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The Importance of Sharing Information Through Continued Education and Training

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Knowledge is so critical to any business. Whether you’re an architect or a contractor who specifies or installs metal roof systems, gutters, wall panels or widgets.

It’s important that you and your entire team understand the products you offer regardless of whether you specify, sell or install them. It is equally important that your people are aware of what your customers need and why they need it.  In fact, it’s good to know what your competitors are offering as well.Learning through continued education.

Technology improves every day therefor most products experience some level of change on a fairly regular basis with regard to manufacturing, installation, sourcing of materials, pricing, freight and any number of conditions related to your business.

So many things affect the way in which we all do business. Besides technology there is the economy. There are changes with regard to the laws that can affect the success of your business. Politics can also play a key role with respect to initiating changes to your particular business landscape.

Continued education and training.It’s critical that you pay attention to what’s going on in the building products industry. In fact it’s important to be tuned in to what’s going on around the country in general (on both a macro and micro level). The internet can provide a great deal of information on general topics but it’s also critical to listen to your employees. Many of them work closely with your customers and your suppliers. I’d bet that most of them are knowledgeable with respect to your competitors as well.  Your people are your assets – they are constantly exposed to new information in the marketplace that could drastically have an effect on your business and its success. They are in many respects the face of your company.
Meet with them often and share any updates or new information you have so that they are better prepared to succeed.

We’re all very busy but if we can carve out some time to train and retrain our employees regularly on how to better serve our customers and continually offer them new information it will make a difference for all of us.  And remember it’s a two-way street – the knowledge that they can offer us is just as important.  Keep meeting with your people and keep training – you won’t regret it.

The post The Importance of Sharing Information Through Continued Education and Training appeared first on Englert, Inc..


Safety Begins Before the Metal Roof or Gutter Installation

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Over the last few years Metal roofing and gutter contractors have placed a great  deal of emphasis on job site safety. Deservedly so, as insurance premiums rise it is important that your installation crews follow the proper safety precautions when installing metal roofing, gutters or any other building or home improvement product. It is critical that your crews be trained and retrained regularly on these safety procedures.  Failure to do so could cost your company a great deal of money or worse.
These safety procedures are not just limited to the installation process but also may include the use of required safety equipment or the proper protective clothing.

This is not a new issue. Job site safety has been an important part of the home improvement and building construction industry for quite some time. But safety does not begin and end on the job site.  It is equally as important that your crews arrive to and from the job site safely as well. Vehicles should be properly maintained and all traffic laws should be followed to the letter. This means that crews should not be distracted while driving to and from the jobs. No phone calls, no texting, no eating or drinking and no filling out paperwork while on route to or from the job site.Safety starts with safe vehicles.

Many companies are beginning to install video cameras on their vehicles that record both the driver’s activities inside the vehicle as well as a view out the back and out the front of the vehicle. This is a great way to insure that your drivers are not distracted and the exterior views may come  in handy in the unfortunate event of an accident. It may just prove that your employee was not at fault.

The video views can be viewed real time on your computer or phone so you can monitor the activities of your crews 24/7.

There are also various tracking services that can be utilized that monitor speed limit and even proper driving (insuring the use of blinkers and proper breaking and turns). You can also govern the speed at which your crews can drive to insure their safe arrival to and from the job site.

Accidents are more common than you think and can cost you a fortune in insurance premiums and legal fees. More importantly however is the fact that you want to keep your employees safe both on the job site and away from it.

The post Safety Begins Before the Metal Roof or Gutter Installation appeared first on Englert, Inc..

The Growing Residential Metal Roofing Market Can Infuse More Revenue into Your Business

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Are you operating a successful home improvement or remodeling business and looking to create an additional profit center?  Are you a commercial roofer looking to expand your business into the rapidly growing residential roofing market? Or, are you simply a remodeler looking for an opportunity to offer your customers something more?
Metal roof on Jupiter, FL home.The residential metal roofing market is poised to explode.  More homes are being remodeled now than ever before and standing seam metal roofs are a great investment for the prudent home owner seeking a long term solution to roof replacement.  Metal roofs last on average 3 -4 times longer than an asphalt shingle roof and require no maintenance.  Add to this the expected efficiencies and energy saving possibilities and your customers will be eternally grateful.

The many smart financing options available make a new metal roof easy to add on to an already existing remodeling project.  For a few additional dollars each month your customers can have a brand new standing seam metal roof system installed to protect what is most likely their largest investment – their home.Portable roll forming machine producing metal roofing panel

The start-up costs are minimal.  A portable roll forming machine, a trailer or a box truck is all you need to get up and running.

