When you are buying a commercial/industrial building one thing you must consider is the condition of the flat roof.

One of the main disposable components of the building is the flat roof. Also one of the most expensive retrofits of any building is the roof. Depending on the square footage of the building the roof could cost thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions and multi millions to replace. This can be a very costly installation upon receiving the deed to the building. Not only are you spending your hard earned money on a new building, but soon after you move in you get hit with another money draw…the roof. Using the roof as a negotiating tool in the purchase process of the building is a very smart leverage tool. If soon after you move in you will need to spend money on the roof you can have the asking price of the building reduced by this amount upon purchase. How do you know what condition the roof is in? First you must insist that your roofing firm of choice inspect the roof. Then contact the roofing firm and have the roof inspector make a site visit. At this time he/she will inspect the roof; giving you a comprehensive inspection report and appraisal of a new roof system for reference if a new flat roof or roof repairs are needed. Having this report and inspection with you at the bargaining table can save you money on the purchase price of the building. Also, it is better for you to save the money on the building using the roof as a bargaining tool than the building owner to install a new roof before you move in. It is better for you to install the new flat roof and or roof repairs after you move in. That way  you will hold the roof warranty and deal with your roofer, someone you trust.

With the solar movement now in Canada you can also get a double savings on your building purchase. You can bargain the building price down because of the roof, then upon the completed transaction when you own the building you can speak to a solar company about putting solar arrays on your roof and the money generated will pay for your new roof. This means you reduce the purchase price because of a new roof then turn around and get the roof for free by installing solar. You save on the purchase price then get the flat roof for free.

There are many flat roof systems out on the market today. Most are disposal roof systems with low reflectivity. One roof (invented by my family over 4 generations) is not disposable. It is called the TOUGHROOF flat roofing system. It is a thick, seamless, multi-ply rubberized hot asphalt roof system with the highest reflectivity of any roof system out there. Having an extremely white and highly reflective roof system saves on energy costs. Your air-conditioning costs will lower dramatically and the roof if coated every 10 years never needs to be replaced and is warranted forever.  This means you never purchase a new flat roof system ever again. You only recoat the white coating every 10 years to rejuvenate the roof system. The white coating is extremely inexpensive compared to a full roof replacement you would have to do with all other roof systems out there.

So when buying a building, you have many things in your favor:

• Negotiating power with your flat roof system with a roof inspection report.
• The chance to get your new roof paid for through a solar installation.
• Installing a flat roof that never needs replacement making it the lowest cost over time roof system ever invented.
• Lower A/C costs saving energy and money down the road.

When choosing a building you must look far into the future. People are now buying buildings they will run their business in for many years and maybe even generations. Pre-plan the total use of your building over time now and reap the rewards of informed decision making.

Secretary Dr. Steven Chu Discusses the Benefits of Switching to White Roofs & Light Colored Pavements

Secretary Dr. Chu from the US Department of Energy states that if we change all our roofs to white and build our roads with light coloured cement instead of dark asphalt; it would be the equivallent of taking off all the automobiles off the earth for 11 years!

TOUGHROOF and Tiocoat Brings Awareness to Cool Roofing in Canada

Jonathan Ursini from DuRock’s Tiocoat and Steve Pataki from The Toronto Cricket and Skating Club hosted the Canada’s first White Roofing Summit at the Toronto Cricket Club in Toronto, Ontario. A several months ago the Toronto Cricket and Skating Club joined The Snowball Effect by installing a TOUGHROOF Flat Roofing System with bright white Tiocoat. The Toronto Cricket Club is no longer contributing to the Urban Heat Island Effect. At the summit, Steve outlined the project costs and the payback period in energy savings by having an ultra bright white cool roof, including cash incentives through the government.

There were a number of architects, engineers, consultants, contractors and end users at this years Cool Roof Summit, proving that there is hope for Canada to catch up to the rest of the world when it comes to white roofing and reducing our footprint on the earth.

There was a number of great speakers including presentaions from:

• Professor Hitesh Doshi from Ryerson University spoke about how white roofs can help reduce energy consumption during “peak Demand”.
• Dan Sheridan, inventor of TOUGHROOF discussed the benefits of cool roofs and the benefits of installing a flat roof that never needs replacing (see video below).
  
• Matthew Lendzinksi from DOW Chemicals – explained the history of reflective roof coatings and where the technology is expected to go.
• Ted Baker of BOMA CDM spoke about available cash incentives for solar installations on roofs funded by the Ontario Power Authority.

We are looking forward to the next Cool Roof Summit coming up in April, 2011. The video below shares some of the images of the event.

