Category Archives: Building Management

Different sizes and forms are available for roof vents. You have a wide range of alternatives to pick from as a result. A ridge vent is one of the most common forms of roof vents that we see nowadays. Despite its widespread use, most homeowners have no idea what a ridge vent is.

Without knowing what it is, how can you possible decide if it is the appropriate form of vent for your new roof? Continue reading to learn about your other roof vent alternatives after knowing what a ridge vent is.

What is a Roof Ridge Vent?

A ridge vent is an air exhaust vent that is mounted on a roof’s peak. At the pinnacle of the roof, an air slit is first carved before this vent is installed. The ridge vent itself then serves to hide this air opening. They are made to assist resist insect and debris infiltration as well as wind-driven rain and snow, and they aid in providing continuous, consistent exhaust ventilation at the highest part of the attic. Except for metal ridge vents, which do not require the installation of ridge cap tiles, ridge cap shingles are then often laid over the ridge vent to preserve it and offer a clean completed look on the roof.

Air must be able to enter and depart the attic in order to maintain a constant flow of outside air through the attic area and ensure that the attic ventilation system operates as intended. Cooler, dry air will be able to reach the lower attic area through eave and soffit vents, or vents positioned where a roof or overhang protrudes over the house’s outer wall. Convection aids in moving heated attic air to the roof’s peak, where the ridge vent allows it to escape. Since this kind of “passive system” doesn’t need any energy to operate, it effectively ventilates attics.

When you need a Roof Ridge Vent?

Many homes are excellent candidates for ridge vents, depending on the amount of exhaust ventilation required for the attic space and the actual roof shape. For instance, ridge vents are frequently used to appropriately ventilate homes with a sufficient quantity of ridge line.

You could require a mechanical method of heat and moisture exhaustion if your attic is finished or the air in the area is conditioned. To ensure your system is big enough to generate the airflow required to keep your attic cool, speak with a design expert or HVAC contractor.

Factors that make attic ventilation crucial for your home and roof.

You now know what roof vents are found on the majority of modern homes. When determining which roof vent to use, your attic’s ventilation system is important, but you also need to take aesthetics into account.

A ridge vent is a wonderful choice if you don’t want to be able to see the vents from the ground. Turbine vents are OK if you like the way they appear.

If your attic isn’t adequately aired, it doesn’t matter whether type of roof vent you use. Future difficulties and headaches will cost you a lot of money if improper ventilation is not provided.

Because of this, every homeowner has to understand how crucial adequate attic ventilation is to both a roof and a house. We broke down the three reasons why your attic has to be properly ventilated in another article because of how important they are.

In Pittsabana we offer you the support you require without having to worry, since we are specialists in the roofing area. We attend you through our contacts. If you’re in the market for new roofing in Allegheny County, PA, turn to Pittsabana Contracting Services LLC Roofing Contractor in Ross Township, PA This local roofing company employs team members who are certified by CertainTeed and committed to delivering premium service on every job, from repairing storm-damaged commercial buildings to fully replacing residential roofs. Call (412) 580-6567 to speak with a friendly staff member to schedule service or visit the website to learn more about how they’ll help you.

In the U.S., most roofs are made of asphalt, which needs to be replaced every 20 to 30 years. However, you can make your asphalt roof last longer by inspecting and maintaining it regularly. One of the key issues is to make sure that the pipe flashings are in good condition.
Flashings are the metal or plastic pieces that seal the pipes that run across the roof. They are essential because they prevent water from seeping around the pipes and causing damage to the roof or house. In this article, we will explain what flashings are and what their benefits are. We will also discuss some things not to do when installing or maintaining pipe flashing.

What Is Pipe Flashing

To find out what a Pipe Flashing is, we will show you by means of the Kynar® coated 24-gauge G-60 galvanized. The Ultimate Pipe Flashing® (UPF) is a high-performance flashing component engineered to sustainably seal the plumbing vent pipe penetration through a roof surface.