There’s no better way to leverage your existing customer base then to offer an additional solution to them.  For more information please feel free to contact Englert today.

The post The Growing Residential Metal Roofing Market Can Infuse More Revenue into Your Business appeared first on Englert, Inc..

Englert Now Offers AIA – CEU Credits Online

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Englert is pleased to announce the creation of its first on-line AIA Continuing Education Course.

Englert’s one hour AIA E101-OL “Architectural and Structural Standing Seam Metal Roof Systems”  provides the architect with an introduction and  complete overview of the history and the benefits of standing seam metal roof systems.  Englert’s E101-OL has been reviewed by the American Institute of Architects and has been approved for CEU credit.

The course covers a variety of aspects related to the selection and installation of a standing seam metal roof system including the types of materials used, the different roofing profiles available, methods of standing seam manufacturing,  coating types, testing and retrofit metal roof designs.

The course also emphasizes the relationship between metal roofing and environmental sustainability.

AIA Continuing Education CoursesFor more than 15 years Englert has been offering architects the opportunity to learn about metal roof systems and earn valuable  CEU course credits through  a series of on-site Lunch and Learn live events.  Now architects can learn about the advantages of metal roof systems from the comfort of their home or office any time of the day or night.

For additional information on Englert’s Continuing Education Courses or to register for E101 –OL please visit the Architects section of the Englert website and follow the prompts to take the on-line course.  We hope you enjoy it and we plan to develop more on-line courses in the future.

The post Englert Now Offers AIA – CEU Credits Online appeared first on Englert, Inc..

Englert Blog Celebrates 5 Years

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We are pleased to announce that this month the Englert blog  is celebrating its 5th anniversary.

Statistics show that the average lifespan of a blog is about two or three months. We’re pleased to say that the Englert blog has shattered those numbers.
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for joining us during  the past 60 months and helping us make the Englert blog so successful.

As I’m sure you’ve recognized over the years the Englert blog has focused on offering interesting information, new ideas and unique services that help architects, contractors and building owners operate their businesses more efficiently and service their customers more effectively.

Image of Englert blog.Our  goal has always been and will always be to assist you in your efforts to be more successful.

From time to time we have been guilty of some self-promotion but only on those very rare occasions that we’ve had something to celebrate and share with our readers like now … our 5th anniversary.

Otherwise we’ve always strived to keep the posts as general and as  unbiased as possible.

We’re pleased to say that thousands of visitors follow the Englert  blog and we hope that those of you that do follow us will continue to share the blog with your colleagues and friends.

Our pledge is to continue seeking out and providing the best and  most valuable information that will help you help your customers.

And, please remember, we are always looking for new and interesting topics to feature in our blog.   If you have any suggestions for future blog topics please feel free to contact us.

Thanks again for joining us!

The post Englert Blog Celebrates 5 Years appeared first on Englert, Inc..

Choosing Metal for a Roofing

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What to Consider When Specifying a Metal Roof for your Project

Specifying a metal roof for a new project? You should first consider the project’s proximity to the sea-coast. The marker of the industry, is a half mile from salt water to the project. This will be the indicator that will allow you to select the base metal for the application. If the project is going to be near the water, you will want to select an anti corrosive metal such as aluminum, pure zinc or copper. If the project is located away from the water, beyond half a mile, then you can look at some alternates like Galvalume or zinc-coated steel.

DCIM100MEDIADJI_0385.JPGThe second line of defense is the paint finish coating. Always make sure that the specs you’re using include high-performance coatings, and specifically one that contains PVDF. The most important property of high performance is that PVDF is 70% of the resin-binder portion of the mixture. This is considered the full strength level of PVDF.

Next you need to look at the standing seam metal roofing specifications and identify which standing seam profile is the best choice for the application. You can start by considering the standing seam system as it applies to the slope of the roof.

There are two primary classifications to consider: a hydrostatic system and a hydrokinetic system. The choice depends on the slope of the roof. If less than 3 on 12, you should consider a hydrostatic system, because water will shed slowly from the panel and there may be a potential risk of water intrusion. If the slope is above 3 on 12, you may want to choose a hydrokinetic system. In this case you can assume that the water will likely shed off rapidly from the surface of the panel and there will be less possibility for the intrusion of moisture.

