PHP Roofing Blog

When it comes to commercial roofing, the pursuit of sustainability has evolved beyond mere environmental responsibility. It has evolved into a strategic investment with multifaceted benefits. Traditional roofing materials, with a lifespan of around 20 years, pale in comparison to the longevity and cost-effectiveness offered by eco-friendly alternatives.

Many commercial buildings have taken steps to become more environmentally conscious over the past several years, but the green construction movement is amping up in 2021 and will continue in the years ahead. We discuss emerging trends and the continued dedication to eco-consciousness for commercial buildings.

If you’re constructing a new roof, you may ask yourself if premium insulation is worth the cost. After all, it’s a pricey material, it’s expensive to install, and building costs are high. If you look past the up-front cost, however, you’ll see that paying more attention to your insulation (and perhaps paying a little bit more money) is an investment that will result in improvements that pay for themselves. Here are six reasons why you should care about commercial roofing insulation:

Silicon is the second most abundant element in our Earth’s crust, making it a frequent component of many construction materials including soils, clays, sands, cements, mortars, stuccos, and stone. It is not inherently dangerous as pure silicon, however a particular molecule of silicon can be lethal when inhaled: silicon dioxide. Silicon dioxide, also called silica, or known as quartz, is the major constituent of sand and is highly toxic in dust form. Freely breathing in finely divided crystalline silica can in fact cause such fatal diseases as silicosis, lung cancer, and some autoimmune diseases in high enough concentrations. Three types of common construction practices, for example, including sandblasting, cementing, jackhammering and/or rock drilling all expose a construction worker to this unique breathable threat.

Roofing professionals will tell you that roof lifespans are typically based on averages. This is a function of location. But some materials will outperform others in any given place. The following guidelines are designed to help you make your roof perform to the very best of its potential, no matter where it may be.

By now most of us in the building and design industry have heard of green roofs and know roughly what they are – a rooftop garden system (either extensive or intensive) and most of us have at least heard of blue roofs – a rooftop water storage system (either active or passive). But when considering both types, you may need to compare a blue roof to a green roof for your upcoming project.

 Thanks to the rise of new cost-effective “cool” materials and “cool” techniques (cool = reflects more sunlight), the building industry finally has some scientifically sound ways proven to moderate energy use over the course of a new or even an existing building’s lifetime. Energy savings mean cost savings. According to the EPA, the costs of choosing a cool roof coating or membrane can be somewhat comparable to the upfront cost to a non-cool roof, but cool materials provide better payback through substantial net energy cost savings and longer life expectancy.

Roof replacement is sometimes a necessary expense for your business if your employees, customers, and products are in danger of being injured in a collapse. However, this service comes with a high price tag, so you want to make sure that you can save some money while still receiving a quality job. Fortunately, there are some measures you can take to get the best deal on your roof replacement.

The summer season has arrived, and with it come additional health hazards in your work environments. Each year, thousands of workers exposed to extreme heat and/or humid conditions die or become ill from heat stress and other heat related illnesses. For this reason, it is important to be mindful of the signs and symptoms of heat stress and protect your (and your colleagues') health this summer. This is especially important while working in extreme environments such as rooftops, where there is little to no shade available for workers.

No longer are construction projects top-driven by a single person directing the activities of all. Instead, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) strategies integrate the interests and risks of the owner, architect and contractor into a collaborative team effort to more fully harness the talents and productivity of each separate project element.