Ladder Up: October Edition

The past few weeks have been devastating for those in the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida, and our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those who have been affected. As residents and business owners start to recover, Stellar is committed to assisting commercial properties that need urgent roofing assistance. We have already helped dry in many businesses across the South and have the capacity to install emergency roofs within 24 hours.

Should you want to go straight to a permanent roof, we can replace your roof faster than any other roofing contractor. We offer extreme value to our clients by walking them through the restoration process, and we work hard to get like-kind and quality when restoring your building. If you have been struggling to find a trustworthy, honest contractor, fill out our contact form and let us show you why so many choose Stellar to help them recover after a disaster.

Hail season is typically described as March through May, but as we saw from last month’s newsletter, hail fell on more than half of the days of September. Warmer air is contributing to hail falling later in the year than in years past. Warm air mixed with stronger updrafts can allow hail to stay suspended longer and grow larger.

This month, the number of days when it hailed decreased, but the number of states impacted by hail increased by more than 50%. Kansas saw the most days of hail, being impacted on four separate dates in September. Most of the country was subjected to hail as it fell as far east as Pennsylvania and as far west as Montana. In 2023, there were only three days of severe hail, so the historical data suggests each month may have only a few days of hail in the future.

Hurricane Francine, a Category 2 hurricane, made landfall in Southern Louisiana at the beginning of September. It brought devastating amounts of rain in parts of Louisiana still recovering from Ida. As many as five cities in Louisiana reported rainfall accumulations of at least 8 inches from September 8 through 13.

Hurricane Helene made landfall on September 26 in the Big Bend region of Florida as a Category 4. In Florida, wind gusts as high as 70 MPH were recorded in Cedar Key and Dover experienced the highest rainfall totals. Rainfall in Western Carolina broke records for the area. Some cities saw rainfall totals as high as 30 inches and Charlotte saw wind gusts of 66 MPH. Helene’s impacts were widespread and continued to affect the area long after landfall.

If you find yourself lost in the restoration process following these two devastating September hurricanes, discover how we guide business owners and property managers through the insurance-loss process.

In this section, our marketing coordinator, Kellsie Winkler, posed a few questions to our executive VP, Chris Cook, to learn more about TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin).

KW: What is a TPO roof?

CC: TPO is a single-ply membrane designed for low-slope roofing applications.

KW: What types of buildings do you recommend a TPO roof be installed on?

CC: TPO is designed for low-slope applications, therefore I recommend it where the roof slope is 2/12 and below.  It is a very versatile product that can also be installed over an existing roof system, including metal.

KW: How does TPO compare to other single-ply membranes?

CC: It has some of the advantages of a rubber roof combined with the hot, air-weldable seams of the PVC products.  It has good impact resistance while also being energy efficient, low maintenance and easily reparable.

KW: What is the cost comparison to other roof types?

CC: TPO tends to be the more cost-effective option when compared to ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

KW: How are TPO roofs installed?

CC: TPO can be attached using adhesives (known as fully adhered) or with mechanical fasteners (mechanically attached). Fastener patterns and perimeter sheets can be adjusted to fit different wind ratings.

KW: How long do TPO roofs last?

CC: You can expect most properly installed 60 mil TPO roofs to last between 20 and 30 years. Outside factors often play a role in the longevity of any roof system and should be taken into consideration when choosing any roof product.

KW: Why do you believe TPO roofs have become so popular in recent years?

CC: I believe TPO has become so popular because it combines a cost-effective product with many of the benefits found in other single-ply products. It has proven itself to be a great waterproofing system that is durable, repairable, energy-efficient and versatile in its application methods.

Learn more about TPO roofs on our website! If you believe it may be time to upgrade your building’s roof and are interested in TPO, contact us today to discuss your options!

As Halloween approaches, it is important to keep safety top of mind, whether you are staying home and passing out candy or trick-or-treating. Here are some tips to make sure your Halloween is a night to remember and not a nightmare:

1. Examine all treats before consuming
2. Stay in groups and look both ways before you cross the street
3. Use flashlights and glow sticks for visibility
4. Decorate your costume or bag with reflective tape
5. For drivers, make sure you check your surroundings before continuing at a stop sign or backing out of your driveway
6. Never go inside a stranger’s home or car

Look out for next month’s newsletter where we will share some of our staff’s favorite Thanksgiving recipes!

Is there something you want us to discuss? Send us a message and it could be featured in next month’s newsletter.