Masonry, Landscaping, Fence & Barn, Ponds, Excavation
Wendland Construction - We build it right the first time!
Roofing (Flashing) Water intrusion in building walls is the primary cause of premature building failure and the root cause of costly and time consuming litigation nationwide. Continual wetting and drying of wall cavities not only destroys wood fibers, but can provide a breeding ground for mold and mildew which foul the appearance and air quality surrounding the moist area. Intrusion can occur in all types of buildings and in most climates, typically at planar and material junctions in buildings, such as roof/wall junctions, door and window openings, and where architectural features meet cladding/veneer. Flashing, a redundant barrier at the locations most likely to admit moisture, has long been the traditional approach to sealing architectural feature or material junctions. Today, there are numerous new flashing products available to assist building designers marry the increasing complexity of designs and products with off-the-shelf convenience for the tradesperson.
(Roof Flashing) Many roofs have multiple intersections, such as valleys, crickets and abutment to adjacent walls, which are prone to water leakage. Pre-formed components such as drip edge, step flashing, kick-out diverters, and specialty pipe/chimney caps provide solutions that eliminate the guess work for specialty trades (e.g., roofers and siding installers) and streamline construction. Pan Flashing Window and door sills present another opportunity for water leakage from wind-driven precipitation. Industry experts have long recommended that these areas be flashed with water dams at the back and up the sides of the sills with a forward slope for positive drainage. There are many manufactured sill pan systems available on the market today. Often made of molded (and sometimes recycled) plastics, products include drainage channels to direct water away from the window frame that are available in standard opening widths and can be cut and customized on site. Some systems include trim strips so that any part of the system visible after installation can be covered for aesthetics. (Head Flashing) Window and door heads and transitions in cladding and architectural finishes present additional areas for water leakage. Head flashings can be field fashioned from rigid metals, like aluminum and copper, purchased pre-formed, or formed with cladding, dependent on window frame configuration and trim details. There is a U-shaped brick veneer wall head flashing called Brick Pocket that has an integral 5-½ inch frieze board, J-channel, and a siding interlock strip. The flashing product eliminates the framing that is required for cornice nailing block build-outs with brick veneers, providing a maintenance-free finish and watertight barrier where the veneer meets the soffit transition. The flashing comes in the color white in 12-foot lengths and can be installed by the siding subcontractor before the masonry contractor installs the veneer. This flashing can also be used at window sills and gable walls with the J-channel removed. (HighWind and Impact Resistant) Between 1991 and 1995, wind and hail resulted in an average of $8 billion in insurance payouts each year, and wind and hail damage to roofs comprises a significant portion of this cost. Hail damage to asphalt shingles may include severe granule loss, material loss at shingle edges, and penetration. Wind can also create serious roof damage-it is documented that roof material failure was the most widespread type of damage from Hurricane Hugo (Manning, Billy R. and Gary G. Nichols. 1991. ''Hugo Lessons Learned.'' In Hurricane Hugo One Year Later, Benjamin A. Sill and Peter R. Sparks, Editors. New York: American Society of Civil Engineers). New shingle products are designed to resist damage from impact and high winds. They meet the most stringent standards for impact resistance (Class 4) set by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and wind resistance set by UL and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International). Several manufacturers offer asphalt shingles designed to resist the effects of severe weather such as wind and impact from flying debris or hail. Different proprietary methods are used to keep granules attached to the shingle, to prevent shingle breaking during impact, and to keep shingles attached to the sheathing during high winds. UL 2218 classifies the resistance of roofing products to impact damage. In the test, steel balls are directed at roof samples, and damage is observed. Products that receive a Class 4 rating from UL 2218 are the most resistive to hail damage. Some major insurance companies are offering homeowner premium discounts for the use of roofing products that receive a Class 4 rating. (Concrete) Like insulating concrete forms for wall construction, ICFs for decks are reinforced stay-in-place polystyrene forms that become the structure of the floor or roof assembly when placed and filled with concrete. The forms provide an thermal resistance of approximately R-3.8 per inch, and provide sound attenuation once assembled. After shoring, bracing, and reinforcement are installed, 2” to 4” thick concrete is placed on top of the deck assembly. The concrete can be finished decoratively, and can include piping for hydronic or radiant heating systems. Form shapes and method of installation vary between manufacturers. One manufacturer produces a two-foot wide foam panel by the overall span length, with integral steel joists that provide temporary support