OSHA Inspection Rules

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was established in 1970 and was charged, by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to “assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.” OSHA achieves its goals by providing and implementing workplace guidelines intended to prevent injury to employees while completing their assigned job duties. The roofing industry is no different from any other, and employers are subject to OSHA regulations.
Several OSHA requirements for all employers include:

• providing a workplace that is safe and free of hazards
• provide safety training in a language and vocabulary that all employees can understand
• display appropriate OSHA signage in the workplace
• providing personal protective equipment to employees at no cost to employees
• maintain records of work-related injuries and illnesses
• no employer may discriminate or retaliate against employees for exercising their rights under the Act

OSHA provides specific recommendations for roofing contractors who regularly face dangers associated with falling off of a roof. A few of these measures include:

• identifying any potential fall protection needs before beginning a roofing project
• survey the roof for preexisting anchorage points (if none exist, install necessary precautions)
• skylights should be buffered by a guard rail, or a protective cover may be utilized, but this cover must be able to support twice the weight that it is asked to bear
• proper footwear is essential and is considered personal protective equipment
• employees should remain vigilant for air hoses and other cords used for power tools
• workers on roofs should be attached to a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS),
• other fall preventive measures include rope grabs and horizontal lifelines

These fall protection methods may not be appropriate for all roofing job sites and employers are responsible for meeting OSHA inspection rules by providing a safe working environment. Consult the OSHA website or contact an OSHA inspector to learn more about OSHA inspection rules.

Roofing Permits: What you need to know!

Any contractor who has been in business for awhile knows the importance of the roofing-permit process. This is the way municipalities across the country enforce their building codes, which are created with safety in mind.
Most of the time, it will fall upon you as the contractor to obtain the permits (making you the contractor of record on the project), but occasionally the homeowner or business owner will take on the responsibility themselves.
Either way, the permit process is vitally important — in fact, it’s against the law not to obtain one. If you go through with a job without a proper permit, you will be fined at the very least. You may also have to tear down your work entirely.
A roofing permit will be a matter of public record, so future building owners will be able to check to make sure the process was carried out the way it was intended.
What’s the first step? Submitting your construction plans and your permit application to the municipality requiring it. The government will then review the plans and will get back to you, but it may take weeks. Once you have the actual permit, you’ll have six months to get started on the roofing project. Fees will vary, depending on how much work you’ll be doing to a roof.
And don’t forget the inspections; for a major project, it may be required to have numerous inspections along the way — and it’s up to the contractor to schedule these.
If you’d like to know more about roofing permits in Northern Florida and the general area, contact us today for answers!

Why Metal Vs. Shingles?

Are you contemplating upgrading your roofing system to metal? Then consider all the benefits that metal roofing offers when compared to traditional asphalt shingles. Metal roofing in Florida and across the nation is a wonderful choice for any home or business.
The following are all reasons to choose metal vs. shingles:

• Variety in Styles: Traditional shingle roofing has only a small variety of styles to choose from. Metal roofing however comes in a vast array of colors and types. You can implement metal roofing that mimics the look of wood shake, slate, clay tiles and more! Traditional metal roofing styles are also highly sought after because of the wide array of color choices available. You can find a metal roofing product to fit any design need.
• Longevity: While your neighbors continually have to re-roof and replace shingles, your metal roof will keep on lasting. Metal roofs require very little maintenance and when coated or painted they are able to hold up for years without any major repair needs.
• Energy Efficiency: A lot of home and business owners are turning to metal roofs simply because of the incredible energy savings they can provide. Metal roofs naturally reflect the sun’s rays, decreasing your need for cooling during hot summer months. Many new metal roofs also employ reflective pigment technology which makes them even more energy efficient.
• Environmentally Friendly: Metal roofs are generally made from 30-60% recycled materials! They also prevent waste. Shingles are responsible for a large amount of waste in landfills every year because they must be torn off and replaced frequently. Metal roofs, however, last for many years and keep waste out of our landfills.
• Withstand Weathering: Metal roofing is capable of withstanding weathering far better than shingles. Metal can hold up against high winds, heavy rains and even hail.

Want to learn more about why you should choose metal vs. shingles? Please don’t hesitate to contact our team for more information. We are a high quality, metal roofing distributor in Florida serving the entire nation.

