of the new roof.
To figure out what your insurance covers, contact your agent, or look over the terms of your policy online.

3. ADDITIONAL POLICIES

In most cases, you rely on your homeowner’s policy to cover roof replacements. However, in some cases, you may want to make claims on an additional policy as well. To explain, imagine your roof was leaking and some of your possessions got moldy.
In these cases, you may be able to file a claim on your homeowner’s policy. However, if that type of damage is not covered, you may need to make a claim on your flood insurance.

4. APPEALING ADJUSTMENTS

If you decide to make a claim on your homeowner’s insurance policy, your insurer will typically send an adjuster to your home. This individual looks over the damage and decides if the insurance company will pay for the claim.
If you don’t agree with the adjuster’s assessment, you don’t have to accept it. Instead, you can request to have another adjuster look at the damage.
For example, if you are putting in a claim for a damaged roof, you should ask the roofing company to send an inspector. Ideally, the roofing inspector can look at the roof at the same time as the insurance adjuster. If the adjuster doesn’t agree with your claim, the roofing inspector can provide you with a second opinion. If the inspector thinks the claim is warranted, you can confidently ask for a new adjuster.

5. EFFECT ON PREMIUMS

Unfortunately, some homeowners are fearful about putting in claims, and they worry that their premiums will increase if they make a claim for a damaged roof or another issue. In most cases, this does not happen.
As a homeowner, you pay insurance premiums to protect yourself and your home in case of damage. When damage occurs, it makes sense to make a claim, and in most cases, your insurer will cover the cost of repairing a damaged roof.
At Vertex Roofing, we have been helping customers with damaged roofs for years. Through that time, we’ve helped lots of clients submit insurance claims. If your roof has been damaged, we’re ready to help. In addition to repairing your roof, we’ll help you file the claim.
With Vertex Roofing, you don’t have to worry about anything but making your roof a grade above the rest.

Preparing Your Roof For Texas Hurricane Season

Coastal Texans are bona-fide residents of hurricane country. It’s not a question of “if” but “when” the next tropical storm will develop into a full-blown cyclone roaring out of the Gulf of Mexico.
During a hurricane or high-wind event, as your roof goes, so goes your home. If your roof is solidly constructed and reinforced, it’s more likely to withstand the relentless bullying of fierce winds. If your roof is poorly fastened to your home, it’s more likely to be carried away, leaving your entire home destroyed.

UNDERSTAND WHY ROOFS FAIL IN HIGH WINDS

As high winds from hurricanes or tornadoes blow over your home, they press down with extreme force on your roof. They exert a similar force against the windward walls. Meanwhile, pressure is exerted against the inside walls and up under the roof, creating a suction situation.
If your roof is not properly secured to your home, the combination of exterior and interior pressure may cause the roof to lift away from the walls. Often, the walls then collapse outward as if the entire home has exploded.
When your roof is properly secured to your home, the energy from the high winds is transferred from roof to walls to the ground. The roof doesn’t bear the brunt of the intense air pressure.

GET THOSE SHINGLES GLUED DOWN

There’s never a guarantee that typical asphalt shingles will make it through a hurricane unscathed. However, new shingles handle high winds far better than aged shingles. Glue and coatings begin to fail on older shingles, and this failure makes the shingles prone to fly away under strong winds.
Glued backings and applied glues on shingles don’t always adhere as well as they should. Debris, cold weather, and other environmental conditions during installation compromise the ability of the glue to set up.
Depending on the type and age of your home’s shingles, it’s possible to re-glue some of the shingles so they’ll stick closer to home during storms. If your roof is over 15 years old, replacing and reinforcing your roof is a solid investment in hurricane country. Roof installers can place a layer of quick-setting asphalt cement under your new shingles to give you more peace of mind.

INSTALL SPECIAL FASTENERS FOR HURRICANES

There are several types of metal fasteners made specifically to brace the roof to the walls of the home. These fasteners are called hurricane straps and hurricane clips. They’re made to attach wood to wood or wood to masonry. Professional roofers should install these fasteners on older and newer roofs to ensure the straps or clips are correctly placed and attached.
Hurricane straps are strips of metal with holes along their length. The holes are used to attach the fastener into wood framing. One end of the strap is screwed into a wall stud or bolted into masonry while the top end is wrapped up, over, and around the end of the truss.
Hurricane clips come in various styles. They attach the trusses to the top plates of the walls or to wall studs. Some sit directly on the top plate and are formed so that the trusses and studs sit snugly inside the clip, adding more roof reinforcement.

GIVE YOUR GABLE ROOF EXTRA BRACING

If you have a roof shaped like a triangle on either end of your home, it’s called a gabled roof. Gabled roofs are considered more vulnerable to damage from hurricanes than other types of roofs.
Often, the only bracing for the trusses underneath the shingles is the plywood sheathing that’s nailed or screwed over the trusses. Toenailing the trusses into the tops of walls is common, but the nails slip out when stressed by high winds.
Retrofit your gable roof to be more hurricane-proof by having a roofing professional inspect the construction of your roof. They should check to be sure the sheathing is properly fastened to the tops of trusses. Beads of wood glue may be run along both sides of the trusses under the sheathing to add staying power.
Gable-truss bracing and gable-end bracing are two additional techniques used to make a gable roof stronger. Two-by-fours are arranged along the length of the trusses or in an X pattern from gable ends to interior trusses. This bracing fortifies the framing of the entire roof.

Begin beefing up your roof for hurricane season today with a call to Vertex Roofing. We’ll show you the latest roofing products and materials to make your home as hurricane-proof as possible.