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PEOPLE DON’T NORMALLY worry too much about how the roof of their house looks.

Modern roof tiles keep out water and require sparse maintenance, ensuring they go unnoticed for the most part.

Thatched roofing offers a more aesthetically pleasing alternative. However, how hard is it to maintain? And does it keep the water out and the heat in?

To find out more about it, TheJournal.ie spoke to Kyran O’Grady, a thatcher with more than 30 years experience, about how you could make it a part of your home.

So what are main benefits of having a thatched roof?

Aesthetic beauty and thermal insulation.

And does it match up to modern building standards? How does it fare in terms of BER ratings?

It would be the warmest roof you could get. You know the saying – ‘cool in summer and warm in winter’. That is what good insulation means in any house, the heat from outside or the cold from outside doesn’t affect you. And it applies to a thatched house as well – cool in summer and warm in winter.

Is it difficult to maintain?

It is not difficult, but they do have to be maintained. Normally they would have a new ridge every eight to ten years and then if they were surrounded by a lot of trees or if they were prone to moss you would spray them to try and keep the moss at bay.

And is it something people are interested in do you think?

Prior to the crash it had definitely grown in popularlity. At the moment there is a slow resurgence in building generally and in thatch along with it.

An example of O’Grady’s work.Source: Kyran O’Grady

So if someone is living in a semi-detached house – could they get their half of the roof thatched?

Well it would be unlikely. There are semi-detached houses that are thatched but it is normally the two halves. There are certain criteria that the roof has to meet – besides from the fact that it is a adjoining another property.

It would be possible – maybe. It would very difficult. Unless your neighbour wanted to join you in the process.

Does it take long to thatch a roof?

It is slow yeah – you might slate a roof in three or four days and it would take you a month to thatch it.

Source: Cineprojectorman

Is thatching a dying skill?

No no, it’s holding its own.

Is it a particularly Irish skill?

It is all over northern Europe. You know, Hungary, Poland, France, Germany, Austria.

Then there is quite a bit of it in South Africa – that is from the Dutch and people who went to live there. They brought a finer type of thatching than the type that they had down there. There are quite a few thatched houses in South Africa.

How much does it cost to get a house thatched?

It depends how big it is. It could be anything from maybe €12,000 up. The sky is the limit really depending on the house.

What kind of materials do you use?

Most of the roofs that I do would be done in reed. Traditionally there are three basic types. There is long straw, which would of been predominant on the east coast, and then there is combed-wheat reed, which is straw as well.

Where the long straw is just cut and put through the threshing mill and it comes out sort of topsy-turvy so it looks like it’s kind of poured on – where a combed-wheat reed roof, only the heads of the straw are threshed, so you’re left with all the butts together – you would have found that more so in England and a little bit up the North.

After that there is reed thatching. There is tie-down thatching in Donegal and the Aran Islands. But in the main, most houses that are being thatched today would be reed.

Are there places where it was more practised traditionally?

Traditionally, it was everywhere. Now I would say that it is predominantly coastal counties.

Would rain ever get through thatching?

No, it wouldn’t get through a good roof.

Find original: http://www.thejournal.ie/thatching-roof-crowd-stand-out-master-thatcher-kyran-2036154-Apr2015/

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Work: the SSE Arena in Belfast A specialist roofing contractor in Co Down has won a contract worth more than 1m to work on Belfasts Odyssey Complex including the SSE Arena. GBS Roofing has been carrying out a number of major contracts including Omagh Hospital Ulster University and the new Northern Ireland Hospice. And in its latest deal the company will replace large parts of the roofs of the Pavilion the SSE Arena and the W5 Interactive Discovery Centre. The work begins this month and is to be completed by December the firm said. Managing director Barry Mairs added: The opportunity to work on the Odyssey a key Belfast landmark and globally renowned arena facility will further enhance our rapidly growing client portfolio and enable GBS Roofing to fully demonstrate its high-quality specialist roofing capability. This is just one of a number of major contracts secured or completed by GBS Roofing in recent months including Omagh Hospital phase one of Ulster Universitys Belfast campus development and the new Northern Ireland Hospice on Belfasts Somerton Road. Over the next 12 months we plan to expand our highly experienced and talented team and further maximise growing market opportunities. Odyssey head of facilities Brian Hughes said GBS was a good match. As one of the most successful millennium projects in the UK built for the people of Northern Ireland we are continually focused on ensuring that the building is maintained to the highest standard he added. Read More:http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/news/co-down-specialist-roofing-firms-1m-odyssey-contract-34442454.html Find our roofer profile here The post Co Down specialist roofing firms 1m Odyssey contract appeared first on http://dublin.elevateroofing.ie/ via Elevate Roofing Website Feeds http://dublin.elevateroofing.ie/co-specialist-roofing-firms-1m-odyssey-contract/

Malaysia’s Drtan Lm Architect was recently commissioned to undertake an extensive renovation of an old dilapidated house. The firm quickly found that the home contained a large number of intact terracotta tiles and the decision was made to recycle them into a sun-shading brise soleil.

