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Apex Construction is increasing the fall of this Ocean City condo’s flat roof to improve the drainage of rainwater. The home owner’s association is being proactive in this preventative maintenance approach. Although there are currently no leaks or damage, the amount of ponding and silt accumulation would certainly lead to troubles in the near future if left untouched.
A correctly built flat roof will drain the rainwater quickly and effectively into the gutters without allowing water to collect in depressions and ‘pond’ on the surface of the roof. Ponding leads to the build-up of silt deposits on the roof and stresses in the membrane when the water freezes (a small amount of ponding is inevitable and it should not reduce the performance of the roof covering).
Ponding will be reduced by ensuring the roof is provided with a decent fall (or pitch) allowing the rainwater to be drained effectively towards the outlets and gutters at the edge of the roof.
Design Falls
When specifying a fall for a flat roof, the designer should take account of:
Because the desired fall may be difficult to achieve in practice, the roofing contractor may need to adopt a design fall considerably steeper (often twice) than the recommended finished fall. The building regulations encourage a minimum fall of 1:40.
A proactive preventative maintenance approach will save you money, time, and headache in the future. Contact Apex Construction if you have concerns that your roof is not performing as it should. We are certified by many national roofing brands and employ skilled professionals who specialize in residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural roofing applications. Contact us today for more information.
Apex Construction has been installing a new standing seam metal roof at the Tanger Outlet retail center in Rehoboth Beach, DE. We are using the latest technology to pre-form the metal panels on site which improves the overall efficiency and quality of the roof installation. Apex Construction is a fully capable Construction Company serving the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors of the Mid-Atlantic regions. Contact us today for a quote and consultation or an invitation to bid your next construction project.
Standing seam metal roofs are made of metal panels that run from the top of the roof to the eaves. Each panel has a high lip or rib on each side. The ribs overlap and fit together, concealing the fasteners and creating raised seams that run from top to bottom.
Standing seam metal roofs aren't new: This style of metal roofing was used as early as the mid-1700s. It became more prevalent in the mid-1800s when copper was more readily available. Today, the most common metals used are steel, aluminum, and copper—which is the most expensive.
Contact Apex Construction today for more information or to schedule a free consultation and quote.
Apex Construction just completed the installation of a new Asphalt Roof System on this Ocean City, MD condo complex. The old roofing shingles were removed, deck was repaired and prepared, and the new shingles were installed all in the same day. Contact Apex Construction today for any residential or commercial construction inquiries.
An asphalt roofing system provides homeowners with years of protection from the elements as a result of its reliability, durability and longevity. Asphalt roofing offers unparalleled beauty and versatility, which allows homeowners to pick a variety of unique colors, styles and textures that can increase a home’s value and raise its curb appeal.
Today, four out of five homeowners in the U.S. choose asphalt roofing. For most homeowners, choosing a type of shingle roof is a once in a lifetime decision, so deciding on what color and style fits their personality and one which blends with the character of the neighborhood is an important one.
In a recent survey by the National Association of REALTORS®, 99% stated that a new roof contributes to the home’s overall appeal in the neighborhood, and 83% stated that a home with a more “stylish” roof is easier to sell. It’s a major investment and one that takes careful consideration and thought.
Apex Construction was hired to install a new 30 year asphalt roof using Gaf architectural shingles on this West Ocean City, MD residential property. The chimney was demolished and removed prior to installation of the new roof. We are certified installers of Gaf/Timberline commercial and residential roofing systems in the Ocean City, Delaware, and Eastern Shore regions. Apex Construction is the roofing expert of choice in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Contact us today to start your new roofing project!
For most of us the roof is an afterthought — at least until it starts to leak. Then we realize how critical that surface of our house's exterior really is. Yet, as well as keeping the house dry, the roof contributes greatly to the look of the house, so when building a new house, adding on, or re-roofing, it may pay to consider the options. Right now there are more options in the marketplace than ever, so choosing one is tough. The choices range from asphalt shingles to wood shakes and clay tiles, from steel panels to rubber lookalike slate. The most important trend to note, however, is that as with home-construction materials in general, there is an increasing move towards engineered roofing materials. This change is being driven by a few different factors. One is simply the high cost of wood. The second is that in many cases, codes now mandate the use of fireproof construction materials. And third, people understandably want to build with materials that not only look good but also are very long-lived.
The roofing material we all see the most of these days — the one that covers the roofs of a great majority of houses across America — is the standard three-tab asphalt shingle. One of the least-expensive roofing options, asphalt shingles are available in a dozen or so different colors both solid and blended. The shingle products being made today are usually guaranteed for 20, or in some cases 30 years, making them an excellent value. Value is the principal advantage of this roofing material, which explains it's commonality. The disadvantage, however, if there could be said to be one, is the fact that it is so common. The next upgrade from a standard three-tab is a thicker variation called an architectural shingle. These shingles are built up to be about twice as thick as a normal shingle with the layers staggered to give them a heavier, more substantial or "architectural" look. In some colors they resemble slate, and in other colors wood shakes. We used architectural shingles on the Lexington ranch house. With only a modest upgrade in cost and up to a 30-year guarantee, architectural shingles also represent an excellent value with an added touch of style; Shingles or Shakes...
