Contact Information
Call us at
989-779-0138
or
866-GO-OTTER
Call us at
989-779-0138
or
866-GO-OTTER
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Otterskin Roof Gear & Construction,Inc.
123 E. Broadway St. Office E | Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 | 989.779.0138 | 866.GO.OTTER
123 E. Broadway St. Office E | Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 | 989.779.0138 | 866.GO.OTTER
Top 12 things our customers like about Otterskin Roof Gear
1. Top-quality materials with excellent, reliable workmanship
2. Quick response to your calls and you'll rarely get voice-mail
3. Most comprehensive warranty in the flat roof industry
4. Licensed, insured and bonded
5. Our work results in dry floors and stain-free ceilings
6. Prompt and accurate estimates and communication
7. Core samples verify existing roof condition - no surprises
8. No interruptions to your business' daily operation
9. Very energy efficient roof systems installed
10. Commercial, flat & low-slope roof specialists
11. Authorized Duro-Last Elite Master Contractor
12. Free estimates and references available upon request
1. Top-quality materials with excellent, reliable workmanship
2. Quick response to your calls and you'll rarely get voice-mail
3. Most comprehensive warranty in the flat roof industry
4. Licensed, insured and bonded
5. Our work results in dry floors and stain-free ceilings
6. Prompt and accurate estimates and communication
7. Core samples verify existing roof condition - no surprises
8. No interruptions to your business' daily operation
9. Very energy efficient roof systems installed
10. Commercial, flat & low-slope roof specialists
11. Authorized Duro-Last Elite Master Contractor
12. Free estimates and references available upon request
Flat Roof Industry Frequently Asked Questions
The follow are industry specific questions that are frequently asked about PVC membrane and other issues related to the flat roofing industry:
Q: How long have PVC, or vinyl, roofs been around? Are they among the
leading systems for commercial roofing?
A: Originally introduced in Europe in the early 1960s, polyvinyl chloride
(PVC) roofing systems were among the first single-ply commercial
roofing materials. Today, reinforced PVC roofs – also called vinyl
roofs – account for 65 percent of the European commercial roofing
single-ply market, and North American growth has outpaced the
commercial roofing industry as a whole for more than 10 years. In
1985, PVC roofing systems were the first single-ply roofing products
to obtain a standard designation from the American Society for
Testing and Materials (now ASTM International): ASTM D4434 –
Standard Specification for Poly(vinyl chloride) Sheet Roofing – which
is regularly updated. Today, PVC is an increasingly popular
thermoplastic roofing membrane worldwide.
Q: What makes PVC roofs so special?
A: PVC roofing systems have witnessed tremendous growth in recent
years due to a variety of standout characteristics, notably: longevity;
durability in harsh weather and temperature extremes; low life-cycle
costs; energy efficiency; heat and solar reflectance; flame resistance;
chemical and grease resistance; ease of maintenance; ease and
flexibility of installation; and inherent recyclability/re-use, among many
other benefits. Often referred to as the first “cool roofing” system, PVC
is energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable, long-lasting and
cost effective.
Q: How are PVC roofs energy-efficient?
A: Lots of ways! White PVC roofing systems not only reflect sunlight and
solar energy to save building owners up to 40 percent in annual
electricity costs, they also improve the performance of the underlying
roof insulation by 25 to 50 percent; extend the useful life of the roof by
as much as 75 percent; enable rooftop cooling equipment to run more
efficiently; contribute to better indoor air quality and comfort; and
collectively help mitigate the effects of urban heat islands and the air
pollution they cause.
Q: How are PVC roofing systems sustainable?
A: More than 26 Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) confirm that PVC
roofing membranes are an outstanding sustainable choice for many
reasons:
a. Energy efficiency.
b. Mitigation of urban heat islands that cause elevated levels of air
pollution.
c. Waste reduction throughout its life cycle: production, shipment,
installation, post-consumer disposal.
• Only 43 percent of PVC membrane composition is
derived from non-renewable fossil fuel feedstocks,
compared with other single-ply and built-up systems
that contain a much higher percentage.
• PVC requires less energy to produce than competitive
products.
• They last for 20 to 30 years, reducing the rate of waste
flow into landfills.
• There is virtually no scrap in PVC roof manufacturing or
installation.
• PVC roofs can often be installed directly over old roofs.
• Many PVC roof manufacturers have post-use recycling
programs.
