Ice dams are ridges of ice that form at the edge of a roof, preventing melting snow from draining off the roof. Melting occurs when warm air from indoors escapes through the attic and melts snow on the roof. That water can then leak into homes, damaging walls, ceilings and insulation. According to the University of Minnesota Extension Agency, summer is the best time to prevent ice dams – by increasing the ceiling insulation to cut down on heat loss, making ceilings airtight and/or adding natural roof ventilation. Plugging leaks and adding insulation can reduce energy use in homes by 20 to 30 percent.

For homeowners currently contending with ice dams – or who are looking to avoid their formation – the BBB recommends using a snow rake to remove excess snow from the roof. However, even if care is taken, roofing materials may be damaged in the process. It is not advisable to get up on your roof to remove snow. Many people are injured each year trying to deal with this problem on their own. Sometimes it’s best to leave things to professionals.

Before hiring a company to break up ice dams on your roof, here are some things you should do first:

• Check out the company’s record with the BBB at www.bbb.org or by calling 1-800-646-6222.
• Make sure the company has insurance and their workers are covered under workers’ compensation.
• Get estimates from multiple companies.
• Ask how much experience each company has working on roofs and ice dams, as well as what techniques they’ll be using to remove the ice dams. Less intrusive techniques may reduce potential damage to your roofing.
• Watch out for someone who pulls up in a truck and tells you they can ‘save you some money.’ Your roof is an integral part of your home and it’s not something you want to cut corners on. You’ll often end up regretting it.

For more information on ice dams, how they’re formed and how to avoid them, visit http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/dk1068.html.

• Impact resistant roofing products are more resistant to hail, flying depris and high winds than non-impact resistant roofing products. Some are warranted by the manufacturer against wind up to 130 mph.
• You may be eligible for an annual discount on your homeowners insurance premium for the life of the roof.²
• If you sell your home, the new owner may be eligible for a homeowners insurance discount, which can be a good selling point.

For a complete list of qualifying products, go to: Roofing: Premium Credits Product List. Contact your State Farm agent for more information.

¹ Reduction of your homeowners insurance premium depends on your state of residence. Some restrictions may apply. Follow the link above for a list of qualifying states.
² For qualifying metal roofs, a cosmetic damage exclusion is required to receive the discount.

Why use steel siding? According to the manufacturers ABC Seamless and Norandex, it is a little bit more expensive at the get go, but it will last longer than vinyl. It will not rust or show other signs of decay. It can be painted as your interests change. One can pretty much count on it lasting the life of the home, a deal you can hardly pass by. In 2004, “Remodeling Magazine” reported that 90% of residing costs will be recovered upon resale of your home.

Right now, trying to finance your home may be a bit difficult, but the lending agency may be more likely to lend the extra costs for seamless steel siding because of the durability of the siding and the extended value of your home because of it. Your home will be worth more for a longer period of time with this type of siding, so go for it.

Seamless steel siding is not something that is pre-measured somewhere and then brought to your home and installed, at least not by reputable contractors. You will be able to watch them measure the siding right there and make the cut that they need to run the full distance of the house. There are no seams, no gaps, and no room for error due to early mistakes in measuring. People who are installing seamless steel siding are highly trained professionals who care about their work, care about your home and how it looks in the present, and care about how your home will last in the years to come.

Cool metal roofing has gained a lot of popularity in recent years because it is proven to reduce cooling and heating energy usage, sometimes up to 40% in certain geographical regions. What’s more, many regional utility companies are interested in cool metal roofing because it can help reduce peak demand in the afternoon hours of summer months – be certain to ask your local utility company about possible discounts and tax breaks.

And you have choices between reflective, highly emissive cool metal roofs, pre-painted, granular coated, unpainted, and more. For homes in regions where the summers are more extreme, certain brands of cool metal roofing can not only deflect heat absorption in the attic, but also re-emit most solar radiation up to 90%! The benefits mean more money in your wallet for other home upgrades, reduced dependence on energy resources, and a contribution to the larger issue of air pollution.

Tom Black
Executive Director
Metal Roofing Alliance

Find the Average Metal Roof Value in Your Area:

The following table shows average values associated with a typical roof renovation of 30 squares of standing seam metal, formed on-site into16-inch panels using factory-enameled roll steel (all seams double-locked) with brake-bent flashing from same material for drip edge and all flashing at roof-wall intersections, a 5-square hip roof with custom flashing at two average-sized skylights, a custom cap treatment, all applied over a new felt underlayment with rubberized asphalt membranes at eaves, valleys and all penetrations.

The Metal Roofing Alliance has many resources that discuss the features and benefits of different styles of metal roofing. Take a look at their page on Cool Metal Roofing.

In addition to the new effort to recognize superefficient products, the announcement states that the Energy Star products program will be enhanced through expanded coverage, more frequent updates and enhanced efforts on product testing.