For looks, it is hard to beat a wood shingle roof. Over time it weathers out to a gray or soft silver that seems to root the house to the landscape. Several species are used: Western Red Cedar, Alaskan Yellow Cedar and Eastern White Cedar. Shingles are relatively smooth and cut to a uniform thickness, although they vary in width. Wood shakes are thicker and rougher, being split rather than sawn from the logs. Wood roofs are meant to breathe and should be laid over a substrate that allows air to circulate behind them: skip sheathing — wood strips or battens nailed directly to the roof rafters — is the traditional method of installing a wood shingle roof. About 10 years ago we began using a plastic matrix product that is something like a scrubby pad, which allows air to circulate behind the shingles. This product can be laid on top of a building-paper-coated plywood roof deck, making it ideal for a retrofit. Another method of getting air circulation behind the shingles is to lay them on pressure-treated lattice. For all their great looks, shingles and shakes are expensive to install and do require some periodic maintenance, typically in the form of washing to remove any mildew or moss, and then re-oiling with a clear wood finishing product. On a current Shingle-style project in Ocean City, Maryland, we're using a wood shingle that is new to us: pressure-treated Southern Yellow Pine, which grays out in a few years to resemble cedar and is said to require no maintenance at all. A properly installed and maintained wood roof should last at least 30 to 50 years. In fact, we have seen roofs on which the shingles were still good after 25 years or so, but the galvanized nails were finally rusting, so be sure to use a high-quality stainless-steel nail!...And Fakes
Originally, our Craftsman-style bungalow in Dewey Beach, Delaware, would have been clad in a combination of wood shingles and shakes, because the building needed that shaggy rough-hewn appearance to look authentic. However, because of fire danger, local codes now require all roofing materials to be fireproof. Accordingly, we used a heavy architectural asphalt shingle on the roof, and a cementations shingle manufactured to look like a wood shake for the side walls -- although they are suitable for use on the roof as well. Use of these "fake" shakes is rapidly increasing, both because they satisfy the strict fire codes in the West and because they are long lived and require no maintenance.
In the Mid-Atlantic Region slate was a traditional roofing material for high-end houses and municipal buildings. It is beautiful, lasts for generations, sheds ice and snow, and is very expensive. Because of its cost and weight, which requires a beefier roof structure to support, slate is not often used these days. Yet on Salisbury Maryland project, rebuilding a burnt-out family home, we wanted the slate look. Again we turned to an "engineered" product, this time a slate lookalike fabricated from recycled rubber and plastic. At only about one-third the weight and cost of slate, these shingles can be installed using standard tools and techniques. From the street, the discerning eye might be able to tell the difference between engineered and the real McCoy, but most of us would be very house-proud with one of these roofs on our homes. Plus, these shingles are guaranteed to last for as long as 50 years.
Metal roofs, in the form of corrugated, galvanized sheets, have been a standard feature of barns, sheds and other agricultural and utility buildings for years. This type of roof is cheap, rugged, long-lasting and easy to install — perfect for a utility application. On the other end of the spectrum is a copper roof, elegant enough to grace the country's finest mansions and public buildings. Graceful bay and bow windows are often roofed with sheet copper soldered at the seams. Larger expanses of roof are covered using the "standing-seam" method, in which one sheet joins with its parallel mate via an interlocking, water-tight seam. Metal is a great choice for a house in Ocean City, as well as in the surround agricultural Worcester and Sussex counties. Fortunately, in terms of products available, there is much to choose from between the galvanized low-end and the copper high-end. On our Milton Delware project, we used a formed-in-place, standing-seam steel roof on the workshop addition to the barn. While not as dear as copper, this roof was expensive — and beautiful. There are a variety of powder-coated steel roof "systems" on the market, some very cost-effective variations on the galvanized sheet-steel theme. Others are factory-built standing-seam roofs, custom made to your house or barn and installed by a roofing contractor. The advantage of these systems is that they require no special fabricating equipment and can be installed by any qualified contractor. In addition to standing-seam roofs, several types of metal shingles are also available. One, an interlocking tin shingle we used on the roof at a Fenwick Island project I have never seen anywhere other than in the Florida Keys. Another variation commercially available nationwide is an interlocking copper shingle. Regardless of the style you choose, in general, a properly installed metal roof should last you at least 50 years.
