Roofing Is a 'Wild Ride': Q&A with Mark Rutherford of Atlanta Roofing Specialists

GAF Timberline HDZ® Reflector Series Shingles come in rich, vibrant colors, giving homeowners attractive color options that can be used to comply with the Cool Roof Requirements of Title 24 and the LA County Green Building Standards Code.*Here's why you may want to add these shingles to your business offerings, especially if you work in California.Timberline HDZ® RS ShinglesA few features make these shingles stand out.Meeting California Code ComplianceIn California, residential roofs must meet solar reflectance requirements because they are mandated by California's Building Energy Efficiency Standards Title 24, Part 6 and Los Angeles County Green Building Code. Both codes set a minimum reflectance rating known as the solar reflective index (SRI), which measures a material's ability to reflect sunlight and heat. The lower the SRI value (from 0 to 100), the hotter a material becomes in sunlight. The higher the value, the cooler the material. Shingles with a higher SRI help reduce temperatures by reflecting sunlight which can help reduce the cooling load.The new Timberline HDZ® RS Shingles provide solar reflectance that complies with both Title 24 and the Los Angeles County Green Building Code.Title 24California's Title 24 covers the entire state, unless local requirements are stricter, providing cool roof requirements for residential and commercial buildings based on their locations within 16 climate zones. For residential buildings (new construction), climate zones 1 through 9 and 16 have no cool roof requirements. Climate zones 4, and 8 through 15 require cool roofs for new and reroof applications when more than 50% of the roof is removed.If shingles don't meet the required SRI, alternative paths to compliance include using a radiant barrier, airspace, or additional attic insulation.Los Angeles County Green Building CodeThe Los Angeles County Green Building Code's Cool Roof Ordinance covers buildings in the county and prescribes SRI values depending on the type of building (low-rise residential, high-rise residential and hotels/motels, and nonresidential) and roof slope. High-slope (more than 2:12), low-rise residential roofs must have an SRI of 20 or more. Exceptions apply to roof repairs or replacements where less than 50% of the roof is removed, additions of less than 500 square feet or less than 50% of the total roof area, and green roofs.Selling Points for California HomeownersWhen working with property owners in California and Los Angeles County, you can highlight the following selling points of Timberline HDZ® Reflector Series Shingles.Potential Savings on Cooling CostsReflective roofing may help decrease a roof's temperature and cooling load, which has the potential to lower cooling costs.****StyleTimberline HDZ® RS Shingles provide the darkest highly-reflective shingle available, Charcoal, thanks to EcoDark® granules. They also feature GAF's High Definition® color blends for dimensional, wood-shake look.Peace of MindHomeowners can enjoy heightened confidence when choosing Timberline HDZ® RS Shingles because they come with a Lifetime Limited Warranty***** against manufacturing defects and a 25-year StainGuard Plus™ Algae Protection limited warranty.**Enhancing Homes' AppealHomeowners can rest assured that the new Timberline HDZ® Reflector Series Shingles offer the durability of GAF shingles while providing deep, rich color options to match their unique aesthetic.Color OptionsTimberline HDZ® RS shingles feature newly formulated EcoDark® Granules that provide deep rich, dark colors including Charcoal, the darkest highly-reflective shingle color in California, as well as other popular shingle colors that offer color blends for a more dimensional look.Time-Release Algae Fighting TechnologyTimberline HDZ® RS shingles feature GAF Time-Release Algae-Fighting Technology which uses specially engineered capsules that are infused with thousands of copper microsites. This allows the copper to release steadily over time for long-lasting algae fighting power. It's technology so strong, it powers the 25-Year StainGuard Plus™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty.**WindProven Limited Wind WarrantyTimberline HDZ® RS shingles have LayerLock® technology and the StrikeZone™, nailing area like traditional Timberline HDZ® shingles, and are eligible for the WindProven™ Limited Wind Warranty with no maximum wind speed limitation when installed with the required combination of accessories.***Curious to learn more? Visit the GAF Timberline HDZ® RS Shingles product page for more details.*Can be used to comply with the Cool Roof Requirements for steep slope residential buildings of 2022 Title 24, Part 6, of the California Code of Regulations and the Green Building Standards Code of Los Angeles County.**25-year StainGuard Plus Algae Protection Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration is available only on products sold in packages bearing the StainGuard Plus logo. See GAF Shingle and Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.***15-year WindProven™ limited wind warranty covers GAF Shingles with LayerLock® Technology only and requires the use of GAF Starter Strips, Roof Deck Protection, Ridge Cap Shingles, and Leak Barrier or Attic Ventilation. See GAF Roofing System Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions. Visit gaf.com/LRS for qualifying GAF products. For installations not eligible for the WindProven limited wind warranty, see GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.****Energy cost savings are not guaranteed and the amount of savings may vary based on a variety of factors, such as climate zone, utility rates, radiative properties of roofing products, insulation levels and HVAC equipment efficiency.*****Definition of Lifetime: The word "Lifetime" means as long as you, the original owner(s) [or the second owner(s) if coverage was properly transferred during the Smart Choice Protection Period], own the property where the shingles and/or accessories are installed. The Lifetime warranty is applicable only to shingles and accessories installed on a single-family detached residence owned by individuals. For any other type of owner or building, such as a corporation, governmental entity, religious entity, condominium or homeowner association, school, apartment building, office building, or multi-use structure, the length of the warranty is 40 years. See the GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty, GAF Roofing System Limited Warranty and GAF Golden Pledge Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.