• PVC roofing membranes are inherently recyclable, and
are the only roofing material that can be recycled back
into roofing products.
d. Extremely low contribution to greenhouse gases and hazardous
emissions, due to closed-loop manufacturing.
e. There are at least 10 categories in which white PVC roofing
systems can help earn points under the LEED® rating systems.
Q: Why do PVC roofing systems last so long?
A: Among the reasons that PVC roofing systems typically last between
20 and 30 years with very little maintenance are the following:
a. Reflective properties extend the useful life of the roof substrate
materials by reducing the rate of deterioration by as much as
75 percent.
b. Waterproof characteristics that prevent PVC from rotting, rusting
or corroding.
c. Mechanical fastening systems that enable vinyl roofs to withstand
hurricanes and tornadoes with minimal damage.
d. Custom prefabricated systems from some manufacturers that
help ensure optimal installation and long-term performance.
e. Heat-welding properties that create seams that are stronger than
the membrane itself while eliminating the need for chemicals,
torches or other hazardous installation methods.
f. Inherent flame resistance strengthened by the addition of flame
retardant additives, which facilitates Underwriter Laboratory
Class A ratings and Factory Mutual Class 1 ratings.
g. Extremely high resistance to chemicals, grease, and other harmful
substances that are common on rooftops.
h. Simple repair procedures normally accomplished by heat-welded
patches or seams.
Q: What makes PVC systems more cost-effective in the long run?
A: Life Cycle Cost analyses have proven that PVC roofing systems are
among the least costly over time for two major reasons: long service
life and energy efficiency. The longer a roof lasts without major
problems, the less costly it is on an annual basis. Energy savings of up
to 40 percent every year due to the reflective properties of white PVC
roofs can add up to tens of thousands of dollars during a 20- or 30-
year life-span. Custom prefabricated PVC roofing systems also
contribute to cost-effectiveness because they generate less waste,
require less time and labor to install, and reduce the potential for
rooftop human error, because up to 85 percent of membrane seaming
can be completed in a controlled factory environment.
Q: Environmental groups seem to think that PVC is one of the most
hazardous products ever created – dangerous to human health and
the environment. How do you answer that?
A: During the last 35 years, there have been literally dozens of scientific
studies and more than 26 full-scale LCAs relating to the safety and
environmental impact of vinyl production, use and disposal. Study after
study by a wide range of scientific, governmental, academic, and
industry groups has confirmed that vinyl production in the United
States today is very safe, and that finished vinyl products, including
PVC roofing membranes, are inert, posing no risk to human health
and very little impact on the environment. In fact, many PVC products –
including reflective PVC roofing systems – often make a decidedly
positive contribution toward sustainability. According to Dr. Patrick
Moore, a co-founder of Greenpeace in 1971 and current chairman
and chief scientist of Greenspirit Strategies: “It’s completely
unacceptable for these activists to call PVC ‘toxic’ when PVC’s
effects on health and the environment have been investigated at every
stage from manufacture through use and on to final disposal – in all
cases vinyl has been shown to be safe and environmentally sound.”
Q: I’ve heard that PVC cannot be recycled. Is this true?
A: No. In fact, PVC is inherently recyclable. Vinyl materials can be
reprocessed and recycled repeatedly, and PVC is the only roofing
material that has proven to be recyclable back into new roofing
products. In Europe, PVC roofing materials have been recycled for
nearly 15 years. In the U.S., more than one billion pounds of post-
industrial vinyl are recycled annually, and that number is growing. Many
U.S. PVC roofing manufacturers have established recycling
programs, including Duro-Last® Roofing, Inc. Sister company,
Oscoda Plastics®, Inc. Has recycled an annual average of almost six
million pounds of vinyl over the last three years using PVC scrap from
at least 20 sources representing at least 10 types of products,
including film, sheeting, seats, air domes, automotive and, of course,
roofing. The Vinyl Roofing Division of CFFA initiated a feasibility study
for national recycling in January of 2008. PVC can also be safely
incinerated to recover and use the latent energy, or land-filled. In fact,
many landfills use PVC liners to contain contamination.
Q: Where can I go for more information about the safety, sustainability,
use and performance of PVC roofing systems, or PVC in general?
