Flat Roof

Shingle Roof Replacement on Townhomes in Northbrook

When dealing with a shingle roof replacement on multi-family properties, guaranteeing a durable, visually appealing, and properly installed roof is a must. This ensures long-term protection and satisfaction for every resident. This shingle roof replacement in Northbrook replaced an older shingle with a new, durable GAF architectural shingle. With improved wind and impact resistance and a sophisticated, dimensional look, this new shingle roof enhances both performance and aesthetics. Multi-family buildings require high-quality materials and consistent quality of installation to maintain a uniform appearance while maximizing longevity. In addition to the new shingle roofing installation in Northbrook, we installed GAF new peel and stick modified bitumen roofing in low slope valleys for increased durability and waterproofing. With heat welded flat roof seams and new flashings, the entire shingle roof installation and flat roof system will last for decades, and each unit owner will be worry free.

Proper roof drainage is just as important as a durable roof, which is why this shingle roof replacement project also included new aluminum gutters in Northbrook. A well-designed gutter system efficiently directs water away from the structure, preventing foundation issues and exterior damage. Multi-family properties and townhomes rely on professionally installed roofs and gutters that protect multiple units from costly repairs, which is where our expertise and experience comes in. By combining architectural shingles, efficient flat roofing, and proper water drainage management, this project significantly improved the homeowner’s association and community value. Every element was carefully chosen to provide long-term performance and reduce the need for maintenance. Now, this multi-family association in Northbrook is fully equipped with new shingle roofing, new flat roofing, and new aluminum gutters to handle the elements while maintaining its polished, sophisticated look. Consistent communication and accommodation left every unit owner satisfied and impressed with their new shingle roofs.

SMART Roofing, Inc. is a full-service shingle and flat roofing contractor and GAF Master Elite contractor serving Northbrook and its surrounding Chicagoland suburbs. Select SMART Roofing, Inc. as your Northbrook, Glenview, Northfield, Winnetka, and Wilmette roofing contractor with plenty of experience with asphalt shingle roofs, shingle roof replacements, flat roofs, and aluminum gutters. From roof assessments and repairs to installations of virtually every type of new residential roof and commercial roof, our commitment to excellence, stellar customer service and exceptional results are the “SMART” roofing difference. Contact the roofing experts at SMART Roofing, Inc. at (847) 797-0404 to learn more about GAF roofing products and email us for your residential shingle roof replacement, metal roof replacement, and gutter replacement needs.

The Importance of Flat Roof Maintenance

As a property or home owner, you rarely ever see your flat roof, which can lead to missed maintenance and a shortened lifespan. Flat roof maintenance is just as important as any other building maintenance. Whether it is a residential flat roof or a commercial flat roof, both should be inspected at least once a year to make sure everything is holding up, and that any needed repairs are done. A good roof maintenance program can extend the life of your flat roof by years, saving money in the long run.

While the flat roof membrane, EPDM, TPO, or PVC, will easily last its lifespan of 20-30 years, the roof penetrations, perimeter flashings, and membrane seams can sometimes fail prematurely. If such a failure happens, and goes unattended for weeks or months, it can ruin the whole roof system resulting in costly flat roof replacement. To avoid situations like these, a consistent flat roof maintenance schedule should be followed with at least one flat roof inspection in the spring. A flat roof’s worst enemy is snow, ice, and cold temperatures, with many roofs being damaged by the frigid winds and freeze/thaw cycles of winter. A spring flat roof inspection can reveal any issues or problems that may have been caused by the winter, and in most cases Smart Roofing Inc. can repair these small issues before they create serious damage. We have We also recommend having another inspection done in the fall, to make sure your commercial or residential flat roof does not try to weather the worst season with holes or other deficiencies. A proactive approach to your roof will always be more cost effective than a reactive approach, saving you headaches, and money, in the long run.

We offer full maintenance programs, for either commercial flat roofs or residential flat roofs. We have trained service crews that have experience installing and repairing modified bitumen roofs, EPDM roofs, TPO roofs, and PVC roofs, as well as sheet metal work. We work with homeowners, associations, property managers, and builders alike to guarantee that you are provided with the best service. Ranging from small flashing repairs to flat roof patches, to gutter cleanings, and full replacements, Smart Roofing Inc. is your go to roofer for all things flat roofs.

