Orlando, FL – Tourism, Business, and Culture

Orlando, “The City Beautiful” as it’s called, is known throughout the world because of the names that call this city home. However Orlando, and Central Florida as a whole, is filled with so much more than Disney World, Universal, or SeaWorld, regardless of how much impact they have.

From Small Beginnings

While tourism has become the major economic driver in the region, Orlando actually started in an entirely different industry; Citrus. Even before becoming incorporated, the surrounding area was ripe for citrus farms, more specifically oranges (hence the name Orange County). However, after a long stint of cold seasons called the Great Freeze, the crops dwindled and only a few families remained in power. These families would help to develop the city over the next few decades, and usher in a new era of prosperity.

In spite of the development, the Central Florida region was still predominantly swampland; unattractive to new businesses and residents. What was attractive was the central location between both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. For this reason, slowly but surely, the land continued to be bought up and people moved in, roads were developed, and eventually the Orlando International Airport (what would become one of the most trafficked airports in the United States).

Orlando had become a destination, but it wasn’t until Walt Disney purchased the land that would become Disney property that it truly skyrocketed. One of the most lucrative land purchases in our history, the area we call “Tourist Town” has grown quickly since the late 60’s, now home to multiple theme parks, large resorts, and other tourism generating destinations.

Sights to See

In spite of the relative rapidity of industrial growth, certain areas of nature have been preserved. While Orlando’s orange groves have all but gone away, there are still natural springs, beaches, and many trails to travel. Just in the Central Florida region alone, we have Blue Springs, Rock Springs, and perhaps the largest in the state, Wekiwa Springs. Each of these is home to the most beautiful clear waters that run on average 70 degrees Fahrenheit all year round!

If you take the opportunity to visit any of these nature preserves, you will have a good chance of seeing some of the animals that visit Orlando or call it home. Perhaps the most notable of these is the Manatee, which occupy the rivers and springs throughout Central Florida as they migrate. These are a protected species and we must do our part to ensure their safety for years to come.

Due to the infrastructure in the region, Orlando is also perfectly placed for beach access. If you are looking for a beach getaway, you’re only an hour and a half from either the East Coast or the West Coast of the state. Both sides have drastically different beaches, but both are incredibly beautiful.

We make it a point in Orlando to keep nature thriving, and specifically block off construction in certain areas. So while the old swampland that is now Disney property has gone away, there is still much beauty to enjoy.

Business in Orlando

Due in large part to the previous two points, Orlando has become a destination for new residents. Every year more and more people come to our humble city to call it home. As with new population comes the potential for new business. We are one of the fastest growing business cities in the nation, and have thousands of small businesses and startups who have started here.

There’s a large pool of people to pull from for a workforce, and there’s never a shortage of new ideas to develop. While the city proper is relatively small, the entire region is considered “Greater Orlando”, and that encompasses miles and miles of developed land and businesses. If you are looking to relocate or find a new place to build a business, there is no limit to your ability to do so in Orlando.

Transportation and Infrastructure

One of the most important aspects to any city is your ability to get around and see everything there is to see. Orlando is steadily improving upon this concept, and has begun constructing a transit system to help get around more easily. The SunRail is a train system that runs throughout the Central Florida region, and has multiple stops in many of the surrounding towns. If you don’t want to ride the train, there’s Interstate 4 (which is currently being expanded into more lanes). I4 calls Orlando it’s heart, as the road connects Tampa Bay on the West Coast, to Daytona Beach on the East Coast. There’s no faster way to travel throughout the area than by I4.

If you’re out of state, or even country, or you’re just looking to travel a lot, Orlando is also home to MCO or Orlando International Airport. Already one of the largest airports in the country, it’s soon going to be undergoing an expansion to add more terminals. The reason for this is that Orlando is one of the premiere destinations, and sees more people come in and out than majority of other airports in the nation. In other words, if you’re going to travel to or from the city, you’ll always have a flight out.

