Happy New Year! The old adage “you don’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been” is no more relevant than at the beginning of a New Year. As we moved through 2008, new challenges have built one upon another. However, we are optimistic that 2009 will bring exciting new ideas and solutions in energy savings and solar technologies to building management and operations, perfectly timed to meet today’s sometimes frightening economic environment.

We would like to thank all of our customers for their support in 2008 and let you know that you can depend on Madsen Roofing & Waterproofing for many years to come. We hope that you find our quarterly newsletters useful and appreciate any feedback you may have.

The roof is one of the building’s most valuable assets. Not only does it protect the building, but it also safeguards all of the vulnerable occupants and sensitive materials within the structure. Roofs are constantly under attack by changes in weather. Madsen recommends that an inspection and maintenance be performed after the fall months. Due to the high volume of debris dispersed onto the roofs an inspection will help detect and solve minor problems before they become serious issues, avoiding interruptions of the internal functions within the building, and most importantly, protecting the owner’s investment by adding years to the life of the roof.

A good rule-of-thumb is to inspect and provide maintenance to your roof at least twice a year – once in the fall and again in the spring. To budget for roof maintenance, building owners and property managers can refer to Madsen Roofing & Waterproofing’s Estimating Roof Maintenance Costs.

At the very least, preventative maintenance should include:
1. Removal of obstructions including leaves dirt, debris from roof drains and scuppers, as well as the field and waterways.
2. Inspecting for deflections in the roof, including splits, blisters and exposed decking.
3. Removal of unused or vacant equipment.

Madsen Roofing & Waterproofing, Inc. recently completed a barrel roof restoration project at the historic Town & Country West shopping center in Sacramento, California, a well known open-air commercial center.

Town & Country West's Roof System Before Restoration

Town & Country West's Roof System After

Madsen prepared the roof by thoroughly power washing all roof surfaces and sealing existing roof penetrations and drains with a high quality acrylic mastic. Madsen then embedded a layer of polyester fabric in emulsion in all the valleys. Finally, Madsen applied a base coat followed by a white top coat of commercial-grade elastomeric acrylic.

The results were outstanding. Town & Country West now has an energy efficient, white reflective roof surface. The property owner has already received reports of significantly decreased interior temperatures due to the new roof. Tenants now actually complain that the offices are too cold during the Summer! The new system will also ensure that Town & Country West has a water tight roof for many years to come. All of these benefits were achieved at a remarkably low cost.

At Madsen Roofing & Waterproofing safety is our number one priority. We have an excellent safety record because we hold weekly safety meetings, “tail gate” meetings at the start of every job and spontaneous job site safety inspections by our OSHA certified safety manager.

Ladder safety is one of our biggest concerns as they are a leading cause of job site injuries in the construction industry. Here are some of the safety rules we teach our employees to practice daily.

1. Ladder Selection: Select the correct type of ladder for the project or application to be performed.
2. Ladder Inspection: Inspect the ladder for defects, wear and tear, and inadequate parts.
3. Tie Off: Tie down the ladder top whenever possible to prevent slipping or twisting when using an extension ladder.
4. Ladder Placement: Position the ladder in a place where there are the least likely obstructions to occur, (pedestrians, cars, vegetation).
5. Transportation: Securely tie down the ladder when transporting it on vehicles, use several support points to prevent ladder sag or shifting.
6. Ladder Storage: Keep ladders in good condition. Keep them clean, oil moving parts such as spreader bars, hinges, locks or pulleys.

Sacramento Headquarters
T: 916-361-3327

Madsen Roof Website
http://www.madsenroof.com/

If you have any feedback or suggestions for this newsletter, please email us at:
rosemary@madsenroof.com

This quarter, one of our Estimators David Patton shares his favorite winter desert: Dave’s Potato Chip Cookies

http://www.madsenroof.com/
Featuring news, case studies, and advice, the site is a portal for both our customers and roofing industry professionals as well.