Here in the Pacific Northwest, managing gutters and downspouts is an almost constant struggle. It?s all fun and games in the Summer. But if we?re not prepared for Fall, clogs, misaligned downspouts, and other problems can sneak up, requiring hasty repairs to get ahead of the bad weather.

If you plan ahead for the rainy seasons this year, though, you could enjoying a little something extra: the soothing sound of rain rushing down the chains you?ve used to replace your downspouts.

Rain chains have been used in Japan for centuries, but they?ve recently been catching on in the U.S. as an attractive downspout alternative. Some use actual chains, but many different shapes are available, like cups or bells that ring as the rain travels down them. Rain chains can improve your home?s curb appeal and sound lovely, but if you?re thinking of installing them, it?s important to do it correctly. When in doubt,aask a professional for help.

An improperly installed rain chain can lead to the same problems you may have with any downspout. Poor drainage leads to standing water around the home?s foundation, which can contribute to mold and mildew and invite insects. Too much water can even start to break down the foundation directly. Meanwhile, the yard can become a soggy, muddy mess.

Disadvantages of Rain Chains

When using rain chains, being proactive about drainage is even more important. They are less sturdy and can?t handle the same amount of water as a traditional downspout, so you?ll want to consider installing a backup downspout for heavy rainfall. Wind can also make a rain chain less effective in directing water, so there again you have cause to install a backup.

You also need an effective collection system. Downspouts can be used to direct the stream of water away from your home, but a chain can?t do that. You?ll need a barrel or possibly a water feature to catch the water and prevent damage to your home.

Advantages of Rain Chains

The great thing about rain chains, of course, is that they so much more attractive than regular downspouts. You can choose from many different styles and finishes, including copper, which will develop a beautiful weathered look over time called ?patina.? Some rain chains also make musical sounds, which can be a lovely complement to the rain.

Installing rain chains can be relatively easy, but if you?re not comfortable working on your roof it?s best to hire a pro for help. If you?re worried about high winds, anchor the chain to keep it in place, and remember to inspect it regularly to ensure it works well. As long as you?re working on the gutters, it?s the perfect time to inspect them, remove debris, and attend to any broken or damaged sections.

Now that you know how to make rain chains work for your home, you can now go out and choose the style you love! If you need any help, don?t hesitate to give us a call!

Roof framing is a challenging job. Like surgeons, all cuts should be accurate to achieve the desired result. Many Houston roofing contractors agree that roof framing requires more skills and knowledge compared to any other framing activities. There are several roof styles and mathematical equations carpenters have to use in order to build a wonderful house. Many experienced home builders admit even master carpenters who build different roofs are not experts in roof framing. This only confirms that the fine art of wood cutting is hard to master.

Simple Craft to Master

The craft of roof framing happened several years ago. Many tricks and refinements require long years of experience to master; however, some basic roof framing tricks can take only half an hour to master. The level of difficulty in framing depends largely on the roof. Many homeowners want to combine multiple roof types in a single roof. One of the most common is a hipped-roof mixed with gable dormers.

Framing Determines Roof Shape

The assembly of one or two roof types is one of the key elements in creating the architectural design of a house and oftentimes makes the craft difficult. Hips, overhangs and dormers add to its framing intricacies. Roof shapes command a degree of difficulty and will confirm the amount that should be spent for the building of the entire roofing structure. Gables, flat or shed roof types are more affordable; however, a combination of these is relatively expensive. Generally, shed is the easiest roof type to assemble.

Framing Factors

To create a beautiful architectural design, Houston roofing contractors must take into account several factors.

• Architectural parameter ? This includes building height, geographical location, materials to use for building construction, additional corners, and valleys.
• Advanced Technology ? Roof framing should be built using advanced techniques. Applied roofing technology determines the strength of the trusses to support all the roofing materials when they are ready to install.
• Attic ? In crafting roof shape, the carpenter should consider the attic since it can be used as a living room or just a simple storage room.
• Skylights ? This added structure creates a weak spot, so the carpenter must ensure that the framing is strong enough to support the additional structure.
• Materials to use ? There are several types of materials that can be used for crafting roof framing. Materials vary from plastics, metals, and solid woods and the latter is the material of choice by most roofers.

Roof framing ranges from simple to complex. Houston roofing contractors must have knowledge on framing irregularities and different roof shapes and the required knowledge for this kind of endeavor can?t be acquired overnight. Lawyers and physicians spend several years perfecting and learning their necessary job skills; the craft of roof framing needs the same time to master. With the modern advances in roof technology, ways were discovered to easily calculate and cut the desired length of rafters by determining the roof pitch and building line. Framing is not hard; however, it does require learning and practice to excel!

I?ve done and seen more than my fair share of welding over the past 40 years. And in that time the materials and welding technology have changed significantly. There were also a number of lessons learned along the way. For the old-timers out there, how many of you remember manufacturers saying these new thermoplastic materials could be welded ?straight through water??a

In the early 1970s I learned how to solvent weld PVC membranes. At the time, this was a totally foreign concept and process to me since I had been raised installing built-up roof (BUR) membranes. Fortunately, the welding process saw advancements in the late 1970s and early 1980s, most notably moving away from the use of tetrahydrofuran (THF), a fairly toxic and highly flammable solvent, to hot air. The hot air welding process was ushered in with the introduction of automatic hot air welders. However, the equipment we were using was a technology transfer from the linoleum industry. It was effective, but more often than not the automatic welders had to be run on strips of sheet metal so they didn?t create seam wrinkles. And if we were welding six feet a minute we were ?flying.?

