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Fire Station No. 9 is almost always mentioned in haunted places and ghost stories of El Paso. Mysterious events have been credited to the ghost of Woodard Bloxom, the captain of Fire Station No. 9, who died after battling a fire Feb. 13, 1934. Firefighters who have worked at the station give accounts of feeling a presence behind them as they climb the stairs, feeling a cold sensation as if the ghost passed through their bodies, finding furniture randomly scattered, and seeing the big bay door open by itself.

I decided to look up the fire and circumstances surrounding Bloxom's death and found this article from the Times datedFeb. 14, 1934:

Woodard Bloxom standing in front of old Fire Station No. 3 in 1920.(Photo: Times file photo)

Firefighters Trapped By Flames In Furniture Company Warehouse

Crowds At Scene

Officials Unable To Trace Source Of Conflagration At 1700 Magoffin

Trapped by a wall of fire in the blazing American Furniture company warehouse at 1700 Magoffin avenue yesterday afternoon, three El Paso firemen suffered severe burns in rushing to safety through the flames.

Capt. Woodward F. Bloxom, 41, of fire station No. 9, was burned seriously on the back and shoulders when enveloped by the flames. Firemen Loften L. Jones, 24, and Louis Eisenbruch, 44, suffered severe burns on the hands and face at the same time.

The warehouse was destroyed.

Other firefighters injured were Victor H. Lawton, John Drew and Jack Dungan. All sustained minor injuries.

Feb. 15, 1934 American Furniture company fire.(Photo: Times file photo)

One of the brick walls of the one-story, barn-like structure was left standing last night. Fire chief John T. Cullivan estimated the building loss at $5000.

The blaze destroyed some $60,000 worth of furniture stored within the building, said Mannie Blaugrund, the American Furniture company secretary.

The loss was covered by insurance as to what it cost us, said Blaugrund, but the insurance will not cover the replacement cost. Were going to make arrangements tomorrow for another warehouse, and continue on in business just the same.

Mrs. Blanche Cunningham owned the building. The eastern third of the structure, which is vacant and is not rented by the furniture company, was saved by firemen who climbed on the roof and played water over the flames.

Fire officials were unable to determine the origin of the blaze.

The blaze started at 5:30 p.m. and the flames quickly shot high into the air. The fire company in station No. 9, across the street from the warehouse, immediately swung into action as a general alarm was sounded.

More: Old El Paso brand launched in the Upper Valley

The flames spread quickly, and a second alarm was sounded. Soon six crews of firemen were playing streams of water on the fire, apparently with little effect. The blaze shot 50 feet into the still air, and a column of smoke rose hundreds of feet higher.

Hundreds of persons homeward bound from the downtown district soon gathered at the scene, drawn by the smoke and flames which could be seen plainly for miles around.

Many of the younger persons in the crowd climbed on neighboring roofs and the 75-foot firemans training tower in the city compound just across the street from the warehouse.

Crowds edging closer to the burning building as the flames died down were doused repeatedly with water from the streams operated by firemen, who went inside the building when the heat became less intense.

Flames continued shooting high from the western end of the building for more than an hour after the fire was discovered.

Sections of the tin roof fell in from time to time during the fire's progress with loud reports resembling explosions.

The charred mass of furniture within the building smoldered for several hours after the fire had been extinguished.

An almost total absence of wind-aided fireman in keeping the blaze from spreading to neighboring warehouses. Telephone and electric light poles near the burning building caught fire and had to be kept wet, and all wires in the vicinity were down.

Woodard Bloxom(Photo: Times file photo)

More: Tumultuous aftermath of 1889 mayor's election

The following day, Feb. 15, the Times reported the death of Capt. Bloxom:

Bloxom Expires After Being Trapped In $65,000 Warehouse Blaze

Burns received late Tuesday while fighting a warehouse blaze t 1700 Magoffin avenue proved fatal to Capt. W.F. Bloxom, 41, 1909 Alabama street. He died at 12:50 p.m. yesterday at Masonic hospital.

Trapped in the building, Capt. Bloxom probably inhaled flames in an attempt to escape, doctors said.

Funeral services are pending at Peak-Hagedon mortuary. Fire Chief John Sullivan said yesterday firefighters would serve as a guard of honor at the services.

