Without proper planning and poor workmanship, asphalt shingle roofs can be seen as a burden weighing over your home. When shingle roofs reach the end of their useful life, or have been installed with poor workmanship, Associations are stuck in a continuous cycle of constant repairs, water intrusion, and even underlying ventilation issues. Given that the replacement of a shingle roof is a large investment for any Association, proper avenues should be taken to endeavor watertightness, energy efficiency, and shingle longevity.
Falcon understands that a roof replacement can be a large financial undertaking for any Association. The first step to any roof replacement project is the internal planning process from the Association. In effort to plan for an upcoming roof replacement project, an Association should be sure to regularly update their Capital Reserve Study to obtain the most up-to-date pricing, complete periodic roof evaluation assessments with Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) pricing from a qualified professional, and (based on the need for replacement) retain a licensed design professional to streamline the construction process.
As the first line of defense from natural elements, watertightness starts at the roof-level of every building and works its way down to the foundation. Therefore, it is incredibly important the reconstruction of the roof is done at the highest quality of workmanship. While the replacement of the asphalt shingles may seem straight forward, each roof is unique. Each roof replacement project should be approached using a design professional to prepare a suitable, cost-effective design with construction details and specifications for the use of an Association selected contractor. The professional should also be involved during the construction phase to endeavor that the project is completed in accordance with industry standards and manufacturer recommendations. All in effort to mitigate future expenses due to existing problems that may go unseen for years but become an issue for an Association later.
There are several important aspects of a roof replacement project that must be followed to promote quality workmanship and a final high-quality outcome. All steep-slope asphalt shingle roof replacement projects should address the following:
- Material Selection: Proper underlayment, flashings, and shingles should be used in order to provide the best roof for your particular building and geographical location. The selected / installed materials will ultimately determine the performance and overall useful life of the roof system.
- Building Code Requirements: It is important that the new roof system complies with modern building code and industry standards through meeting the attic ventilation requirements, wind uplift resistance requirements, shingle installation requirements, flashing installation requirements, etc.
- Manufacturer Warranty: Each shingle manufacturer has specific warranty requirements and in some cases, different levels of warranty coverage. It is important that the materials installed equate to those of the manufacturer’s warranty and that they are installed per the manufacturer guidelines. If a design professional is involved in the project they should ensure that the roof meets the shingle manufacturer’s warranty requirements through the specifying of materials, providing adequate construction details, and observing construction.
- Contractor Selection: There are a wide variety of roofing contractors, however, it is important to select a contractor who is licensed and insured in your state, and certified by the manufacturer of your selected materials. Sub-contracting crews are often compensated by the quantity of shingles installed each day. It is important to ensure that no short cuts are being taken to maximize the income of the contractor. If each area is not observed by a qualified professional, these potential deficiencies will go unnoticed and create problems down the road.
- Construction Observation: As roof projects historically tend to move quick, it is important that a qualified individual under the direction of the Association is present during construction. The professional will work to mitigate any potential short cuts taken by the contractor and promote high-quality workmanship. Often, variations in the original construction documents arise due to unforeseen conditions. It is important that the in-field adjustment decisions for the best course of action are determined by a qualified professional.
The Falcon Group is committed to providing high performance, value engineered, project designs and specifications to fit the unique conditions of each community we serve. The roof replacement process is a large financial undertaking, and we strive to maximize the benefits to be realized after such an investment of capital.