for the deck. Another manufacturer produces foam forms that measure 32” long x 24” wide x 12” thick, that rely on steel joists, spaced at 16” o.c. and purchased separately, for temporary deck support. However, most systems require temporary shoring of the deck. The maximum span capability of the systems depends on the thickness of the form and concrete and placement of reinforcement. Span capability of ICF deck systems, under residential loading, ranges from 20 to 40 feet, depending on design and specifications. Some manufacturers supply forms that can also be used as temporary forms for precast concrete walls and decks. (BIPV) Photvoaltaics. Many homeowners recognize the value of solar energy technologies but have been leery of the highly visible collectors on their roofs. Although the term ''solar power'' may be synonymous with environmental-friendliness and freedom from fossil fuel dependence, some types of solar systems have been avoided because of their unattractive (or unique) appearance from the curb. For this reason, photovoltaic (PV) modules,, which convert sunlight directly into electricity, have been integrated into roofing or other building materials as an alternative to traditional PV modules that are mounted above the roof on racks. The result is a photovoltaic system that is less noticeable but has benefits that are hard to miss. Once installed, BIPV components not only protect the home from storms and rainy weather but produce free electricity for use in the home. The residential industry most often uses building-integrated photovoltaic roofing products; however PV systems can also be integrated into façade materials, awnings, and covered walkways. The many types of photovoltaic roofing products compliment many different roofing materials including asphalt shingles, standing seam metal roofing, and slate or concrete tiles. BIPV roofing products are produced by manufacturers whose products are designed to serve both functions -- as a roofing material to protect the home and as an electrical device to produce electricity. PV systems can be sized on a small scale to produce a limited amount of energy or be large enough to power an entire home and send excess electricity to the utility. Most residential BIPV systems are used in conjunction with utility-supplied power. In addition to the PV-active roofing, an inverter, located near the electrical panel, converts the PV produced electricity into utility compatible alternating current (AC) electricity for the home. PV systems that utilize battery storage can produce electricity for the home even when the utility power is disconnected or when the sun is not shining. Utility-provided electricity is used when the house demand is greater than can be supplied by the photovoltaic roofing. .PV systems can be sized on a small scale to produce a limited amount of energy or be large enough to power an entire home and send excess power produced during daylight hours back into the utility's lines. Typical residential PV systems commonly have a peak power production of between 1,200 and 5,000 watts, AC - requiring 150 to over 1000 square feet of roof area depending on the efficiency of the PV technology used. (Radient Barriers) How does your attic feel on sunny summer days? Many people find their attic spaces unlivable on summer days because of soaring temperatures. On a sunny day, solar energy is absorbed by the roof, heating the roof sheathing and causing the underside of the sheathing and the roof framing to radiate heat downward toward the attic floor. A hot attic is not only uncomfortable, it can also conduct heat into the interior space of your home, making the air conditioner work harder and increasing your energy bills. Hot attics are caused by heat from the sun, also known as radiant heat. Radiant heat is heat that is transmitted from a heat source through space. It is the heat we feel from distant objects like the sun or a fire. Radiant heat is unique because it does not require a medium to travel through (like a pan that feels warm on the outside because of the warm water inside it). Radiant heat is also called infra-red heat or infra-red energy. Radiant barriers are materials that are installed in buildings to reduce summer heat gain and winter heat loss. They reduce building heating and cooling energy usage. A radiant barrier reflects radiant heat back towards its source, reflecting as much as 97%. Radiant barriers are designed to block the effects of radiant heat gain in homes by reflecting radiant heat rather than absorbing it. They provide substantial energy savings in warm climates. When a radiant barrier is placed on the attic floor, much of the heat radiated from the hot roof is reflected back toward the roof. This keeps the top surface of the insulation cooler than it would have been without a radiant barrier and thus reduces the amount of heat that moves through the insulation into the rooms below the ceiling. Studies have shown that radiant barriers can lower a cooling bill by between 5 and 10 percent when used in warm, sunny climates. The effects of radiant heat gains can be reduced with the aid of highly reflective surfaces. Traditional forms of insulation absorb radiant heat energy. Radiant barriers reflect it. Reflective barriers usually consist of a thin sheet or coating of a highly reflective material, usually aluminum, applied to one or both sides of a number of substrate materials. Radiant barriers can also reduce indoor heat losses through the ceiling in the winter. However, radiant barriers reduce the amount of energy radiated