A: There are plenty of places to get solid, scientifically-proven
information about PVC products and roofing materials: The Vinyl
Institute: www.vinylinfo.org/ Vinyl Roofing Division of CFFA:
www.vinylroofs.org The Vinyl Environmental Council (Japan):
www.vec.gr.jp/english/about.html Vinyl In Design:
www.vinylbydesign.com Phthalate Information Center:
www.phthalates.org ASTM International: www.astm.org
The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC): www.coolroofs.org
Duro-Last Roofing®, Inc.: www.duro-last.com ENERGY STAR ratings:
www.energystar.gov ENERGY STAR Roof Products energy savings
calculator: http://www.roofcalc.com/RoofCalcBuildingInput.aspx
Green Globes, Environmental Assessments for Buildings:
www.greenglobes.com Greenspirit Strategies: www.greenspirit.com
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory:
www.eandE.LBL.gov/heatisland Single Ply Roofing Industry
association (SPRI): www.spri.org U.S. Green Building Council, LEED
Program: www.usgbc.org
Q: How long have PVC, or vinyl, roofs been around? Are they among the
leading systems for commercial roofing?
A: Originally introduced in Europe in the early 1960s, polyvinyl chloride
(PVC) roofing systems were among the first single-ply commercial
roofing materials. Today, reinforced PVC roofs – also called vinyl
roofs – account for 65 percent of the European commercial roofing
single-ply market, and North American growth has outpaced the
commercial roofing industry as a whole for more than 10 years. In
1985, PVC roofing systems were the first single-ply roofing products
to obtain a standard designation from the American Society for
Testing and Materials (now ASTM International): ASTM D4434 –
Standard Specification for Poly(vinyl chloride) Sheet Roofing – which
is regularly updated. Today, PVC is an increasingly popular
thermoplastic roofing membrane worldwide.
Q: What makes PVC roofs so special?
A: PVC roofing systems have witnessed tremendous growth in recent
years due to a variety of standout characteristics, notably: longevity;
durability in harsh weather and temperature extremes; low life-cycle
costs; energy efficiency; heat and solar reflectance; flame resistance;
chemical and grease resistance; ease of maintenance; ease and
flexibility of installation; and inherent recyclability/re-use, among many
other benefits. Often referred to as the first “cool roofing” system, PVC
is energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable, long-lasting and
cost effective.
Q: How are PVC roofs energy-efficient?
A: Lots of ways! White PVC roofing systems not only reflect sunlight and
solar energy to save building owners up to 40 percent in annual
electricity costs, they also improve the performance of the underlying
roof insulation by 25 to 50 percent; extend the useful life of the roof by
as much as 75 percent; enable rooftop cooling equipment to run more
efficiently; contribute to better indoor air quality and comfort; and
collectively help mitigate the effects of urban heat islands and the air
pollution they cause.
Q: How are PVC roofing systems sustainable?
A: More than 26 Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) confirm that PVC
roofing membranes are an outstanding sustainable choice for many
reasons:
a. Energy efficiency.
b. Mitigation of urban heat islands that cause elevated levels of air
pollution.
c. Waste reduction throughout its life cycle: production, shipment,
installation, post-consumer disposal.
• Only 43 percent of PVC membrane composition is
derived from non-renewable fossil fuel feedstocks,
compared with other single-ply and built-up systems
that contain a much higher percentage.
• PVC requires less energy to produce than competitive
products.
• They last for 20 to 30 years, reducing the rate of waste
flow into landfills.
• There is virtually no scrap in PVC roof manufacturing or
installation.
• PVC roofs can often be installed directly over old roofs.
• Many PVC roof manufacturers have post-use recycling
programs.
• PVC roofing membranes are inherently recyclable, and
are the only roofing material that can be recycled back
into roofing products.
d. Extremely low contribution to greenhouse gases and hazardous
emissions, due to closed-loop manufacturing.
e. There are at least 10 categories in which white PVC roofing
systems can help earn points under the LEED® rating systems.
Q: Why do PVC roofing systems last so long?
A: Among the reasons that PVC roofing systems typically last between
20 and 30 years with very little maintenance are the following:
a. Reflective properties extend the useful life of the roof substrate
materials by reducing the rate of deterioration by as much as
75 percent.
b. Waterproof characteristics that prevent PVC from rotting, rusting
or corroding.
c. Mechanical fastening systems that enable vinyl roofs to withstand
hurricanes and tornadoes with minimal damage.
d. Custom prefabricated systems from some manufacturers that
help ensure optimal installation and long-term performance.
e. Heat-welding properties that create seams that are stronger than
the membrane itself while eliminating the need for chemicals,
torches or other hazardous installation methods.
f. Inherent flame resistance strengthened by the addition of flame
retardant additives, which facilitates Underwriter Laboratory
Class A ratings and Factory Mutual Class 1 ratings.
g. Extremely high resistance to chemicals, grease, and other harmful
substances that are common on rooftops.
h. Simple repair procedures normally accomplished by heat-welded
patches or seams.
