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HI FROM FAMILY ROOFING! 
It’s a great day today! Time to think about some outside activities!
Things to do in DC
DC Funk Parade
May 11, 2019
On May 11h, join in on the fun with nearly 75,000 people at the 6th annual DC Funk Parade. Celebrating the cultural vibrancy of the U Street neighborhood, the DC Funk Parade offers a day filled with an arts & crafts fair, parade, and evening music festival.
Admission is free and open to everyone.
Celebrate Mother’s Day!
Weekend of May 13
Spend a day celebrating Mom with a number of things to do to honor her around Washington, DC. A local favorite is a lunch (or brunch) cruise along the Potomac.
Check restaurants for brunch and menu specials or take Mom on a garden tour at Tudor Place in Georgetown where they have a special Mother’s Day tea.
You can also join the Mother of our Country, Martha Washington, for special weekend events at Mount Vernon. We highly recommend scheduling brunch at the Inn while you’re there!
Take a Nighttime tour!
Our 8 pm Memorials and Moonlight tour lets you explore the National Mall after the sun sets. With the memorials lit at night, there is an extra level of beauty and at some of the veteran’s memorials, an added sense of reverence.
DON’T FORGET TO CALL FAMILY ROOFING FOR ALL OF YOUR ROOFING, SIDING, GUTTER, BRICK/CHIMNEY ISSUES
(202) 276-5004
LET’S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ROOFING – FLAT ROOFS
The 4 Kinds of Flat Roofs
New flat roofing materials are appearing. They wear better than older material, but they cost more, too.
Homeowners can choose among four kinds of flat roofs. Prices vary according to region and size of the roof. Flat roofs usually come with a 10- to 20-year warranty but the roofs can last 25 years if properly installed and maintained.
Built-Up Roof (BUR)
The traditional hot-tar-and-gravel roof is built from three or more plies of waterproof material alternated with hot tar and ballasted by a layer of smooth river stone. Once made of tar paper, these types of roofs gradually are using more-advanced materials such as fiberglass membranes.
Pros: Gravel is an excellent fire retardant. Attractive for windows and decks that overlook the roof. It’s the cheapest of the four roof varieties.
Cons: Very heavy. Joists sometimes have to be strengthened. Smelly and messy to install. Installation’s not recommended for occupied homes. It’s not a DIY installation job, and it is hard to find the source of leaks. Gravel can clog gutters and scuppers.
Modified Bitumen
A single-ply rolled roof similar to ice-and-water shield, but impregnated with a mineral-based wear surface.
Torch-down systems involve heating the adhesive as the material is unrolled. Newer peel-and-stick systems are safer and easier.
Pros: Peel-and-stick material can be installed by homeowners. Its light-colored mineral surface reflects heat and cuts energy bills. Its price is in the middle of the pack.
Cons: Torch-down application is a fire hazard, and not recommended for occupied buildings. It’s not as scuff- or tear-resistant as rubber-membrane roofs (see the next item).
Rubber Membrane
EPDM (short for ethylene propylene diene monomer) is a true rubber. The durable material resembles an inner tube, but it’s engineered to resist damage from sunlight. EPDM can be mechanically anchored with fasteners, ballasted with stone, or glued.
Pros: Homeowner-friendly installation. The material’s relatively light yet highly resistant to scuffs and tears. Leaks are easy to patch.
Cons: The standard black material absorbs heat, and light-colored coatings (recommended in warm climates) add 30% or more to the cost. Even the black version, though, costs more than BUR or modified bitumen. It’s also more vulnerable to punctures than other choices.