Multiculturalism

Development and industry are important aspects of any city, but the people who make up the citizens are what truly make it great. Due in large part to tourism, Orlando is one of the most diverse cities in the country. People from all around the world relocate here and plant their roots, young and old. You can drive down a stretch of Orange Blossom Trail and see restaurants from thirty different cultures.

Because of the variety of people in the city, Orlando is also one of the most tolerant and progressive cities. It’s hard to walk down the street and not see people going out of their way to help others. It’s truly a community of people that live here. All walks of life, and religious beliefs, intermingle and cohabitate to make Orlando not just a destination but a home.

What makes this place “The City Beautiful” is that it’s more than meets the eye. No matter where you look, there’s something for everyone. So whether you’re looking to indulge in the attractions or tourist scene, take in a lovely stroll in nature, engage in new business, or experience new cultures, Orlando is the location for you to visit or call home.

Roof Terms

Are you needing roofing services but having a hard time understanding roof service lingo? The following are some basic roof terms any prospective client can benefit from learning:

• Roof Repairing and Restoring: the process of repairing or fixing parts of a roof that have broken
  o Roof damage: can result from weather such as hail, rain, and wind
  o Re-roofing: the process of laying new roofing
•  Roof Replacement: the process of installing an entirely new roof. This can be done for residential or commercial properties.
• Residential Roofing: roofing designed specifically for homes
• Commercial Roofing: roofing specifically for business and companies—due to the nature of commercial roofing, this is a larger project than home roofing

•  Important parts of a roof that you need to know:
  o Cornice: wood or metal finishing on the roof
  o Counter flashing: flashings on the top of a vertical structure
  o Eaves: the edge of the roof that overhangs
  o Snow guard: this roof part is usually around three feet long; the purpose of snow guards is to attempt to keep water out of your home in order to prevent leaks and water damage
  o EPDM: rubber used on flatter or lightly sloping roofs
  o Rafter: structural and made of wood; sheathing is attached under
  o Sheathing: boards or sheet material nailed to the rafters; roofing materials are secured to sheathing
  o Pitch/slope: the number of vertical inches in regards to horizontal distance
  o Shingles: a type of roofing material that is most associated with typical home roofs
  o Sheet metal: a type of durable roofing material made from aluminum or steel that can be used instead of typical shingles. It is durable against weather and lasts for a longer time. It can be made to look like actual sheets of metal or like shingles.
  o Square: term for the amount needed to cover 100 square feet of roofing
  o Valley: the place where the two roof slopes come together to form a “v” shape

A lot goes into roofing. These are just some of the basic terms that might help you understand roof jargon a little more. If you would like more information on roofing, feel free to contact us. You can call us at (407)696-7663 or use the contact form on our website to get in touch with us. We hope to help you with your roofing needs!

Structural Information

Living on the coast of Florida is a dream, unless a hurricane is barreling down on you. For those of us who live in Florida, hurricanes are an ever-present possibility from June through November. It is not just our state that is threatened though. From the southern tip of Texas around the Gulf Coast of Florida, up the East Coast to Maine, and extending over 100 miles inland along this border, the United States is at risk for serious hurricane damage. The American Society for Civil Engineers recommends certain structural standards for homes and buildings located in these hurricane zones, and their ASCE 7-05 map, collecting potential wind speeds, show those places with the most severe risk from Hurricane winds to be on the coasts from North Carolina to Texas. Florida is the only state where every square mile is under threat from Hurricane winds. This threat obviously poses a danger to our loved ones and ourselves, but it also poses an extreme threat to the homes we cannot evacuate.
Roofs play a very important role in maintaining the structural integrity of your home during a hurricane. If you can adequately protect your windows and doors from being compromised during a storm, you may only have to worry about your roof. But if you lose your roof structure during a storm, your walls will certainly follow. Your roof can be at risk of being damaged in even the weakest hurricanes (Categories 1 and 2), and risks complete removal during major storms (Categories 3, 4, and 5). The National Hurricane Center’s Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale shows just how much your roof is at risk in different hurricane strengths:

Category 1: “Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding and gutters.”

