FAQ

Visual Roof Condition Surveys

When you know information regarding the roof, such as its type and age, but want a general idea of its condition.

Our visual surveys involve a review of the interior of the building directly below the roof, a review of the existing roof, flashings, related sheet metalwork, and a review of the building exterior as it relates to the roof.

Our visual roof survey report describes the type of existing roof that is present and its general conditions. General recommendations for correcting deficient conditions are provided. Typically, a roof area plan is developed to clarify the layout of the roof.

Our visual survey report will tell you what the exposed roof system is, if roof repair or roof replacement is required, and may provide general cost estimates for the type of remedial work required. These surveys typically do not identify roof system components, nor do they provide specific recommendations for correcting existing deficient conditions. These types of surveys are typically implemented on all roof types.

Roof Evaluations

When little or no information is known regarding the existing roof and you are experiencing problems; when you are considering purchasing a property, or you just want to know what condition your roof is in.

Our evaluations involve a visual survey of the roof and related flashings, test cuts of the existing roof, a moisture survey of the roof (depending on the roof type) and mapping of the roof in order to develop a roof plan.

Our roof evaluation report typically describes the type of roof system present, the roof's condition, the presence and location of moisture within the roof and the layout of the roof. Photographs of existing conditions are usually included in the report. Our roof evaluation report provides you with recommendations as to the type of remedial roofing work required to bring your roof up to par; the type of roof system that would be most preferable in the event that the recommendation is to replace the roof; the remaining amount of serviceable life left in the roof; budget estimates for any necessary remedial work and a scaled roof plan showing existing conditions and substrate moisture (when moisture surveys are performed). The evaluation report will tell you what you have, what you need to do to bring the roof up to watertight condition, when to accomplish the work and how much the remedial work is going to cost.

Roof Moisture Surveys

When you are experiencing leakage in a roof and want to know the source and/or extent of moisture present. When you are considering recovering a roof and want to know the extent and location of moisture present. When you are trying to accurately determine the condition of an existing roof.

Our surveys involve using nondestructive moisture detection equipment to locate substrate moisture. The suspected moisture locations are verified through probes and/or test cuts into the roof system. The areas containing moisture are marked on the roof surface with paint and a roof plan is provided showing the moisture survey findings.

The extent of moisture present in the roof is provided in the form of a moisture survey plan. This information may help you determine if a roof can be recovered or requires removal and replacement. The moisture survey can sometimes determine the source(s) of leakage, can better define the overall condition of the roof and can verify if moisture is present in a roof prior to and/or after other construction is accomplished on the roof.

The moisture survey will tell you if there is moisture present in the roof, where the moisture is, and help determine which type of remedial work is required on the roof.

Roof Management Programs

When you are responsible for the maintenance and care of an individual building with multiple roof areas or multiple facilities with various numbers of roofs present.

Our roof management programs involve the same field work included with our roof evaluation services (visual surveys, test cuts, moisture surveys and development of roof plans).

Our roof management program describes the roofs with regards to types and conditions present, similar to our evaluation report, but also assigns condition ratings to the roof areas. A priority schedule for the remedial roofing work is formulated based upon the ratings. The priority schedule provides budget estimates for individual areas as well as yearly budgets. A tabulation of roofs by ratings and costs is also provided in the program.

We evaluate the existing roofs, prioritize them by condition, establish priority schedules based upon need so you can establish roofing expenditures for future budgets. This program ensures you that the money you spend on the roofs is spent in a optimal manner.

Specifications

Any time new work, replacement work and/or substantial repair work is accomplished on the roof of a building.

We review any existing historical information regarding the roofs (plans, repair work records, etc.); perform test cuts on the roof to verify conditions and provide a technical manual which includes bidding documents, specifications, plans and details for the required work.

A clearly defined scope of work which specifically states materials and methods of how the work is to be accomplished.

You receive a document which allows contractors to bid "apples to apples". Therefore, you receive more competitive bids on your project and take much of the guesswork out of the roofing contractor's hands.

Design Assistance

If you are an architect only generally familiar with roof design, you may want a professional roof consultant to review your design document prior to going out for bids. If you are an Owner, you may want to have a professional roof consultant review a proposed design to see if it is appropriate for your building.

We review plans and specifications for compliance with manufacturer's requirements, code requirements, good roofing practice and completeness. Other services we provide include assistance in selecting roof system types based upon criteria established for the project.

Notification of any design flaws, conflicts and conditions which may adversely effect the performance of the roof. These comments may relate to the current design or relate to problems at the time of future roof replacement.

We review documents to make sure the system specified will meet the criteria specified in the specifications; can be built as shown; is clarified in a manner that is easily understood by the bidders and will not cause the Owner undue hardship in the future with regards to maintenance and redesign of the building components at the time of reroofing.

Quality Control Services

Any time a roof is installed and when replacement work and/or substantial repair work is accomplished on a roof.

We assign a project manager and a field representative to the construction project. The field representative visits the site periodically (daily or on a periodic basis) to review the work for compliance with the specifications and to assist the Owner in completing the project in a trouble-free manner. Full-time quality control services provide the Owner with the most assuredness that the work was completed within the requirements of the project.

Our daily field reports provide information as to the materials installed, how the materials were installed; the amount and type of extras allowed to the roofing contractor during the course of the contract, the occurrence and resolution of any on-site problems, and verification of completion of the work.

In other words, we monitor the roofing contractor while the work is being accomplished, verify various conditions important to the project and assist the Owner with coordination of the project to assist in providing a smooth running, trouble-free project.

Maintenance Programs

If you are a building owner, property manager, facility manager, etc. and have a roof which has not been routinely maintained or has not been reviewed for conditions within the last year.

The most basic maintenance program involves having a qualified person visually examine the roof for condition and identify items which require remedial work. This work should be conducted, as a minimum, once a year. The items identified during the examination are then given to a roofing contractor so the necessary repairs can be accomplished. More complicated maintenance programs involve periodic nondestructive moisture surveys, developing specifications for the repair work required to fix deficient conditions and quality control monitoring of the repair work.

Routine maintenance programs provide many benefits to the Owner. First, having a qualified individual examine the roof insures you that the roof was thoroughly examined for condition thus identifying problems that may not be identified by less competent individuals. Secondly, routine maintenance examinations on roofs usually identify problems at their onset before the problems have a chance to become more serious in nature. This includes rountine maintenance type items and items which may be attributed to large problems (i.e. material failures, etc.) Thirdly, routine maintenance examinations over a period of years help determine the rate at which the roof is aging. This helps to determine the remaining serviceable life of the roof and therefore provides the Owner with advanced notification that the roof is nearing the end of its serviceability.

Contact RTA

For more information about our services, please call 734-591-4444 or use the form below to send us an email.