Ceramic tile roofs are found throughout the Mediterranean and Levant — and of course in the Mediterranean-Revival-influenced architecture of Florida and California. Barrel tiles, the most common type of ceramic tile, resemble half cylinders about 16 inches long. In the old days they were individually made by hand, their tapered shape achieved by forming the clay over the top of the thigh. We actually used some of these handmade tiles on our renovation of a hurricane-damaged Mediterranean-Revival house in West Ocean City. And more recently, we used high-quality reproduction barrel tiles on our South Point project. Tile roofs are quite heavy, so the roof framing must be stout enough to support the load. Waterproofing is achieved via a waterproof membrane laid directly on the roof sheathing. Then the clay tiles are laid one by one in a pad of mortar. Tiles turned upside down form a trough, which is then covered by tiles laid right side up. The whole process is quite labor intensive, which makes an authentic tile roof quite expensive -- about $1,000 per 10x10-foot square, or about three times the cost of a standard three-tab shingle job. In addition to barrel tiles there are a number of variations of clay roof tiles. Some are shaped like thick shingles, some like slates. A high-quality tile will be hard-fired and will not absorb moisture that could fracture the tile when frozen. Thus such tiles are suitable for northern climates. All high-quality tile roofs are expensive, both in terms of the material and the installation, and so clay tile roofs are fairly rare. Yet in the long run the most expensive might be the most cost effective, since you can expect to get 60 to 80 years or even more out of a well installed tile roof.
Apex Construction was called to repair a standing seam metal roof that was damaged by a delivery truck at the Rite Aid business location in Ocean City, MD. We were able to quickly repair the standing seam metal roof and framing beneath it to bring the aesthetics back to new condition. We understand that quick, efficient, and quality performance is required for commercial business to continue without affecting customer satisfaction. Contact Apex Construction today for commercial or residential construction inquires. We are happy to answer any questions you may and provide you with a competitive project quote.
If you're looking for a cost effective, durable roof for a home or business in Ocean City, metal roofing is well worth considering. Though most Delmarva buildings have roofs made of asphalt shingles, this is generally because of the low initial cost of installation rather than asphalt's overall performance. Well suited to the tough (and constantly changing) environmental demands of the Eastern Shore, metal roofing is an excellent choice for homeowners who want a low-maintenance, high quality material that will outperform and outlast many of the other options on the market today.
To really understand what makes a good roof, try and imagine what it would be like to stay outside, completely exposed to the elements. In Ocean City, you'd be subjected to everything from triple degree heat to temperatures well below freezing, as well as torrential downpours and icy precipitation in all of its forms. Now, imagine doing that for a few decades; a roof's got a pretty hard job, and to do it right for any length of time, it needs to be strong, durable, and (especially in OC) versatile.
Metal roofing handles all of these conditions with ease. It reflects heat when the sun beats down, pays little mind to drastic changes in temperature, and, of course, rain, sleet and snow slide right of it. It doesn't catch fire, it resists water, and when it comes to life expectancy, it is only surpassed by rock. If ever there was a material suited to the Eastern Shore, metal roofing is it.
One of the nicest things about metal roofing is its lightweight. In most cases, it is light enough to install right on top of existing shingles without compromising the integrity of the structure. So, if you've got a roof that isn't up to par, you probably won't even have to remove anything to put a new metal roof on. Metal roofing can be found in both shingle form as well as in long panels of metal that are cut to fit your home or business. Each is installed differently, but the overall performance is very similar.
Once a metal roof is installed, the upkeep needed for it to function well is next to none. If you want your roof to be a specific color, factory painted metal is very fade resistant (and will often come with a good warranty, too).
Probably the biggest reason why we don't see more metal roofing in Ocean City is the price. Though typically much less expensive than tile or slate roofs, metal roofing is still initially more expensive than asphalt shingles (which are used on around 80% of American homes). Since remodeling or building is so expensive, especially in the city, most owners don't want to spend more than they really need to. Since asphalt is the standard, the extra money it takes to install metal roofing is often looked upon as unnecessary.
One thing to consider, however, is that a metal roof will generally outlast an asphalt roof and require fewer repairs over its lifetime. When you combine the longevity of metal roofing with its low-maintenance requirements, it could turn out to be the most cost effective option for your home. Contact Apex Construction today for more details or a project quote.
There’s no better way to protect your home than by keeping a good roof over your head. At Apex Construction, we’ve been professionally installing and repairing roofs on the Delmarva peninsula for many years. A correctly installed roofing system will keep out wind and water that might damage your eaves, walls, and more. Save your home now from costly repairs later - Call us today to schedule a free roof inspection. Each roofing system provides different challenges from the material construction of shingles, pitch of roof, gutter system, and number of valleys to name a few. You can rest assured that Apex Construtction can get the job done!
Apex Construction is in the process of installing a new standing seam metal roof on the popular seafood restaurant ‘Just Hooked’ in Fenwick Island, DE. Using state of the art technology we construct the metal panels on site allowing for quick, precise, and customized panels for a smooth installation process. Apex Construction has quickly become the area’s leading roofing contractor capable of any Commercial, Industrial, and Residential roofing system.
Below is a video of our on site panel construction process.
There’s no better way to protect your home or business than by keeping a good roof over your head. At Apex Construction, we’ve been professionally installing and repairing roofs on the Delmarva Peninsula for over a decade. A correctly installed roofing system will keep out wind and water that might damage your eaves, walls, inventory, personal possessions, and more. We are capable and experienced in all Commercial, Industrial, and Residential roofing systems.
Save your home or business now from costly repairs later - Call us today to schedule a free roof inspection and consultation. Each roofing system provides different challenges from the material construction of shingles, pitch of roof, gutter system, and number of valleys to name a few. You can rest assured that Apex Construction can get the job done!