As a roofing contractor, you know how noisy roofing projects can get. And when repairing or replacing roofs on institutional properties, like schools and healthcare centers, it's often not possible to remove occupants during the project's duration.Accordingly, minimizing disruption at these facilities is key, as students need to be able to concentrate and patients must be protected as they recover. Here are common disruptions to consider and how to reduce them, with insight from GAF Building and Roofing Science Research Lead, Elizabeth Grant.Common Disruptions on Construction SitesYou have several challenges to consider when working on schools or other facilities with ongoing operations, including noise, odors, and occupants' safety.Elevated VolumeHeightened noise levels can affect both students and patients. At schools, loud sounds can affect students' ability to learn and concentrate. Likewise, construction noise can impact patients' ability to rest and recuperate in healthcare facilities.Strong OdorsWhen using certain roofing materials on big job sites—like powerful adhesives or hot-mopped roofing systems—odors may infiltrate the building. This may be distracting and affect the comfort of students and patients.Heavy MachineryUnloading and staging material can also cause disruption, as materials must be staged onsite to be ready for installation as the job progresses. This often involves using heavy equipment, such as cranes and lifts. Proper safety protections must be in place to ensure worker and occupant safety.Roofing Products That Minimize DisruptionUnfortunately, there's no good time for a roof repair or replacement at a medical facility. You may be able to complete school projects when school is out of session, but that isn't always the case if a leak or storm damage occurs.The best (and most proactive) way to minimize disruption is to use durable, long-lasting materials, as this reduces the number of times crews need to work on the roof.Single-Ply MembranesGrant recommends a robust single-ply membrane or a system with some redundancy, such as a multi-ply modified bitumen. She also suggests leveraging a hybrid system, composed of a multi-ply modified bitumen system with a single-ply top sheet for reflectivity.Cover and Substrate BoardsFor resiliency against noise-causing conditions such as hail and foot traffic, Grant suggests using cover and substrate boards. Cover boards are installed on top of the insulation and provide sound insulation, while substrate boards are installed directly on the roof deck under the insulation."If you have a really noisy location, and you want to keep people inside from hearing a lot of disruption, having cover and substrate boards included in the system can be really important," says Grant.Adhesives and FastenersAnother change you can make to reduce disruption is using adhesive to attach roofing products instead of mechanically fastening them. This helps avoid the noise from driving fasteners into the roof deck—and enables a faster installation.Grant notes that, depending on the FM and wind ratings required, it may be possible to adhere all the system components, including the insulation, cover boards, and membrane. An adhesive like GAF EverGuard® TPO Quick-Spray Adhesive can effectively adhere TPO and PVC roofing materials. The product has a high initial tackiness, allowing for faster installation than traditional adhesives. You can also opt for self-adhering products (vapor retarder, pipe boots, TPO roofing, etc.), which can further reduce installation time by eliminating adhesive application from the process.Materials That Shorten Project TimelinesA creative and efficient way to minimize disruption at school and hospital job sites is to reduce the time crews are on the roof. By taking advantage of time-saving materials, you can reduce the risk to workers and occupants, increase productivity, and ultimately take on more work.In addition to the Quick-Spray Adhesive, GAF offers several materials designed to cut installation time and labor:Wider rolls of TPO (12 feet instead of 10 feet) can help crews to spend less time installing systems on wide-open roofs.Insulation installation is easier with lightweight Ultra HD Composite Insulation, and it eliminates the need for one full application of adhesive in adhered systems.TPO self-adhered membrane can cut installation time by as much as 60% compared to installation using traditional bucket and roller adhesives.Experienced Support That Streamlines WorkIn addition to product and material selection, you can minimize disruptions by having GAF professionals from the Tapered Design Group help design the tapered insulation system. These professionals can help you with a variety of services, such as:Tapered insulation designTapered insulation Inventory management and orderingBudget friendly alternativesTapered insulation systems are designed to improve the drainage slope on roofs with substrate damage or without enough slope. The tapered design team at GAF "balances suitable slope with the least amount of material," Grant says. "To help with saving money, saving material, and saving time."This group designs tapered insulation systems that can be loaded and labeled strategically to minimize material handling and time spent looking for and transporting materials. Products are bundled by roof area, and a color-coded plan distinguishes areas for each bundle. Materials are precut and specifically designed for each project.Additional Tools to Save Time and LaborTwo other GAF tools can help you reduce the time spent on projects: GAF QuickSite™ and GAF QuickMeasure™.GAF QuickSite™GAF QuickSite™ provides the information you need before approaching a potential customer. It gives you a snapshot of local codes (important if you're working in an unfamiliar location), a 10-year wind and hail history, historical photographs documenting changes over time, and parcel information (including size and sales dates).GAF QuickMeasure™GAF QuickMeasure™ provides complete roof measurements including parapet wall lengths, heights and widths to help create estimates, past views showing how a roof may have changed over time, grid-lined paper for buildings with predominate pitch of 0 or 1, and a DXF file output for CAD.With the help of GAF QuickSite™, GAF QuickMeasure™, and the Tapered Design Group, you can confidently give your healthcare clients and school customers accurate estimates for suitable roofing products to meet their needs. These tools can also minimize disruption to building occupants and help building owners select durable, long-lasting products that will protect their investments for years to come.Leveraging GAF Professionals' ExperienceWhen working on schools, hospitals, and other important institutions, you're working to satisfy not only your clients but the individuals visiting these locations. By minimizing disruption, you can help ensure everyone involved experiences minimal disruption while you complete the project.For more insight into time- and labor-saving products and services, explore GAF School Rooftop Resources.