Capt. Bloxom joined the fire department in 1916, was made a lieutenant in 1918, and a captain in 1924. He was assigned to the warehouse district, considered by firemen, one of the department's most dangerous posts.

His record as a fireman was perfect, Chief Sullivan said.

He is survived by his widow and an eight-year-old daughter, Dovie Mae; and a sister, Mrs. R.C. Pickens, and brother, Wilton Bloxom, both of Shreveport, La.

More: 1948 Heaton, MacNeil murder remains unsolved

Fire Marshall B.J. Zabriskle said yesterday an investigation of the fire which took Capt. Bloxoms life and damaged the warehouse, leased by the American Furniture company, to the extent of $65,000, will probably be completed today.

Employes denied they had been smoking in the corner of the warehouse where the fire started. They testified they tried to put the fire out with their hands before calling the fire department.

Two other firemen, Lofton Jones, 24k and Louis Eisenbruch, 44, were being treated at Masonic hospital last night for serious burns. Doctors believe they will recover.

Trish Long may be reached at tlong@elpasotimes.com or at 915-546-6179.

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Capt. Woodrow Bloxom, the ghost of Fire Station No. 9 - El Paso Times

The Shawnee Mission School District will ask patrons to approve a property tax increase this January in order to pay for $264 million in bonds that, district leaders say, would fund a slate of major renovation projects while also helping alleviate teacher workload concerns.

Why it matters: District leaders say that by using revenue raised with new bonds for major building projects, they would be able to reallocate money for other expenses to allow for the hiring of dozens of additional secondary teachers.

Thats seen as key to lessening the workload of current middle and high school teachers, who have chafed at having to teach more daily periods than their peers in other Johnson County districts.

To make those new personnel expenditures possible, Superintendent Mike Fulton has suggested moving $4.5 million in custodial/maintenance expenses out of the districts operating budget where teacher salaries are drawn from and into its capital outlay budget over the next two years. The move is permitted under Kansas law, but would require the injection of additional funding into the capital outlay pool that could only be generated from local property taxes.

We cant do that unless we pass a bond issue, Fulton said at Mondays Board of Education meeting.

The details: To fund the bonds, the district will ask voters to approve a property tax increase that would raise the districts local property tax rate from its current 52.115 mills to 52.823 mills. For the average homeowner, that would mean roughly an additional $8 of property taxes per year on every $100,000 of assessed value.

If approved, the bonds would fund nearly two dozen projects. Most prominently, five elementary schools would be completely rebuilt: Diemer, Pawnee, Rushton, Tomahawk and Westwood View.

Among other things, bond funds would also be earmarked for:

The bigger picture: This will be the first bond issue put before SMSD voters since patrons overwhelmingly approved a bond measure in 2015. That raised more than $230 million which went towards building six new elementary schools, installing districtwide security upgrades and constructing the districts new aquatic center, among other things.

What was said: SM South Area Board Member Jessica Hembree expressed concern that the issue of teacher workload may not be clearly linked to the proposed bond measure in voters minds:

Hembree joined her colleagues on the board in voting unanimously to put the bond issue before voters in a special mail-in election in January.

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SMSD officials propose $264 million bond issue as way to address teacher workload concerns - Shawnee Mission Post

The Dewey Beach Lifesaving Station is set to get a much-needed new roof, as commissioners voted Oct. 9 to accept a $13,624 proposal from low bidder Spicer Bros. to install architectural shingles.

Interim Town Manager Jim Dedes said he obtained six bids from contractors on cedar, metal or asphalt shingles. He said metal was ruled out because it wouldn't match aesthetically, leaving the best choice between asphalt and cedar, which currently covers the roof.

Dedes said some bidders didnt recommend cedar because the building sits next to the ocean, and other bids for cedar shingles were cost-prohibitive.

Dedes said he was told the current roofs cedar shingles were installed incorrectly; roofers used too many nails, which split the shingles. The current roof was installed before his time, and there is likely no warranty at this point, he said.

The price will likely go up a bit if roofers need to replace plywood underneath the shingles, Dedes said. The town could get a 40-year manufacturer warranty, or pay extra for a 50-year warranty. Spicer Bros. will install the roof, and the shingle manufacturer will inspect it to ensure installation was done correctly, he said.

