Buildings Magazine - February 2019

to call in an expert instead of tak-
ing the DIY approach is an impor-
tant part of getting up to speed on
roofing.
Tips to Find the Right
Professional

Clark recommends starting with
an unbiased consultant who is
familiar with multiple roof mate-
rial types. “A consultant can look
at the existing roof and help you
determine whether that was the
correct roof system choice when
it was installed,” Clark says. “Roof
consultants are skilled in looking
at roof drainage, higher thermal
resistance, wind uplift and other
technical aspects of roof system
selection and design.”
Next, choose a contractor who
will install your roof replacement.
Clark recommends that any con-
tractor doing work on your roof
meet these conditions:

1. Experience in installing the type of roof you’re using. You want a qualified and experienced contractor doing that kind of work.

2. Approval from the roof system manufacturer. Most major manufacturers certify contractors who have been trained to install their products.

3. A good record. Your contractor should be well-established in your community, pre-qualified, properly licensed in your state, and able to show references for past jobs that are similar to yours. Additionally, they should carry an adequate amount of insurance.

The contractor also should be
willing to submit to a third-party
inspection during and after instal-
lation, Clark recommends. The
inspection serves as an additional
check on the contractor to ensure
proper installation. Some manu-
facturers have in-house inspec-
tion programs and will send out
a technician to look at the roof;
you also can hire an independent
consultant.

With the right background knowledge and a good team behind you, you’ll be able to maintain your portfolio’s roofs for years to come. Invest the time in getting to know your roof – the headaches you’ll avoid are well worth the effort. B

Janelle Penny janelle.penny@ buildings.com is a senior writer for BUILDINGS.

Roof Resources

Need to refresh your memory on roofing maintenance or get up to speed fast? Try these educational resources.

National Roofing Contractors Association ( www.nrca.net): This professional organization is for contractors, but it has much to offer facilities managers. Check out Elements of Roofing: A Guide for Building Owners, SPRI/NRCA Manual of Roof Inspection, Maintenance and Emergency Repair for Existing Single-Ply Roofing Systems or Manual for the Inspection and Maintenance of Built-Up and Polymer-Modified Bitumen Roof Systems.

RCI, Inc. ( rci-online.org): RCI is a professional association of building envelope and enclosure consultants with plenty of information for facilities professionals. Check out their education catalog to find a roofing course or skim the technical articles.

Industry groups: Reach out to the original manufacturer of your roof or industry groups that represent manufacturers of that roof type, such as the Metal Building Manufacturers Association ( mbma.com) or the EPDM Roofing Association ( epdmroofs.org).