When you're considering making changes to your home or business, changes in heating and cooling costs can be a very important deciding factor. But did you know that the type of roof you select can make a big difference on your utility bills? In this post, we'll discuss how metal roofing's inherent properties and supplemental systems can do an amazing job of reducing your utility bill while keeping your structure comfortable.

áExterior reflection of heat and light

A light-colored metal roof is by nature reflective. Instead of soaking in the heat as asphalt shingles do, metal roofing reflects that heat back into the air, allowing it to stay cooler. At the same time, it's also reflecting light away from your building, preventing the light energy from heating up the shingles, much like the science experiment comparing temperatures of dark and light objects placed in the sun. This means that your cooling bill is significantly lower in a metal-roofed building than a comparable asphalt-shingled building.

Interior reflection of heat

Metal roofing isn't only reflective on the outside - it's also reflective on the inside. When you're heating a building, would you rather that the heat simply transfer through the roofing materials to the outside or would you rather it be reflected back into the building to help retain the heat? There have been a number of new insulation and radiant floor heating products developed over the past few years that are based on reflecting heat back into a structure, but metal roofing has been providing that same effect for many decades.

Minimizing heat gain

By using a few techniques, you can also minimize heat gain from a metal roof. If you place spacers between the metal and your building, it becomes much harder for heat to transfer from your roof into your building. Metal roofing also integrates well with insulated roofing systems, making it the perfect material when you're working on a project that requires green certifications, such as the LEED certification process. Choosing a color that is available in a reflective surface helps maximize the amount of solar heat and light that is directed away from your structure. By comparison, an asphalt roof is typically laid directly on the structure, allowing any heat it picks up to transfer into your attic or loft, making it unbearably uncomfortable.

Easily ventilated

Because metal roofing has been used in warm climates for so many years, there are a number of ventilation systems that are easy to incorporate in your design. By allowing air to circulate between the roof and the building proper, you're providing an escape for hot air at the top while naturally drawing in cool air at the bottom as the convection cycle continues. This means that over all, your roof stays much cooler than even a well-ventilated asphalt shingle roofing system can accomplish.

Lack of thermal mass

Asphalt shingles are created from a heavy, dense material. Much like large stone or log structures, they can take a very long time to heat up or cool down because they hold heat on your roof and in your attic. This essentially creates an unintended heat sink on the top of your home or building while making it take much longer to heat up or cool down. By comparison, metal roofing has a very low thermal mass, meaning that it doesn't have an inherent ability to hold heat or cold that radiates back into your structure and makes it easier for your building to be heated or cooled effectively awhile requiring less energy.

Contact us todayáfor more details about our metal roofing supplies, to get a quote or to schedule a delivery that keeps you on the job site instead of running to the store.

hbspt.cta.load(385819, '008cb463-2917-49cc-ab3f-12ed4a3a6f33', {});

Photo credit: Internet Archive Book Images / Foter / No known copyright restrictions

Although drywall manufacturers are not known for constant innovation, they do occasionally come out with something that makes builders stand up and take notice. The growing concern with mold and its potential health hazards in recent years has led drywall companies to come up with a solution to the problem in housing construction ? mold resistant drywall. For areas of the home where moisture might be an issue, this type of specialty drywall could be just what you need tostop mold before it starts.

Mold in the Home

Mold is always around, even when we can't see it. The spores are everywhere and there is no hope of eliminating all of them. Luckily most of the time this isn't an issue. The problems only begin when enough moisture starts to accumulate in the home, creating an ideal environment for the mold.

The big stories in the news have been about the dreaded ?black mold? or ?toxic mold.? In truth a number of different molds can be black and while some of them produce toxins, it has yet to be proven that they cause major health problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a page all about mold in the home, where they explain it's dangers ? typically hay fever like symptoms in people that happen to be allergic ? and how to get rid of it.

But, while the fears surrounding mold may possibly be overblown, you can still bet that no one wants the stuff in their home if they can help it. Mold growth can cause allergic reactions in certain people and the presence of mold can definitely make it more difficult to sell a house. Whether the owner has an allergy or not, they will still want to remove the mold ? a process that could require a mold remediation company if it's bad enough. This is why specialty building materials like mold resistant drywall can come in real handy.

How Mold Resistant Drywall Works

Drywall hasn?t' changed much over the years because it works great as it is for most applications. A layer of gypsum sandwiched between two layers of paper, it is a must-have material for building a home. The only problem is that it doesn't do well with moisture. Mold spores can start feeding off of the paper and even the inner gypsum layer, meaning you have to tear out the drywall and replace it if the infestation gets too bad.