Currently, the Energy Star program is co-managed by EPA and DOE.  EPA handles certain product categories and DOE handles others, including the Energy Star windows, doors and skylights program.  With the change, Energy Star windows, doors and skylights will move over to EPA, which will take over responsibility for “marketing, outreach, monitoring and verification, and setting the performance level(s).”

Speaking at an energy efficiency town hall forum held in conjunction with GlassBuild last week, current DOE program manager for Energy Star windows said talks to transition responsibilities would start soon, but he could not yet give a timetable for the change to take effect.

While EPA takes over Energy Star, DOE will manage the National Building Rating Program, “consisting of building test procedures, building rating tools, and consumer-oriented building labels,” the summary explains. “DOE will establish all Federal test procedures for buildings, which will include ‘asset,’ and ‘operational’ characteristics, and benchmark buildings against similar buildings.”  EPA, however, will be the brand manager when the “Energy Star” is applied to ...

To view the rest of this article, originally published in the October 2009 issue of Window & Door magazine, click here: http://www.windowanddoor.com/news-item/government/energy-star-windows-moving-epa

Steel isn’t just for industrial-sized structures, and can be made in any number of colors and textures. Seamless steel siding eliminates the unsightly seams that can allow moisture through, significantly diminishing the possibility of rot. The general public is only just beginning to realize all the wonderful benefits steel over the highly publicized and extremely popular vinyl siding.

The durability of steel far outshines that of vinyl if it’s installed properly. While exposed edges or damage to the paint can leave it vulnerable to rust, proper maintenance can prevent that drawback. Where vinyl is prone to damage from high winds and hail, steel can withstand all but the most severe of these elements. Properly-installed steel siding is almost impossible to pry loose in the wind, no matter if it is gale-force, though larger hailstones may be able to dent the siding or scratch the paint.

If you’re environmentally-conscious, ask your contractor if they use recycled steel for their siding. Much of what is sold for siding today is recycled, thus promoting waste reduction as well as purchasing something that can be recycled whenever it is no longer of any use.

Steel isn’t the cheapest option on the market – in fact, it ranks among the most expensive – but it is well worth the money you put into it. It’s low maintenance, and cleaning is as simple as spraying with water from a garden hose. Especially in areas known for inclement weather, steel will withstand whatever nature throws at it for long-lasting protection and beauty.

For real estate owners looking to sell, the type of siding used on the building can be a high selling point.

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To learn more about efficient window technologies,
visit the Efficient Windows Collaborative

Rain gutters are open-topped troughs that are installed just below the eaves of your roof to collect and carry off rainwater. Normally they are constructed of metal. Downspouts are connected to the gutters and carry the water down to ground level. The water is then discharged on splash pads on the ground to direct the water away from the foundation. Occasionally the system discharges into a cistern or reservoir to collect the rainwater for subsequent use.

Gutters are shaped to form a specified profile, often a U-Shape (half-round), or a modified rectangular trough which is referred to as K-Shape. They need to be sized for your “worst-case” downpour. Sizes vary from 4 inches to 7 inches in width. Your gutter contractor will be able to recommend the size best suited to your local conditions.

Gutter Materials

The metal stock from which the gutter is formed can be aluminum, galvanized steel, copper, or one of these metals with a metal coating. Specialized materials include copper penny aluminum, Copper Plus (copper plated stainless steel), Galvalume (steel stock with a coating of aluminum and zinc), and lead-coated copper. Often the exterior face is painted, with a wide variety of colors available from which the customer may choose. Seamless gutters made of aluminum are the most common today.

The overall design of a gutter system has a number of different parts. These include the gutter, end caps, corner pieces, drop fittings, downspouts, elbows, and various kinds of hangers and support systems. Metal gutters were originally assembled from sections that were joined together with snap-in-place connectors.

Why Seamless Gutters?

Seams are always possible leak points in a gutter system. These joints may allow water to leak out of the gutter and drip down, possibly damaging the siding, splashing dirt onto the house, or eroding your yard. Seamless gutters virtually eliminate this leakage problem.

Seamless gutters have been available for more than 40 years and are the most common items selected by homeowners today. Seamless gutters are not totally seamless, but there are fewer seams that can create such leak points.

Seamless Gutter Machines

Seamless gutters are formed, at your home, using a special seamless gutter machine. The gutter is shaped from a coil of aluminum, steel, or copper stock that has a baked or painted finish. A wide variety of colors are available to match the paint, siding, brick, or stone color of your house. Each horizontal run of gutter is formed and cut to the exact length required for your installation, thereby minimizing the number of seams or joints. The stock materials from which the gutters are made vary in thickness from 0.019 inch to 0.032 inch. This is a place where attempting to save money is usually a mistake. Buy the heaviest material you can afford-it will last longer and resist damage better.