Save Money by Choosing the Right Flat Roof

When looking at repairing or replacing your existing flat roof there are a few things to consider. The most obvious is price, but don’t let that be the deciding factor. One must be very careful when choosing a flat roof. There are several options out there to choose from.

Every roofing company has their own opinions on the type of roof they install and what everyone else installs.  This is where your homework comes in. Flat roofs, using any roofing materials are not cheap. Learn about your investment before you buy. You wouldn’t buy a house without seeing it, or at least learning about it in some fashion.  Why choose a roof you know nothing about? Flat roofing systems are not created equally. Some are designed to be installed very fast by the roofer; which can save you, the building owner money, at the install. But these new fast install systems come with a hidden cost; short life spans and leaks.

Remember when buying a flat roof! DO NOT BUY THE SALESMEN, BUY THE ROOF.

Too many people fall into the trap of the slick salesman telling you everything you want to hear, and when it comes to delivering you a long term flat roof, they fall short. Make sure that the salesman gives you the following items:

• Sales literature about the product they are selling
• A small cut sample of the roof system
• Offers to take you onto local roofs installed by the company that you can look at for yourself to see their workmanship
• Provides the needed insurance and WSIB clearances
• Provides you with good references
• The salesperson should go through all of the steps they will be taking when installing the new roofing system.

A good question to ask is:

Does the company provide an inspection of the roof they installed every 5 years, free of charge – to keep an eye on the new roof installation?

As a customer you are spending your hard earned money and you should be well informed before making a decision on a new flat roof.

Short Term vs Long Term Flat Roofing Options

There are two main categories when discussing flat roofs. Are you looking for something cheap and short term? Or, are you looking for something that will stand the test of time?

Let’s start with the quick Short Term or Band-Aid roof systems:

These usually consist of a single ply membrane. These flat roof systems are usually less expensive in the short term (not lasting very long in comparison to a BUR or Built Up Roof System), and are quick to install and have lower material costs. The single ply membrane roof system is very thin and seamed throughout. They tend to leak either immediately after installation or shortly there after. These new “fast” install roofs are the disposable roof systems of today.

There are also torch applied rubber systems. They too, are thin, (although thicker than single ply) seamed systems and are prone to fast leakage due to seam stresses from Mother Nature. The problems with these types of flat roof systems are they will need to be replaced in as little as three years time, costing the consumer more in the long run.

Long Term Flat Roofing Options:

The die hard hot asphalt roof system is a different story. It has been used for over 150 years now to keep Mother Nature out of buildings all over the world. Hot asphalt or Built Up Roof systems (BUR) are an extremely trustworthy roof system that can last up to 40 years if installed correctly. There are different types of hot asphalt roofs out there. TOUGHROOF is a seamless, multi-layered hot asphalt roof system that uses an ultra white coating that reflects the suns damaging rays back into the atmosphere protecting the layers of asphalt and Polara re-enforcement materials underneath. This type of flat roof system can last forever; because the only layer that ever needs replacing is the top white coating.

You get what you pay for rings true in flat roofing today. Hot asphalt roof systems, while costing a bit more now, will save you thousands down the road.

If you save today by installing inferior roofing products and let salespeople con you into purchasing an inferior roof system, you will inevitably pay more in years to come. You will soon find out that the warranty they provided you doesn’t really cover anything. Many of these low budget roofing companies will pass you on to the manufacturer when there is a problem with the roof they installed – who will not warranty an installer’s work. Interior damage from a leaky roof is another factor to consider. In the end you will need to re-installation a new roof system within a few years, costing you double of your initial costs.

I have been in the flat roofing industry all my life, I am the fourth generation of roofers in my family. I have seen these new age fast install roofing trends now for a couple decades, with their massive failures. I have seen the upset customers that where sold on these new systems. Long term savings wins hands down… every time. When you factor in roof longevity and a leak free roof system the savings over time is in a hot asphalt roof system. Don’t let salespeople pull you away from the die hard hot asphalt roof system. The new age systems don’t stand up to Mother Nature the way a hot asphalt roof does. Do your homework and don’t spend your hard earned money on a new age disposable roof system that will fail you. Choose a hot asphalt flat roof that will stand the test of time, saving you valuable time and money in the end.

TOUGHROOF Flat Roof System – The TOUGHEST Roof in the World

TORONTO, September 29—Imagine a roof that never leaks and never has to be replaced. The idea might seem preposterous to anyone who owns a building or a home with a flat roof, but TOUGHROOF’s proven seamless multiply hot asphalt roof system is guaranteed on both fronts. Add to that its green roof benefits and it is little wonder the TOUGHROOF system is changing how people feel about flat roofs.