A low-slope commercial roofing system is responsible for keeping the elements out of the building. During heavy rain, water with nowhere else to go may pond on the roof. A roof drain prevents water from ponding by providing a way for it to leave the roof, and regular commercial drain maintenance ensures its continued performance.Although commercial buildings may appear to have flat roofs, some roofs have slopes built into the structure or require added slopes, typically achieved with tapered insulation to facilitate water drainage. This slope is designed to guide water to a drain, so it doesn't sit on the roof and damage the roofing system or structure. Standing water can slowly deteriorate certain roofing materials and cause premature degradation, failure, or damage. It can also promote algae and plant growth and attract nuisances such as birds and insects.Guiding Water off the RoofResidential roofs have gravity on their side—water flows down the slopes into gutters that transport it away from the home. Commercial buildings with low-slope roofs have to work a little harder to remove water, which is where roof drains come into play.The roofing system design can help guide water toward the drains. It often involves using tapered insulation such as GAF EnergyGuard™ tapered polyiso insulation. The two most popular tapered boards deliver a 1/8-inch or 1/4-inch per foot slope. This slight slope prevents water from standing on the roof, forcing it toward a drain strategically installed at various low points on the roof with crickets and saddles.Drain placement is particularly essential when the parapet wall sheds water. To help water arrive at the drain line or gutter, tapered crickets are typically installed in corners and between drains to direct the flow and alleviate ponding. This water must flow down the roof side of the parapet wall and follow the roof slope to reach the drain.3 Common Types of Roof DrainsInner DrainsInner drains are connected to sloped pipes under the roof that carry water off the roof and away from the building. They typically rely on gravity and the roof's slope to get water to the drain.ScuppersScuppers are found at the roof's edge, usually installed through a hole in the parapet wall. They're designed to drain water from the roof into a downspout or may extend out from the building to shed water.Siphonic DrainsSiphonic drains feature a baffle that keeps air out and allows water to fill the pipes. Once the pipes are full, the lack of air creates a vacuum that siphons water from the roof at a high velocity. The baffle also keeps leaves and debris from gathering in the drain and causing a blockage.Caring for and Maintaining Roof DrainsInspecting and maintaining roof drains should be part of your regular roof inspections. Because roof drains are located at low points on the roof, it's easy for debris or leaves to build up in these areas. Clearing debris is essential for the drains to function properly. Clogs encourage pools of water to form on the rooftop, which can cause structural issues for the building. Even just an inch of standing water can add thousands of pounds of weight to the roof, reinforcing the need for regular commercial drain maintenance.Advancing Roof Drain Maintenance with TechnologyGAF recently introduced the Steely Drain™. This is a roof drain solution that leverages technology allowing contractors to build their maintenace relationship by setting up building maintenance reminders to contact building owners or facility managers. This contractor-inspired drain is made of 316L marine-grade stainless steel, making it ideal for tough environments that require exceptional corrosion resistance.Steely Drain™ features a QR code etched onto the top that you can scan with your smartphone to instantly view information about the roofing system. This data can include the contact information of the contractor who installed the system, the architect and consultants for the project, and the roofing system details if all information is inputted.This critical data is managed from a convenient GAF-hosted dashboard and plays an important role in the roof's maintenance plan. Contractors can set up and receive email reminders when it's time to perform scheduled roof and drain inspections. The dashboard also eliminates the need for core cuts since every detail of the roofing system is available through the QR code—from the deck type to the cover board, underlayment, insulation type and thickness, to the final membrane.Knowledge Is Key to SuccessWhen properly installed and maintained, roof drains can keep the rooftop free of standing water for many years. Curious to learn more? Explore how the Steely Drain™ can help you with your ongoing maintenance programs. You can also visit the GAF CARE Contractor Training Center to gain additional tips and access valuable training courses that allow you to learn at your own pace.