There is a lot to consider when purchasing a portable generator for your commercial and roofing needs. To help, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions we get about portable generators.
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There is a lot to consider when purchasing a portable generator for your commercial and roofing needs. To help, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions we get about portable generators.
Topics: Power Supply
To maximize the life of your portable generator and keep it running efficiently, you need to perform regular maintenance on the machine. In this post, we’ve outlined some tips to help you care for your portable generator.
If you are having issues with your generator, contact the manufacturer for troubleshooting help: addressing any issues early can save you money and downtime by avoiding serious malfunctions and more significant repairs down the road.
In-depth look at commercial roofing OSHA regulations and the fall protection equipment needed to stay safe and compliant.
In the construction industry, falls are the number one cause of death—killing on average 150 to 200 people each year. Most of these falls occur from scaffolds and roofs.
Topics: Garlock, Roofing Safety, Fall Protection
Just as you would invest in a roof cutter to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of tear-off projects, an investment in the right fall protection system keeps contractors safe while improving efficiency, preserving roofing substrates and maintaining a professional, clean job site.
Topics: Roofing Safety, Fall Protection
According to OSHA, roofing contractors working near a fall hazard 6 ft. or higher must be protected by a guardrail system, safety-net and/or fall-arrest system.
Improper or careless use of a portable generator can result in potentially serious safety hazards, including personal injury, electrical shock, and fire. Alleviate these dangers, and achieve safe, reliable performance, by adhering to the following 10 precautions.
Topics: Power Supply
As we all begin to assess the damage done by Hurricane Sandy, one area that should be of key concern to all commercial building owners and managers is your roof. For flat-roof buildings, punctures or tears to roofing material caused by flying debris or the intense wind should be fixed right away to avoid adding water damage to your growing list of repairs.
We’ve put together the following tips and recommendations to help ensure your roof is repaired correctly the first time.
Above all else, the first thing you need to do is find out what type of material your roof is made of. This information will be important because all repairs should be done using this same material.
The reason for this is that neither plastic, rubber nor asphalt form strong bonds when welded with different types of material. For example, a patch made of TPO welded to a PVC roof will not create a durable, watertight seal, and will likely leak.
There are a variety of materials your roofing membrane can be made of, such as TPO, PVC, rubber, modified bitumen or asphalt. If you are unsure what is used on your roof and it does not say anywhere on the material surface, contact the manufacturer or a reputable roofing contractor (see below for how to find a reputable contractor).
Next, check to see if your roofing membrane is still under warranty. Many manufacturers offer a warranty that protects against damage, including punctures or tears.
Oftentimes, material manufacturers have a list of roofing contractors they have qualified to repair their roofing material. By working with one of these contractors, you know your roof will be properly repaired and remain covered under the warranty.
For small flat-roof repairs, like punctures or small tears not covered under a warranty, we recommend Olympic Everseal Roof Repair Tape. This tape creates a strong, watertight seal on smooth-surfaced roofs, including TPO, PVC, rubber and non-granular modified bitumen. It is also available in common surface colors, like black, white and grey.
The repair process is simple:
1. Clean the surface with denatured alcohol and allow it to dry (less than a minute).
2. Cut a strip of tape to the desired length.
3. Remove 2-3 inches of the EZ-release liner from the start of the tape strip.
4. Position the tape over the damaged area.
5. Secure the start of the tape strip to the surface.
6. Peel the rest of the liner off and press the tap onto the surface.
7. Use a hand roller to further press the material down and ensure a strong, uniform bond is formed with the roofing material.
Watch this process on the video below.
For large damage areas or repairs to granular-surfaced materials, the most important thing to do is work with a reputable contractor. Avoid contractors who contact you directly after a big storm and are based in a different state. We call these contractors “storm chasers,” and have worked with a number of contractors brought in to fix their shoddy work.
To find a reputable contractor, your best bet is to contact your roofing material manufacturer and ask what contractors they’d recommend. You may also want to reach out to other building owners and see if they have a contractor they trust to deliver quality work.
If you have any questions, please contact one of our roofing experts at 800-635-0384. Good luck and stay safe.
Topics: Roof Repairs
Ken Paine, president of Hy-Tech Products, was honored with a Visionary Award at the 2012 Smart Business Innovation in Business Conference held on September 20, 2012. Ken was one of four Northeast Ohio business leaders to be presented with this career-achievement recognition.
Visionary Awards are presented to business leaders who have demonstrated a history of innovative ideas throughout their careers, or have developed cutting-edge processes and products. Ken was recognized for the award largely due to his focus on customer service, product innovation and unique tolerance for risk. Read about why Ken was selected by Smart Business for this award.
In his acceptance speech, Ken offered a word of advice to fellow entrepreneurs: “Always do what you know to be right, and if you err, make sure it is to the benefit of the customer. When all else is equal, you can stand apart from the competition and grow a business by treating customers with respect, fairness and world-class service.”
Watch Ken’s entire acceptance speech below.
A very special thank you to Smart Business for putting on the event, and to all the sponsors, including: Lorain County Community College; US Bank; Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co. LPA; Colortone Staging and Rentals; Ohio.Net; and LaCenter.