With hydrostatic and hydrokinetic classifications in mind, you can now select the panel system based on its structural performance.

panel-illustrationsThere are two types of systems to consider – an architectural system and a structural system.

Architectural systems are classified based on the deck or the substrate of the system. They require a solid substrate, such as concrete, metal, or wood decking. The live loads on these panels are transferred to the structural deck below.

In architectural systems the span between the ribs of the panels ranges from 12 inches to beyond 20 inches, up to 24 inches. Also, the architectural panel will have a seam height of up to 1 ½ inches.

A structural system has the capacity to span over open framing, even though it is usually installed over a solid deck.

Structural panels have taller seam heights that give them additional strength. They are slightly stronger based on their shape, along with the fact that the span between the ribs of the panels usually doesn’t go beyond 20 inches, (they can go as high as 24 inches). In addition, the rib height is going to be higher in the structural system, achieving a maximum of 3 inches.

Finally you need to consider joint or seam types. Essentially there are two primary classifications – a mechanical seam, or a snap-lock system.

A mechanically seamed system requires that the adjacent panels be held to the deck with attachments called clips. The seams on these panels are folded together either using a hand seamer or an electric seamer. The mechanical seams come in two configurations. One is a ninety-degree configuration, also called single lock, the other is a 180 degree configuration, which is referred to as a double lock. Mechanically seamed panels are recommended for hydrostatic systems, where there is less than 3 on 12 inches of slope.

The other option, the snap- lock seam is used for hydrokinetic systems where the slope is higher than 3 on 12. The snap-lock does not require a seamer to join panels on the roof which is an economical advantage because it saves time over seaming.

The manufacturing method is also important to the architect. Panels can be produced in-house, which was the original method of manufacturing panels. However, these days, a large measure of panels are formed on portable roll-forming machines which are easily transported to the project site, saving freight and storage costs and reducing waste. Roll-forming the metal roof panels on the job site is much more efficient and will eliminate downtime caused by mistakes in manufacturing and installation or defects found in factory formed panels.

The post Choosing Metal for a Roofing appeared first on Englert, Inc..

Standing Seam Metal Roof Systems Perform Well in High Wind Conditions

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With hurricane season upon us and the tragic devastation that took place in the paths of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma we’d like to offer our prayers and good wishes for all those affected by these two powerful and destructive storms.

The extreme wind forces from these types of storms can easily damage the strongest of buildings and cause billions of dollars in property damage.

One way to help minimize these damages is to insure that the roof system protecting the structure is strong enough and installed properly so it can withstand high wind conditions. Metal roofs prove to be a much better option than other types of roof systems when it comes to holding up to hurricane force winds. While there is no guarantee that any building or roof structure will hold up to 150 mile per hour hurricane force winds a properly installed and tested standing seam metal roof system offers building owners and architects a fighting chance in high wind environments.

Year after year, storm after storm we see many standing seam metal roofs miraculously hold up to devastating hurricane force winds. With the stringent Miami
Dade and Florida Building Code requirements more and more metal roof systems are designed to stay in place where they belong in spite of devastating wind conditions.

When designing a structure in areas prone to hurricane force winds it’s important to consider a metal roof system in your plans and specs. It’s equally as critical to specify a reputable manufacturer whose metal roof systems are subjected to and pass all appropriate high wind tests thus offering you the best chance that your roof will survive and protect the structure during a high wind event.

For more information on testing you can visit the FBC website at https://floridabuilding.org/c/default.aspx, the Miami Dade website at https://www.miamidade.gov/building/testing.asp or you can contact the Englert Product Solutions Group at 1 800 ENGLERT.

The post Standing Seam Metal Roof Systems Perform Well in High Wind Conditions appeared first on Englert, Inc..

BEAT THE TAXMAN!

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Attention all Metal Roofing and Gutter Contractors !

Multi Panel

As we close in on the last few months of 2017 it’s a good idea to take stock of your roll forming equipment or any equipment for that matter used to operate your business. It makes sense to evaluate the condition that your equipment is in and determine if it needs to be repaired, replaced, upgraded or if you simply require additional equipment to handle the work load.

In the case of roll forming equipment it is highly recommended that you carve out some time throughout the year for regular machine tune-ups to insure that your equipment is running properly and at peak performance. It is so important to keep the tools of your trade in optimum performing condition.

If you find that you need additional equipment the IRS offers some good news.

Over the past decade or so the IRS has offered tax relief for companies who invest in new equipment providing that the equipment is put into service in that calendar year.