Advantages and Disadvantages

If you want to undertake constructing the gutter system yourself, your only choice is sectional-type materials. You still have a variety of materials and finish colors from which to select, but you are on your own. You are the designer and installer. If you have the skills required, and the time required, you can save some money over having a contractor install a system.

Most people will probably choose to use a contractor, and with seamless gutters you have a lot less hassle. In addition to the metal gutter materials discussed above, vinyl gutters are available. Vinyl material is the least expensive, but vinyl becomes brittle in very cold weather and is much more likely to crack. Galvanized steel is strong and will usually last 30 years or more. However, sooner or later it will rust. You can protect against this by periodically painting the inside of the gutter, but this adds to your load of home maintenance chores. Aluminum does not rust or crack, and is therefore a popular choice. However, be sure that the gutter material is made from primary aluminum and not secondary aluminum, which is a recycled product and has a history of inconsistent thickness (and therefore strength).

Gutter System Cost

How much are we talking? Vinyl gutters can be installed by a contractor for about $3 to $5 per linear foot. For galvanized steel gutters this goes up to between $4 and $8 per foot. Aluminum gutters will be in the range of $5 to $9 per foot. Copper gutters are most often used for top-of-the-line construction and restoration work. You can expect to pay $15 to $20 per foot for a copper gutter system. The good news is that copper never rusts and does not require paint.

You should also carefully examine the contractor’s warranty for the gutter system. A new shingle roof typically has a warranted life of 20 to 30 years. Your new gutter system should have a warranted life of 20 years or more.

As with most things, you have to decide what your goals are and what you can afford to invest. A moped and a Maserati will both get you from point A to point B, but there is a great difference in the style and grace involved. A careful review of your needs and goals?and some consultation with and quotations from several different contractors?should help you develop a plan that will fulfill your needs and provide a gutter system that will last many years.

Metal roofs are very tough and highly resistant to hail damage.  Hail will not penetrate a metal roof.  Even a new asphalt shingle roof won’t protect a home from the next hailstorm.  In fact, many metal roofing products have the highest impact resistance and hail rating (Class 4) granted by Underwriters’ Laboratory (UL).  This means that a sample of the product did not crack when hit twice in the same spot by a 2-inch steel ball, which, in a storm, would translate into a huge hailstone.  As a result of metal roofing’s superior performance in hail prone areas, some insurance companies even provide a reduced rate for homes protected by metal roofs. 

The Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues, Inc. recently published the results of a comprehensive study on the impact of hail on various roofing materials.  RICOWI’s latest report included data from its inaugural Hailstorm Investigation Program (HIP).  Four inspection teams examined over one hundred roofing systems during a four-day period to evaluate the effects of a significant hailstorm that passed through portions of Oklahoma City.  The purpose of the project was to document the effects of hail impact on a variety of roofing products, and to describe roof assembly performance and modes of damage for substantiated hailstone sizes. 

Four steep slope metal roofs were inspected: three metal shingle panels and one standing seam copper roof.  Maximum hailstone sizes impacting the roofs ranged from 0.75” to 1.75” in diameter.  Surface spatter marks were visible where hailstones had removed some of the surface patina of the metal or surface grime and oxidation from the painted surfaces.  Dents occurred from hail impact on three of the four roofs, with one metal shingle panel having no dents with 1.25 inch diameter hail.  On the other roofs, the hail caused dents were found to be a cosmetic issue, with no functional damage.  Panel joints had not been distorted sufficiently to affect the water shedding ability of the panels. 

Hail effects on metal roof systems were seen as cosmetic, rather than functional.  Indentations occurred with larger hailstones, but painted coatings or stone-coatings had not been compromised by the denting. 

For more information, visit www. metalroofing.com.

Following up on that general prediction, we used the poll in our Windows&Doors Weekly newsletter to see if and when the industry thought we’d be going from double to triple glass. Apparently, a good number of people out there think it will happen. We asked readers how long before triple-glazing will account for 25 percent of the market. In total, close to 40 percent predicted it would happen within the next 10 years. That’s not a very long time in our industry. Vinyl, and I would say low-E, were probably around longer than 10 years before they hit the 25 percent market share mark.
Another quarter of our respondents expect the shift will happen, but suggest it would take longer—perhaps 20 years. It’s interesting to note, however, that one quarter don’t think it will ever happen. Never is a long time. I suspect those responses are somewhat colored by the very legitimate cost versus value question that triple-lite presents the industry—and our customers—now.

Going to triple-lite construction most of us know, can add significantly to the cost of a product. It not only adds to the cost of the glass package itself, but the ...

To view the rest of this article, originally published in the August 2008 issue of Window & Door magazine, click here: http://www.windowanddoor.com/article/august-2008/moving-double-triple-or-possibly-a-new-technology