Why Use Helical Piles

Helical piles are used today in the construction of new homes and the stabilizing of existing homes in areas and regions with poor soil or flooding issues. It is a manufactured steel system that is a part of your home’s foundation consisting of a central shaft that has helix-shaped plates bored into the earth below the foundation; and, attached with brackets to the structure in order to stabilize the foundation of a structure. These piles are literally screwed into the earth using high applications of torque. This foundation pile will guarantee that any structure it supports has a solid anchored base. The methodology should not be unfamiliar with anyone considering that it has been used historically for clotheslines and above ground housing. Once the piles are inserted they can hold weights of 50,000 pounds each!

Helical piles are designed so that the axial capacity is generated and bore by the plates which have been advanced against the soil. These plates are spaced in such a way as to prevent the load from being born by a single plate. Each plate contributes to the overall stress thus creating a stable pile. This means that each helix plate is both independent and working in a conjunctive group to bear the weight of the structure against the pile shaft. The helix geometry discourages soil disturbance and creates a “clean” environment and surface area surrounding the installation.

The advantages to this type of system are numerous. It is a high capacity alternative for deep foundations required by law and/or environment that can be installed in tight areas of limited access.  Because of the system used to install them this can happen far more quickly than other types of pile systems and concrete foundations can be poured same day. They can also be retrofitted easily to existing structures (see a structural engineer for details). 

If you have questions about helical piles for new or existing construction, call Southern Coast Foundation Systems, Inc. today. We'd be more than happy to discuss with you those options available to you for your project and budget.

What is an Urban Heat Island, and How Does it Affect My Commercial Roofing Choices?

When considering your next choice in commercial roof replacement, you may wish to take into consideration the rising cost of energy in the U.S. and how your building absorbs heat. An urban heat island is basically a metropolitan area that is hotter than the surrounding rural and suburban areas due to human activity. The cause of this is the modification of land surfaces by creating structures that store short-wave radiation. In other words, the types of building materials used in an urban area have an aggregate effect on the heat levels of that area, and that, in turn, affects the heating and cooling costs of those living there. The increase in ambient urban air temperatures is measurable due to the lack of natural vegetation and the dominance of buildings and structures that have dark or black surfaces like roads or roofs.

Commercial roof replacement and commercial roof repair should take into consideration the rising cost of energy in the U.S. and what that will mean to the cooling costs in summer for your office building. Between 5-10% of all electricity used in summer is there to offset the Urban Heat Island effect. When the country spends close to $40 billion each year to cool our houses and buildings, finding some means of offsetting this process is imperative. If you could reduce your energy costs and grow the lifespan of your roof, why wouldn't you? Your white or reflective roof can reduce your monthly summer energy costs by 40%!

Here in Florida, there are credits and rebates for “going green”. We can help you make the most of those when having a commercial roof replacement or doing commercial roof repair, as well as, help you to make the most of the investment by creating a cool space that reduces your electricity costs. We at Southern Coast Enterprises, Inc. make it our mission to raise awareness and provide all our customers with the most innovative, cost-reducing, and quality products that money can buy. We provide you with solutions that can even eliminate in some cases your energy costs with solar. When you need a consultation on commercial roof replacement, call us to see what our Green Energy solutions can do for you.

Time for a Commercial Roof Replacement: Go Green!

No roof lasts forever. At some point they all need to be replaced; and, depending upon the environment, this can be sooner rather than later for many roofs. Here in Florida, we have to deal with heat conditions not seen in the northern states; the expansion and contraction of roofing materials does an enormous amount of damage to them, as well as, the wind damage from hurricane season. Roofing is one of the largest expenses along with foundation on any structure, so to replace a roof is a serious investment on your part. Finding the right roofing for your business and structure is important when making a roof replacement for your business.

Our business provides multiple styles and choices in roofing, and we are willing to make recommendations that can save you money now or over time. For example, using what's known in the industry as a “cool roof” makes sense. This type of geoengineering takes a very simple change and produces a shift in energy costs and extends the life of a roof over time. Commercial roof replacement from a tar roof to a white or reflective one can extend the roof by ten to fifteen years in a place like Florida. It can also cut back on heating and cooling costs each month tenfold. This is very important in that it performs a dual task of protecting the building from the elements and reflecting solar heat. Think of what color clothing you wear in summer and why—it’s no different when it comes to roofing. You wouldn't wear all black in the heat, you want to wear white; and, the same goes for roofing colors.

