Winter is coming... are you ready?
Take a look at how we recommend you get your roof ready for winter.
Gain a peace of mind before the winter weather hits. From snow and ice to heavy winds, rain and dangerous temperatures, winter can bring a lot of stress to your roof and building.
Here are some things to keep in mind to prep your roof for winter:
- Have an action plan - This includes keeping CentiMark’s emergency service number (855-483-1975) handy along with the number of your local branch office. If you’re in a snow state, having a snow and ice removal plan is also important.
- Read and fill out our Rooftop Snow Removal Waiver today - this will allow you to get priority scheduling and remain at the top of our list when heavy snow falls.
- Make sure your projections are marked and noted - making sure that you have skylights and other projections identified in advance will help a crew be able to remove snow from your roof more quickly, safely and effectively in emergencies.
- Schedule a pre-snow roof inspection - make sure that your roof is in good shape to handle the elements. A thorough inspection should leave you with ample knowledge on the condition of your roof, and will let you know if there are any repairs or maintenance that need to be done.
When the storms hit, make sure you’re prepared. These simple steps can make a big impact once the snow begins to fall and winter weather hits. Take preventative measures this winter and meet with a professional roofing representative to discuss your needs and how you can be set for winter.
To learn more, visit our Snow Removal Page
To discuss winter preparation with a representative, complete the form on the right.
Hot or Cold, Rain or Shine, Make Sure Your Floors are Ready for Anything
No matter the time of year, it is always critical to ensure that your floors are safe and in suitable condition, especially in preparation for winter weather. A professional can work with you to help evaluate the overall safety and condition of your floors as well as help determine if there are any repairs, maintenance or winter preparations that may be needed.
Here are some important topics that we recommend you review during a floor evaluation:
- Test your floors when they are dry and clean to get a baseline number for slip resistance and make any necessary improvements for day-to-day safety. Slip resistance is a metric to gauge how slippery a floor is using a measurement of the Coefficient of Friction (COF) - the resistance between two objects such as a human foot and a flooring material. A dry, clean concrete floor for example, has a COF of 0.8; ice has a COF of 0.3.
- Reduce potential hazards in your warehouse. Utilizing flooring solutions to smooth the bumps or fill holes and cracks in the floors reduces employee injuries as well as damage to forklifts from unsafe floors.
- Make sure that you are using the proper floor care and maintenance products to help maintain the safety and overall appearance of your floors.
- Damaged concrete floors need to be smoothed and repaired with resurfacing products. This helps to provide a durable, seamless floor surface that withstands repeated cleanings and resists chemical and thermal shock.
- If your floor is looking a little worn, add a personalized touch and improve the aesthetics of your floors by adding decorative logos, designs, and colors.
- It’s important to have a thorough understanding of the condition of your floors so you can maintain a proper flooring budget. This starts with a thorough inspection of your floors to help you understand if there are any repairs or maintenance that may be needed.
The snow, ice and rain that come with winter can be tough on your floors. As the winter weather rolls in, there are a couple of precautions you can take to ensure that your floors are up for the challenge. Here’s what we recommend for keeping your floors safe and your employees protected:
- Order new walk-off mats for employees and visitors to dry their feet and keep from tracking water, snow, ice and salt across the floors. Quality walk-off mats help eliminate the potential for slips, falls and floor damage from rock salt.
- SaltGuard protection can be added to any interior or exterior concrete (walkways, sidewalks, parking lots and any exposed concrete) to protect against water and salt damage. Also, there are numerous product options for polished concrete and floor coatings to aid with increased traction over the entire floor or specific portions of the floor surface to prevent slip and fall accidents.
- Add yellow safety stripes and remove trip hazards to improve safety in typical slip and fall areas both inside and outside.
To schedule your floor evaluation, fill out the form on the right.
Metal Roof Safety
A comprehensive safety program is vital to ensure workers stay safe, prevent falls, minimize injuries such as cuts and abrasions, and reduce fall hazards. CentiMark roofing crews follow written safety policies and procedures. After orientation for new associates, crews have weekly, monthly and quarterly safety meetings. For metal roofing jobs, safety is evaluated. Throughout the roofing project there are unannounced safety, quality and production inspections performed by CentiMark safety professionals as well as team members from CentiMark management.
