Roofing Industry Professionals
Professional roof consultants do add value to every roofing project. However, we are not naive enough to think that there will be a consultant on every roofing project. Consequently, to assist our site visitors below is information on our understanding of other professionals in the field:
Architects and Professional Engineers (A/E) are the primary professionals in the building industry.
- They are licensed by the various States to be responsible for building design and structure.
- All new buildings (other than one/two family residential structures) require A/E design.
- A/Es are responsible for certain performance aspects of the building for the duration of the statue of limitations in the applicable state.
- Changes to an existing building design that would affect certain performance aspects of the building, such as structural integrity, require an A/E.
Keep in mind that A/Es are responsible for everything from the soil bearing capacity under the foundations to the paint on the finished walls and it is difficult to be up to date on all subjects involved. Buildings by some of the greatest architects from Frank Lloyd Wright to date have had notoriously leaky roofs. However, many A/Es do keep up with the roofing industry, some even specialize in roofing, and they do provide excellent roof services. Many are also members of the Roof Consultant Institute and are very good competitors. If you have an architect or engineer that is truly knowledgeably regarding all aspects of the roofing industry, then stick with them.
Also, during the new building construction phase, be wary of the term “Value Engineering” which often results in decreased quality of the roof system to offset budget shortfalls elsewhere.
Contractors are the true professionals in the physical aspect of the building construction industry.
- They are completely responsible for safety on the jobsite.
- They are generally responsible for the ways & means of construction during all weather & site conditions.
- Contractors are responsible for supervision and coordination with all other parties including subcontractors.
- Contractors are the ultimate source for keeping quality roofers (who are ultimately the most important people involved in the actual application of your roof) on the job and the right materials available at the right time for the tradesmen to install.
If you have a great contractor that has already provided great service, stick with them.
Owner/Contractor relationships that are built on a mutual trust that neither side will take advantage of the other (regardless of circumstances during construction) often produce the most cost effective results. However, they occasionally end up in disaster because many contractors do not provide enough detail of exactly what they will do at every roof edge, mechanical penetration, or equipment curb. Keep in mind that trust is no substitute for written agreements regarding exactly what each party agrees to provide and how much it will cost.
When the details are not documented, each side has their own perception of what the agreement includes. We find that most roofing contractors have the best intentions at the start of every project. However, during the construction phase, if problems come up, many start looking for shortcuts.
Good contractors welcome the participation of RRCs (registered roof consultants) on their project as quality assurance members of their team.
Finally, be wary of “bottom feeders” (contractors that get most of their work with low bids with plans to make their profit with change orders) and “storm chasers” who migrate to disaster sites, provide quick work that is often inferior and are gone when problems develop.