Cleaning a Metal Roof.

Cleaning Metal Roofing

Metal roofing is known for its low maintenance needs, but even metal eventually needs some TLC. One of the small tasks you can perform in order to ensure your metal roofing (or siding) lasts for many years and keeps a pristine look is a simple cleaning of the metal. We have gathered some metal roof cleaning tips from a few of the manufacturers we supply products from (Fabral and Union Corrugating Company).

By employing these simple tips and ideas for cleaning metal roofing in Florida or across the states, you can enjoy the beauty of a like-new metal roof for years to come.

Pre-Painted Metal

If you have a metal material that has been pre-painted or coated, then you can safely clean the metal using a simple solution of cleaner and water. Cleaners recommended for use on pre-painted metal include:

• Solutions of biodegradable household ammonia
• Simple Green (or other non-toxic biodegradable cleaners)
• Mild detergent solution
• Spic-N-Span laundry detergent
• “Glass Wax” (for tougher stains and dirt build up)

When it comes to choosing a cleaner for your metal roofing the two main things to keep in mind are to use product that contain less than .05% phosphate and to never blend cleansers or detergents with bleach without proper knowledge.

When it comes time to clean the metal, mix your product with water. The strength of the solution will depend upon the amount of dirt built up on your metal roofing. If you are using amonia, mix one cup with five gallons of water. If you have tough stains, you can use a very mild dish soap like Ivory along with bleach. In this case mix one gallon of bleach with five gallons of water and add one cup of dish soap. This is effective for mildew and fungal growth.

Next clean your panels using a wet cloth, sponge or soft bristled brush. Never use something too harsh that will scour your paneling. This can damage your coating / paint. Be sure that as you clean the panels you rinse them off thoroughly with clean water. Solution that is left on can leave a film, or if you are using a bleach solution could lead to damage.

You can also use a very low pressure spray washer on your metal roofing to aid in removal of dirt and debris. But be sure it is not high enough pressure to damage your metal’s coating.

These simple steps can help ensure your metal roofing lasts for many years to come and continues to have the same curb appeal as it did when you first purchased the materials. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding metal roof cleaning in Florida or your local area.

Proof that a metal roof can be bold and artistic.

 

Metal roofs, as we know, can in some cases take on the look of other common roofing materials. But have you ever associated the word “undulate” with metal? A daring architectural firm in Vancouver, B.C. took that approach and is now reaping the rewards for their work.

The VanDusen Botanical Gardens Visitor Centre was awarded the 2013 Chairman’s Award from the Metal Construction Association (MCA), thanks in part to its use of 12,000 square feet of Alucobond natural panels on the roof, which is designed to resemble five orchid leaves. Surrounding the panels is a vegetation-filled rooftop made up of Douglas fir beams and plywood, according to the MCA.

At one of the first meetings about the project, the architects at Perkins+Will were told to make the building “outrageous.”

“They wanted a building that really drew people in,” design principle Jim Huffman told the MCA. “It looks irrational and illogical, but if you understand how it was designed and the technology behind it, it’s actually quite clever.”

Designing the panel system

 

How was this all put together? The metal installer Keith Panel Systems Co., LTD (KPS), out of Vancouver, created an interlocking system of prefabricated panels that would display positive and negative curves. The panels, says Huffman, proved to be easy and quick to install — but that doesn’t mean the project went entirely as expected.

“What you start with and what you think you’re going to do on a crazy building like this, and what you end up with, is a growth curve,” says Doug Dalzell, the founder of KPS. “This is art. This is not a solid product; it’s a shape and a form. And what you do is, you let the shape and form take over a little bit. If you try to do what we pulled off here from a flat sheet of metal, be it aluminum or stainless or whatever, it would probably kink on you.”

But in this case, the curved panels worked tremendously in the builders’ favor.

“It’s got a tremendous memory,” Dalzell adds. “It’s just alive. The more complicated the job, the more this product will work for you.”

Dalzell told the MCA that his firm decided to take on the daring project as a challenge. But it was a very enjoyable one: “When things like this come along, it’s a lot of fun, let me tell you.”

If this story has you intrigued and you’d like to learn more about the bold use of metal for roofs in Florida, contact us to talk!