The home, dubbed Clay Roof House, faces due west in Petaling Jaya, Selango, Malaysia, and is subject to harsh sunlight in the mornings and afternoon. Therefore, Drtan Lm Architect used the high-quality Indian-made tiles found on the old home to create a terracotta brise soleil, along with a second brick lattice brise soleil, both of which help to reduce solar heat gain and reduce the glare inside.

The terracotta tile shading mechanism can also be operated to channel the prevailing breeze inside the home. In addition, the tiles also produce an attractive lighting effect inside.

“The roof tiles were carefully removed, stored and reused,” explains Drtan Lm Architect. “Vertical steel rods were designed to hold the clay tiles whilst allowing free movement to swivel and turn. This reduces the solar gain through the house’s fenestration of windows and glass doors and lends a soft tremulous lighting effect when viewed with internal lights switched on at night from the outside. In the sun the terracotta glows a warm orange.”

The interior is decorated in exposed brick, concrete and wood, and in addition to the home’s shared living spaces and bedrooms, includes a piano room, study, two kitchens, and a maid’s quarters.

Clay Roof House was completed in 2015.

Read more: http://www.gizmag.com/clay-roof-house/42476/

After a harsh winter and wet spring many Ontarians may be considering replacing their roofs. Before you sign a contract with a roofing company make sure to see a copy of their current Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) certification and workplace insurance with liability coverage. By law roofers must be trained in fall protection and also must wear fall protection equipment when working at heights above three metres. Here are more important tips from Consumer Protection Ontario: Do your homework Before hiring a roofing company check references and consumer resources like the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services Consumer Beware List. Ask how many layers of old roofing are installed on your home. Building codes limit how many layers may be installed. Ask for a written estimate Have at least three companies view the job and provide written estimates with a clear description of the work to be done and an itemized list of products services and prices. If a contractor says your roof is damaged and needs urgent repairs ask them to outline the damages in your estimate. Get a written contract Once you select a roofing company make sure they include the estimate in your contract. Under Ontarios Consumer Protection Act a company cannot charge you more than 10 per cent above the estimated cost unless you have agreed to new work or a new price. Understand your warranty Warranties on roofing materials are often the responsibility of the manufacturer not the contractor installing them. Some roofing products must be installed by certified or trained staff for the warranty to apply. Be aware of common scams Keep deposits to a minimum (about 10 per cent) and avoid tax-free deals. No receipt means you have no legal proof of purchase. Visit Ontario.ca/HomeRenos to learn about your rights and responsibilities before you get started. Consumer Protection Ontario is your source for advice on protecting your rights as a consumer and filing a consumer complaint. Ask the Right Questions before you decide to buy a product or sign a contract. Quick Facts From January 1 2014 to May 31 2015 the ministry received over 400 complaints and inquiries about roofing. The most common topics were quality of service warranties and services not being provided. If you sign a home renovation or repair contract worth $50 or more in your home you have the right to a 10 calendar-day cooling-off period during which you may cancel this contract for any reason and without having to pay any cancellation fees. Read more:https://news.ontario.ca/mgs/en/2015/07/how-to-hire-a-reliable-roofing-company.html Find our roofer profile here The post How to Hire a Reliable Roofing Company appeared first on http://galway.elevateroofing.ie/ via Elevate Roofing Website Feeds http://galway.elevateroofing.ie/hire-reliable-roofing-company/