from the top surface of the insulation, but can also reduce beneficial heat gains in winter due to solar heating of the roof. The net benefits of radiant barriers for reducing winter heat losses are still being studied. Radiant barriers are made from materials that are excellent at reflecting heat and poor at absorbing it. Radiant barriers work by reducing thermal radiation heat transfer from the roof sheathing to the attic floor, where conventional insulation is usually placed. All materials give off or emit energy by thermal radiation as a result of their temperature. The amount of energy emitted depends on the surface temperature and a property called ''emissivity'' (also called the ''emittance''). Emissivity is the property that determines how well a radiant barrier will perform. A closely related material property is the ''reflectivity'' (also called the reflectance''). This is the measure of how much energy is reflected and not absorbed by the barrier. Radiant barrier materials must have high reflectivity (90%) and low emissivity (10%) and must face an open air space to perform properly. Radiant barriers come in various forms, including: reflective foil, reflective paint coatings, and reflective chips. Radiant barriers, which do not provide a significant amount of thermal insulation, can be combined with thermal insulation for increased energy efficiency. They reduce heat gains without the need for increasing wall cavity thickness in order to accommodate bulky insulation. A roof exposed to the sun for a prolonged period will absorb a great deal of heat, sometimes reaching temperatures in excess of 170° Fahrenheit. Radiant barriers can help prevent overheated attics from warming the interior of a home. Conventional thermal insulation can slow down radiant heat transfer, but will not stop it. All radiant barriers have at least one reflective (or low emissivity) surface, usually a sheet or coating of aluminum. Some radiant barriers have a reflective surface on both sides. Both types work about equally well, but if a one-sided radiant barrier is used, the reflective surface must face the open air space. For example, if a one-sided radiant barrier is laid on top of the insulation with the reflective side facing down and touching the insulation, the radiant barrier will lose most of its effectiveness in reducing heating and cooling loads. Dust can seriously impair the performance of a radiant barrier by dulling the reflective surface. This problem is most likely to occur if the barrier is installed on the attic floor with the reflective surface facing up. Instead of the radiant heat being reflected, it would be absorbed. Radiant barriers also act as a vapor barrier, preventing the passage of moisture. If the barrier is installed on the cold side of the cavity, warm, moist air passing through the cavity will condense on the cold surface.Foil with perforations to allow moisture to pass through is available. Most types of radiant barriers add another step and cost to the process, which may be viewed negatively by some builders. (Green Roof Systems) Green roofs, also called living or planted roofs, are systems of living plants and vegetation installed on the roof of an existing or new structure. The green roof concept is not new. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon constructed around 500 B.C. were perhaps one of the first green roof systems. Terrace structures were built over arched stone beams and waterproofed with layers of reeds and thick tar on which plants and trees were placed in soil. Popular in Europe for decades, technology has improved upon the ancient systems, making green roofs available in and appropriate for nearly all climates and areas of the United States. All green roof systems consist of four basic components: a waterproofing layer, a drainage layer, a growing medium, and vegetation. Some green roofs also include root retention and irrigation systems, but these are not essential. Green roof systems are often broken down into two types—extensive and intensive systems. An extensive system features low-lying plants such as succulents, mosses, and grasses. They require relatively thin layers of soil (1-6 inches), and plants usually produce a few inches of foliage. Extensive systems have less of an impact on the roof structure, weighing 10-50 pounds per square foot on average, and are generally accessible only for routine maintenance. Most residential applications are composed of extensive green roof systems. Intensive systems feature deeper soil and can support larger plants including crops, shrubs, and trees. Intensive systems can be harder to maintain, depending on the plants used, and are much heavier than extensive systems—they range from 80 to more than 120 pounds per square foot. Intensive systems are typically designed to be accessible to building inhabitants for relaxation and/or harvesting. There is a wide variety of materials used for each component of the green roof system, depending on the chosen plants, type of system employed, climate, and underlying structure. Growing mediums include soils, peat and other organic materials, gravel, and other aggregates. A drainage layer is required to adequately distribute water and prevent pooling. To minimize the weight of the system, drainage layers are often made from plastic or rubber, but may also be made of gravel or clay. The drainage layer may or may not include filter media to ensure aeration. The waterproofing membrane is a critical component of the system and should include a root barrier to ensure the underlying roof