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Companies, organizations, and firms working in the building, construction, and design space have a unique opportunity and responsibility. Collectively, we are contributing to nearly 40% of energy-related carbon emissions worldwide. While the goals, commitments, pledges, and promises around these challenges are a step in the right direction, no one entity alone will make major improvements to this daunting issue.
Mark Rutherford is one of the founders and current co-owner of Atlanta Roofing Specialists, where he's responsible for production and commercial sales. The company provides new roofs and repair services for residential and commercial buildings in the Atlanta area, and has been a part of the community for 30 years.
As the warmer temperatures of spring arrive, you might be getting out your vacuum, mop, and household cleaners. But the outside of your home likely needs some attention too. Signs of winter damage often show up once the snow melts and the ground thaws, so now's also the time for outdoor spring cleaning. Proper home maintenance—such as inspecting your roof and other areas of your home that might need repair can help preserve your property.
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Mark Rutherford is one of the founders and current co-owner of Atlanta Roofing Specialists, where he's responsible for production and commercial sales. The company provides new roofs and repair services for residential and commercial buildings in the Atlanta area, and has been a part of the community for 30 years.
As the warmer temperatures of spring arrive, you might be getting out your vacuum, mop, and household cleaners. But the outside of your home likely needs some attention too. Signs of winter damage often show up once the snow melts and the ground thaws, so now's also the time for outdoor spring cleaning. Proper home maintenance—such as inspecting your roof and other areas of your home that might need repair can help preserve your property.
If you're thinking about replacing your old roof or installing a new one, one thing to consider is whether you should choose darker or lighter shingles. Appearance isn't the only factor this choice affects. Depending on your home and where you live, choosing darker or lighter options might also be more beneficial and efficient. Here's what you need to know about selecting between light and dark shingle colors for your roof.
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LATEST VIDEOS FROM GAF
VIDEO ARTICLE
At GAF, our commitment to protect what matters most means more than manufacturing sustainable roofing products. It includes investing in our people, our planet and our business so we can work toward a more sustainable future.
VIDEO ARTICLE
This May, GAF teamed up with This Old House to support their "Protecting the Protectors Contest". The contest was established to give back to first responders who go above and beyond protecting their communities. Watch this video to see how first responders JoAnna, an oncology nurse, and her fiance Andrew, a firefighter, reacted to their brand new GAF Timberline HDZ roof.
VIDEO ARTICLE
The GAF Roofing Academy is a tuition-free training program designed to help students build the necessary skills for an entry-level roofing position in commercial or residential roofing, including solar. Recent graduates, Ricky Gass and Juell Mollette, share their experience with the hands-on training program, as well as how it has set them up for success in their careers.
VIDEO ARTICLE
There are two sides to every story—but what some homeowners may not realize is that there are also two sides to most roofs, too. Beyond the professionally installed roofing system that protects your house from water on the outside, an attic ventilation system works from the inside to protect your home from heat and moisture.
VIDEO ARTICLE
When a building owner asks you if they need a commercial roof repair or replacement, your assessment of the roof's condition hinges on a few key areas. Veteran commercial roofing experts Dave Scott and Wally Brown share their roof inspection expertise in GAF's Roofing It Right with Dave and Wally: Roof Project from Start to Finish video series to help you assess the condition of critical areas on the roof.
VIDEO ARTICLE
Shirley Mejia, Owner of Premier Home Renovations, shares how her dad inspired her to get into the roofing industry and how hard work always pays off. For tools and resources that can support your business goals, visit GAF's contractor resources.
VIDEO ARTICLE
How do you pick the right attic vent? The first step is to check out this 60-second video and learn about the 1:300 rule, the difference between intake and exhaust ventilation, and why proper ventilation is so important to get right.To help calculate your attic ventilation needs, visit GAF Ventilation Calculator.
VIDEO ARTICLE
See how a commercial roof gets measured thoroughly and safely, as GAF Senior Commercial Training Specialists Dave Scott and Wally Brown (Dave & Wally) gather the numbers they need to reroof 20-year old PVC membrane roof. Check out Part 3 of the Roofing it Right miniseries on installing a commercial roof, from start to finish.Watch the full Roof Project from Start to Finish miniseries.
VIDEO ARTICLE
See for yourself – according to this recent extreme shingle testing demonstration, they're tough enough to withstand hurricane-force-winds, more water than any rainstorm will hit them with, and a continuous blast of red hot embers. Shingles with GAF Dura Grip™ Adhesive are engineered to endure.
