When your roof leaks, it's crucial to have an inspection conducted by a qualified, experienced roofing professional. Opt for an established, credible company that you can trust. Many roofing estimates are free, and reliable roofers will provide you with a detailed investigation report. This report will include a summary of observations, written recommendations, essential information, pricing, and various options available to address your roofing problem.
Every building has its own unique footprint and characteristics, so each flat roofing project requires special considerations, a comprehensive analysis, and site-specific solutions.
During the initial stage of a roof assessment, the building's history needs to be reviewed. For older structures, what appears to be a safe concrete or brick façade may mask old materials left from previous renovations. These can present hidden structural dangers, worn supporting elements, and fire hazards. Examples include brick over clapboard or rusted steel supports concealed by other materials.
One technique that helps expose some roofing problems is core sampling. This diagnostic test involves cutting holes through existing flat roofing materials to reveal the roof's history. An analysis of the internal building conditions should follow. Results will identify pre-existing issues, such as dry rot, indicating structural weakness and fire risk. Further examination may also reveal mold, a potential health issue, as well as other material failures. Threats such as asbestos or coal tar pitch may also be discovered and require specialized handling.
Examining the building structure and design may reveal inadequate engineering or architectural issues that need correction. This is often the case in older buildings with a history of numerous renovations or expansions. Fire walls, parapets, and curbs must be checked for wear, cracking, and other damages. Visual inspections identify ponding, poor drainage, and roof sponging, which may indicate integrity problems with decking or framing.
Assessment of insulation, substrate, and decking is also necessary. Sometimes these materials are stable and reusable or recyclable, which is important from a waste management perspective. This also saves the customer extra disposal costs.
Identifying existing roof waterproofing systems is crucial to determine product synergies. These systems include Standing Seam Metal Roofs, Mechanically Attached Steel Roofs, Coal Tar Pitch, Bitumen, Rubberized Asphalt, EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer), Polyurethane Foam, and waterproof/liquid coatings. Failure or incompatibility of roofing materials can be a source of problems.
Immediate threats to building integrity and property safety must be given urgent attention. Recommended actions will help mitigate further loss or damage until project approval and commencement.
Suitable roofing specifications must be designed for each location. The least hazardous approach to complete the project should be a high priority. This includes special considerations for detail work, product suitability, and assessing any other threats to work performance, such as area security and roof accessibility. Often, traditional roofing systems and products are ineffective due to building anomalies, climatic conditions, or local environmental issues. For example, if a building is in an area with high concentrations of airborne contaminants or if the business has its own manufacturing emission issues, these could impact the use of various roofing methods. Therefore, site-specific, unique processes or materials may need to be developed through controlled experimentation to achieve an effective waterproofing result. There is considerable chemistry involved in products and their interactions. While some products work well together, the combined usage of others may be unknown. Solving the problem of what to do or what to use is not always straightforward.
Every facet of a flat roofing construction project requires a variety of supplies and accessories such as membranes, insulation, adhesives, sealants, fastening techniques, and drainage or ventilation details. Other considerations must include building orientation, prevailing winds, ice or snow loads, and heat or sun exposure. Building movement, contraction, and expansion must also be taken into account, along with complex roof details such as skylights, windows, vents, HVAC units, gas lines, cant strips, flashings, and other fabricated components. Sometimes, unusual details on flat roofs require research, development, and manufacturing of exclusive mechanisms to complete the roofing project.
These factors must be considered alongside the budget constraints of the building owner, unique design requirements, and the necessary materials, tools, specialized equipment, and labor for the flat roofing job.
Building owners, physical plant managers, and property committees should meet with roofing professionals to review specifications and discuss methods, design proposals, and product options. Generally, the entire process from the first viewing of the project to completion and an additional warranty period entails a long-term relationship between the building owner, roofing contractor, and manufacturer of the chosen product line. Conduct your due diligence and choose your roofing contractor wisely!