Dewey Beach Building Official Daune Hinks said the building is in a wind-borne debris zone right next to the ocean, and that architectural asphalt shingles have a greater protection rating.

Commissioner Gary Persinger said he had 15 years of experience with a cedar shake roof in Dewey Beach.

It was not a pleasant experience, Persinger said, noting that repair issues always arose regarding the correct kind of nails and contractor qualifications. He said he favored architectural-grade asphalt shingles, some of which have the appearance of cedar.

Commissioner David Jasinski abstained from voting on the type of shingles. He said the building is supposed to be a historic replica, and that shingles will make a significant difference in its appearance.

Commissioners agreed that if Spicer Bros. cant install the roof within 60 days, the next-lowest bidder will be approached. Commissioners voted unanimously to pay for the roof from the general fund.

The station overlooks the ocean at the end of Dagsworthy Avenue, and it is a 1988 replica of the original building that was commissioned as the Rehoboth Beach Lifesaving Station in 1878. The original station was decommissioned in 1947, and was moved firstto the Forgotten Mile, where it was converted into a private home, and latermoved to Shipcarpenter Square in Lewes, where it was restored as a home and still stands today.

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Dewey Lifesaving Station roof to be replaced - CapeGazette.com

For most householders the idea of garden ornamentation goes no further than a few gnomes or some hanging baskets.

But things were a little different at Wentworth Woodhouse, created in an era when outdoor fashion was influenced by the likes of Capability Brown rather than television makeover shows.

The stately home - with the longest frontage of any house in the country - was a byword for lavish oppulence when it was created by the Fitzwilliam family on the back of profits from coal mining in the 18th Century and was built in the Rotherham village of Wentworth.

And now it is undergoing the biggest current restoration project after the Houses of Parliament, details of the level of extravagance have emerged.

A year-long project to replace the roof has now come to an end and in addition to making the building watertight, it has involved restoring a series of 20 giant stone urns and imposing statues which decorate the roof.

The design of the building means they are out of bounds for close inspection and can be seen - at best - by staring skywards from the ground.

That did not stop the Fitzwilliams demanding the best, however, regardless of the engineering feats which must have been needed to hoist them into place.

Today, modern cranes have been employed to take the urns down for restoration but the statues are so large they were left in position as work was done to preserve them for the future.

Despite the challenges of replacing a stately home's roof, the project was opened up for public viewings with walkways suitable for disabled access, which gave a rare glimpse of the house from a unique viewpoint.

The restoration is being conducted by the Wentworth Woodhouse Consveration Trust, which took over the house recently. It has been in private ownership for decades wit public access severely limited and was in a state of decay, needing a hugely expensive package of work, largely being financed by grants.

Woodhead Construction were called in for the roofing job, a project which quantity surveyor Amy Stamford does not expect to be bettered during her career.

Even constructing the scaffolding which allowed access to the roof, under a plastic tent, was a logistical challenge as it had to be a free-standing structure unsupported by the house.

Amy said: "The scaffolding was one of the biggest problems, just to make it work, because it is not tied into the building.

"The roof and structural repairs are one of the biggest risks because until we undid it, we did not know what it would be like.

"We thought it would be nasty, but in fact it was in good condition.

"Building sites are generally not open to the public, but then they came up with the public walkways and the guys on site have been able to show their families what we have done. That is something the don't generally get to do," she said.

The stone urns were pinned together and had deteriorated, with some needing total replacement.

It appears the house had been hit by lightning at some point, due to damage to two urns and a statue.

While the Fitzwilliams may have been sticklers for the finest in decorative terms, not everything was done to perfection.

Leaks in the roof were blamed on insufficent drainage capacity, leaving water standing for too long, rather than serious faults with the roof itself. That flaw has been corrected as part of the restoration.

Link:
Secrets of a stately home's hidden indulgence revealed as roof is replaced - Yorkshire Live

Author Irene Richardson - October 24, 2020October 24, 2020UMAMI, a new sushi and Thai restaurant, will occupy the space previously housed by Babalu. Photo via Jacob Blankenship for Bham Now

Lakeview has the drinks, the dancing and now the area will have a staple weve all been missing. The owners of Nori Thai and Sushi and Shikiare moving into the 29Seven mixed-use development with plans to open a new Asian restaurant, UMAMI.