Southern Coast Enterprises Inc. moved into the reflective and white roofing market so that we could help our customers enjoy the latest innovations in Green Energy and see immediate savings. We work to help our clients design buildings and replace roofing in a way that adheres to energy-friendly living. If you care about the environment—or even if you don't, you can benefit from Green Energy products and we'll show you how.

Reflective Roof Coatings Can Save You Money!

If you live in the sunshine state then you understand how much the sun has an effect on your cooling bills. A dark or darker-colored roof can have a temperature of  close to 180°F on a regular sunny day—not to mention those days when the heat waves have become relentless as is common in July and August. It is prudent for Floridians to think about changing the color of their roofs to save on energy costs.

Having a white rooftop or placing a white coating over the existing roof will work to reflect the heat of the sun making the attic and top floor of the home cooler, and thus making the entire residence cooler. Most businesses in Florida have already moved to white painted flat building coverings for this reason. Moreover, a white or light-colored roof will also have the advantage of lasting longer than one with a darker color. The constant expansion of roofing tiles and materials, and then the retraction against at nightfall have an effect over time, wearing down the materials and thus being replaced quicker. The cooler the roof, the longer the roofing materials will last.

A recent study out of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory provided ample evidence to the fact that the implementation of white or “cool coverings” along with “cool pavements” can work to cancel the heating effect of CO2 and help address the rise of global warming. So not only can a lighter-colored top help you save in your cooling costs, but also provide you with the opportunity to do your part to help save the planet.

When looking for materials, those with albedo or a “high solar reflectance” are preferable. Very few are colors other than white. Some choose to tile with cool tiles, while others apply coatings to their current tiles. While this does not last as long as a created white covering, it can provide a reflectance that is 80% greater than that of a normal asphalt tile. One reason that white roofs work better than aluminum roofing is that aluminum will retain heat and stay warmer during nighttime hours than the standard white top. White rooftops will radiate heat back out into the atmosphere. 

Those looking to cut their cooling bills, while also doing something positive for the environment will want to check out white rooftops.

Solar Hot Water Heaters: Go Green and Save Money

Do the words “free hot water” sound too good to be true? Minus the initial cost of the setup, the solar hot water heater works without the use of external electricity, therefore, being freely fueled by the sun. Most homes will find that close to 65% of their hot water burden can be accommodated through the solar heater. This heater by far is the cheapest and easiest green investment you can make for your home, and one with a quick return on the investment. 

Solar hot water heaters come in various designs and sizes, but each one works off the same premise of gathering heat via the solar panels/solar collectors, then transferring that heat to the water where the hot water is stored until used. This principle is recreated in science fairs all across the country, which shows how simple the process is and how easily applied.

While the initial outlay for a solar heater is more than the standard hot water heater, it will pay for itself in 1/3 the time of the standard hot water heater. It is estimated that after everything is taken into consideration from purchase to installation to maintenance, the solar hot water heater can not only pay for itself in 8 years but will last up to 40 years—something no electric or gas water heater has yet to be designed to do. In southern states like Florida, Georgia, Alabama or Mississippi, these types of heaters are particularly able to create large energy output for water; and, can be used more than the estimated 50-57% of use that most are estimated to offset.

Beyond the cost savings, the owners of these types of water heaters take comfort in knowing that they are helping to reduce their environmental footprint, and reduce the amount of energy being used from coal and nuclear power. The fact is that positive, gross environmental benefits of owning a solar hot water heater are too good to be true. The typical solar water heater used in residential locales has the ability to offset those greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 1,500 pounds of CO2 every year. To give a better understanding of what this means, by purchasing a solar water heater you are reducing the CO2 in the air by the amount of CO2 put off by a vehicle who has just driven over 15,000 miles! That's a lot of reduction to your carbon footprint.

If you like the idea of self-sustaining living and helping to reduce harmful CO2 gasses, the solar hot water heater could be the water heater for you.