Created as a durable assembly for steep slope roof use, the patented design incorporates an integral precision compression seal to the vent pipe, allows installation on slopes from flat to 18/12 pitch, and provides industry leading flashing margins to shingles for proper and complete rain shedding installation. The UPF can be used with any steep slope shingle style roof covering including asphalt shingles, slate, tile, cement tile, cedar shake, and more. This Kynar® coated 24-gauge G-60 galvanized steel sheet version is exceptionally well suited for use in all but the most corrosive high chloride environments, such as coastal or beachfront buildings and is an excellent choice with all available roof covering materials like asphalt shingles, slate, tile, or cedar shakes

Instructions & Recommendations for Use

Every UPF is packaged in a protective carton which is imprinted with bilingual instructions for proper installation of the UPF to the roof penetration. The installer must determine the vent pipe material and size. If the vent pipe material is not Sch. 40 PVC DWV pipe, such as copper or cast iron, then a Lifetime Tool® EASYSleeve® or EASYFit™ may be required for proper long-term performance. The seal to the pipe on a UPF is a precision engineered compression seal for each pipe size encountered, available to seal Sch. 40 PVC DWV pipe in 1¼”, 1½”, 2”, 3”, and 4” sizes that are commonly found in residential and light commercial roofing markets. The installer must ensure that the correct UPF is installed for the given penetrating pipe size.

It is recommended that the UPF be delivered to the pipe penetration on the roof in the original carton. In this manner the installer can double check the size and will have the carton (with bilingual Instructions) at the installation site for reference. A rigid molded PVC compression collar is supplied in each UPF carton.

This compression collar is engineered to live at the top of the flexible seal bushing between the two molded bead rings (as shown on the instructions illustrations on the carton) and must be installed thereon before installation onto the vent pipe. The supplied lubricant towelette must be used to wet the interior surfaces of the flexible seal bushing and the external surface of the vent pipe prior to installation. Once installed onto the vent pipe, with the compression collar on

the flexible seal bushing, and with the flashing plate seated firmly on to the roof surface, the nails can be applied in the slots provided on the flashing plate of the UPF to affix the flashing to the roof.

Benefits of using the Ultimate Pipe Flashing

The engineered flashing assembly utilizes materials known for long-term outdoor exposure, including:

• Kynar® coated 24-gauge G-60 galvanized steel sheet for the flashing plate
• High consistency molded silicone elastomer for the flexible seal bushing
• Exterior grade, UV stabilized, rigid PVC for the compression collar
• Proprietary silicone lubricant formulation for the installation towelette

The patented compression seal technique provides a precision lifelong seal to the pipe for each Sch. 40 PVC DWV vent pipe size encountered. One size does not fit all! The flashing plate is produced with generous side and top margins to allow substantial overlap with the shingled roof covering materials, providing an excellent rain shedding finished installation. The flexible seal bushing has been developed to accommodate roof pitch variations from flat to a pitch of 18/12 without further modification or additional installation labor.

Materials of Construction

Flashing Plate – Deep drawn and stamped Kynar® coated 24 gauge G-60 galvanized steet sheet with a classic dark bronze finish. Meets or exceeds ASTM A635-09 standards, providing superior corrosion resistance in all outdoor environments except coastal and beach front homes and buildings.

Seal Bushing – Molded from a high consistency silicone elastomer proprietary formulation specific for this application, conforming to ASTM G-154-06 for resistance to UV exposure and ASTM D-1149-99 for surface resistance to ozone. Minimum wall thickness of 3.6mm (0.144”) ensures long-term fatigue resistance to daily thermal gradients.

Compression Collar – Molded from a rigid PVC compound specifically compounded for long-term exterior exposure applications, including UV stabilization.

More than simply the shingles you can see from the street make up your roof. Your home is shielded from the elements by a variety of components and materials working together. While all of the elements that make up your roof are significant, the deck is one of the most important. It literally serves as the system’s basis. Because of this, anyone getting a new roof or even just roof repairs has to be aware of how crucial the roof deck is. In this post, we’ll explain what roof decking is specifically, when it needs to be replaced, and much more.

What is Rook Decking?

Roof decking, also known as sheathing, serves as the structural support for your roofing system and joins the roof to your home. In order to cover the rafters and sustain the weight of the roofing shingles, it sits on top of the structural trusses, which are the “bones” of your attic.

Although you can’t see it, roof decking is highly crucial to the construction of your home. And if a home’s roof decking is decaying and unable to sustain the weight of the roof, it can cause some very significant structural difficulties.

What Causes Rotted Roof Decking?

Your roof’s worst enemy is water. Roof decking is especially vulnerable to rotting and water damage since it is comprised of wood and wood composites and is frequently exposed to prolonged or excessive wetness.