As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or would like to schedule your roof flat roof maintenance inspection, flat roof roof assessment, or flat roof estimate, feel free to contact the roofing experts at Smart Roofing Inc. at (847) 797-0404 or email us at contactus@smartroofers.com

Moisture Issues in Masonry Buildings with Flat Roofs in Chicago

The housing bubble hurt many households when it happened, but it is still affecting families today in a different way. When the bubble was at its peak, the demand for new houses was also peaking, and builders were rushing as quickly as they could to finish up houses and move onto new ones. In the process, they often used sub-par materials and cut corners in the design. The result is that moisture is migrating into the roof systems and the walls of the buildings, and slowly rotting the wood framing work. This is very prominent in masonry buildings built between 2003-2008 that have flat roofs in the Chicago area.

When a house is built, it needs to stick to strict building requirements and specifications to ensure that the building envelope is as air tight as possible. This includes the installation of water proof membranes above masonry openings such as windows and doors, insulating penetrations to prevent condensation with temperature changes, and separation of building elements. When builders were rushing in the peak of construction, the either did less work than required for these elements, or completely skipped them. Without a membrane above windows and doors, any water that enters the structure through that opening will run down the wall, and soak into connected wood members. With time, these wood pieces will rot and lose their strength. Metal penetrations through masonry walls are very susceptible to condensation, as metal is a great thermal conductor. With freezing temperatures outside, and warm temperatures inside, water droplets form on the metal and cause it to corrode. These water droplets can also affect any nearby wood and cause rot. The most common issue we have noticed during our work with these buildings, is that the roofs are not a separate system from the framing/masonry gap. Over the years this allows the moisture that inherently migrates through sub-bar masonry work to enter the roof system, condensate on the underside of the roof decking, and slowly rot all connected wood members. This can in turn compromise the structural integrity of the roof as trusses become rotted and lose their strength.

In some cases where the builder stuck to some of the requirements, and if noticed early enough, the damage is not extreme and can be repaired to the extent that the structure is still safe and sound. In other cases that have been going on for years, and where the work was done as low cost as possible, parapet walls need to be removed, whole trusses need to be replaced along with the roof and decking, and the masonry needs to be redone. These flat roofs in Chicago masonry buildings most often show the issues with moisture around the perimeter of the house. If you notice a musty or wet smell, or see signs on moisture on walls and ceilings, it is definitely a good idea to have your roof inspected. Having dealt with multiple buildings with this issue, here at Smart Roofing Inc., we can tell you exactly what the repair process will be. In almost all cases the roof will need to be replaced to gain access to the roof decking and framing, so avoid wasting time and money on local repairs without having a thorough inspection done.

SMART Roofing, Inc. is a full-service roofing contractor serving Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. Select SMART Roofing, Inc. as your Chicago Roofing Contractor with plenty of experience with flat roofs. From roof assessments and repairs to installations of virtually every type of new residential roof and commercial roof, our commitment to excellence, stellar customer service, and exceptional results are the “SMART” roofing difference. Contact the roofing experts at SMART Roofing, Inc. at (847) 797-0404, to learn more, or email us for your residential or commercial roofing needs.

Chicago Commercial Roof Replacement – New TPO Roof

Here at Smart Roofing Inc. we are experts with residential and commercial roofs alike. From flat roof maintenance, to complete flat roof replacement, Smart Roofing Inc. knows all the ins and outs of the commercial roof trade, especially in Chicago. Multi-family properties, commercial warehouses, or residential flat roofs are all roofs we have experience replacing or repairing. All single ply-membranes, such as TPO, EPDM, and PVC, along with skylight replacement, and necessary perimeter sheet metal pieces, we have done it all, and with over 25 years of experience in the Chicagoland area.

A commercial roof installation in Chicago requires more manpower, coordination, and strategy than a regular residential roof. Specific building code requirements, architect details, and safety specifications are also very important when replacing a commercial roof in Chicago. Smart Roofing Inc. has experience with all of those elements, having done a multitude of commercial flat roof replacements and roof repairs in Chicago over the last 25 years. Our project managers are very well coordinated and have extensive safety training to ensure the crews doing the work are safe and the building owners are protected. We have been working with architects since we started in the roofing industry, so we know how to get down to the details, which also ensures we follow building codes.