Q: What makes PVC systems more cost-effective in the long run?
A: Life Cycle Cost analyses have proven that PVC roofing systems are
among the least costly over time for two major reasons: long service
life and energy efficiency. The longer a roof lasts without major
problems, the less costly it is on an annual basis. Energy savings of up
to 40 percent every year due to the reflective properties of white PVC
roofs can add up to tens of thousands of dollars during a 20- or 30-
year life-span. Custom prefabricated PVC roofing systems also
contribute to cost-effectiveness because they generate less waste,
require less time and labor to install, and reduce the potential for
rooftop human error, because up to 85 percent of membrane seaming
can be completed in a controlled factory environment.
Q: Environmental groups seem to think that PVC is one of the most
hazardous products ever created – dangerous to human health and
the environment. How do you answer that?
A: During the last 35 years, there have been literally dozens of scientific
studies and more than 26 full-scale LCAs relating to the safety and
environmental impact of vinyl production, use and disposal. Study after
study by a wide range of scientific, governmental, academic, and
industry groups has confirmed that vinyl production in the United
States today is very safe, and that finished vinyl products, including
PVC roofing membranes, are inert, posing no risk to human health
and very little impact on the environment. In fact, many PVC products –
including reflective PVC roofing systems – often make a decidedly
positive contribution toward sustainability. According to Dr. Patrick
Moore, a co-founder of Greenpeace in 1971 and current chairman
and chief scientist of Greenspirit Strategies: “It’s completely
unacceptable for these activists to call PVC ‘toxic’ when PVC’s
effects on health and the environment have been investigated at every
stage from manufacture through use and on to final disposal – in all
cases vinyl has been shown to be safe and environmentally sound.”
Q: I’ve heard that PVC cannot be recycled. Is this true?
A: No. In fact, PVC is inherently recyclable. Vinyl materials can be
reprocessed and recycled repeatedly, and PVC is the only roofing
material that has proven to be recyclable back into new roofing
products. In Europe, PVC roofing materials have been recycled for
nearly 15 years. In the U.S., more than one billion pounds of post-
industrial vinyl are recycled annually, and that number is growing. Many
U.S. PVC roofing manufacturers have established recycling
programs, including Duro-Last® Roofing, Inc. Sister company,
Oscoda Plastics®, Inc. Has recycled an annual average of almost six
million pounds of vinyl over the last three years using PVC scrap from
at least 20 sources representing at least 10 types of products,
including film, sheeting, seats, air domes, automotive and, of course,
roofing. The Vinyl Roofing Division of CFFA initiated a feasibility study
for national recycling in January of 2008. PVC can also be safely
incinerated to recover and use the latent energy, or land-filled. In fact,
many landfills use PVC liners to contain contamination.
Q: Where can I go for more information about the safety, sustainability,
use and performance of PVC roofing systems, or PVC in general?
A: There are plenty of places to get solid, scientifically-proven
information about PVC products and roofing materials: The Vinyl
Institute: www.vinylinfo.org/ Vinyl Roofing Division of CFFA:
www.vinylroofs.org The Vinyl Environmental Council (Japan):
www.vec.gr.jp/english/about.html Vinyl In Design:
www.vinylbydesign.com Phthalate Information Center:
www.phthalates.org ASTM International: www.astm.org
The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC): www.coolroofs.org
Duro-Last Roofing®, Inc.: www.duro-last.com ENERGY STAR ratings:
www.energystar.gov ENERGY STAR Roof Products energy savings
calculator: http://www.roofcalc.com/RoofCalcBuildingInput.aspx
Green Globes, Environmental Assessments for Buildings:
www.greenglobes.com Greenspirit Strategies: www.greenspirit.com
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory:
www.eandE.LBL.gov/heatisland Single Ply Roofing Industry
association (SPRI): www.spri.org U.S. Green Building Council, LEED
Program: www.usgbc.org
Our energy-efficient WHITE membrane will make your roof "GREEN!"
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"WE'VE GOTCHA
COVERED!"
COVERED!"
COMMERCIAL, FLAT & LOW-SLOPE
ROOFS INSTALLED 52 WEEKS A YEAR!
ROOFS INSTALLED 52 WEEKS A YEAR!
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Are you frustrated with your roof? Call us to scream about it!! 989-779-0138
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