“Most people that own flat roofs don’t really like them,” says Dan Sheridan, inventor of Canada’s TOUGHROOF flat roof system. “They are scared of flat roofs because they leak, but we take that fear away with our one-of-a-kind seamless roof system.”

Sheridan comes four generations of roofing experts: He knows what works and what doesn’t when it comes to withstanding Canada’s toughest weather conditions.

When installed correctly, traditional hot asphalt or Built Up Roof Systems (BUR), which use several layers of hot asphalt and a pea gravel sunscreen, are a reliable and long lasting solution. The problem with most flat roofing systems, however, is it can be difficult to create a proper seal at all connection points.

TOUGHROOF is a seamless roof system, which means there’s no where for Mother Nature to penetrate. No seams, means no leaks: Exactly what you want in a flat roof. Superior rubberized asphalt responds to all kinds of abuse by expanding and contracting to avoid pressure cracks.

TOUGHROOF outperforms the “seamed” competition on every level. The system is hassle-free, requires little maintenance and boasts superior reinforcement materials for a competitive price. “Every other system has compromises in the makeup of the roof system, which means it can not combat Mother Nature,” says Sheridan. “There’s zero comprise in our system—it’s the strongest seamless system ever created.”

The best part is once you install TOUGHROOF you’ll never need to purchase a new flat roof system again. This translates into lower long-term costs, as well as environmental benefits: No future debris in our landfills. Instead of replacing a building’s entire roof every 10-15 years, with TOUGHROOF only the top layer needs updating—think of it as applying a coat of fresh paint.

It’s that top layer— DuRock’s Tiocoat which is LEED approved and Energy Star certified—that makes TOUGHROOF a green roof solution. While most roofing systems spread gravel over a hot asphalt to act as a sunscreen, TOUGHROOF uses an elastomeric white roof coating, which boasts more than 93% reflectivity (ideal for powering solar panels). In addition, an ultra white roof makes for a cool roof during the hot summer months, thereby reducing the amount of power a building uses to run its air conditioning units. TOUGHROOF does not contribute to the Urban Heat Island Effect and reduces the buildings carbon footprint.

“Not only do you get an amazing roof, but you’re also saving the planet,” says Sheridan.

About TOUGHROOF: TOUGHROOF is a Canadian company that includes McDonald’s, Shoppers Drug Mart, Canadian Tire and countless other businesses and residential property owners among its customers. Please visit www.TOUGHROOF.com
For more information please contact Paul Peic at (416) 841-7873 or paul@toughroof.com.

Ryerson University Study on TOUGHROOF

The Ryerson University in Toronto, ON Canada has chosen Toughroof with TIOCOAT ultra white elastomeric roof coating for a case study on carbon footprint reduction. The Toronto Cricket Club, with indoor skating rinks and multiple sports facilities, will be the building of choice for this study. The TOUGHROOF Flat Roofing System has recently been installed on the Toronto Cricket Club, making this the ideal building for this type of study.  The purpose of this research study is to do a comparative analysis of measured and modeled energy impact of this cool roof technology.

The study will:

• Collect and compile data on the building roof
• Collect and compile data about the building use and systems that contribute to energy use in the building.
• Collect historical data on energy consumption through review of bills.
• Collect data related to surface temperature of the roof using infra-red thermography spot measurements.
• Develop an energy use model using EnergyPlus.
• Calibrate and validate the model using local weather data and energy use data from the bills.
• Analyze the collected data to determine the impact on energy consumption related to TOUGHROOF with TIOCOAT’s reflective roof coating.
• Analyze the data to determine the impact on greenhouse gas reduction.
• Carry out cost benefit analysis using a 20 year study period including a sensitivity analysis to study the impact of different variables.
• Develop recommendations for the use of TOUGHROOF with TIOCOAT’s reflective roof coating product for use on other roofs.

TOUGHROOF with TIOCOAT has the potential to meet the requirements set out by various governmental organizations such as the Toronto Eco-Roof Incentive Program. Although similar technologies have been shown to impact the temperature and energy balance this research aims to quantify it for a specific building and develop some guidelines in terms of the cost-effectiveness of such as approach for different types of buildings in the Toronto area.

The Toughroof system was designed to be the most energy efficient flat roof system ever developed. The study will help determine the level of instant impact our Toughroof has on the local environment and the reduction of building carbon footprints. We will post these results as they develop, stay tuned.