What You Need to Know about Fire Suppression and Your Roof

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 is understandably still resonant with homeowners and businesses alike in and around our area. Forget Mrs. O’Leary’s cow — the dry wood and a hot autumn combined to create the inferno. We have learned a lot about fire suppression since that awful October so long ago. Your Elk Grove Village home’s roof can be a vital part of protecting your home from fire.

Local Conditions

Fiberglass-asphalt shingles (the most common residential roofing material in America and the overwhelming favorite of local roofers) are rated against fire originating outside your Elk Grove Village home. This means they will hold together under flame, not allowing bits and pieces to blow off, fall off, or generate burning embers.
Avoiding fire-feeding conditions outside your roof is vital for fire suppression. This means cutting back overhanging tree branches, keeping tall shrubs or bushes away from the sides of your home, and gathering up dry leaves to avoid fire-starting spots.

Shingles Fight Fires

Class A-rated fiberglass-asphalt shingles are not fireproof; they are fire resistant, and will not contribute to the spread of a fire originating outside your home. This means they will, essentially, lie there and take it. This sounds flippant, but is not, as described by the experts at Inspectapedia:

During a fire, Class A-rated shingles (the highest fire resistance rating) will not break, slide off, crack, or warp and risk exposing the underlying roof deck
During a fire, your home’s shingles will not allow flame to spread on their underside

Shingles that cannot meet these specifications are not A-Rated and should be avoided.

Local roofers familiar with Chicagoland building codes know to use top-quality fire-resistant materials throughout any re-roofing or new construction. This is another reason — besides preventing Illinois ice dams — to insist on self-adhesive water and ice shield: it typically carries a Class A fire rating under fiberglass shingles, where tarpaper does not.

Inside

Please notice that fires originating inside your home can feed on many materials before encountering your shingles. Local roofers recommend fiberglass attic insulation because fiberglass cannot burn. Any paper backing may burn off, but the fiberglass is, literally, nonflammable glass. Adams Roofing Professionals can provide blown in fiberglass insulation with no paper backing.
Adams Roofing Professionals, the most trusted name in local roofers, is ready to answer your concerns regarding fire suppression and roofing. Contact us today regarding your Elk Grove Village home.

I wanted to let you know about an experience I had with one of your employees. I live at 1200 Knottingham Court in Kingsport Estates and apparently, your company is servicing our condo association. My building has had a leak in the entryway for several months and Eddie was dispatched out to have me show him the source of the leak inside. I met him on Friday, September 21st and just wanted to tell you how impressed I was with his friendliness and professionalism. He immediately found the source of the leak and even went up on the roof to show me. He assured me that someone would take care of it as soon as possible and told me he would give the report priority to avoid any further damage. As someone who used to be in Customer Service, I always value a company that hires people that are not only skilled at their trade, but also skilled at interacting with people. Eddie is a great example of that and I wanted you to know so you could tell him what a great job he does! I am so glad that Alma Management chose Adams Roofing to be our roofing contractor!... [more]

Jeremy Q, CMCA, AMS

Adams Roofing has a great team to work perfectly with condo and townhome Associations. We are currently in the middle of a 6 year, 49 building tear-off project. Adams works hand in hand with the engineers, delivers according to the specifications, and provides great customer service to the homeowners and management team.... [more]

Sue T.

Good Afternoon, I am writing to you on behalf of the Mission Hills M-8 Association. I would like to tell you how happy we are with the work that you completed for our Association. Your supervisor Eddie was great. We liked his professionalism and his work ethic. He kept us informed, and delivered on all his promises. Please make sure that any other jobs you do for us include him. Best regards, Joey Mission Hills Management... [more]

Brett K.

Charlie, Thanks very much for replacing the gutter! No one has been out to do it, at least before I left for work this morning. But I will definitely let you know whether it’s done correctly. I am very satisfied with your roofing job. It looks great, and more importantly, there were no leaks when it rained (even though we haven’t gotten really hard rains yet). So, I have been very pleased with my experience with Adams, especially with the professionalism and responsiveness of you and Dan. Thanks.... [more]

Keith M.

I wanted to take a moment to comment on your technician, Eddie. Eddie was assigned to inspect a roof leak I am having in my home in Cobblestone Circle. He was prompt, professional, courteous and informative; everything a customer could ask for when inviting a contractor into their home. Eddie represents Adams Roofing Well; and clearly he is an asset to your company. Kudos to him! Thank you.... [more]

Rick H.