Atlanta roofing collapse is not a pleasant experience. It is, in fact, a nightmare to have your roof collapse unexpectedly. A collapse can occur any time and may lead to serious consequences such as injuries to occupants and damage to properties inside the house.

A collapse may result from accumulation of large volume of snow on the roof. One cubic foot of dry snow weighs from 6 to 8 pounds. Packed snow weighs even more. Roofs can generally support up to 20 pounds of snow/ice per square foot.

Houses with flat or low-pitched roofs face more risk of collapsing from snow/ice accumulation because of their lower angle that prevents snow/ice from sliding off to the ground.

Owners and building managers should always conduct a roof condition evaluation to look for signs of impending roof collapse such as leaking, cracking and other indications of structural irregularities. An evacuation by home occupants or closure of the entire building may be warranted once warning signs of roof collapse are evident.

Common Warning Signs

A structure normally manifests overt signs of roof issues before its roof collapses. Steps should immediately be taken to remedy the problem or minimize the consequences of roof collapse.

We listed below some of the symptoms that are noted to occur prior to an actual roof collapse. Look for these signs in your home and promptly contact a roofing professional if you notice them:

• Bending of roof supports
• Severe roof leaks
• Cracked wood
• Sounds such as creaking, popping or cracking coming from the ceiling
• Sagging sections of exterior shingles
• Persistent water ponding
• Sagging ceiling
• Cracks on exterior and interior walls
• Doors and windows are hard to open or close
• Doors suddenly popping open on their own
• Bending of electrical conduits or utility pipes on the ceiling
• Physically-deformed and sagging roof steel
• Cracks in steel welds
• Cut screws on steel frames
• Sprinkler heads hanging much lower on the ceiling tiles

The list above is not all-inclusive as there may be other non-obvious signs that eventually point to an impending roof collapse. Being aware of these signs could prevent the occurrence of a potentially-dangerous incident that exposes life and property to danger.

Moreover, a roof project is a major undertaking that always involves a huge budget and careful time management. Having an unexpected roof collapse could find a homeowner or building manager unprepared for the financial consequences of a roof repair or replacement. Proper roof maintenance and hands-on management are keys to a healthy and long lasting roof life.

Daylighting is a system that facilitates the entry of natural light to provide internal lighting through the use of windows or other openings that admit light. With this system in Atlanta roofing that harvests daylight, energy savings are realized through reduced use of artificial energy.

The sun is the lone source of daylight. Building contractors use different methods to harvest sunlight. In certain areas, direct sunlight is harvested and used to illuminate a building’s interiors. In places that direct sunlight cannot reach, diffused sunlight is harvested with the same natural lighting effect. Some of the most common types of daylighting system are:

Windows

The most common method that allows daylight to penetrate buildings is through windows. The vertical design and various orientations of windows admit and diffuse daylight at different times of the day. Depending on the local climate, several windows with different orientations may be made to create the right combination.

Skylights

Skylights are openings found on roofs that admit sunlight into inner spaces of the building or house. Most residential and commercial buildings today incorporate skylights because they are the most efficient method in admitting daylight on a per unit area basis. The glazing options vary depending on the needs of the building but are mostly made of glass or plastic. A variation of skylight is the roof lantern that sits atop the roof instead of being embedded in the roof like a skylight.

Clerestory Windows

A clerestory is a high portion of the wall with windows to admit light, air or both. The design is found mostly in tall structures such as basilicas and churches although modern transportation has adopted the architectural design to accommodate lighting and ventilation. Clerestory windows are high vertical windows that maximizes daylight, especially when they are built facing the equator.

Light Tubes

A light tube is a device placed on the roof that admits light into its interior and eventually distributes it inside the house. Unlike a skylight, light tubes do not transfer as much heat because of their smaller surface area. It consists of three parts—the light collector on the roof made of transparent materials, the tube with reflective coating and a diffuser assembly inside the house that distributes daylight into interior spaces.

Atrium

Atrium is a large open area within buildings where daylight penetrates through glass roof or wall. Light penetrates into the working areas inside the building, the degree of which depends on their location. The upper storeys receive the greatest amount of daylight while the lower storeys must depend on reflected daylight from surfaces such as reflective floors.

