Over the Top Unusual Rooftop Finds: Harmless, Humorous — Or Not Submitted by Deveny Cay Wells, Editor, Coryell Roofing & Construction Roofers find some pretty unusual things on top of buildings. Some are harmless and rather humorous. Others are not. Jeremy Hey, commercial sales manager for Coryell Roofing, has come across cell phones, weapons, bottles of liquor, windshield wipers, and wasps (an unpleasant incident, he said). His most unusual find, however, was a live fox on a roof in Abilene, Texas! While it is unusual to find a fox on a roof, it is not unusual to find vegetation (trees and plants) growing, according to Jeremy. Vegetation grows in the leaves and dirt that accumulate when rooftops are not properly cleaned and maintained. The debris forms a compost mat on which wind, birds, other critters, and trees deposit nuts and seeds. What happens next, if left unchecked, is damage to your roof: • With moisture, the nuts and seeds sprout and grow into trees and vegetation. • The root systems penetrate and damage roof membranes and insulation and make a pathway for water to enter your building. • Trees and vegetation also grow into and clog gutters and drains, causing water to pond and find a way into your building. Dr. Richard Abernathy, Arkansas education consultant for Coryell Roofing, says that when it comes to all an administrator has to deal with, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and unless a roof is
leaking, it isn't squeaking!" Don’t allow that roof of yours to be the “squeaky wheel that [needs] the grease.” Have your roof inspected: √ Find out what has accumulated or grown on your roof that will, left unattended, damage it. Practice preventative maintenance: √ Have your roof cleaned by a professional twice a year. Ballasted roofs need extra attention since the debris trapped by the rocks is a great garden for vegetation. √ Keep nearby tree branches trimmed to reduce the number of leaves that can blow onto the roof. This also minimizes opportunities for nuts and seeds--or a fox--to drop onto your roof! That little fox Jeremy saw on the Abilene, TX roof-well, it probably dropped onto that roof from the same low-lying branch Jeremy watched it jump onto before it scaled down the tree and ran into a nearby field! On another note . . . As you prepare for the 2022-2023 school year, we at Coryell Roofing want to convey our support for you and your staff as you diligently work to prepare students academically, socially, and emotionally to be contributing members of the community.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The 2022 ArkASPA Boot Camp will be held on September 27 at the Wyndham Riverfront. Registration will open soon!
The 2022 Fall ASPMA Conference and CFD Classes will be held at the Hot Springs Convention Center October 3-5. Registration will open soon! 6
