Month: November 2010

Flat Roof Installation in Cambridge, MA

Image of Flat Roof in Cambridge MA

We installed this flat roof near Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the summer of 2010. The installation consisted of four separate roof sections on different levels of this house, which at the time was undergoing major renovations inside and out, including total new insulation in walls and between roof rafters, a new heating system with radiant floor heat, new energy efficient windows, and a new IB PVC flat roof (which we installed of course).

The old rubber roof was leaking and we had to remove it, including the wet roof insulation. We installed a new 50-mil white IB Flat Roof, with 4 inches of tapered insulation (4 inches at the highest point and 1 inch at the lowest level). The tapered insulation system was utilized to eliminate ponding water on the two bigger sections of the roof. At the deepest point, there was as much as 2 inches of ponding water, and a puddle with at least 12 feet diameter. This ponding water caused both roof leaks and the roof rafters settlement.

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Get Metal Roofing Tax Credit Before It Expires on Dec. 31 2010

If you are a homeowner and you are planning to replace your roof soon – whether because it leaks, or it is getting old and you want to replace it before its starts leaking – a metal roof is one of your best options. Of course, costs might be a factor in your re-roofing decision. While a metal roof initially costs more than an asphalt shingles roof, there are a number of ways it will actually save money in the long run.

Longevity

Metal roofs provide a much longer lifespan, compared to regular asphalt roofs. An asphalt shingles roof costs about 2-3 times less than a metal roof, depending on various factors. At the same time, a metal roof lasts a lifetime, whereas most asphalt shingles roofs will need to be replaced within 15 years. Galvanized steel or aluminum metal roofs will last on average 50 or more years, giving you peace of mind in knowing that your roof will not leak, and that you won’t need to do regular maintenance or occasional repairs.

Tax Credits for Cool Metal Roofs

The cool roof coating on metal roofs makes them much more energy-efficient, which will substantially reduce your cooling costs, even in the mild climate of New England. Moreover, the government offers a 30% cool roof tax credit, with a $1500 cap, for any qualifying metal roof installation.

All of our metal roofs do qualify for this tax credit, as they come with a cool roof coating and are Energy Star certified. There is a catch however – the tax credit will expire on Dec. 31, 2010. So if you are considering installing a metal roof, doing so before the new year is the way to go.

Consider this – most residential metal roofs will cost about $15000, so the tax credit is about a 10% discount off the total roof cost, and most metal roof installations will qualify for the full amount of this tax credit. Basically, now is the best time to have a new metal roof installed, because we don’t know when or if the cool roof tax credit will ever be reinstated.

Protection Against Ice Dams

Metal roofs offer supreme weather protection for your home, which will save you a lot of money on repairs. Most houses in the north east region, get ice dams along the roof eaves, and the way an asphalt shingles roof is designed, allows the ice dams to cause roof leaks, which in turn can cause substantial structural damages, and will require other repairs to the roof and the interior of your home.

Metal roofs offer inherent protection against ice dams. The interlocking design of metal roofs will prevent ice dams from penetrating your roof. Also, most of the snow will just slide off your roof, even before ice dams can form.
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