“The Time to Repair the Roof Is When The Sun Is Shining.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Ricardo Chavez Co–Owner Klaus Herring Co–Owner ARCS (Alpha Restoration & Construction Services, Inc.) 6820 Cerrillos Road #8 Santa Fe 505.473.2057 Klaus.H@ARCS247.com www.ARCS247.com
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good roof protects from the rain, snow, hail and wind, helping to keep us warm and dry when Mother Nature brings sudden storms. At least that’s how a roof is supposed to work. The fact of the matter is that since 1980, roof damage caused by severe weather outbreaks in the United States has risen from about $2 billion in 1980 to more than $15 billion in 2013 (Source: Munich Reinsurance). Many believe this trend is a direct result of global warming caused by carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels. Data from the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, collected globally from 1900 to 2008, shows a global increase of CO2 emissions from about 2,000 teragrams in 1900 to 32,000 teragrams by 2008. Locally, this year we have already seen the effects of the strongest El Nino since 1997 manifested in record setting
rainfall. Forecasters are expecting the most snowfall in years this winter. This means roofs throughout New Mexico will be subject to damage by the elements. The adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is especially true now. Every roof should be examined by a qualified professional before winter really sets in. Flat roofs especially need to be closely scrutinized. All roof membrane seams, roof pipe penetrations, skylight, chimney and parapet flashings must be looked at and repaired if such is required. In particular, the junction of roof to canale (roof scuppers or drains) needs to be sealed, as this is the most likely area of ice buildup and subsequent water penetration into the home. Make sure there is no obstruction to allowing water to flow freely from the roof into the canale. Often roofers will “repair” the area around the canale by smearing copious amounts of tar around
OPPOSITE Example of poor maintenance around chimney flashing, allowing water to penetrate the interior of the home. TOP Example of ponding and ice build-up in front of a canale with front view inset. BOTTOM LEFT Ice build-up in canale and damage to roof in front of canale with tar build-up preventing drainage. BOTTOM RIGHT Example of damage caused by ice build-up around canale allowing water to enter the building.
the opening. This then results in a tar dam that actually prevents the water from flowing freely into the canale and causes ponding behind the canale. Eventually, this will result in water penetrating the roof membrane and leaking into the house.
a licensed general contractor as well as a GAF Certified Master Roofer and a Johns Manville Pinnacle Roof Contractor. Our roofing division offers free roof inspections and we will tell you if your roof needs maintenance, repairs or replacement.
A popular option of preventing ice dams is the installation of an ice-melt system at every canale. These systems can be controlled by switches or thermostats and, if installed correctly, will keep the canales ice-free even on the coldest winter night. Pitched roofs should also be examined. Shingle and metal roofs often have issues at pipe, skylight and chimney penetrations. Metal roofs with exposed screws can have missing or loose screws, which can be the cause of water leaks into the house.
Often, your homeowners’ insurance covers damage to the interior of your home or business if the cause of the damage is due to a covered loss. Sometimes, depending on your insurance company and policy wording, ice dams and the resulting damage to the roof are also covered. It is wise to schedule a visit with your insurance agent and review your insurance policy. If needed, the policy can be updated. Many insurance agents can also assist with helpful hints and tips on how to prevent damage to your home or business.
If you have not already engaged a contractor to look at your roof, call us at ARCS. We are
Many homeowners contact ARCS when active roof leaks are occurring
and moisture is already leaking into the house causing water damage. In such cases, our insurance restoration experts will work with you and your insurance company to rectify the damages. Our certified water damage and mold remediation technicians will help you to dry out the affected rooms and remove any mold contamination. If mold is discovered, a qualified third party testing company should certify that the affected areas are clean before restoration work starts. ARCS’ restoration technicians will make sure any damaged areas in your home are restored to match your existing finishes as closely as possible. To help our customers, ARCS has a 24-hour emergency response line, 505.473.2057, and is always answered by one of our on-call staff.