Category 2: “Well-constructed frame homes could sustain major roof and siding damage.”

Category 3: “Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends.”

Category 4: “Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls.”

Category 5: “A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse.”

While there may be nothing you can do to save your roofs from a direct hit by the most severe storms, there are choices you can make that might help mitigate the damage. The Palm Beach Post informed its readers about how certain roofs faired during the storms of 2004 and 2005—extremely active hurricane seasons with multiple landfalls in Florida. The Post attributed the majority of roof failures to two causes: “Age and improper installation caused most roof failures in the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes.” They also provided other facts about roofs after the storms.

—“Metal roofs had the fewest problems, followed by tiles applied with concrete or foam adhesive.”

—“Nailed-on tiles didn’t fare as well.”

—“Shingle roofs came off in the thousands.”

—“Shingles become brittle and lose adhesion in the Florida sun after about 12 years even if they were properly installed.”

—“[S]ealants can make shingles more brittle.”

—“Roofs installed after the mid-1990s, when building codes began to change statewide after Hurricane Andrew, survived better than those installed earlier.”

Reading the Post’s reporting on the storms, we can glean our best choices for roofs in hurricane zones are metal roofs and tile roofs installed using concrete or foam adhesive. Although they faired better during the storms, metal roofs and tile roofs still run the risk of dents and chips from large hail during storms.

Choose the Right Roofer the First Time, Choose an FRSA Certified Roofer

Choosing the right roofer is a vital step in fixing and installing your roof. Our roofs are so important it is little wonder professionals recommend using only approved roof inspectors and cleaners, and the consequences of choosing the wrong roofer, when roofing scams leave consumers high and dry and Florida hurricanes are an ever present possibility six months of the year, are so dire, how could you think of hiring any roofer that you don’t have compete confidence in?

The answer is simple: you can’t. If you’re looking to put a new roof on your house or repair damage left after the hurricane season, Choose an FRSA certified roofer.

The Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA) is a professional organization of roofing, sheet metal, and air conditioning contractors and industries. Representing Registered Roofing Contractors, Certified Roofing Contractors, as well as the manufacturers producing roofing materials, the FRSA represents everything you want in a roofer. Established in 1922, the FRSA’s mission is to “foster and encourage a high standard of business ethics” in the roofing industry. Contractors working under the FRSA’s Customer Assurance Program Seals certify their companies conform to all licensing regulations, hold valid worker’s compensation and liability insurance, and subscribe to a code of ethics. Every FRSA member is guaranteed to have their license through the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board, but they’re also guaranteed to hold to a code of ethics that goes above and beyond.

For me, nothing says more for the FRSA as an organization or for their members than their determination to act as a watchdog for consumers. Their commitment is posted on their website, where they list the questions every consumer needs to ask when hiring a roofer:

1) Are you a member of a professional roofing organization such as the Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA)?

2) Do you have a permanent place of business and for how long?

3) Are you properly licensed and insured according to the Florida licensing requirements? Please provide your license number.

4) May I see copies of your certificates of insurance for workers’ compensation and contractor liability insurance?

5) Can you provide me with a list of client references that I may contact?

6) Do you guarantee your work, and what type of written warranties will you provide?

7) Will I receive a written proposal with a complete description of the work and specifications, such as estimated starting and completion dates?

8) Will my property remain relatively clean and orderly during the project?

9) Who will be the on-site person in charge on a day-to-day basis?

You can also find important manufacturer and contractor warranty information on their website.

FRSA’s dedication to consumer education is only surpassed by their commitment to research and education for their members. This commitment is born out of the active involvement of their members, where “a number of standing and special committees work on various programs and projects while constantly developing or assessing new ones,” and demonstrated by the FRSA Educational and Research Foundation. They truly believe the only way to improve the quality of their industry is through research and education, for which they provide their members with a number of benefits that are professionally invaluable and also excellent for consumers:

—Access to a staff member for all codes and technical questions.