surface is not compromised. If the weatherproofing material is not root-resistant, an additional layer must be applied to serve this purpose. Plants used in green roof applications must be easy to maintain and tolerant of extreme weather conditions including heat, freezing, and drought, and must have relatively shallow, fibrous root systems. The plants should also be resistant to diseases and insects, and not generate airborne seeds in order to protect surrounding plantings. Climate-appropriate succulents, mosses, and grasses are often best suited for extensive green roof systems. These types of plants are available in a variety of colors, in both deciduous and evergreen options. Many nurseries throughout the country specialize in vegetation for green roofs. (Roof Ventilation and Drip edge System) The combination ventilation and drip edge system is an innovative approach to providing continuous attic air intake vents on homes with no eave overhangs. This type of vent remains hidden behind the gutter and does not detract from the architecture of the home. The use of ventilation and drip edge systems combines the steps of installing attic intake ventilation and drip edge, which directs rainwater flow from the roof into the gutter and saves installation time. Roof and attic ventilation allows excess heat and moisture to escape from the home to reduce summertime cooling costs, pre-mature deterioration of roofing materials and moisture condensation that can lead to costly repairs. An effective attic ventilation system relies on natural convection to pull air into the attic from a low position, commonly through vents in a soffit, and exhaust heated attic air through a vent at a high position, such as through gable or ridge vents. Many new and existing homes do not have soffits, or their architectural style may not permit perforations in soffits for ventilation. Instead of sacrificing a proper ventilation system, builders and owners of these types of homes can install ventilation and drip-edge systems to improve the effectiveness of attic ventilation. Ventilation and drip edge systems are made of either extruded vinyl or roll-formed aluminum and are manufactured in five or eight foot sections. They are designed to allow air into an attic or roof assembly from an inconspicuous location and simultaneously force roof runoff away from fascia boards and into the gutter. Manufacturers of ventilation and drip edge systems inform they work most effectively when installed in conjunction with exhaust vents located at or near the peak of a roof. (SmartVent Roof Ventilation) The SmartVent technology is a “total attic ventilation system” including components for ridge and eave vents. These components can also be used to easily ventilate other difficult to ventilate roof areas (e.g., dormer roofs, jack rafters at valleys, etc.). The product is a corrugated polyethylene plastic that comes with a synthetic fabric water guard to prevent bulk water and insect entry. SmartVent installs much like other roof venting products at the roof ridge. At the eaves, the SmartVent is installed on top of the roof (not under the soffit) and underneath the roof underlayment and cladding. It vents air from the drip edge through a gap in the roof sheathing. The product is about ¾” thick at the air entry (lower) edge, tapers to 1/8” thick at the top edge and is sized similarly to that of a standard composition roof shingle. (synthetic Roof Underlayment) Until the twenty-first century, most residential sloped roofs received a layer of asphalt-saturated felt building paper underneath the roofing material. Mimicking the attributes of housewraps, synthetic roof underlayments are now available to serve the same function as a secondary weather barrier with better resistance to tearing, moisture, and ultraviolet rays than traditional roofing felt. Synthetic underlayments are typically made from polypropylene, polyester, or fiberglass fabric which weighs less than felt building paper, can be manufactured with an anti-slip surface, and can withstand exposure to the elements for six months. Recent natural disasters and subsequent rebuilding efforts highlighted the versatility of synthetics as roof underlayment by providing a real-life test environment. After several hurricanes ravaged southern coastal areas of the United States, many people were forced out of their damaged homes. At the same time, large numbers of homes required quick roof repair and ''drying in'' to minimize further damage due to water intrusion. With limited resources, contractors triaged homes, repairing the critical components and installing synthetic underlayments as temporary roofing. The underlayments performed better than FEMA’s blue tarps and didn’t require removal and discard when a roofing crew eventually arrived to install shingles. One manufacturer offers a Class I fire-rated synthetic underlayment for roofs that require resistance to fire, as well as, the durable attributes of synthetic fabrics while the building is under construction. (Tilt-up Roofs) for manufactured and modula. Manufactured and modular homes typically have roofs with low pitches due to the need to clear underpasses during transport. Devices are available that allow a high-pitched roof to fold flat during transport to provide the necessary clearance, while still achieving some of the savings associated with a factory-built roof. In modular homes, the high-pitched roof allows for second-floor or attic spaces, increasing the utility and value of the home. In manufactured (HUD code) homes, these roofs also can be