Mold resistant drywall is made in two different ways:

• Laminated ? This type of specialty drywall is designed to stop the problem where it starts, at the surface. Still using a gypsum core, manufacturers use a fiberglass mat on front and back that will repel water from the inner gypsum. The gypsum used in these boards is also water resistant, unlike that used in regular drywall.

• Uniform Composition ? These drywall boards dispense with mats altogether, instead opting for a uniform water-resistant material throughout. They can be painted or tiled as needed.

Advantages to Mold Resistant Drywall

The advantages to choosing this type of specialty drywall are fairly obvious. When you have an area of a home that is likely to be exposed to moisture, using mold resistant drywall can help prevent the growth of mold. This could be applicable in several parts of a home, including:

• Bathroom

• Kitchen

• Basement

• Garage

• Utility room

The cost of mold-resistant drywall will be higher than the traditional stuff. However, when you consider the fact that the material could hold up much longer in moist environments its cost may be justified. The humid New England climate is great for growing mold, especially in those areas of the house that area already prone to moisture accumulation.

Get Expert Advice

There are a number of different companies now producing mold resistant drywall. If you want to learn about all of your options and get expert advice on what works best for your specific project, call or come by Wallboard Supply Co. and talk with one of our specialty drywall professionals. Providing drywall delivery to Boston and throughout New England, we know our products inside and out and would be happy to answer all of your questions.

hbspt.cta.load(385819, 'fe9327ba-0758-4b81-973e-cdac69d379ae', {});

Photo credit: anneh632 / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Sources:áhttp://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm

A suspended ceiling can provide manyábenefits for your building, especially when done correctly. You can add a suspended ceiling to the front of a warehouse to createáoffice space, without having to put too much labor and money into the project. A suspended ceiling helps muffle excess noise, allowsáeasy passage of communication and computer networking needs and is simple to repair andámodify because of standardized tile sizes. But one area where your suspended ceiling may need help to reach peak energy efficiency is how you seal the places other components pass through, such as lights, intercoms, HVAC vents, wiring, plumbing and other infiltration areas.

To determine the best way to deal with these problems, we received expert advice on improvingáa suspended ceiling for peak performance from someone who knows serious insulation. LloydáMcIntireáis a recently retired insulation contractor in Tower, Minnesota - the town that broke the record for the coldest spot in the contiguous United States at -60║F in January 1996. As the only insulator in one of the coldest parts of our country, he was happy to share a little ofáhis 42+ years of experience with us.

The first step is to determine what's already in your suspended ceiling. "You have to start by doing an inspection and verifying what you already have in place. (A client) had a situation where he'd added insulation that blocked ventilation and allowed air leaks, causing hot spots and ice dams. A friend had told him he needed to add insulation, so he'd put sheet foam on top of the fiberglass. When he shoved the sheet foam on top, he displaced the existing fiberglass. That would have been messy, but still done the job, but to fit the boards into the space, the foam was cut 1/8-1/4" narrower than the space, so all the heat loss was going around the (unsealed) cracks in the sheet foam." Because the fiberglass had also been displaced, air was going directly through the looseágrid and tile spaces in the suspendedáceiling, through the holes where the fiberglass batting had been displaced and around the cracks at the edges of the sheet foam. Mr.áMcIntireáwas called in to "fix" the problem by removing all the insulation and putting in insulation that had been properly fit to the space andáeliminatedáthe problematic air infiltration gaps around the space. By the time the ceiling was fixed along with adding appropriate insulation to the ductwork and exposed concrete block walls that were losing heat to high winds, the client's heating expenses were lowered by 45-50%.

The next step is to add insulation and seal around any areas of infiltration. "Spray foam is much better than fiberglass (in this situation)ábecause moisture in an unventilated area can cause problems with mold and mildew in the fiberglass. Spray foam fills any spaces, so it seals pipes, wiring, anything that goes through that area," Mr.áMcIntireámentions. "Sheet foam is another option if you need to seal wall spaces (above the suspended ceiling) against infiltrating air, as long as the gaps (between boards) are sealed."á

He also notes that it's vital to ensure that insulation is replaced around new items added to a ceiling, such as a new run of wiring, new ductwork or similar areas of potential infiltration. "If you're really going to look at atticá insulationáand áso on, you should really be caulking and have a vapor barrieráneed to look at moving the insulation to seal around any air bypasses to the inside or outside of the area above the suspended ceiling. This includesálights, wire penetration up to the attic, plumbing, thatáneed to be sealed with caulking or weatherstripping."áThis is also true when you have a dead space above your suspended ceiling where the temperature is not being controlled.

hbspt.cta.load(385819, '39b31f74-08ac-464b-9d94-36db86a6aae4', {});

Getting energy efficient windows is becoming increasingly vital for many home owners out there. This is because many owners are noticing that their energy bills are starting to slowly go up over time. If they want to put a stop to this, then they will need to think about the different energy efficient window options that are available to them. It may be helpful for owners to review some of the energy saving benefits that they can get by installing these types of windows.