Advancements in fall protection and roofing safety equipment have improved greatly. Harnesses are more comfortable; tie-off points are easier to install. An important safety factor for crews working on metal roofs is to protect their hands. To minimize protection against cuts from sharp edges or raised burrs, cut-resistant gloves are used to add comfort for the crew members handling metal materials and screws.
“Metal roofs are also an ideal platform for installing permanent safety systems, especially standing seam roofs,” according to Michael Edgell, Operations Manager, Great Lakes Metal Division. “You can install tie-off points straight to the vertical seams, with clamps that don’t affect the longevity of the roof. This is especially important on floating systems where the metal has to expand and contract.”
Additionally, freestanding guardrails, skylight screens, removal of trip hazards, moving improperly stored materials and eliminating blocked or locked exit doors are essential for a safe metal roof environment.
A safety program is really the best ‘tool’ to have working on a roof. A comprehensive safety program minimizes injuries, decreases worker compensation claims, improves crew morale, increases productivity and lessens risk for the roofing crews and customer.
To schedule your roof safety evaluation, fill out the form on the right.
Roof Coatings for Retrofitting or Roof Repairs
Roof coatings are used primarily to extend the life of the roof systems or repair leaks. Coatings may often increase reflectivity, reduce energy consumption and enhance the aesthetics of the roof. For aesthetics, roof coatings showcase a variety of colors and textures.
In older roofs, movement and subsequent loosening of the roof can lead to problems. That’s why coating systems are practical solutions to repair roof leaks. In addition to metal roofs, copolymer liquid-applied roof coatings are practical and low cost solutions for single-ply, modified bitumen and smooth surface built-up (BUR) roof surfaces.
Due to advanced product technologies, coatings are often applied to provide additional waterproofing, anti-rust and ultra-violet protection. A zinc or aluminum/zinc mix can make a steel metal roof even more durable and improve the fire resistance of the roof, thus potentially lowering insurance costs. With advancements in protective finishes, coatings provide durable roof coverage in coastal climates exposed to saltwater and winds, dry areas susceptible to wildfires and cold climates with snow and ice accumulations.
Re-coating is an appropriate solution to extend the life of the roof without tearing off the existing system and replacing it. Re-coating provides a cost-effective, non-disruptive, easy-to-maintain and sustainable roof. Coatings conform to all sizes and shapes of properly prepared substrates.
To discuss roof coating options with a CentiMark representative, fill out the form on the right.
Tips of the Month
Flooring: Maintenance Pads
Maintaining the look of your polished concrete floors is a great way to maximize your flooring investment long-term. We recommend using QuestMark’s Daily Maintenance Pads to keep your floors clean and shiny year-round.
Roofing: Snow Removal
Let it snow, let it snow! A professional roofing crew trained in snow removal can help ensure that your business stays up and running no matter what the winter weather brings.
ENR Specialty Contractors
CentiMark has been recognized as the #1 Roofing Contractor by revenue ($627.6 million) in ENR (Engineering News-Record Magazine) and #24 by revenue as a Specialty Contractor ($723.7 million). QuestMark, a division of CentiMark Corporation, was listed as #266 in the Specialty Contractor list ($96.1 million).
“We’re always proud and honored to have been recognized as a strong leader in the commercial roofing and flooring industries,” states Timothy M. Dunlap, CentiMark President & COO. "The lists reflect some of the strongest companies in the United States in construction and the trades."
According to ENR Magazine, the market for large specialty contractors has been growing for nearly a decade. However, many firms are anticipating a downturn in the economy. The service business - such as preventative maintenance, roof leak repair and weather emergencies - is expected to increase significantly if there is a downturn in business.
CentiMark is ahead of the game with a comprehensive service program. We use smartphones and tablets to collect, store and analyze the precise location coordinates and images of every repair and preventative maintenance project. Customers have real-time access to photos, proposals, invoices, warranty information, roof videos and suggested roofing or safety enhancements. With the use of drones to measure roofs, take photos, utilize thermal scans for moisture intrusion or building heat loss and evaluate safe/unsafe roof conditions, CentiMark is utilizing available technology to the fullest for service customers.