Concrete cracks are normal occurrence but often misunderstood by homeowners. In fact, cracking is one of the most common causes of complaints in the construction industry. While most concrete cracks are not dangerous and do not pose a serious structural threat, they are, nevertheless, unsightly. In some extreme cracking cases, they negatively affect the durability and serviceability of the structure.

Recognizing and repairing concrete roof cracks is top priority, especially for people living in Atlanta, where potential damage to structures is a strong probability from earthquakes. There are different types of cracks in concrete Atlanta roofing, and each one has its own causes. Some of these are:

Crazing Cracks. These look like shattered glass or spider webs on the surface of the concrete slab. The cause of this type of crack is the rapid evaporation of water from the top of the concrete slab. While they may not look good, crazing cracks do not affect the structural integrity of the concrete roof slab. However, since the cracks are very fine, they cannot be repaired.

Expansion cracks. Concrete slab, similar to other materials, expands under hot weather. The expanding slab pushes against neighboring materials such as an adjacent slab or wall. If these materials do not give in to the pressure, the slab will crack from force.

Overloading Cracks. Putting too much weight on top of a concrete slab roof could cause cracks. While concrete is very strong and durable, it still has limits on the load it can carry. Too much load placed on top of concrete could crush it. While the weight may not be enough to pulverize the concrete, it could cause cracks to appear. The compressive strength of concrete is greater than its flexural strength, hence it bends under the weight.

Plastic Shrinkage Cracks. The most common cause of cracks is probably plastic shrinkage, which can occur a few hours after the slab is poured. This crack usually happens during hot weather. Having excess water in the mix with concrete is the cause of this crack. Water occupies space in the slab and forms part of its size. When water evaporates during curing, the slab becomes smaller. The shrinking creates stress on the concrete slab, which ultimately cracks to relieve the tension.

Vertical Cracks. These are caused by concrete settling around reinforcing bars. The cracks are caused when the concrete near the top partially sets while the rest of the concrete are still settling. Applying vibration to the concrete can prevent this crack from forming.

Acrylic is widely-used in the roofing industry today. In the 1970s, latex paint accounted for 30% to 35% of all paint sales. Today latex paint represents 80% of all coatings sold. There are concrete reasons why people prefer this type of coating to other paints. Among these are:

Desirable Qualities of Acrylic

• It is easy to apply because it flows off through the brush or roller unlike oil-based paints that are sticky.
• It emits practically no odor.
• It can also be painted over a damp surface and preferred by people living in damp places.
• Unlike oil-based paints, latex allows moisture to escape, therefore, eliminating the common problem of peeling and cracking associated with oil-based coatings when moisture escapes or attempts to escape from the surface.

Other positive qualities of acrylic coating includes:

• It is usually white in color and possesses reflective properties.
• It costs less than solvent-based paints.
• Acrylic latex paint has less tendency to fade or become yellowish compared to oil-based paint. The latter loses part of its color from chalking, which is not present with acrylic paints.
• Latex paint retains flexibility through time.
• Acrylic is preferred as coating for plaster and cement because it is not sensitive to alkali.
• Less harmful impact on the environment and is not treated as hazardous paint.
• It dries easily and has therefore reduced curing time. You can apply a second coating after only about four hours.

If you live in Atlanta, however, you have to consider other factors before using acrylic paint. Atlanta has a humid climate and abundant rainfall throughout the year. If you plan to apply acrylic paint to your Atlanta roofing, you may face minor issues with your choice of paint. Consider these:

Downsides in Using Acrylic

• The paint could run if it rains before the coating has fully dried. It cannot be applied in the rain or when precipitation is expected.
• It takes a very long time to dry under extremely high relative humidity.
• It cannot be applied in extremely cold weather because water freezes. Thus, acrylic paint cannot be used throughout the year.
• The temperature at night must be considered by the contractor and not only during the daytime. Cold temperature at night might present problems because of freezing of the coating.
• The roof temperature must also be considered and not only ambient temperature.
• It has shorter lifespan because of relatively-poorer bonding with the surface unlike oil-based paints.
• It has less resistance to abrasion.
• It requires more surface preparation and does not stick to dirty or more weathered surfaces unlike oil-based paints.

