How Do I Know When My Roof's Waterproofing System Has Failed?

The obvious answer is - when you see water! Unfortunately, you won't always see a leak until moisture has contaminated the roofing substrate and insulation. Since most types of roofing systems absorb some amount of water, it is harder to find the exact spot of water contamination in the insulation because it may not leak into the building until the insulation has absorbed all the water it can hold.

On-Roof Infrared Moisture Surveys (also called roof scans) are able to detect if your waterproofing system has been breached before the visible effects of leaks and contaminated insulation and drywall (or the dreaded black mold) appear.

The thermal roof scan picture demonstrates how areas of moisture create heat that is invisible to the naked eye. By using infrared thermography, we find the trapped moisture and mark the wet areas so that repairs can be made surgically. This can save you money because you may not have to replace the roof as soon. By marking paint directly on the roof, repair areas can be seen by anyone standing on the roofs after the survey is performed.

If extending the life of your commercial roof is a concern, why not consider a roof scan? I can work with your roofer to pinpoint the exact areas needing repair and then, just as importantly, verify the roof is no longer leaking.

Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit us on the web or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

What Really Happens During an Infrared Thermal Roof Scan?

Have you ever tried to walk outside during the summer without any shoes on? After awhile, your feet burn, right? The heat of the sun has heated the pavement. Now imagine how much hotter a roof can be!

During the day, heat from the sun warms the roof and the roof substrate. At night, when things cool down (yes, even in the middle of the summer in North and South Carolina!) the roof radiates the heat back into atmosphere. Areas of the roof that are wetter retain heat longer than drier areas.

Using an infrared camera, a certified infrared services thermographer can detect this heat and "see" the warmer and wetter areas. By being able to identify what areas are wet (even when they aren't wet to the touch or visibly leaking), we can see what areas of the roof and roof substrate are actually starting to fail.

By using the information generated by a RoofScanIR™ report, a roofing professional can recommend cost-effective removal and replacement of the wet components to extend the service life of your roofing system.

If extending the life of your commercial roof is a concern, why not consider a roof scan? I can work with your roofer to pinpoint the exact areas needing repair and then, just as importantly, verify the roof is no longer leaking.

Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit us on the web or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

How to Lower Roofing Costs

So here's a fun fact. Did you know the National Roofing Contractors Association estimates that 80% of roofs replaced don't need to be replaced. Eighty percent! Why?

In many cases, it might be easier to replace an entire roof than it can be to figure out the source of the roof leak. Easier on the roofing contractor - but not so easy on your commercial building maintenance budget.

A 5,000 square foot roof can easily start at $30,000 for replacement. Now compare that to the costs of an infrared roof scan which can pinpoint the cause of the leak, allowing you to make targeted and accurate repairs. Most infrared scans cost a small fraction of what it costs to replace an entire roof.

I came across this great video that shows the infrared roof scanning process. Notice the trapped moisture in the roofs - and how easy it is to identify where the problem actually is.

If extending the life of your commercial roof is a concern, why not consider a roof scan? I can work with your roofer to pinpoint the exact areas needing repair and then, just as importantly, verify the roof is no longer leaking.

Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit us on the web or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

Too Hot to Handle? Thermal Imaging and Electrical Safety

Overheated Electrical Systems are A Major Cause of Commercial Fires
A commercial building can have dozens of points where electrical wiring connects to supply apparatus and equipment and every one of those points can cause heat buildup. Junction boxes, electrical outlets, breaker panels and connections to equipment that need electricity to operate all have the potential to develop problems.

Over time lug nuts that hold wiring in place and wire nuts used to connect two or more wires together can become loose or cracked, causing dangerous heat to build up or even cause electrical sparks inside your walls. Add to that electrical equipment heating up because of worn bearings, drive shafts that are out of balance or terminal blocks that are cracked or dirty and you have the potential for real trouble!

Thermal Imaging Can See What Can’t Be Seen!

With Thermal Imaging I can "see" through walls, look behind electrical panels and inside your equipment to find those potential problems. By scanning your building and equipment I can develop an overall thermal picture of your location. Analyzing the results of the thermal pictures allows me to identify the hot spots - allowing you to have them repaired before the fire alarms begin to sound. A yearly Thermal Scan can be a powerful weapon in your maintenance and safety arsenal. Give me a call and let me show you how inexpensive it can be to unleash the power of Thermal Imaging for your business. Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit us on the web or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!