A well designed and waterproofed flat roof should not cause problems or leak Flat roofs can strike fear into the hearts of many people but they have come a long way from the problematic leak-prone versions of the 1980s and before. Nowadays a well designed and waterproofed flat roof should not cause problems or leak. Most flat roofs are not actually flat: they have a slight slope to allow rain water to drain off. They are economical to build and allow homeowners to maximise floor-to-ceiling heights. One of the most common problems encountered with flat roofs is rainwater outlets becoming blocked with leaves. To help prevent this you should allow for more than one outlet to drain an area and provide leaf guards to all outlets. Its wise to inspect your roof particularly in the autumn and clear them before an issue arises. Poor workmanship is another source of problems with flat roofs. Before you employ a roofing contractor check their references and engage an engineer or architect to specify detail and inspect the work. There are three main flat-roof systems: rubber fibreglass and torch-on felt. But how do they compare? The cheapest of the three is the torch-on felt roof. But this finish does still carry a bad reputation from the older and now unused pour and roll systems of the past. The new versions are far more flexible and durable. Three layers of felt are melt welded together with a large blowlamp or torch; hence the name torch-on felt. The top layer is called a cap sheet which can either be in plain black bitumen a solar reflective paint or a mineral fleck which comes in a variety of colours. Most have 10-year guarantees but a well installed torch-on felt roof could well last up to 30 years if looked after and treated well. Foot traffic in hot weather may scuff the surface of a mineral finish which can lead to UV sun damage. Rubber roofs have become popular in recent years. A rubber roof can often be installed in one complete layer without the need for joins depending on size. It is an extremely light weight elastic and tough finish. A well installed rubber roof should last 30 years upwards. They cost about 20 per cent to 30 per cent more than a torch-on felt roof. It has a very durable finish and can be repaired easily but repairs will be visible as it normally involves gluing on patches a bit like an inner-tube repair. Fibreglass has been around for many years but has only gained popularity recently as a flat-roof finish. Its normally laid in a one or sometimes two layer jointless finish with factory made trims and in any colour you like. Most guarantees are for 25 years and it is no problem for this type of roof to achieve this if it is properly installed. It is the most expensive of the three due to high material costs. It is very resistant to most forms of damage as it is extremely tough once cured. Repairs are very easy and can be almost invisible. It is also by far the most attractive of the three options. Read more:http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/new-to-market/pain-free-flat-roofs-are-easy-to-achieve-1.2668523 Find our roofer profile here The post Pain-free flat roofs are easy to achieve appeared first on http://cork.elevateroofing.ie/ via Elevate Roofing Website Feeds http://cork.elevateroofing.ie/pain-free-flat-roofs-easy-achieve/

GAF, the largest roofing manufacturer in North America, has agreed to acquire Danish peer Icopal A/S for about 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion), in a deal that will dramatically expand the privately held company’s presence in Europe.

The deal provides GAF with new markets for its products. North America represented about 25 percent of the global roofing industry in 2013, while Europe accounted for close to 14 percent, according to market research firm Freedonia Group.

GAF, a subsidiary of Standard Industries Inc, which was formerly known as Building Materials Corporation of America, will buy Icopal from Bahrain-based investment firm Investcorp Ltd, the companies said on Monday.

“The enhanced scale and financial strength of our combined company positions us to lead the roofing industry on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond,” David Millstone, co-chief executive officer of Standard Industries, said in a statement.

Founded in 1876 and based in Herlev, Denmark, Icopal sells to the residential roofing, building membranes, waterproofing and civil engineering markets. It has annual revenue of about 1 billion euros.

Investcorp had acquired Icopal in 2007 for 850 million euros from Axcel, Denmark’s largest private equity fund, Carlisle Companies Inc (CSL.N), a U.S. diversified manufacturing company, Kirkbi, another Danish private equity fund, and FIH, a Danish corporate bank, according to a statement at the time.

Founded in 1886 and based in Parsippany, New Jersey, GAF has about 3,000 employees and 29 manufacturing plants. Together with Icopal, the combined company will have nearly $4 billion in sales across more than 80 countries.

“This is a transformative first step for our company in its vision to be a leading global industrial manufacturer,” David Winter, the other co-chief executive of Standard Industries, said in the statement. Millstone and Winter are also chief investment officers of 40 North Management, a privately held investment affiliate of Standard Industries.

Trusts for the benefit of the heirs of Ronnie Heyman, the widow of Samuel Heyman, the former chairman of GAF, are the beneficial owners of Standard Industries, according to credit ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service Inc.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/icopal-m-a-gaf-idUSKCN0V30D1

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Twins Kevin Iddings (left) and Shawn Iddings (right) the new owners of Zimmermans Roofing stand with founder and prior owner Andrew Zimmerman. Zimmermans Roofing in New Holland has been sold to twin brothers Shawn and Kevin Iddings for an undisclosed price. Owner Andrew Zimmerman who founded the business in 1996 sold the company to pursue other business interests. But in the short term he will serve his former company as a consultant for at least six months. Zimmerman and Shawn Iddings president of Iddings Electric continue to own the 325 W. Main St. building that houses both Zimmermans Roofing and Iddings Electric. With the Sept. 14 sale of Zimmermans Roofing Kevin Iddings becomes its president and managing partner. The small business has seven employees including Kevin Iddings. Zimmermans Roofing serves a seven-county market with 25 percent of its revenue coming from commercial work and 75 percent from residential. Kevin Iddings declined to disclose its annual revenue. But he expects that revenue and workforce to rise in 2017 due to heavier marketing plus growth in Lebanon and York counties. Before buying the roofing company with his brother Kevin Iddings 43 spent 16 years at High Concrete becoming vice president of operations for the two-location firm. Most recently he spent three years operations manager at Faddis Concrete Products with five plants. The Garden Spot High School and Shippensburg University graduate said he decided to help buy the roofing company because it presents an excellent business opportunity and will reduce his time on the road. Read more:http://lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/twins-buy-zimmerman-s-roofing-in-new-holland/article_cc2a3ddc-a51b-11e6-8244-fbe01ed4bbb0.html Find us on google The post Twins buy Zimmermans Roofing in New Holland appeared first on http://kildare.elevateroofing.ie/ via Elevate Roofing Website Feeds http://kildare.elevateroofing.ie/twins-buy-zimmermans-roofing-new-holland/