The restauranteurs partnered withRetail Specialists Lyndsy Yim to find the ideal spot for UMAMI. Its new home is the former space of Babalu. The Mexican restaurant. which specialized in tapas and small plates, closed in March of this year.

While we were sad to wave goodbye, we cant help but be excited to hear the news something delicious is filling the space (and our stomachs).

The Lakeview area has been missing an Asian concept and UMAMI fits perfect into our overall strategy to bring unique concepts to the development.

The joint Thai and sushi restaurant is set to be a hit and were already texting the group chat for dinner plans. Have you eaten at Nori or Shikki before? I think its safe to say we can trust the talent from those kitchens will be carry over to Lakeview.

But, its just the beginning for what Retail Specialists, the local real estate firm who owns the property, envisions for the growing neighborhood. The team recognizes Lakeview as a unique part of Birmingham that welcomes families and young professionals alike. So, their focus aims to cater to both sets of people.

Our focus is on bringing concepts that will bring consumers to 29-7 during the day and after work during the weekwe want it to be a destination seven days a week

Lakeview is in such a great part of Birmingham positioned closed to Avondale and Downtown. Its perfect for families during the day to have lunch, but poised for happy hours and nightlife as well for young professionals.

Lakeview has been on a roll lately and it doesnt seem like thats going to stop any time soon. The Purple Onion brought its Mediterranean eats to the area just this month. Also, Magic City Wellness moved into space previously occupied by Baptist Health Systems.

Not every addition has been accompanied by a roof and four walls. Crosstown scooters made Lakeview go mobile with its motorized scooters that are now available at Nails Convenience Store.

While we not-so-patiently wait for UMAMI to open, swing by Nori Thai and Sushi or Shiki for takeout or dine-in and get a preview of what we might see on the menu. If theres one thing Im sure can solve anything, its a bowl of Panang curry.

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Former Babalu space to be replaced by new Asian restaurant in Lakeview - Bham Now

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- We should've known all along that Nick Saban wasn't going to miss a day's work. He has always appeared more machine than man during his time in the public eye -- a creature of routine and process who'd barely done worse than sniffle during his six national championship runs. He had hip replacement surgery last year, and the day after he went under the knife, his wife found him standing in the driveway, eager to get back to the office.

No, Nicholas Lou Saban wasn't going to miss a football game, and especially not one the magnitude of Saturday night's. At home, against No. 3 Georgia and its coach, Kirby Smart, Saban would find a way to get to Bryant-Denny Stadium. He tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, and three days later he had the three negative tests he needed to return to action. He grabbed a state trooper right after that third test came in, and in less than 30 minutes he was at the team hotel for pregame meetings.

And later that night, after Saban led his team onto the field to a raucous applause, he did what he has always done, besting a former assistant for the 22nd consecutive time in his career. After a so-so start in which his defense struggled with a number of uncharacteristic mistakes, Alabama found its footing and wound up beating Georgia convincingly, 41-24, to remain the only undefeated team in the SEC.

It didn't take long to know Saban was feeling like himself again as he tore into freshman linebacker Will Anderson after a touchdown in the first quarter and screamed bloody murder at a referee after a call for intentional grounding a few minutes later. When a defensive lineman jumped offside on fourth-and-1, triggering an automatic first down, Saban was absolutely beside himself, putting both hands out as if to ask why.

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The perfectionist was back in all his glory.

At halftime, whatever adjustments Saban and his assistants made worked, because the defense went from looking lost to being in total control. After forcing back-to-back punts, freshman nickel back Malachi Moore picked off Stetson Bennett, and running back Najee Harris gladly exchanged the turnover for seven points and a double-digit lead. Then, moments later, safety Daniel Wright picked off Bennett again. And, again, the offense did the rest, as Mac Jones furthered his Heisman Trophy campaign with a fourth touchdown pass, truly putting the game to bed.

Safety DeMarcco Hellams said the defense wanted to make a statement in the second half. He said Saban stressed this was going to be a 15-round fight and to finish the game. And they did, surrendering zero points in the third and fourth quarters.