VIDEO ARTICLE
When Hurricane Harvey struck Texas in 2017, GAF partnered with Team Rubicon to help rebuild local communities impacted by the storm. Learn how you can get involved with Team Rubicon and volunteer to support disaster relief in your area at https://TeamRubiconUSA.org/gafvolunteer
VIDEO ARTICLE
At GAF, our commitment to protect what matters most means more than manufacturing sustainable roofing products. It includes investing in our people, our planet and our business so we can work toward a more sustainable future.
VIDEO ARTICLE
This May, GAF teamed up with This Old House to support their "Protecting the Protectors Contest". The contest was established to give back to first responders who go above and beyond protecting their communities. Watch this video to see how first responders JoAnna, an oncology nurse, and her fiance Andrew, a firefighter, reacted to their brand new GAF Timberline HDZ roof.
VIDEO ARTICLE
The GAF Roofing Academy is a tuition-free training program designed to help students build the necessary skills for an entry-level roofing position in commercial or residential roofing, including solar. Recent graduates, Ricky Gass and Juell Mollette, share their experience with the hands-on training program, as well as how it has set them up for success in their careers.
VIDEO ARTICLE
There are two sides to every story—but what some homeowners may not realize is that there are also two sides to most roofs, too. Beyond the professionally installed roofing system that protects your house from water on the outside, an attic ventilation system works from the inside to protect your home from heat and moisture.
VIDEO ARTICLE
When a building owner asks you if they need a commercial roof repair or replacement, your assessment of the roof's condition hinges on a few key areas. Veteran commercial roofing experts Dave Scott and Wally Brown share their roof inspection expertise in GAF's Roofing It Right with Dave and Wally: Roof Project from Start to Finish video series to help you assess the condition of critical areas on the roof.
VIDEO ARTICLE
Shirley Mejia, Owner of Premier Home Renovations, shares how her dad inspired her to get into the roofing industry and how hard work always pays off. For tools and resources that can support your business goals, visit GAF's contractor resources.
VIDEO ARTICLE
How do you pick the right attic vent? The first step is to check out this 60-second video and learn about the 1:300 rule, the difference between intake and exhaust ventilation, and why proper ventilation is so important to get right.To help calculate your attic ventilation needs, visit GAF Ventilation Calculator.
VIDEO ARTICLE
See how a commercial roof gets measured thoroughly and safely, as GAF Senior Commercial Training Specialists Dave Scott and Wally Brown (Dave & Wally) gather the numbers they need to reroof 20-year old PVC membrane roof. Check out Part 3 of the Roofing it Right miniseries on installing a commercial roof, from start to finish.Watch the full Roof Project from Start to Finish miniseries.
VIDEO ARTICLE
See for yourself – according to this recent extreme shingle testing demonstration, they're tough enough to withstand hurricane-force-winds, more water than any rainstorm will hit them with, and a continuous blast of red hot embers. Shingles with GAF Dura Grip™ Adhesive are engineered to endure.
VIDEO ARTICLE
When Hurricane Harvey struck Texas in 2017, GAF partnered with Team Rubicon to help rebuild local communities impacted by the storm. Learn how you can get involved with Team Rubicon and volunteer to support disaster relief in your area at https://TeamRubiconUSA.org/gafvolunteer
VIDEO ARTICLE
At GAF, our commitment to protect what matters most means more than manufacturing sustainable roofing products. It includes investing in our people, our planet and our business so we can work toward a more sustainable future.
VIDEO ARTICLE
This May, GAF teamed up with This Old House to support their "Protecting the Protectors Contest". The contest was established to give back to first responders who go above and beyond protecting their communities. Watch this video to see how first responders JoAnna, an oncology nurse, and her fiance Andrew, a firefighter, reacted to their brand new GAF Timberline HDZ roof.
VIDEO ARTICLE
The GAF Roofing Academy is a tuition-free training program designed to help students build the necessary skills for an entry-level roofing position in commercial or residential roofing, including solar. Recent graduates, Ricky Gass and Juell Mollette, share their experience with the hands-on training program, as well as how it has set them up for success in their careers.
VIDEO ARTICLE
There are two sides to every story—but what some homeowners may not realize is that there are also two sides to most roofs, too. Beyond the professionally installed roofing system that protects your house from water on the outside, an attic ventilation system works from the inside to protect your home from heat and moisture.
