Category Archives: Industrial Services

Why Roof Coatings Are Necessary During Winter?

Reason Why Metal Roofing Chicago Buildings Is Necessary

Roof coating products are designed to provide protection to your flat or low-sloping roof from a wide range of harmful effects, including not only the effects of solar radiation and rain, but also from extreme cold and snow. Here is how the right type of coating will protect your roof in winter and will also help you stay warmer and pay less on energy during the cold months.

Roofs that Need Coating for Protection in Winter

If your roof is brand-new, installed on your building less than 5 years ago, if it is optimally insulated and fitted with an efficient draining system, you probably don’t need any special coating to provide you extra protection from winter weather. However, if your roof is not that young anymore, if it tends to develop ponds of water, if you have already had leaks caused by melting snow and if you suspect that your winter energy bills are excessively high because the air heated by your system escapes through the roof, applying a layer of suitable roof coating might be exactly what you need.

An Efficient Water Barrier

Moisture, whether it comes in the form of moist air, rain or snow, is very harmful for roofs. The droplets of water carried by the air in liquid or frozen form can settle on the surface of the roof, causing harm not only to the surface itself, but to the fasteners and the flashing stripes as well. The right type of water-resistant coating on the roof forms an efficient barrier between the moisture and the roof itself. Coating materials are spread in a uniform, seamless, monolithic layer on the roof surface and the layer formed this way will prevent any direct contact between the roof and the moisture, being the best protection solution for roofs that are prone to water ponding or are exposed to extensive snowy periods. Your roof coating from a metal roofing Chicago technician will protect you from winter leaks as well.

An Efficient Energy Barrier

Roof coatings can also be used to enhance the building’s energy efficiency. Many coating products come with insulating properties as well, helping building owners or residents reduce their heating-related costs in winter by preventing the exchange of energy through the roof.

A Few Tips for Choosing the Right Coating Product

When you pick the coating for your roof, take into consideration not only the special challenges that your roof needs to face in winter, but all the issues that your roof needs help with. If the climate in your area is generally wet, with snowy winters, rainy springs and hot, but humid summers, choose a coating material that offers superior protection from moisture as well as superior reflectivity, such as silicone. If your roof needs to face wide temperature variations, but the weather is relatively dry all year, you can choose a product offers medium-level protection against moisture, but enhanced UV-stability, one that has superior reflective features and is available in white or in other light colors to further enhance its ability to reflect solar heat.

What Is Pallet Racking?

Pallet racking systems are material handling equipment installed in warehouses and other storage facilities. They consist of a vertical structure of metallic beams supporting horizontal racks made of pallets.

Why Are Pallet Racking Systems So Popular?

Storage space is one of the most valuable forms of real estate. The global supply chain, strongly influenced by online shopping, puts a huge pressure on manufacturers and distributors. End consumers expect same day or next day deliveries. Thus, order delivery times are shorter than ever. The only way to ensure a constant flow of products is keeping sufficient stocks.

Since investing in supplementary storage facilities is very expensive, the logical solution is to improve the usability of existing warehouses. Pallet racking Denver systems do precisely this – they help companies keep larger inventories of products in the same available space. The structure of pallet racks allows the maximum use of the height and depth of warehouses.

pallet racking Denver

Key Benefits of Pallet Racking

Pallet racking tends to become the norm in the warehousing industry because they offer the benefit of:

  • Standardized footprints – pallet racks have standard EURO and ISO footprints, which help warehouse managers make a precise estimation of the total available surface and loading capacity;
  • Solid build for heavy loads – pallet racking can be used for storing heavy items or bulk products in containers;
  • Easy access to products with forklifts – warehouse employees can prepare orders quickly using forklifts and other automated logistic equipment to select items from various levels of the racking system;
  • A better organized warehouse – pallet racking systems can be designed depending on the layout of the warehouse, so that you make the most of the available space.

Also, the fact that the plastic pallet has become the standard packing unit for international trade, your company can improve its stock keeping systems, achieving greater accuracy compared with the use of other racking systems.

Types of Pallet Racking Systems

 Pallet racks are highly customizable depending on the usage type and available space. The most frequently used configurations are:

  1. Selective Pallet Racking Systems

This type is the most common pallet racking system. It offers a large storage capacity because it has narrow aisles and deep loading surfaces. Thus, selective racks are recommended for storing products with a quick turnover (rapidly depleting inventory).

  1. Drive-in Racks

These pallet racking systems are usually made of steel and offer sufficient space so that a forklift can move into the bay. Thus, the pallet racks have a single entry/exit point and are recommended for the LIFO (last in first out) stocking method.

  1. Push Back Racks

Ideal for the storage of bulk products, this type of racking system is ideal for deep and narrow storage facilities. Thus, each storage bay can be up to 6 pallets deep and each pallet is stored on carts on wheels fitted into the racks.

  1. Flow Racks

Also known as gravity flow racks, this type of pallet racking system is built with a slightly sloped rail with rollers. Pallets can be easily moved on these rollers and pushed towards the higher end. This type of pallet racking system is ideal for the FIFO (first in first out) stocking method.