No, it wasn't Saban pulling Jalen Hurts in favor of Tua Tagovailoa, but it was a heck of a halftime turnaround nonetheless. And if Saban wasn't there, if he hadn't cleared COVID-19 protocol with hours to spare and was watching on TV like the rest the country, who knows if Alabama figures things out?

No disrespect to Steve Sarkisian, who called a brilliant game as offensive coordinator, but he's not Nick Saban. No one can fill those shoes.

Afterward, when Saban spoke to reporters, he didn't dwell on a shaky first half or whatever imperfections there might have been. Instead, he said it was an "obvious great win" and that he was proud of his team's fight.

Mostly, he was proud of how his players handled the distraction of his absence. When he wasn't on the practice field Friday, when his straw hat was so noticeably missing, a source told ESPN it was bizarre and that it felt like an episode of "The Twilight Zone."

Saban appeared healthy during his Wednesday news conference and his radio show the following night, but for three days, the college football world obsessed over Saban's condition and whether he could return.

Saban tried to prepare his players for either eventuality. He told them he hadn't caught a pass or made a tackle in 40 years, so what good was he to them during a game anyway? From afar, he tried to keep them focused on the task at hand.

When Saban showed up at the team hotel before kickoff, the players weren't prepared. Jones said the reaction "was pretty crazy" when Saban stepped into the quarterback room unannounced.

Senior linebacker Dylan Moses said Saban being there for walk-throughs brought an added energy to everyone. Seeing Saban walk through the door, he said, "Our confidence went through the roof."

And that, maybe more than any in-game adjustment or halftime speech, is the real value of having Saban on the sideline: the confidence his presence brings. For 14 seasons now, he has been a fixture at Alabama. As it turns out, not even a positive COVID-19 test can stop him from showing up.

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'Our confidence went through the roof' - Nick Saban returns and Bama keeps rolling - ESPN

In April 2016, the Tesla company revealed that they were working on something new. Up until that point, their focus had always been on electric vehicles, which had earned them quite a reputation among environmentalists and financial experts. They rose success and worldwide fame, and started looking to make use of the worlds greatest renewable resource by creating Tesla-brand solar panels.

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Tesla hyped the panels up significantly but two years later, people still werent convinced. They had claimed that their solar roof panels were designed to be durable and effective, but thus far, very few of them had been installed. It was hard to gauge how durable or how effective they really were. After nearly four years of development, however, it seems Teslas Solar Roof V3 is finally beginning to meet expectations.

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Tesla and its subsidiary, SolarCity, designed their solar roof product to look like a traditional roof. The only difference is the shingles, which are photovoltaic, which means they generate solar power in the same way that traditional solar panels do. The idea was to make a solar roof that was not only effective but aesthetically pleasing. Installing one of these solar roofs replaces an existing roof with a combination of active and inactive shingles.

Active shingles contain solar cells that absorb solar energy to produce energy for your home. The inactive ones function just like regular shingles. They do not produce any energy but keep out water, hail, rain, and other inclement weather in the same way that normal shingles do. Teslas solar roof V3 shingles come with a 150-year weatherization warranty. They can withstand 166-mile-per-hour winds and 1,75-inch hail. While it sounds impressive, though, the Tesla roof tiles do have weaknesses.

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Many of Teslas downsides are shared by other solar companies of the like. For instance, because Tesla panels usually need to be connected to a power grid, they will stop producing electricity during a power outage. This limits who and where a Tesla roof can be installed. If you live far off the grid and wish to install a Tesla roof, you may be out of luck.

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Tesla also has a history of being unreliable when it comes to installing their solar roof products. Many who have ordered Tesla panels at the onset, still have not had them installed; some orders have even been canceled on Teslas end. Whether that is an effect of slow production or their struggles to invent a product that stands out from the competition, is not known.

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Teslas official pricing structure says that the active solar roof tiles cost about $2.85 per watt. Inactive shingles cost around $5.60 per square foot. However, these are not the only metrics to consider when determining the cost of installation. The actual total cost of a Tesla solar roof depends on several factors including the size of your home, needed energy output, location, and roof size.