—“As it happens” knowledge of upcoming codes and legislative changes.

—Professional certification programs and quality education programs.

—Access to the FRSA library which houses instructional manuals covering basic and advanced roofing as well as safety.

—Florida Roofing Magazine.

The FRSA is also a charter member of the Florida Construction Coalition and maintains excellent communication with national organizations like the National Roofing Contractors Association as well as a host of other local and national professional organizations.

It is hard to believe that anyone would choose a non-FRSA member to work on their roof with all of this backing them up.

Life Expectancy

Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material in Florida and in the United States. They are divided into two categories: fiberglass asphalt and organic asphalt. The key similarity in both types is there use of asphalt to waterproof another material. Fiberglass asphalt shingles use a fiberglass base, and organic asphalt shingles use an organic (i.e. wood fiber, waste paper, cellulose) base. Both types have a top coat of slate, schist, quartz, vitrified brick, stone, or ceramic granules that block UV rays which can deteriorate the shingles. Asphalt shingles are the cheapest roofing material, so while it can be the perfect choice for those of us on a budget, we should know they have a correspondingly shorter life expectancy.

While asphalt shingles as a general category do have a shorter life expectancy than other roofing materials, it’s valuable to look at the two different types to see

their advantages and disadvantages. Organic shingles are more resistant to tearing and nail pull-though. They are also easier to install in cold weather with a lesser chance of blowing off. Unfortunately, organic shingles are more expensive, more prone to curling and blistering due to moisture and heat, and have a poor fire rating. They are most recommended for cold-weather installations. Fiberglass shingles are less expensive and less susceptible to cupping or curling, have a much better fire rating, and are lightweight. Unfortunately, they are less tear-resistant, more likely to blow off in cold weather, and have been reported for premature failures when low-end, lightweight products are used. Fiberglass shingles are most recommended for moderate and warm climates.

Organic and fiberglass shingles both have their comparative advantages and disadvantages, but they both share certain qualities that impact their life expectancy in Florida’s climate. Our high UV index degrades their protective granules much more quickly than in other climates, and they are also prone to warping (organic) or splitting (fiberglass) in extreme heat and weather changes. Our high levels of rain and humidity can promote algae growth—more cosmetic than dangerous in itself—but it can lead to mold and mildew that can rapidly deteriorate the shingles. Florida’s hurricanes and tropical storms also pose a serious threat because asphalt shingles are the least reliable roofing material against heavy winds. Even when you do not consider the threat of hurricanes, Florida’s environmental conditions can take a toll on asphalt shingles.

Asphalt shingles are warrantied between 20 to 50 years depending on quality and installation, but unfortunately, they are expected to last a much shorter time than that maximum, and in reality, they are believed to have a more probable life span of 12 to 15 years in Florida.

Of course, this does not mean that asphalt shingles should be avoided entirely. Instead, it is a warning that maintenance and upkeep on your roof will be a very important step to ensuring your roof lasts as long as its warranty. First, cleaning is an essential practice with asphalt shingles. You have to make sure that you keep mold and mildew at bay to preserve your shingles. Ask your roofer about asphalt shingles laced with copper that provide a defense against algae and mildew formation. You will also have to make sure that regular DIY roof inspections become a part of your routine. Those DIY inspections will also help you notice faulty shingles which you should be diligent about replacing so that the gaps do not compromise the rest of the shingles. You will also need to occasionally resurface your shingles to replace the UV fighting granules that you will lose more quickly in the Florida sun. Also, make sure to ask your roofer about reinforcing your shingles against high winds or about wind-resistant shingles when you are installing a new roof. If you follow these precautions and make inspecting and maintaining your roof a habit, low cost asphalt shingles may be the answer for you.