Category Archives: Building Management

If you are thinking of building or renovating the roof of your house, it is important first of all to choose the right materials, which meet the optimal conditions of strength and durability, and meet your needs in terms of quality. On the market we will find various options, such as asphalt and metal, from engineered shingles, as well as flat roofs. Speaking of which, asphalt is the most sought after and recommended material by roofing contractors. If you make this decision we are going to recommend the following guide to help you know and differentiate between traditional asphalt shingles and architectural asphalt shingles.

What are asphalt shingles and benefits of asphalt shingles?

The asphalt shingle has in its bottom layer a felt or fiberglass composite that protects the shingle from water seepage, after this layer is the actual asphalt protected by a surface material which has a mineral granulation with ultraviolet ray protection that protects the shingle and increases its life span, this type of shingle allows waterproofing, the most common of them are the three tab shingles that shows a dispersion aspect but offer maximum firmness. These shingles have a sealing strip that are activated by the heat that reaches the roof and offer resistance to climatic changes. Their durability and variety in styles and colors, their easy installation, offer a solution that adds up in benefits.

What are and benefits of architectural asphalt shingles?

In their physical composition, both traditional and architectural asphalt shingles are similar, what makes them different is the way they are installed, how they overlap, this type of shingles were manufactured with an imitation wood strip style, which form two layers that give a contoured type figure as they are composed of two laminated layers, which offers an aesthetic and elegant view to your roof, this type of shingle offers greater durability and resistance to winds.

Recommendations for choosing the right shingle for your roof

PRICE: traditional asphalt shingles are more economical, but architectural asphalt shingles compensate their initial value with greater durability and warranty.
PERFORMANCE: here the geographic location of the property plays a role, in moderate climates the traditional asphalt shingles have greater durability, but the architectural asphalt shingles offer greater protection and resistance when your property is located in areas of extreme winter or winds, because they are thicker and of maximum quality.
STYLE: In their appearance they are different, the traditional ones are flat, while the architectural ones are known as dimensional because several layers of materials are adhered to the base which gives a dimensional aspect to the roof.
LIFESPAN: architectural asphalt shingles have a useful life of 18 to 20 years, extendable to 30 years in suitable conditions, they withstand weather conditions better, while traditional asphalt shingles have a useful life of 7 to 10 years.
WARRANTY: warranties show their total value, traditional asphalt shingles are guaranteed for 20 to 30 years, while architectural shingles are guaranteed for 50 years.

The choice of your roof according to the type of shingle chosen is also related to the type of housing, traditional asphalt shingles are more accessible in the short term and are used in rental or economic housing, while architectural asphalt shingles are considered for their useful life for durability and aesthetics for homes of higher value.

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.

While decorating your home for Christmas or other holidays each year can be an exciting tradition, it’s important to consider the potential risks involved. From Pittsabana, we give you the best tips on how to go about installing decorative lights without taking risks or damaging your ceiling.

Where to install your ceiling lights?

The ceiling is part of a very important decorative element at Christmas and other holidays of the year in your home, which is why knowing the right places to place your lights is basic to follow these instructions. Among the best places on the roof to install the lights we have the gutters and tiles. In the market we can get a wide variety of lights that are perfectly suited for any of these places. Now that you know where to install the lights on your roof you can start looking for the types of lights that would look best in your home. We also recommend if you have the gutters to install the icicle-style Christmas lights that give a unique style to highlight your home.

Tips for installing lights on your ceiling

Here are the best tips to make the installation of your ceiling lights a success.

Test your lights and wires before you start

It is incredible how many people forget to test the lights before hanging them, that’s why it is a very important previous step for the success of your installation. You must consider that the labels of the lights have a certificate of outdoor use in addition to the circuits and switches must have ground fault (GFCI).
You must be meticulous in the revision of the lights (if they are of the previous year) in search of broken plugs, frayed cables or loose connections, if you find these faults it is suggested to discard them.

Do not use nails or staples.

Using nails, staples or screws sounds very tempting to install holiday lights on your ceiling, however their use can significantly affect the health of your ceiling. Their use puts pressure on the roofing materials (shingles, gutters) and if removed or left in place for too long causes holes that leak water, moisture that can corrode your roof, create mold or serious damage to your roof. It is recommended to use clips that are designed for hanging Christmas lights.

Before hanging lights, clean your gutters.

It is important that the area of the roof where the lights are to be installed is clean of debris or obstructions that would prevent the lights from being properly and durably attached. Keeping the roof clean also protects us from hazards such as fire prevention caused by dry leaves and overheating of the lights. Also, clean gutters and shingles provide a free flow of water which prevents the Christmas lights from burning.

Be careful and use the proper equipment

Climbing on your roof without equipment is never a good idea, since everything can go wrong from one moment to the next. To avoid accidents when you want to install the lights on your ceiling, it is recommended to use the proper safety equipment, among them we recommend the use of a ladder that is in good condition or a hanging pole that extends from the ground to the installation site.

How to hang Christmas lights without damaging your ceiling and without clips.