Aside from coordination and attention to detail, Smart Roofing Inc. has the knowledge of working with a variety of commercial flat roof materials needed to get the job done. We have done flat roofs with TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin), EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), and PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Whether the membranes need to be welded together, TPO and PVC, or adhered together with pressure sensitive adhesive tapes, EPDM, we will make sure that your new roof will not leak and look great. Flat roof replacements often call for new levels of insulation, usually insulation R-value of 30, and most buildings also need tapered insulation to create proper slopes. Creating saddles, or crickets, from tapered insulation to avoid standing water behind curbs is something of a specialty for our guys. We have worked with a variety of methods, such as mechanically attached roof systems, ballasted roof systems, induction welded roof systems, and fully adhered adhered roof systems. Our sheet metal crews have done miles of perimeter flashings for commercial flat or barrel roofs, so you can expect only the best. Every little detail matters when working on a commercial roof, and the professionals at Smart Roofing Inc. know every way to make your roof last as long as possible.

SMART Roofing, Inc. is a full-service roofing contractor serving Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. Select SMART Roofing, Inc. as your Chicago Roofing Contractor with plenty of experience with commercial flat roofs. From roof assessments and repairs to installations of virtually every type of new residential roof and commercial roof, our commitment to excellence, stellar customer service, and exceptional results are the “SMART” roofing difference. Contact the roofing experts at SMART Roofing, Inc. at (847) 797-0404, to learn more, or email us for your residential or commercial roofing needs.

Schaumburg Commercial Flat Roof Recovery

Commercial roofs offer their own set of challenges that Smart Roofing Inc. is always ready to face. This flat roof recovery in Schaumburg was particularly interesting because of the coordination required between the crane team and the roof team. Since we recovered the roof with loosely laid Carlisle EPDM membrane, we needed river rock to ballast the membrane and prevent it from blowing off. To get gravel to the roof required a crane with a hopper, and some great teamwork.

Before we could even install the flat roof membrane, we had to make sure that the existing roof was ready to be recovered. We needed to vacuum up the existing gravel ballast, install recovery insulation to provide a flat surface, and only then did we lay the membrane down. Once the membrane was installed and all seams were sealed, we proceeded to load the river rock ballast with a team to direct the crane and a team to spread the ballast. Safety is always a priority with roofing, so safety lines and hard hats were a must! Smart Roofing Inc.’s sheet metal crew also made custom sizes of gravel stops and fascia to tie the whole roof together, making sure the perimeter of the roof is water tight and secure. Since the building is being remodeled into offices, the owner also requested that the skylights be replaced, which our team did without any issues. Commercial flat roofs are one of our many specialties, and this commercial flat roof recovery in Schaumburg, along with skylight replacement was a fun way to end the year.

SMART Roofing, Inc. is a full-service roofing contractor serving Schaumburg and its surrounding suburbs. Select SMART Roofing, Inc. as your Schaumburg Roofing Contractor with plenty of experience with synthetic cedar shake roofs. From roof assessments and repairs to installations of virtually every type of new residential roof and commercial roof, our commitment to excellence, stellar customer service and exceptional results are the “SMART” roofing difference. Contact the roofing experts at SMART Roofing, Inc. at (847) 797-0404, to learn more, or email us for your residential or commercial roofing needs.

Slate Roof Installation in Oak Brook

All roofs are equal in our eyes, whether they are asphalt shingle, cedar shake, clay tile, or slate. There is no better way to show our thinking than by displaying the various types of roofs we have completed. Here is a recent roof installation we did in Oak Brook, where we installed a new slate roof, along with sections of flat EPDM and TPO roofs, copper bay and dormer roofs, and copper ridge and hip pieces.

Slate roofs are very durable and look natural and beautiful when done properly. When tied together with copper trim pieces, copper gutters, and copper bay and dormer roofs, this slate roof in Oak Brook is guaranteed to last generations and look as good in 50 years as it looks now. Slate is almost always sourced from the Northeast for the best quality, and this slate was supplied by Evergreen Slate Co. from New York. The installation of this slate roof was on a new construction home, which eliminates the need for tear-off of old roofing, making the process much more streamlined and efficient.

All of the roofing elements on this Oak Brook slate roof were chosen for a specific reason. The slate was chosen to provide the house with a more sophisticated appearance, while still looking modest and natural, and of course for the durability. Since slate is a naturally occurring material, there are no naturally formed hip and ridge pieces. In many cases, individual slates are cut on an angle and pieced together to form a 2 piece hip or ridge. Over the long lifespan of slate, these pieces can sometimes separate and cause issues. This is exactly why Smart Roofing Inc. decided to install copper ridge and hip pieces. The copper will never separate or degrade, and will never cause any issues while the slate remains intact. We installed white TPO membrane on the flat roof, to promote sun reflectivity, and due to the multiple penetrations. TPO membrane is welded together which offers one of the best water barriers available. We also installed a section of EPDM membrane in the back of the house, which was chosen for its ability to stretch and conform to unusual shapes. Overall, Smart Roofing Inc. was chosen for our expertise installing slate roofs, along with our extensive knowledge of flat roofing and sheet metal work. We are very proud of the final product and are very happy to have this slate roof in Oak Brook in our portfolio.