The PATH Act of 2015 has made permanent the IRS Section 179 Tax Deduction on equipment that allows companies to write off the full cost (up to $500,000) of any equipment purchased before December 31st 2017.

Equipment purchases up to $500,000 can be fully written off in the 2017 tax year provided that…

- You have not purchased more than $2,000,000 worth of equipment in the current tax year

- The equipment purchased is placed into service during 2017

- The Section 179 Tax
Deduction does not put your company at a financial loss for the year.

So if you purchase a new portable roll forming machine before the end of the year you can save!

Please be sure to consult with your tax professional for details on the Section 179 Tax Code before making any purchases.

The post BEAT THE TAXMAN! appeared first on Englert, Inc..


Quality is King

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When it comes to selecting a metal supplier for your customer’s metal roofing, wall panel or gutter project quality is king.

There are many credible metal suppliers to choose from but it’s important to know that the supplier you’ve selected is as concerned about the outcome of your installation as you are.

Be careful to choose a supplier who subjects all of the painted coil that it produces to a comprehensive quality check before every coil leaves their facility and arrives at your location or jobsite.

Why is this important you ask? Without subjecting the coil that you are purchasing to a stringent battery of tests before it leaves the paint line you and your customer are in effect playing Russian roulette with respect to the project you are working on. Comprehensive QA testing will ensure that the coating on the coil you receive has the precise color, gloss, adhesion and durability that you’ve been promised and that your customer expects.

Here are just a sampling of the recommended tests your coil should be subjected to and pass before it arrives at your doorstep.

  • - Five-step Specular Gloss Test to determine the GLOSS of the paint film and verify if the measured gloss is within the paint manufacturer’s specification limit.
  • - Six-step MEK Test to evaluate the degree of CURE of the baked paint film by resistance to a solvent MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) to determine whether it meets the specification of the coating manufacturer.
  • - Six-step Pencil Hardness Test to determine the HARDNESS of the paint film and verify if the paint hardness meets the paint vendor’s specification.
  • - Five-step T-Bend Test to evaluate the ADHESION and FLEXIBILITY of the paint over the metal by performing successive 180 degree bends on the sample.
  • - Six-step Cross Hatch Reverse Impact Test to determine whether the paint ADHESION meets or exceeds the paint supplier’s specifications. This tests the adhesion between paint, primer and metal.

These indicators of GLOSS, CURE, ADHESION and HARDNESS verify whether the final product is too brittle, too soft, or just right ensuring that when the product runs through the roll-former it will not crack or lose its adhesion to the metal substrate.

Other recommended tests assure that the color that is being run is an exact match on all of the coils run in a particular day or on any additional coil that might be run months or even years later – ensuring an exact match regardless of when the coil is being painted. At Englert this is an eleven-step process that measures the production color from standards stored in the computer spectrophotometer. A second Five-step procedure makes certain that the color of the painted production strip matches the standard within .5 plus or minus Delta Lab Hunter color units to ensure color consistency from coil to coil.

Another recommended test is a twelve-step procedure that tracks coil through the paint line via production reports, making sure that the coil that entered the paint line is the same amount and weight when coating is completed and the coil is properly labeled and packaged.

There are many additional tests that a qualified coil coater/metal supplier will run to ensure that the coil they are supplying is of the highest quality and will satisfy you and your customer for years to come.

Be sure to ask which, if any quality testing they employ before you make your next purchase. A metal supplier who subjects their coil to extensive QA testing ensures that you will have the best possible roofing, wall panel and gutter product to make your customer happy. Settle for less and you may get even less than what you settled for – peeling paint, rust and worst of all a lost reputation!

The post Quality is King appeared first on Englert, Inc..

What you need to know about snow retention

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Frozen snow sliding off of roofs is serious business!

snow_retention_header

Injuries and even fatalities have resulted from falling snow and ice from roofs.

In addition, snow shedding from a roof can also damage landscaping, parked vehicles, lower or adjacent roof sections and even the paint finish of the standing seam metal roof itself.

When considering snow retention solutions for any roof structure the very first step is to determine the loads that will need to be held in place by the snow retention system.

Architects then should consider what types of snow retention options will be the best solution for a particular project and they should be keenly aware of the testing parameters, results and ratings of the products they are specifying.

There are two primary types of snow retention products that are most commonly specified by architects to keep snow loads and accumulations safely in check.