Its official: After Tesla shareholdersapproved theacquisition of SolarCity the newcompanyis nowan unequivocalsun-to-vehicle energy firm. And Chief Executive OfficerElon Musk didnt take long to make his firstbig announcement ashead of this new enterprise. Minutes after shareholders approvedthe dealabout 85 percent of them voted yesMusk told the crowd thathe had just returned from a meeting with his newsolar engineering team. Teslas new solar roof product he proclaimed willactually cost lessto manufacture and install than a traditional roofeven before savings from the power bill. Electricity Musksaid is just a bonus. If Musks claims prove true this could be a real turning point in the evolution of solar power. The rooftop shingles heunveiled just a few weeks ago are something to behold: Theyre made of textured glass andare virtually indistinguishable from high-end roofing products. They also transform light into power for yourhome and your electric car. So the basic propositionwill be:Would you like a roof that looks better than a normal roof lasts twice as long costs less andby the waygenerates electricity? Musk said. Why would you get anything else? Make no mistake: The new shingles will still be a premium product at least when they first roll out.The terra cotta and slate roofs Tesla mimicked are among the most expensive roofing materials on the marketcosting as much as 20 times more thancheap asphalt shingles. Much of the cost savings Musk is anticipating comes from shipping the materials. Traditional roofing materials are brittle heavy and bulky. Shipping costs are high as is the quantity lost to breakage. The new tempered-glass roof tilesengineered in Teslas new automotive and solar glass division weigh as little as a fifth of current productsand are considerably easierto ship Musk said. WhenMusk first unveiled the tiles on Oct. 28 the pricing details were murkier. He said that someone who buys a Tesla roof when the product is released next summer will save money compared with someone who buys a comparable traditional roof plus electricity from the grid. But on a large house over a long period of time the value of that electricity could exceed $100000. The new target he unveiled today is considerably cheaper and its considerably more promising for the future of rooftopsolar power. First seen: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-17/musk-says-tesla-s-solar-shingles-will-cost-less-than-a-dumb-roof Find our roofer profile here The post Musk Says Teslas Solar Shingles Will Cost Less Than a Dumb Roof appeared first on http://cork.elevateroofing.ie/ via Elevate Roofing Website Feeds http://cork.elevateroofing.ie/musk-says-teslas-solar-shingles-will-cost-less-dumb-roof/

WEST PALM BEACH Fla. Sergeant Sam Horowitz did two tours overseas one in Iraq the other in Afghanistan. Now local businesses are saying thank you by putting a new roof on his home. Its a new nationwide project called Roof Deployment started by roofing and insulation company Owens Corning. Sergeant Horowitzs roof is the first to be done in Palm Beach County and one of the first in Florida. When Horowitz returned from Afghanistan he came home to a leaking roof that couldnt withstand high winds. You come back and you have the stresses of repairs on a house and just discomforts and youre worried about your home when youre away with hurricanes and things like that Horrowitz said. He was looking at more than $10000 in repairs and his home insurance rates skyrocketed. It literally doubled the mortgage payment he said. The National Guard helped set Horowitz up with the Roof Deployment Project. He wont have to pay anything at all. Owens Corning teams up with construction workers all across the country to provide supplies and labor for free for veterans with similar roof issues. In South Florida Owens Corning provides the roofing supplies and Venture Construction Company of Florida provides the labor. Theyve given to us so we want to do our part to help others deserving veterans in the community said Ed Palko regional sales manager for Owens Corning in South Florida. Crews started work on Horowitzs roof early Thursday morning and expect to finish by Friday. Its going to be really nice to go back inside and know that the roofs solid or if I go to work I know that my house would be fine through a hurricane or anything along those lines Horowitz said. Read more:http://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/west-palm-beach/local-businesses-help-veterans-with-roofing-issues Find our roofer profile here The post Local businesses help veterans with roofing issues appeared first on http://limerick.elevateroofing.ie/ via Elevate Roofing Website Feeds http://limerick.elevateroofing.ie/local-businesses-help-veterans-roofing-issues/