VIDEO ARTICLE
When a building owner asks you if they need a commercial roof repair or replacement, your assessment of the roof's condition hinges on a few key areas. Veteran commercial roofing experts Dave Scott and Wally Brown share their roof inspection expertise in GAF's Roofing It Right with Dave and Wally: Roof Project from Start to Finish video series to help you assess the condition of critical areas on the roof.
VIDEO ARTICLE
Shirley Mejia, Owner of Premier Home Renovations, shares how her dad inspired her to get into the roofing industry and how hard work always pays off. For tools and resources that can support your business goals, visit GAF's contractor resources.
VIDEO ARTICLE
How do you pick the right attic vent? The first step is to check out this 60-second video and learn about the 1:300 rule, the difference between intake and exhaust ventilation, and why proper ventilation is so important to get right.To help calculate your attic ventilation needs, visit GAF Ventilation Calculator.
VIDEO ARTICLE
See how a commercial roof gets measured thoroughly and safely, as GAF Senior Commercial Training Specialists Dave Scott and Wally Brown (Dave & Wally) gather the numbers they need to reroof 20-year old PVC membrane roof. Check out Part 3 of the Roofing it Right miniseries on installing a commercial roof, from start to finish.Watch the full Roof Project from Start to Finish miniseries.
VIDEO ARTICLE
See for yourself – according to this recent extreme shingle testing demonstration, they're tough enough to withstand hurricane-force-winds, more water than any rainstorm will hit them with, and a continuous blast of red hot embers. Shingles with GAF Dura Grip™ Adhesive are engineered to endure.
VIDEO ARTICLE
When Hurricane Harvey struck Texas in 2017, GAF partnered with Team Rubicon to help rebuild local communities impacted by the storm. Learn how you can get involved with Team Rubicon and volunteer to support disaster relief in your area at https://TeamRubiconUSA.org/gafvolunteer
COMMERCIAL ROOFING
Historically, commercial skylights have gotten a bad rap. "The old joke was: 'if it's not leaking now, it will be soon,'" says Brian Grohe, a 13-year vet of the skylight industry and a commercial sales manager at industry leader VELUX. Fortunately, technology has changed that old tune for the better, turning commercial skylights into a golden opportunity for roofing contractors.
Every roof is different, and that's especially true when comparing commercial vs residential roofing, also known as low-slope vs steep-slope roofing. Many roofing contractors start out installing residential roofs because they have a low cost of entry. The process requires minimal specialized equipment—most roofers are able to start out with a truck, a ladder, a nail gun, a compressor, and safety gear.
Up to 25% of the United States experiences large hail episodes—and when they do, hail can cause severe damage to roofs and the HVAC equipment stored there. Hailstorms account for 70% of the average annual property losses from severe convective storms in the US. Building owners can protect their buildings and equipment by designing their buildings and roofs to withstand the damage caused by large hailstones.
BUILDING SCIENCE
With any roofing project, there are a number of factors to consider when choosing the right design: sustainability profile, potential risks, overall performance, and more. Our Building and Roofing Science (BRS) team specializes in working with industry professionals to help them enhance their roof designs across all of these areas. Leveraging their building enclosure expertise, our BRS team serves as thought leaders and collaborators, helping design professionals deliver better solutions for their customers.
Much of the damage that happens to roofs during high-wind events starts at the perimeters and corners. This means that the edge metal system at the roof-to-wall interface is critical to a roof's success during wind events. The roofing industry is well aware of this phenomena; investigating roof damage after high winds has been taking place for decades. This issue is so important to the roofing industry that an organization was formed to investigate, learn, and provide insights and recommendations to the industry so we can improve the edge metal installed at roof-to-wall interfaces. This organization, RICOWI–the Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues–was formed in 1990 specifically to "identify and address important technical issues related to the cause of wind damage." Much has been learned from these investigations and full credit goes to RICOWI for spearheading this effort! This photo from RICOWI's investigation of Hurricane Micheal shows the importance of the roof-to-wall interface.
Getting multiple professionals involved in a commercial roofing project offers a way to capture different perspectives—and to shine a light on some of the industry's hidden complexities—especially when it comes to challenging details like parapet walls.
This blog contains information created by a variety of sources, including internal and third party writers. The opinions and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of GAF. The content is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute financial, accounting, tax or legal advice. GAF does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability, and completeness of the information. In no event shall GAF be held responsible or liable for errors or omissions in the content or for the results, damages or losses caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on the content.

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