This CE Center article is no longer eligible for receiving credits.
Tool Management
Beyond the efficient staging of tools for crew use, the type and condition of tools is a contributing factor to crew efficiency. Using the effective and well-kept tools, such as automated screw and plate installers, rooftop generators for consistent power, and power tools, all contribute to increased performance. For example, under the right conditions, significant time savings can be realized by using a multi-torch cart, or “dragon wagon,” on the field application of a torch-applied project.
Even if a contractor is using the best tools, proper maintenance and availability of the replacement parts are needed for effective and efficient installation projects. Using the “dragon wagon” example, the time savings observed during the study could easily be reversed into lost time had a crew relied on such a tool and experienced a tool malfunction with no crew member or parts on-site to remedy the issue.
Before settling on a roofing system and contractor, specifiers may want to talk to references and visit job sites to better understand a contractor’s process. A roofing contractor with a reputation for quality and on-time work likely will be eager to share its efficient processes.
Understand How Product Selection Will Impact and Be Impacted by Labor Costs
According to the study, when roof coverings are installed in accordance with manufacturer’s published installation recommendations, by trained crews, with proper tools and management, in relatively temperate climates, there are clear differences in labor needs across roof covering types, as shown in Figure 2.
Source: Factors Impacting Low-Slope Roofing Costs – A National Labor Study, June 2018
Figure 2: Man-hour comparison for sample project
When the study data is applied to a sample project, the fastest installed roof covering was a two-ply bituminous system with a mechanically attached base sheet and a self-adhered cap sheet, demonstrating the benefits of new technologies in asphalt roofing. In contrast, the slowest installed system was a bituminous system with both the base sheet and cap sheet installed with hot asphalt, requiring almost three times the labor effort over the self-adhered system. Further, a 60-mil mechanically attached TPO covering required more than twice the labor of the self-adhered two-ply bituminous system. The data verifies that newer, high-performance modified bitumen roofing systems are quickly installed and debunks the myth that a multilayer system cannot be installed competitively with a single-ply system.
As mentioned earlier, Figure 2 also illustrates the impact of roofing detail elements on the overall labor needs of a project. The type of flashing detail was observed to have significant bearing on the labor required and the difference in labor across roof coverings. Base flashing and equipment curbs require more labor and have a wider delta for observed time to complete across roof coverings.
Referencing the sample project, the total man-hours required for 900 lf of base flashing are:
- mechanically attached bituminous base and self-adhered cap: 82.5 man-hours.
- mechanically attached bituminous base and hot-applied cap: 116.25 man-hours.
- mechanically attached 10-foot, 60-mil TPO: 228.75 man-hours.
The difference between the fastest observed installed base flashing, mechanically attached bituminous base sheet and self-adhered cap, and the 10-foot, 60-mil, TPO-installed base flashing is equal to $6,581 in sample project labor costs.
Flashing details such as pipes and drains, however, require relatively little time to install regardless of product selection. The average time to complete a drain detail across all observed roof coverings was 64 man-minutes. When the task data is applied to the sample project, the difference in drain detail labor needs between the slowest roof covering and the fastest roof covering was a total of 97.5 man-minutes, less than $100 difference in labor cost at a burdened labor rate of $45/hour.
While other factors must be considered, it can be concluded that product selection is a way to offer labor savings to your clients. The study demonstrated that self-adhered bitumen roof systems can offer labor cost savings while providing a historically proven level of safety and durability that multilayer modified asphalt roof systems are known for.
Conclusion
Design professionals must always find the balance between quality and cost when specifying roofing systems for their clients, who ultimately make purchasing decisions by weighing installed cost against value; in this case, how likely the roof is to protect the building and its occupants/assets. To meet this challenge, when comparing roofing systems, it is important to understand the roofing contractor labor market and how the current construction labor shortage can affect the proper and cost-effective application of the specified roof covering. The installed costs of any roofing system can skyrocket due to unskilled applicators, poorly managed crews, malfunctioning tools, and extreme climate conditions.
This national labor study concluded that modified bitumen, multilayer roofing systems can be installed cost-competitive with single-ply coverings. Given the current skilled labor shortage and bitumen roofing’s more than 100-year track record of successful performance, self-adhered modified bitumen was shown to be a quality and cost-effective specification choice that can meet the challenge of providing clients with cost-saving opportunities while supporting the durability of a roofing specification.