For a 1,200 square foot home with an electric bill of about $150 per month, the estimated cost for a Tesla roof installation would come to approximately $24,412, with other factors potentially altering the final cost. Replacing roofing materials can amount to thousands of dollars, while federal tax credits for investing in solar power can bring the overall price down. Tesla predicts that a 6.2 KW roof can save upwards of $45,000 on electric bills over the course of a lifetime.

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Traditional 6.2 kW solar systems produce roughly around 10,180 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year. This means that the average 25-year savings for a traditional solar system comes out to approximately $48,356.90 in a lifetime. That costs almost $4,000 more than Tesla will save you.

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Not only that, traditional solar panels are far less invasive and do not necessitate an entire restructuring of ones roof. Add to that the proven track record of many solar manufacturers as compared to the uncertainty of Teslas unproven system, and you have a bit of a quandary on your hands.

Unless you are already planning on replacing your roof and investing in solar, it may be prudent to consider alternatives to Tesla solar roof. In the end, the best way to enter into any serious investment is to do your research. Getting quotes from multiple solar providers will allow you to compare installation prices, energy outputs, lifetime savings, and in many cases, monthly costs.

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How Do Tesla Solar Roofs Work? Behind the Car Company's New Innovation - Green Matters

Allplastics Engineering supplied 4.5mm thick polycarbonate panels for a roof replacement project in Barton in the Australian Capital Territory.

The client chose matt polycarbonate, which was cut to 4.1-metre lengths from spools. Installed by Glaziers Pty Ltd, the final result is stunning, and the material has definitely maximised the durability and aesthetics of the structure.

Allplastics polycarbonate UV grade sheets offer excellent light transmittance, outstanding weatherability and long life expectancy. Widely used in roofing, balustrades and glazing applications, the material can stand up to hailstorms or vandalism. Polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable against all kinds of objects, with 250 times higher impact strength than normal glass. A highly flexible material, polycarbonate can also be cut up to 20 metres long and curved without cracking.

For the Barton project, a continuous spool of polycarbonate was utilised to eliminate joints. These spools are available for projects up to 50m long and 2540mm wide, making them ideal for long lightboxes and warehouse roofs where standard sheets may need joints.

In addition to flat polycarbonate sheets, materials for roofing and awnings come in a multitude of options that can be adapted to any architectural design. Allplastics can offer a selection of materials accommodating varying tastes and budgets. These include Multiwall polycarbonate lightweight panels; PEP Core translucent composite panels; STAGE 40 translucent, trafficable, scratch-resistant, anti-slip surface; and Opal polycarbonate.

Choosing the right materials and joining bars for the roof determines the quality of the entire building. Let Allplastics help your buildings get ready to withstand the scorching sun, pouring rain or heavy hail.

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Polycarbonate panels selected for roof replacement in Barton ACT - Architecture and Design

3033 Summit Station Road , Fredericksburg, VA 22408

Welcome home to this exquisite farmhouse property located on 17 beautiful acres just minutes from the VRE, I-95, and shopping! This immaculate farmhouse was built in 1840 and is loaded with charm and character! The property itself is stunning and has a three-stall barn with sliding doors and hay storage, a new 30 by 30 run-in shed, beautiful board fencing (8 acres open pasture, 2 acres wooded), a 40 by 50 steel building with concrete floor, four sliding doors, and large windows! There is a 40 by 50 wood building with a dirt floor that can be used for horse stalls or a small indoor riding area it would also be a great workshop or storage place for a motorhome, horse trailer, or boat! There is a 30 x 50 workshop that is wired with a separate electric meter, so it could be used as a place for your home office! There is a 20 by 20 hobby building with new windows and doors, which could be used as a playhouse, hobby shop, additional office, or storage! There is a 30 by 30 detached garage with three overhead doors and one garage opener.

This property also has a spring-fed pond that has never gone dry! The house itself has over 3,000 square feet with the original heart of pine floors and four fireplaces! A beautiful foyer greets you with a large hall and opens to the formal living room and the family room! The kitchen has been completely remodeled to include granite countertops, upgraded appliances, custom cabinetry, and an amazing layout! Upstairs you will find a lovely primary suite with a private balcony and sitting room to take in the views of your property! There is a designated office with built-in bookcases and a large wrap around desk! All of the windows have been replaced and are thermal, the roof is three years old, and the two heat pumps have been replaced in the last 3-4 years. New siding was installed four years ago! There is an outdoor wood furnace, two acres with invisible fencing, and a spacious covered front porch!