Atlanta receives a lot of rain distributed throughout the year. Summers are hot while winters are cool. Extreme weather conditions shorten the lifespan of roofs, particularly those that are not properly maintained.

When you are looking for Atlanta roofing specialists to repair or remodel your roof, refer to our practical guides listed below to help you find the right contractor:

1. Legitimate Contractors

Verify the registration and insurance of the contractors. They must have licenses from the local authority and full insurance coverage over their employees and subcontractors. Potential litigation between you and the contractor will be avoided if insurance can cover injuries sustained by an employee.

2. Certified Contractors

Look for roofing specialists who are certified by manufacturers. You are assured of quality workmanship from these roofers because they have to pass stringent conditions set by companies to be certified.

3. Past Projects

Ask the contractors about their past projects and safety regulations in place. They must have sound safety programs observed throughout their organizations. Your roofing job could be unnecessarily delayed by accidents and injuries on the work site.

4. Shop Around

Talk to at least three different contractors. Do not immediately agree to the first contractor that you met. Learn each roofer’s experiences and past accomplishment. Ask if they had any issues in the past and what were the resolutions arrived at.

5. Try Local

Engage the services of local roofing contractors. They have established relationship with local suppliers and crew and are likely familiar with local rules and regulations.

6. Consider Everything

Avoid signing contract without having thoroughly considered everything, including the cost of repair. Be wary of contractors pressuring homeowners to sign contracts even before the insurance adjusters inspected the roof and estimated the damage.

7. Search the Web

Search the web for contractors’ ratings. A good score and positive review mean there is less likelihood of you contracting illegitimate companies. If possible do not hire contractors whose companies are not listed in legitimate business listing sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

8. Engage Specialists

Engage the services of the contractor who had extensive experience with the type of roof you are installing. For instance, metal roof contractors must have at least three years of work accomplishment in installing metal roofs.

9. Extensive Warranty

Ask for extensive warranty for the contractor’s work. Some mistakes in roof installation are not readily apparent and could take years before they manifest. Unless the contractor agreed to the warranty, you could be paying for the damage since insurance will not pay for it.

Critters are often found in ceilings, under the floor and seldom-used cabinets. One of the most unwanted inhabitants found in the ceilings of Atlanta roofing are rats, which pose both health and safety hazard. They are known to transmit diseases, including leptospirosis, rat-bite fever and plague. They also contaminate household food and water.

Wirings and house insulation are not safe from rodents, which gnaw on them, and therefore, expose your house to fire hazard. The best way to eliminate the danger posed by rodents is to prevent them from taking up residence in your ceiling. However, if critters have already migrated to your house and living under your roof, the ideal method to deal with them is through the use of traps.

Snap Traps

One of the most common methods employed by households to control rodent infestation are snap traps. Snap traps are very effective against roof rats and are recommended for indoor use. To attract rats into the trap, use food baits such as fruit, nuts and peanut butter. Place traps along paths usually travelled by rats. To catch roof rats, which prefer to travel off the ground, you can fix a trap along the horizontal pole of chain-link fences.

Glue Traps

These are made of either paper or vinyl and coated with thick adhesive on top. When rats walk over a glue trap, their feet get stuck to the glue rendering them immobile. Most of the time the struggling rat ends up having its face and body stuck to the adhesive, causing its death. These traps are scented with aromatic compounds to attract rodents.

Inspect the infested area and place the glue rats along the walls since rats prefer to travel near walls. Put the traps in those places where rodent activity is highest.

Electronic Traps

As the name implies, this type of trap electrocutes the rat that enters the box. These are battery-powered traps and disposable, so there is no need for you to remove the rat inside. The product is available to accommodate different rat and mice sizes. Because of its design, this type of trap is more expensive than the common snap trap.

General Trap Use Guidelines

Whatever type of trap you may be using, the number-one rule in using traps is to place plenty of them. Rat population is normally higher than your expectations, so you will be needing a lot more traps than anticipated. Position multiple traps to maximize area coverage and increase the chances of rats crossing over them. Since rats are suspicious of new objects, place unset traps to make them familiar to rats.