Today?s technology has improved the automated process 100 times over. But even with the technology advancements, some aspects of the process have not changed since the early days.a The following are a few tips that will go a long way toward ensuring quality and efficiency when welding thermoplastics.

• The first principle of roofing is that all materials need to be kept dry. Moisture is the enemy of any roof system and proper storage of thermoplastic membranes can be the make-or-break factor when it comes to welding the materials together.
  
  
• The laps need to be clean. Dirt will impair the quality of the weld by creating a barrier between the polymers. Cleaning the laps may take a little time but it?s well worth the effort and ensures a quality welding process. All manufacturers either offer or recommend specific cleaning solvents for thermoplastic membranes.
  
  
• Training cannot be overlooked. This training needs to come from the manufacturer of the particular membrane. To assume that all thermoplastic membranes are alike can be a costly mistake. Their individual chemistries are unique to the individual product and understanding their nuances can be the difference between a poor and great experience for the owner as well as the crew.
  
  
• It?s not how fast you weld, it?s how well you weld fast. Welding fast is ineffective and unnecessary. Welding the membrane is one of?if not the?most critical processes done on the roof. It makes little sense to rush the welding process. I hear reports of individuals welding at 15 feet a minute and higher. Then people wonder when there are reports of poor seams. The fallback explanation is always that the seam issue must be the result of a membrane problem. Just because an automatic welder can go fast doesn?t mean you need to run it flat out. Too often this is just poor training and individuals going through the motions.
  
  
• Test welds can save a lot of rework.aToo often contractors think this takes too much time, but dialing in the automatic welder daily or after significant temperature changes during the day can actually save money that would be spent on reworking or stripping bad seams.
  
  
• You can?t probe your way to quality. Running a probe down a seam to find imperfections in the welds is an after-the-fact process and an attempt to inspect your way to quality.aEvery void, regardless of reason, has a cost associated with its repair.

In addition to the above, general safety precautions, consistent and proper power sources as well as equipment maintenance are also factors that have to be addressed daily to ensure safe, effective and high-quality rooftop welding operations.

I had a superintendent once whose motto was, ?hurry up and get it done so we have time to come back and fix it later.?aThis mentality costs contractors money and destroys an owner?s perception of quality when the finished roof is all patched up due to ineffective welding practices. My welding days are about over, but I can sum it all up with a lesson learned long ago.aDIRFT: Just do it right the first time.

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The purpose of any roof system is to keep water out of and divert it away from the building. Seems like a simple enough task but it is far from easy. If there?s one thing I?ve learned over the past 40-years, it is that roofs leak. And they leak for numerous reasons and for the most part, the least of all are the materials. I have found the occasional arrow and bullet hole in the membrane but the following are the six most common causes of roof leaks.

Improper Drainage

If you don?t get the water off the roof there?s a good chance that it is going to find its way into your building. It has to go somewhere and you can?t depend on evaporation to solve the problem. Proper drainage is prerequisite for roof design.

Penetrations

The more penetrations you have on a rooftop the greater likelihood that water is going to find its way through. Designers need to eliminate all unnecessary penetrations and for those that remain, there needs to be some common sense applied to their shape and positioning. Conduit placed so close together they cannot be individually flashed, angle iron and other red iron penetrations that require the use of a pitch pan to seal them are leaks just waiting to happen.

Rooftop Units

HVAC equipment can be the frustrating source of water entry. The condensate pans can often plug up or rust out allowing for leaks in the building when it?s not even raining. And, these units are often accompanied by pitch pans to seal the power and cooling lines.

Walls and Facades

It is not uncommon for cracks in the exterior walls or exposed masonry above the roof line to permit water into the building. It is not easy to diagnose and sometimes even harder to convince the building owner that there is nothing wrong with his or her roof.

Rooftop Traffic

Maintenance personnel and service technicians for the variety of HVAC and other penetrations that may find their way on the rooftop are notorious offenders. Unintended damage is a common cause of leaks. aTool boxes, HVAC panels, carts and window washing equipment are just a few of the sources to cuts and punctures in membrane roof systems.

Human Error

Workmanship ranks high on the list of unintended leaks. Improper installation of the materials, poor sealing or faulty seaming seem to create the most common sources of leaks. It takes a craftsman to install today?s materials I haven?t seem a system that is entirely ?roofer proof?.

Apart from the selection of high quality materials, the roof contractor will be the principal factor that determines whether or not your roof system performs leak free. The idea that the lowest price wins can often come back and haunt an owner. Even the best are not perfect but ensuring that the contractor installing the roof system is truly skilled, licensed and authorized by the materials manufacturer should be paramount in your decision making process. Spending a little more for exceptional materials and workmanship can reap huge benefits many, many years down the road.

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