The first of which are roof fences. These are horizontal components, installed laterally in a continuous manner across the expanse of the roof. They are designed to hold rooftop snow accumulations in place and keep them from sliding dangerously off the roof and causing damage or injury. These fence assemblies are usually installed at or near the eaves. Depending on the specific project conditions these devices may need to be repeated in multiple rows up the slope of the roof, but always with greater concentration near the eave area.

colorgard_header

A second method of snow retention is a snow guard. Snow guards are small individual devices generally spot located and installed at or near the eave. Snow guards may be repeated in specific patterns progressing up the slope of the roof, but also with greater concentration near the eaves. Both styles of snow retention devices have been known to perform well when installed properly. The primary function of all snow retention devices is to restrain movement of a bank of snow by restraining its base. Snow banks on roofs are known to densify in wedge patterns so as the layers begin to thaw and the snow bank compacts from its own weight, the densest layers i.e. those with the greatest shear and tensile strength lie at the base toward the downslope end of the snow bank. For this reason snow retention devices are usually installed in multiple rows in concentrated areas at the eave end of the roof

It is highly recommended that whichever snow retention device you specify for installation on your metal roof you select one that won’t penetrate the roof deck. There are a wide variety of effective snow retention products available that will attach directly and easily to the metal roof seam and therefore not violate the integrity of the roof system. The last thing you want to do when addressing or implementing a solution for one potential problem is to create additional problems like exposed penetrations that might eventually cause leaks and moisture build-up.

For more information on choosing or installing snow retention devices on standing seam metal roof systems please contact your Englert representative.

The post What you need to know about snow retention appeared first on Englert, Inc..

Thinking Outside the Box – Standing Seam Metal Panels an Elegant and Practical Choice for Interior Ceiling Design

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Brian NH House 001

We already know that a standing seam metal roof system offers architects and building owners an aesthetically pleasing and very functional option for their roof design but did you know that standing seam metal panels can also be a very attractive design solution for inside a building or residence as well?

Installing an attractive exterior metal roofing panel as a ceiling option is a clever way to incorporate an elegant, unique and dimensional look to the ceiling or feature walls of any large two story room or entryway with vaulted or cathedral ceilings.

Unlike a wood beamed ceiling the standing seam costs much less to install and adds light and an interesting spatial-affect to the room. The panels range in width from 16 -20 inches and when mechanically seamed into place they create vertical lines that give an illusion of much greater height and length than wood or gypsum. Designing standing seam into the ceiling also gives the architect or designer the ability to choose from an exciting pallet of colors to accent the room. Best of all… the standing seam is maintenance free – it’s easy to clean and it never needs to be repainted or replaced.

Brian NH House 010

The installation process is identical to that of an exterior roof except it is installed upside down. There is an inverted ridge cap where the standing seam comes together at the ceiling peak. The standing seam panels can be installed quickly and without the messy dust generated when installing a gypsum ceiling.

Regardless of the ceiling’s pitch the seams give the metal panels a cathedral effect that gracefully tapers down to meet the walls. The effect is striking especially in a large great room, loft or soaring two story entryway or staircase. The wide array of color options and the subtle lines and angles will compliment almost every additional choice of material used in the interior design.

And of course the metal panels can also be incorporated into interior wall designs as well giving architects and building owners limitless possibilities when designing interior spaces.

The post Thinking Outside the Box – Standing Seam Metal Panels an Elegant and Practical Choice for Interior Ceiling Design appeared first on Englert, Inc..

Capitalizing on the Growing Metal Roofing Market

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Capitalizing on the Growing Metal Roofing Market madhav.kantak

Metal Roofs Versus Other Roof Materials

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Metal Roofs Versus Other Roof Materialsmadhav.kantak

Why Metal Roofs are Sustainable

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Why Metal Roofs are Sustainablemadhav.kantak

How to Prevent Ice Dams

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How to Prevent Ice Damsmadhav.kantak

Bending Techniques for Aluminum Differ From Steel

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Bending Techniques for Aluminum Differ From Steelmadhav.kantak

Choose the Right Underlayment Material for Your Metal Roofing Project

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Choose the Right Underlayment Material for Your Metal Roofing Projectmadhav.kantak

Difference Between Galvalume And Galvanized In Metal Roofing Projects

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Difference Between Galvalume And Galvanized In Metal Roofing Projectsmadhav.kantak

Source Farmhouse Brewery Chooses Englert Roofing for their Business

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Source Farmhouse Brewery Chooses Englert Roofing for their Businessjgiacchi

Meet Your Englert Architectural Team

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Meet Your Englert Architectural Teamjgiacchi
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