Going Green

Many people want to become green home owners these days. Not only will it reap economic benefits, but you can also feel proud thatáyou have taken steps to protect the environment. Energy efficient windows have been proven to help people reduce their energy consumption, which reduces the strain they put on these reserves.

You will need to get the most advanced techniques used when you want to install these windows. Think about having only the highest rated windows installed for your home while you are renovating. This will help you get the windows that will be best suited for retaining energy within your home.

B.F. Rich Windows

If you want to find a reliable source for these energy efficient windows, then there are a few brands that you should check out. Try to buy through B. F. Rich Windows, since they offer great prices on the models that they sell. You can trust their products, since they apply a resin that will provide a heat block for your windows. You might also be interested in the selection that is offered through Silver Line Windows. This company has been offering high quality windows that are proven to help reduce the energy costs that you may be facing. Some features of B.F. Rich Windows are:

• Lifetime Warranty
• Highest Quality
• Energy Star Qualified
• Many Color Options

Silver Line Windows

Silver Line is a line of windows by Andersen Company. With the Silver Line, Andersen really wanted to show its commitment to value and energy efficiency. Andersen Company really feels that their Silver Line speaks about their commitment to customer needs and satisfaction.áSome features of Silver Line Windows are;

• Easy Operation
• Company Reliability and Reputation
• Highest Value
• Energy Star Qualified
• Life Time Warranty
• Different Glass and Hardware Options

In Conclusion

hbspt.cta.load(385819, '39b31f74-08ac-464b-9d94-36db86a6aae4', {});

Photo credit: bcmom / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

With our society's focus on improving energy efficiency and sustainable living, there has been increasing interest in green construction techniques and design. One option that many builders and developers have gained interest in are zero energy buildings. Designed to produce no overall energy usage from the building, these designs are extremely efficient while producing their own energy through renewable methods on site. Here's the basics of how these structures work:

1. Reduce Energy Load as Much as Possible

The first half of the design approach is focused on reducing the building's energy load as much as possible. This includes super-insulating the structure, using building design that minimizes thermal transference, using natural and low-energy lighting as much as possible and incorporating elements of solar heating and cooling into the design. With the development of new materials and new technologies to help improve building material efficiency, this provides a large amount of the energy savings necessary to create a zero energy building envelope.

But beyond the structure, the designer will also need to take into account the best energy-saving appliances and mechanical systems to ensure it's drawing as little energy as possible while under operation. For that matter, lighting, HVAC, plumbing and similar systems will also need to be run using peak efficiency while the building is under operation, potentially harnessing geothermal heating in the winter or air source heat pumps for cooling in the summer. Creating a design that uses higher gauge electrical wiring may be another option as it helps reduce transmission losses within the building itself. The design should also promote changes in behavior for the building's occupants, such as taking the stairs through a beautiful greenhouse or arboretum instead of using the elevator or features that encourage working during the daylight hours to minimize after-hours lighting and HVAC use.

2. Add Renewable Energy Generating Equipment for the Difference

Though many designers can reach very impressive levels of efficiency, there will always be a need for additional energy as the building is occupied and used on a daily basis. For zero energy buildings, this is typically achieved by adding renewable energy assets, such as solar panels, hydroelectric power or wind turbines. Because the building is designed to minimize energy use, it will require a much smaller array of renewable energy assets compared to conventionally constructed buildings that are not as efficient. However, planning for electrical usage also needs to include the energy used to run office machinery, computers, telephone systems and similar components of the average office or commercial building. By encouraging the use of more energy-efficient machinery, this step is easily obtainable by understanding the tenant's or owner's needs during the design process.

However, this does not mean that the building must always balance the energy needs perfectly. A zero energy building, by definition, is one that uses no additional energy beyond what it produces over the course of a year. Even if a building uses extra energy from the grid for heating in January, the additional power it generates and feeds back into the grid in April and August offset the difference, so the building reaches a neutral energy consumption rate on the average for the year. So if you design an office building that requires outside energy from the grid for part of the year but produces and delivers excess energy back to the grid for part of the year and the amount you sold back to the grid during times of excess production is higher than the amount you purchased from the grid during times of shortage in production, your building would be considered a net zero building.

Zero energy buildings require comparatively complex design than conventional buildings, but the serious savings that can be recognized are often well worth the extra trouble. If you're considering a zero energy building project and need help finding the perfect materials for it, please feel free to contact us today. Our experienced associates are happy to help you find the perfect fit for your new project.

//