If you don’t want to use clips to hang lights for your ceiling we recommend using adhesive hooks. These are very simple to use and require no additional tools. Please note that these adhesive hooks do not work on textured surfaces, so you must install on siding or other smooth surfaces.

If you’re in the market for new roofing in Allegheny County, PA, turn to Pittsabana Contracting Services LLC. Roofing Contractor in Sewickley, 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.

Roofs deteriorate over time, combined with weather conditions. A roof in good condition will save you money on unscheduled replacements and will allow you to have a regular temperature inside your home, in addition to saving energy in both winter and summer. The best recommendation is to make a thorough review of your roof, and locate signs of existing damage such as cracks or visible or hidden deterioration, if your roof is in good condition, it is time to take corrective action and ideally do it in the best conditions.

Prevent the roof from being installed or replaced in Winter

In the winter, snow and ice accumulations can seriously affect your roof, since when they melt they can cause holes, sinking and leaks in the shingles, creating discomfort in your home.  Also affecting the thermal sealing because the cold makes adhesion difficult at the time of installation. Another point to consider is the fragility of the shingles caused by low temperatures, these environmental elements besides affecting the durability of the roof also delay the installation work.

Difficulty installing or repairing roofs in spring and summer

The roof, besides overcoming the winter, now has to face other risks that can be considered when thinking about installing or replacing it, we are talking about summer and spring, being the greatest difficulty of these seasons the storms, then the strong winds, hurricanes, heavy rains and high temperatures, elements sometimes unpredictable in magnitude that hinder the installation and the proper sealing and fragility of the tiles. The sun also affects and deteriorates roofs to the point of damaging the protective covering.

Fall is the best season and reason to install or replace your roof.

When we have clear days and temperatures above 45 degrees, it is the ideal time to install or replace roofs, on the one hand the asphalt shingles are fixed in the right way because the sealing strip is better affirmed with the heat of the environment, under this condition allows the weather to hermetically close the shingles before the arrival of extreme temperatures, as they create a sealed barrier against rain and snow, which allows the work done on the roof is guaranteed and on schedule. Another reason to take into account are the animals that seek shelter in the warmth of homes before the arrival of winter, if your roof is well sealed and sheltered in the right way it will be difficult for animals to access your home through the roof and make your home their home. This time of year allows for repairs to be done in a scheduled, quick and safe manner.

Having a roof in adequate conditions gives us security and peace of mind, because they contribute to maintain the correct temperature environments inside your home, besides avoiding extra expenses in our budget. If your roof does not offer security but inconveniences it is time to contact us and we can suggest the best options that will help you to have a full life for you and your most precious gift which is your family.

If you’re in the market for new roofing in Allegheny County, PA, turn to Pittsabana Contracting Services LLC. Roofing Contractor in Upper Saint Clair, 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.

When we have an attic or roof, we don’t think much about the importance of good ventilation, which plays a critical role in the structural health of your roof. That is why choosing the right ventilation equipment is very important. Here are some tips you can take to choose the one you need.

Factors in choosing the right roof ventilation system

Proper roof ventilation can keep your roof in good condition for years to come. There are so many options on the market, it can be a little difficult to know which roof ventilation solution is ideal for your home or project in question. Each case is different and presents its own unique challenge.

Pittsabana as official roofing contracting, we recommend you the best option according to your needs. From our experience we have had cases of damaged cooling systems due to poor roof ventilation. That is why to avoid bad decisions take into consideration contacting professionals. You can also follow some tips that can help you choose the one that best suits you.

The most commonly used attic ventilation systems

We have added a small list of the most common roof ventilation systems so that you can find the one that best suits your needs.

Ridge Vents

These are the most common ventilation systems when installing a roof. This is located in a strip that is located at the top ridge of the roof where it extends along the length of your linear roof span. It has the advantage of being high enough to allow warmer air to escape from the attic space.

Off Ridge Vents

This ventilation system for your roof consists of a metal vent that is installed on the ridge with asphalt shingles. These being a little small are not as effective as the first option and are not as recommended but they are still an option to try as ventilation but in cases of having many valleys, dormers or peaks, in those cases can be a good option, although it can also be complemented with other options on this list.

Roof Turbines

These turbines need low wind speeds in order to be activated and rotate the interior blades, therefore they will not be effective if there is not much wind during the day, resulting in many heat problems on windless summer days. These turbines are not the most effective for ventilating your roof but among the other options they are environmentally friendly as they do not require electricity. If the wind where you live is your ally do not hesitate to take them.

Hard-Wired Powered Attic Vents

These electric attic fans help to effectively remove hot air from attic spaces and maintain a constant temperature compared to the rest of your home, the downside is that their operation causes electricity costs to rise considerably.

Solar Attic Vents

These fans as its name says work with solar energy, it has solar panels that recharge the fan itself and maintains a comfortable temperature inside your roof. The disadvantage of these fans is that when the sunlight that the fan provides decreases, it does not have enough energy to continue working.

If you’re in the market for new roofing in Allegheny County, PA, turn to Pittsabana Contracting Services LLC. Roofing Contractor in Bethel Park, 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.