This property also has fruit and nut-bearing trees to include pecan, chestnut, peach, cherry, apple, plum, and elderberry! This truly is a once in a lifetime property!

For more information or to schedule a private tour contact Amy Cherry Taylor at (703)577-0135.

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Home of the Week: Immaculate Farmhouse, Acreage and Outbuildings in Spotsylvania - Fredericksburg Today

Don Magruder| For the Daily Commercial

One of the first things noticed on a house is the roof. Chances are that the average age of older roofs in Lake and Sumter Counties is about 20 years. In other areas of the country, the lifespans of roofs are much longer.

However, in Florida, a combination of harsh tropical weather and unreasonable replacement standards set by insurance companies who want to minimize hurricane exposure is forcing homeowners to replace roofs sooner. Roof replacements are rare events for most homeowners and a lot has probably changed since the last time the roof was replaced on your older home.

Because of changes in technology, building codesand material offerings, homeowners should be wary about paying a roofing contractor to install the same roof with the same method used 20 years ago. Here are the five big changes in roofing since your older roof was originally installed.

The first big change is the quality of roofing shingles. Twenty years ago, 3-tab strip shingles were used by many builders and these shingles as compared to todays architectural style shingles are thinner and have less wind tolerance. Todays architectural shingles are thicker, have higher wind resistanceand are designed to camouflage imperfections in the roof.

The new lines of architectural shingles offer a huge variety of colors and shadowing to enhance your homes curb appeal. When replacing your roof, do not settle for the same old shingle style and color on your roof look at the different options available nowadays.

Shingle warranties have also changed. Twenty years ago, shingle warranties were for 20 years and the warranty typically only covered materials after the first year. Today, manufacturers offer limited lifetime warranties with very affordable upgrades to offer full replacements later in time. Before you commit to a shingle, be sure you understand the warranty and ask your roofing contractor if you can upgrade to a full long-term warranty.

The next change is underlayment. Twenty years ago, 90 percent of the roofs were constructed with 15-pound felt as an underlayment with better homes using 30-pound felt. Yes, 30-pound felt is double the thickness.

The big problem with rolled felt is its failure if the shingles are blown off during a windstorm. Felt paper will tear and rip in the wind if there are not any shingles on top of it. Roofing contractors are now using a synthetic felt, which does not tear if it is exposed to the weather elements. Synthetic felt is the most popular underlayment because a roll is lighter and covers more square footage, which cuts down on the amount of time to install it and accidents associated with it.

The most popular underlayment is peel and stick, which adheres to the decking and will remain in place and protect the deck even if the shingles are blown off. It is a great product that seals nail holes and provides a real moisture barrier for your home.

Not as glamourous but just as important in roofing are the nails and fasteners. In the past, most roof failures have been attributed to poor installation, especially in the area of fasteners. Staples used in the early 1990s were blamed for many failed roofs during Hurricane Andrew. Today, building codes require more nails per shingle and longer nails along with wind mitigation for decking. In most cases, if a shingle fails it is because of the use of incorrect fasteners.

The final big change is the use of metal roofing. Twenty years ago, the majority of residential roofs were constructed with asphalt shingles. Today, a growing percentage are being constructed with metal roofing.

With hidden fastening systems and a multitude of colors, metal roofing is a good alternative. Plus, this type of roof offers a much longer warranty and thus far has not faced the scrutiny from insurance companies as that of their asphalt counterparts. Before you re-roof your home, check into metal roofing it might be worth the extra investment.

As a bonus tip, whenever you re-roof your home, replace all drip edge and valley metals. Some roofing contractors like to cut this corner; however, metal flashing on a roof after 20 years should be replaced due to rusting and pitting. Always ensure your re-roof quote covers everything, including new flashing.

If you are lucky, you will only have to replace a roof once or twice in your adult lifespan. If you do, investigate all the options before you buy.

Don Magruder is the CEO of RoMac Building Supply and host of Around the House, which can be seen at AroundtheHouse.TV.

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Not your father's roof: Five big changes in recent years - Daily Commercial