Roofing Contractors In Ohio
Ohio Roofers
As economic times have gotten tighter, homeowners have become increasingly cautious in Ohio, taking extra steps in seeking roofing contractors. The state's Better Business Bureau noted that in Central Ohio alone, it logged more than 52,000 questions from consumers about roofing contractors. Note these were inquiries as to their records, not complaints. But this figure places inquiries for roofers--of which there are more than 200 contractors in Central Ohio alone--as the top inquiry for the regional bureau.
Typical Climate In Ohio
Ohio is considered to have a temperate climate, with cold winters and mild summers. More than half of the annual rainfall occurs from May to October. In the central part of the state, about 125 days a year see temperatures dip below freezing, with a rather moderate mean temperature during the year: Normal lows are in the low 40s, while the normal high is in the low 60s. The state is prone to severe lake-effect snowstorms near the southeast shore of Lake Erie, residing in an area labeled as the Snowbelt.
Common Roofing Issues In Ohio
An Ohio roofing contractor identifies leaks as the most common issue in the state, but notes multiple problems that cause them, including:
- Joints and seams, either between separate parts of the building or between two dissimilar building materials. Because any building movement is concentrated at the weak points, this is where leakage can generally be traced.
- Glazing bars and skylights can weaken when the putty seal between the glazing bar and the glass dries out and shrinks. The problem is made worse due to movement because of natural expansion and contraction. Skylights are often made from thermosetting plastics such as perspex or acrylic, substances that after prolonged exposure to sunlight become brittle. As such, they often crack.
- Gutters and standing water areas. Gutters can leak at the joints, bolt holes, or the junction of the gutter and downspout. Standing water results because of a poor roof design of structural defect, which is exacerbated when the extra weight of the standing water damages the roof substrate.
Licensing In Ohio
General contractors -- which includes roofers -- don't need to be licensed by the State of Ohio. However, they may need to be licensed at the local level, and as such need to contact the city or county in which their project is planned to verify requirements.
Energy Efficient Roofs In Ohio
ENERGY STAR lists 23 roofing partners in Ohio, ranging from metal roofers (64 Metals, Classic Metal Roofing Systems, Republic Powdered Metals Inc.) to specialty coatings and adhesives companies (KST Coatings Manufacturing Inc., Soprema Inc.). Only California has more ENERGY STAR partners than Ohio in the United States.
Unusual Roofs In Ohio
The state's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a roughly 160-foot tower attached to a triangular glass roof/structure overlooking Lake Erie as part of Cleveland's North Coast Harbor. Architect I.M. Pei used dramatic angular planes and cantilevered spaces in an attempt to convey music's dynamic nature. In Canton, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is one of the most recognizable buildings in the state, if not the States. From the circular museum's roof protrudes a giant white half-football dome, with gold lines representing the ball's stitching.