more appropriate for infill sites in urban areas where its appearance helps it fit among the older homes in the neighborhood. Tilt-up gable roofs are widely used. The New Era home consists of two sections, either 14' or 16' wide (nominal) and various lengths with a partial or full second floor. With the addition of a site-installed (or double hinged) upper roof section and gable ends, a second floor space is created for future finishing. Although the design is standardized, it can be offered in a number of site-specific plans and elevations. In many cases the buyer will order through an options/configuration checklist categorized by trade. The home can also be used in zero lot line configurations. (Tubular Skylights) Many homeowners enjoy the natural lighting that skylights provide. However, skylights often do not distribute light evenly, are a significant source of energy loss, and can cause UV damage to carpets and furniture. Tubular skylights, on the other hand, use the sun for lighting interiors without the drawbacks associated with conventional skylights. They are generally easier to install than typical skylights and, from the home's interior, resemble conventional lighting fixtures. Tubular skylights have a roof-mounted light collector typically consisting of an acrylic lens set in a metal frame. Most have a reflective sun scoop in the rooftop assembly that directs sunlight into a metal or plastic tube which has a highly reflective interior coating. The reflective tube guides the sunlight to a diffuser lens, mounted on the interior ceiling surface, that spreads light evenly throughout the room. The shape of the scoop is generally parabolic to reflect sunlight into the home regardless of the sun's angle in the sky. Some tubular skylights have integrated electrical lights so the fixture can provide light both day and night and some have integrated baffles to regulate the amount of incoming sunlight. The performance of tubular skylights varies widely between brands. Tests performed at the Alberta Research Council indicated that one 13-inch tubular skylight had equivalent light output of up to one 700-watt incandescent bulb in December and one 1,200-watt bulb in June. (Wide Span Metal Roofing) Metal roofing products of old had two drawbacks - standing seams were field-formed and panel attachment was through the roof deck, requiring screws, washers, sealant, and subsequent maintenance of these points of penetration. The field forming (folding and crimping) of the standing seams between panels was a tedious process and labor accounted for more than 80% of the installed price of the roof covering. Some of this labor-intensivity has been eliminated with new cold-rolled steel roofing products. Panel edges have been designed with snap locking standing seams to accommodate a concealed fastener that saves installation and maintenance labor while enhancing the appearance and durability of the roofing product. Various gauges and designs also provide a rigidity that allows panels to be installed without substrates (sheathing) on 3/12 or steeper sloped roofs with spacing of supports as great as 5’ on center. The span capability of traditional roof substrates - 7/16 inch OSB and ½ inch plywood - have played a part in typical roof truss design and spacing. But wood and steel roof trusses in residential spans can be engineered for spacing wider than 2 feet on center. When a truss can be engineered as a one-ply member at wider spacing, usually by designing with a better grade or species of lumber or gauge of steel or upsizing chord members, metal roofing products now available can bridge this distance up to 5 feet on center Panels are preformed of 22-26 gauge steel and have a fluorocarbon coating applied in the factory. Finishes typically have a 20-year warranty, while the life expectancy of the steel panel is 40 or more years. Panels are 18 - 28 inches in width and can be fabricated and transported in lengths up to 45 feet. Each panel is rolled with a male assembly along one edge and a female assembly along the opposite edge that create the standing seam when snapped into place. One side of the snap lock usually has a factory-applied sealant along the leading edge to prevent water penetration. Clips are applied to the male edge so that when the next panel is locked in place the clip is concealed and the interlocking pattern of the seam secures the adjacent panel. Optional battens can be installed atop the seam for added dimensional profile. (Slate) Slate is a low-grade metamorphic rock that forms from shale under pressure at temperatures of a few hundred degrees or so. Clay minerals in the shale, which originally formed by the breakdown of mica minerals in igneous rocks, begin to revert back to mica. This makes the rock harder, so that it rings or ''tinks'' under the hammer, and it results in a strong cleavage—slaty cleavage—so that slate readily breaks into thin plates. Slaty cleavage doesn't always match the original sedimentary bedding planes; instead it reflects regional tectonic forces during the geologic past. Fossils in the original rock are usually erased, but sometimes they survive in smeared or stretched form. Slate makes excellent paving stones, long-lasting roof tiles and, of course, the best billiard tables. Blackboards and writing tablets were once made of slate, and the name of the rock has become the name of the tablets themselves. With further metamorphism, slate turns to phyllite. Phyllite is one step beyond slate in the chain of regional metamorphism. Unlike slate, phyllite has a definite sheen.
|
