News and Updates

There are probably times when homeowners in the Diamond State take roof leaks for granted. Sure, small leaks are relatively harmless, and placing a bucket under them every time it rains is easy to do, but they should never be underestimated. Procrastinating will only bring you a lot of trouble down the road, because if there’s one thing roof leaks are known for, it’s their tendency to develop into much bigger and costlier problems.[…] Read More

If you take a look at your roof, you’ll likely see one or two vent pipes protruding from it. These pipes are normally waterproof, effectively preventing rainwater and melted snow from penetrating the roof and treacherously making their way into the attic. However, as with anything on your roof, vent pipes are also subject to wear and tear. Once they become the source of a leak, you may need to call in professionals from a leading Delaware roofing company like Homecraft® Inc. to come and fix them for you.[…] Read More

In a May 30 article by Bill Bregar in plasticsnews.com, a market report on the window sector shows the continued improvement in home rebuilding for 2012, and it is believed that the growth will continue until 2015. In fact, it is expected that the market for residential windows will grow 15 percent for this year.[…] Read More

Summer, along with the sunlight and heat that it provides, is almost done, and all that’s left to look forward to for the rest of 2013 is cold weather, most likely ranging from cool, windy days to freezing days of snowstorms. In the City of Wilmington, winter temperatures can sometimes drop to -12°C, with the record low being -26°C. If you don’t start preparing your house to survive these extreme temperatures early on, you might end up welcoming the new year shivering in your living room or climbing up the roof to temporarily patch up leaks caused by ice dams.[…] Read More

State organizations advocating safety in the workplace pool their resources yet again to mount a nationwide campaign for the prevention of falls in construction sites. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the CPWR-Center for Construction Research and Training, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be leading the federally-funded effort to cover all US construction firms, including major Delaware roofing companies. The initiative was re-launched amid persistent reports that falls remain the top cause of injuries and fatalities in small residential construction sites.

Just like in 2012, when it was introduced, the national campaign for falls prevention will focus on raising awareness among construction industry movers, shakers, and insiders. Workers and employers will be provided information on safety and reminded time and again about the importance of protective gear while on the job. State safety watchdogs have strongly suggested harness-wearing and the use of retractable anchorage systems and lifelines (among others), particularly among more vulnerable employees like roofers who work at heights.

“Too many times we hear the phrase, ‘it was an accident.’ We know these incidents are preventable, which means that hundreds of fall-related deaths and thousands of injuries can be prevented. Our years of data collection consistently show that falls constitute one-third of all construction fatalities, which makes falls the leading killer of construction workers,” explained CPWR executive director Pete Stafford.

For his part, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health Dr. David Michaels said construction activity has increased over the years because of economic growth. The downside of this is the influx of workers that are not up to the task and do not have the necessary skills and experience for it. He believes seasoned Delaware roofing contractors and other construction owners in other states could change such grim statistics.

“Falls are the leading cause of death in construction so it is vitally important for employers to provide the right equipment and properly train their workers in a language they understand so they can do their jobs safely. Falls can be prevented and lives can be saved by planning ahead to get the job done safely,” Michael reiterated.

For companies involved in construction like Homecraft Inc., the renewal of the fall prevention initiative is always a welcome development in the industry. After all, as important as the projects such companies take are, the lives of their workers are even more so.