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Marion McKnight

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Recent Posts

The ‘Big Three’ Flat Roof Drainage Systems

Posted by Marion McKnight on November 16, 2016

Unlike gabled, hip, gambrial or dormer roofs – as well as their similarly pitched counterparts – flat roofs do not automatically slough off water due to the force of gravity. Instead, without a proper drainage system in place, they will collect water. If you don’t take care of optimizing the flow of water and snow melt off of a flat commercial rooftop, you’re going to find yourself in some trouble.

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Topics: Roof Architecture

Winter Is Coming! 7 Tips to Prepare Your Commercial Rooftop

Posted by Marion McKnight on November 2, 2016

The leaves are turning, you’re still picking up stray candy wrappers from trick-or-treaters, and travel plans for Thanksgiving are underway. This can only mean one thing: Fall is in full swing, and winter is right around the corner. For facility managers and building owners in northern regions, this means it’s time to start prepping your buildings for the cold and snow. One of the most important aspects of this preparation is ensuring your rooftop is ready to handle the imminent winter weather. Without further ado, here are seven tips to keep in mind during preparation.

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Topics: Roofing Management, Roofing Maintenance

Solar System Basics

Posted by Marion McKnight on October 12, 2016

In today's world of environmental concerns and a focus on conservation, the installation of solar panels to produce electricity has become a common alternative to relying exclusively on the traditional power grid. With the cost of harnessing solar energy dropping rapidly, added with the tax and publicity benefits, it has not just become a common alternative, is has become a legitimately cost efficient alternative for homes and businesses. Below, we’ll take a look at the primary components and vocabulary associated with solar, or photovoltaic, systems.

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Topics: Roof Architecture

LEED Pilot credits Review: Integrative Project Planning And Design

Posted by Marion McKnight on August 24, 2016

The role of architect, engineer, developer, and contractor is changing in the world of building construction. The Design-Build Institute of America estimates that 50 percent of all buildings built in the U.S. were completed using a team-based approach. Professionals today understand the need for individual sustainability in their projects to maximize energy, water, and savings while lowering the impact on the surrounding environment with integrative project planning and design.

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Topics: Roof Architecture

8 Factors to Consider When Planning Roof Pipe Support Spacing

Posted by Marion McKnight on August 3, 2016

If you’ve worked in commercial roofing for a while, you know there are many variables that go into sound decision-making. It often comes down to a balancing act of trade-offs: what you get vs. what you give up. That’s no less true for roof pipe supports than for anything else. The fewer roof pipe supports you use, the lower your costs – and the less weight you add to the roof. On the other hand, if you don’t use enough supports, they’ll be spaced too far apart, putting your pipes and supports, as well as the roof itself, at risk. So how do you decide what’s right for your roof? 

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Topics: Installation Tips, Rooftop Support Engineering

How Do Solar Panels Affect the Integrity of the Roof?

Posted by Marion McKnight on July 20, 2016

With the arrival of summer weather – and with many parts of the country experiencing record-breaking heat waves – it’s hard to ignore the power of the sun. It can make walking across the street seem like a marathon, it sends energy bills soaring, and it can make a parked car feel like a furnace. No wonder the sun gets a bad rap this time of year!

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Topics: Rooftop Support Engineering, Roof Architecture

Are You Up To Date With Your AIA Credits?

Posted by Marion McKnight on July 13, 2016

As an architect, there is a lot of study that goes into earning your license. However, it is important to realize that you will have to renew it periodically. Many states have Continuing Education requirements in place as a term of that renewal. Even if your state doesn’t require further education, the AIA does. 

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Topics: Roof Architecture

Everything You Need to Know About Blue Roofs

Posted by Marion McKnight on June 21, 2016

We’ve written quite a bit about green roofs and how adding a layer of vegetation can impact both the urban environment and a building’s energy efficiency. The latest industry trend, however, is blue roofing. And it’s all about storm water management.

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Topics: Roofing Management, Roof Architecture

Six Advantages of Roof Coatings

Posted by Marion McKnight on June 9, 2016

Roof coatings—you’ve probably heard that these can be beneficial to your roof and your building in general. We've put together a brief guide to help you understand the types of coatings available and the benefits of the product. This information can prepare you to make a smart decision regarding your roof's care.

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Topics: Roofing Management, Roof Architecture

Getting to Know Your Low-Slope Roofing System

Posted by Marion McKnight on May 19, 2016

Your building’s low-slope roofing can’t be all that complicated. After all, just about everybody has one…right?

Not exactly. Even low-slope roofs come in an astounding array of options. And, if you weren’t directly involved in the design and planning process, you might not know much more about your roof than what’s visually obvious. But you really should get to know your roof better, so let’s make some introductions.
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Topics: Roofing Management, Roof Architecture

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