SMART Roofing, Inc. is a full-service roofing contractor serving Oak Brook and its surrounding suburbs. Select SMART Roofing, Inc. as your Oak Brook Roofing Contractor with plenty of experience with slate roofs. From roof assessments and repairs to installations of virtually every type of new residential roof and commercial roof, our commitment to excellence, stellar customer service, and exceptional results are the “SMART” roofing difference. Contact the roofing experts at SMART Roofing, Inc. at (847) 797-0404, to learn more, or email us for your residential or commercial roofing needs.

Arlington Heights Clay Tile Roof Installation

Smart Roofing Inc. has installed yet another Ludowici clay tile roof as a certified Crown Roofer. This time we installed a roof close to home, in Arlington Heights. This roof however, was a combination of clay tile on the majority of sloped roof sections, IB Roof Systems white PVC single-ply roofing membrane on flat roof sections, and 2 types of standing seam metal roofing on lower sloped roof sections. We also installed new copper dormer roofs alongside new half-round copper gutters. With a combination of all roofing types and styles, this new construction tile roof installation is a perfect example of the work and expertise that Smart Roofing Inc. can provide.

Clay tile roofing is one of our specialties, but we are also very experienced and proud of our flat roof and sheet metal work. Being a certified and factory trained Ludowici Crown Roofer is one of our many accolades. Having crews that can install flat roofing, whether they are PVC, TPO, or EPDM membranes, and all kinds of sheet metal work, from standing seam metal and copper roofs, to copper dormer roofs, to copper gutters and downspouts, we can install it all, and we do it efficiently and beautifully. This new clay tile roof installed in Arlington Heights is one that will last for generations.

SMART Roofing, Inc. is a full-service roofing contractor serving Arlington Heights and its surrounding suburbs. Select SMART Roofing, Inc. as your Arlington Heights Roofing Contractor. From roof assessments and repairs to installations of virtually every type of new residential roof and commercial roof, our commitment to excellence, stellar customer service and exceptional results are the “SMART” roofing difference. Contact the roofing experts at SMART Roofing, Inc. at (847) 797-0404, to learn more about Ludowici Roof Tile or IB Roof Systems single-ply roofing products, or email us for your residential or commercial roofing needs.

Extending Life of Aged Commercial Roof in Arlington Heights, Illinois by 10 Years with Andek Polaroof RAC Urethane Liquid Membrane

The roofing experts at Smart Roofing Inc. have recently recovered an aged modified bitumen roof on a multi-family building in Arlington Heights, Illinois for a fraction of the cost of a regular roof replacement while providing an additional long-lasting, waterproof roofing layer. It was done using Andek Polaroof RAC Urethane liquid membrane. Andek Polaroof RAC is tough and elastic with high tensile strength and good puncture resistance and contains corrosion-inhibiting pigments for protection against rust and acid rain.

The membrane goes over properly cleaned, existing roofing with extra attention to detail around problem areas such as seams, low spots, or changes of slope. Andek Polaroof RAC is applied seamlessly, eliminating the need to worry about old seams separating and allowing water in. Andek is also a reflective layer, meaning it does not get hot with the sun exposure, lowering your cooling bills. It withstands all weather conditions, from freezing winter nights to hot summer afternoons, typical Chicago weather, and comes with a 10-year warranty!

Andek Polaroof RAC membrane is a great choice for commercial and residential building owners where a complete roof replacement might not be possible or cost prohibitive. Polaroof RAC, being a relatively affordable option, offers amazing quality and look, and provides a superb waterproofing option for aging roofs.

Excerpts from www.andek.com

If you are thinking of having your roof repaired or replaced, contact the roofing experts at Smart Roofing, Inc.at (847) 797-0404, to learn more about our roof products and services, or email us at contactus@smartroofers.com for your other residential or commercial roofing needs.

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Please feel free to call us at 847.797.0404 or email to contactus@smartroofers.com

Please feel free to call us or email: 847.797.0404 contactus@smartroofers.com

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