February 2005

Replacing the Roof on Your Facility?
How to Get What You Paid for and Avoid Unexpected Problems and Cost

By Ken Apicella, Project Manager

Since 2000, over 1 million square feet of green roofs have been installed in Chicago with at least 35 new and over 100 retrofit garden roofing projects planned over the next 15 years. Regardless of application technology, good roof design, quality installation, and rigid safety considerations remain the same for roofing contractors. In fact, because of the relatively young age of this market, you need to especially make sure you follow these recommended guidelines:

Before you sign the dotted line on a major capital expenditure like a new roof, make sure your contractor has spelled out the details and is qualified to do the work.  If you don’t, it may not be long before you find yourself replacing that roof again or facing major repairs.

Here’s a quick checklist of steps you and your contractor should take before you commit to a reroofing contract.

Check the Roofing Company’s Credentials.

You want someone with the experience and depth to handle the complexities of an industrial, commercial or institutional roof.  Ask the contractor to provide the following information:

• Longevity.  Number of years that the contractor has been in business.
   

• Experience and References.  Don’t settle for references only from companies where the roofing project was “trouble-free.”  Ask for contact names for projects that were not without problems.  Then, ask how the contractor handled them.  This is one good way to judge the roofer’s quality and attitude.
   

• Capabilities and Personnel.  Ask for a list of roofing services that the contractor is qualified to perform. The list should include:
  
  -Types of roof deck replacement the contractor can handle, such as metal, wood, lightweight concrete, poured in place concrete, gypsum or tectum.
  
  -Description of personnel assigned to the project, including their training, certifications, years of experience, and function.  Be sure the description includes a detailed summary of the project foreman’s experience and qualifications.
  
  -List of buildings where the contractor has provided the type of roofing services listed including examples of the type of system proposed for your roof.
  
  -Name and location of a job-in-progress that you would be allowed to visit.
   

• Equipment List.  What type of equipment does the contractor have available to use on your project? Is it well maintained with all of the safety devices in place?
   

• Safety Record.  Ask to see a copy of their experience modification rating from their insurance carrier.  Do they have an ongoing safety-training process in place?
   

• Insurance Coverage.  How much insurance the contractor carries and what type.  Make sure you are adequately protected.

Give the Contractor the Information He or She Needs to Prepare an Appropriate Proposal.

A quality contractor will find out what is important to you and your company before he looks at your roof.  The following information will allow the contractor to design a reliable, watertight roof system tailored to your needs:

• What is important to your company during this roofing project?
   

• How long do you plan on owning this building?
   

• Do you want a long or a short-term solution?
   

• Are there certain times when noise will be a problem?
   

• How much do you have budgeted for this project?
   

• Are there any areas in your facility where falling dust will cause a problem?
   

• Where is the best place to set up the necessary roofing equipment?

Check the details of the roofing proposal and contract.

Make sure acceptable procedures are established up front for dealing with both the expected activities and unforeseen problems.  For example, the condition of components such as your roof deck, masonry walls or wood nailers cannot be determined until the existing roof system is removed. The contract should spell out how your roofer will handle problems like these.  Make sure the contract includes the following:

• Prices for unseen roofing components (should they be needed).
   

• Acceptable procedures to follow if additional roofing services and materials not covered by the base contract should be needed.
   

• Make sure that you are notified in writing and that your approval will be obtained before any extra work begins.

Define Issues and Responsibilities Before the Project Begins.

After you’ve awarded the contract, sit down with your roofer and define day-to-day working procedures that will allow your contractor to install a high quality roof, while keeping disruptions to your business to a minimum.  The pre-job meeting should be attended by your company’s project liaison to the roofing company, as well as the roofing company’s project manager, superintendent and foreman.  Be sure these issues are understood and agreed upon:

• The tentative start date of the project.
   

• The number of working days that the roofers will be present.
   

• The normal working hours for your roofer.
   

• Where the roofing company may set up its equipment.
   

• Areas of your facility, if any, that are sensitive to noise or dust.
   

• The kinds of fumes and odors that can be expected during this project.

The key to getting a quality roof installation is finding a contractor with good long term references, a history of successful projects, low employee turnover, and the manpower, equipment, and expertise to successfully complete any size roofing project.

Communication is the cornerstone of any good, long-term relationship.  When you have found a contractor you are comfortable working with, who successfully completes your roofing projects as promised, it is in your best interest to keep working with this contractor.  He or she will have a unique understanding of your business and what it will take to solve your roofing problems, without interfering with your day-to-day operations.

Remember, the best price will not necessarily work out to be the best deal for your company.  When you buy a roof strictly by price you usually get what you paid for.

Ken Apicella, a 30-year roofing industry veteran, is a Project Manager with Bennett & Brosseau Roofing, Inc.  You may contact Ken Apicella at: Bennett & Brosseau Roofing Inc., 1316 Marquette Drive, Romeoville, IL. 60446-1026; Phone: 630.759.0009 ext. 225; Fax: 630.759.2288; Ken_Apicella@BennettandBrosseau.com; www.BennettandBrosseau.com.

Bennett & Brosseau incorporates sustainable building practices and energy efficient design in its construction by utilizing several building envelope products and systems which support this effort. Moreover, implemented green strategies contribute toward clients achieving LEED certification and or meeting green project goals without comprising the integrity of the roofing system.