Your roofing system might become leaking in a variety of ways. Old and worn-out roofing shingles, overflowing roof gutters or downspouts, torn flashing around chimneys, ice dams or snow accumulation during the winter, excessive humidity and rising heat in the attic, and insufficient roof ventilation are all potential entry points for water and moisture that can eventually cause rotted roof decking.

When should roof decking be replaced?

Your decking might need to be replaced if your roof has to be replaced. If any of your roof decking’s integrity is damaged or there are symptoms of rotting, the wood will need to be replaced.

There will often be a few boards that need to be replaced. However, until the old roof has been completely removed, your roofing contractor won’t know how much of your roof decking has to be rebuilt.

Before they can start installing your roofing materials, your roofing contractor must repair the decking if they discover any bad boards. However, if your contractor determines that the integrity of your decking is sound, it can support your new asphalt roof.

Should Roof Decking be Repaired or Replaced?

Consider doing a fast repair job to improve the lifespan of your roof. Think again. Roof deck repair is not an option when it has decay; it must be entirely replaced. The longer you wait to replace damaged roof decking, the more issues it may cause, resulting in more expensive repairs and mold and mildew growth.

Even while repairing a roof is expensive, it will ultimately be less expensive than rebuilding stained drywall, wet framing and joists, or wet electrical systems.

The material you use to replace your flat roof is a crucial choice. Because it’s so crucial, you want to be certain that your decision is the best one. You must be aware of the ideal flat roof material in order to do this. Despite the wide range of choices, four flat roofing materials stand out.

Our mission is to inform homeowners like you about every facet of the roofing business. We’ll provide you with the information you need to choose the greatest flat roof purchase because of this.

EPDM roofing membrane

Ethylene propylene diene terpolymer, sometimes known as EPDM, is a synthetic rubber black membrane that is frequently utilized in industrial and healthcare settings. While utilized mostly in commercial applications, EPDM may also be used for residential roofs.

Because the black membrane won’t become as dirty as a white one, it is a fantastic option for a flat roof over a garage or other non-habitable space that can be viewed from a window. It is essentially like having a rubber roofing system that is bulletproof and incredibly robust. A completely adhered, 0.060-thick EPDM flat roof may be expected to last 25 to 30 years because to its endurance.

TPO roofing membrane

The single-ply white TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) membrane is used for roofing on both commercial and residential buildings. The white membrane of TPO, in contrast to EPDM, radiates heat rather than absorbing it.

TPO is an excellent option since it will keep the room cooler if you have a flat roof or a low-sloped dormer over a bedroom. You can still select it in preference to an uninhabitable area like EPDM. A white membrane will smudge significantly more quickly than a black one. TPO is not as resilient as EPDM, but with proper installation, a flat roof using TPO membrane should last for 25 years.

BUR Modified Bitumen Roofing

Modified bitumen cap sheet roofing was developed in the 1960s as a replacement technology for BUR, or built-up roofing, by using the proven technology of BUR but also adding polymer reinforced roof wear layers or cap sheets.

These roofs can be installed using any number of techniques which are determined by the project’s specific requirements and material specified. These installation methods include:

• Hot applied
• Torch applied
• Cold applied
• Self-adhered

The polymer used in the cap sheet provides improved elasticity and flexibility in lower temperatures. The most commonly used polymers are atactic polypropylene (APP) and styrene butadiene styrene (SBS). SBS imparts a rubber-like characteristic to the bitumen.

Built-Up Roofing

The built-up roof, or BUR, is the ancestor of flat roofs. Built-up roofs have long since found a solution to the low pitch roof issue, which asphalt shingles were unable to handle. A hot mop is used to apply numerous layers of a specific kind of roofing felt that has been soaked with asphalt and embedded in bitumen to create built-up roofs.

The bitumen-soaked roof felt combines with the hot-applied asphalt or coal tar pitch to form a monolithic roof membrane. Repeating the roof felt/asphalt tar stacking in overlapping layers results in an assembly that is two to four plies thick.

Look to your trusted builder for advice, support and a quote to professionally and responsibly solve your problem. If you’re in the market for new roofing in Mount Lebanon PA, turn to Pittsabana Contracting Services LLC. This local roofing company employs team members who are certified by CertainTeed and committed to delivering premium service on every job, from repairing storm-damaged commercial buildings to fully replacing residential roofs. Call (412) 580-6567 to speak with a friendly staff member to schedule service or visit the website to learn more about how they’ll help you.