However, there is no one solution in the roofing market. Project-specific considerations, such as building type, roof design, roofing contractor, local climate, and budget, may affect the value of one system over another. To help ensure success and meet client and project goals, all aspects of the project goals and parameters need to be considered when selecting products and roof assemblies. In addition, the study results clearly indicate that for any product a certain level of expertise and proper crew and tool management (including quality control) are key factors to ensuring long-term performance of a selected system, while a lack of these can significantly affect the final product.
End Notes
1Databases, Tables & Calculators by Subject. Bureau of Labor Statistics. United States Department of Labor. Web. 8 Oct. 2018.
2Distribution outlets were a combination of national and regional roofing wholesalers responding to an RFP for 500 squares of products.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the year 2018 began with more than 252,000 construction industry job vacancies across the United States.1 As aging baby boomers retire and the market struggles to find young people skilled in the trades, labor challenges are becoming a significant concern for many companies, including roofing contractors. As we will learn in this course, the shortage of skilled labor can lead to increased installed costs for certain types of roof systems and an increased potential for an inadequate installation. This can ultimately affect the choices architects make when specifying low-slope roof systems.
Photo courtesy of CertainTeed and Paul Crandall & Associates
In order to meet the challenge of providing clients with cost-effective opportunities while supporting a durable roof specification, this course will present data regarding the labor advantages provided by self-adhered modified bituminous roof coverings.
How the Skilled Labor Shortage Impacts Low-Slope Specification Choices
While a skilled labor shortage is affecting the construction industry as a whole, the roofing sector has been hit particularly hard. In August 2018, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) issued an Action Alert encouraging members to urge Congress to address the issues facing the industry. The alert highlighted the difficulty roofing industry employers have finding workers to fill job openings.
To meet demand, an unskilled or under-skilled labor force is frequently employed. Given the labor situation, what are the potential impacts on the installation of the roof system specified on your project?
First, use of unskilled labor can lead to an increase in time to complete the installation of the specified roof system. The application complexity of a roofing product and the required skill level of workers to properly and effectively install the product can magnify this issue. This increased installation time translates directly to increased costs.
The lack of skilled labor also increases the potential for compromised installation quality. Proper installation, according to manufacturer specifications, is key to creating a high-quality and durable roof. A properly installed roof, adequately maintained, should last for decades, thereby decreasing the total cost of ownership. However, a lack of the required skills for proper application and poor management of unskilled crews can lead to costly failures and repairs, compounding this issue.
As an architect, specifying a quality yet cost-effective roof system must take into account the current labor environment. The time and skill required to install a roof system must be understood and considered during the specification process. And these decision factors can be used as talking points when addressing costs with clients.
Specification Considerations: Materials and Durability
Roof system specification is generally undertaken with a strong eye toward performance and durability because the roof is one of the most vulnerable parts of a building, especially during hazard events. A failure in the roof system can have devastating effects on all areas of the building, critical equipment, and on occupants, and it can contribute to significant downtime after an event if the building is not occupiable due to roof damage.
During storms, the roof system must be able to withstand all types of threats, including high wind, windborne debris impacts, and hail. In extreme climates, a roof system may need to be durable enough to handle long periods of harsh UV exposure or heavy, consistent snow loads. This type of exposure and the key role played by the roof system in protecting the building, its contents, and its occupants requires that architects have confidence in the materials included in their chosen roof system.
Therefore, it is imperative to have a fundamental understanding of the material options, their performance histories, and relative prices. This knowledge can help architects align specifications to reflect a client’s cost-to-value (durable, watertight protection) balance.
Safety
As with other building products, roof systems must meet or exceed building codes and insurance requirements. Low-slope roof systems are primarily rated for fire and wind. Proper attachment is the primary consideration for roof systems, and this course will focus on single- and multi-ply roof membrane systems.
Fire Ratings
ASTM E108 defines testing methods and fire ratings for both resistance to fire from above or from under the roof deck. Products are classified as Class A, B, or C, and local codes determine the class of materials required based on location and occupancy type. Roofing product manufacturers will provide the fire rating details for the system, which typically include the classification of the deck construction type supporting the roof system (combustible or noncombustible), roof incline restrictions, and any other requirements, such as barrier boards, ply sheets, and surfacing.
Wind Ratings
ASCE 7 defines requirements for wind uplift resistance, with ASTM D6630 specifically addressing low-slope roof membrane assembly performance. Proper wind-resistant product specification depends on proper design with accurately determined wind loads and wind-resistance capacities based on building location, height, and configuration. Therefore, product-specific ratings should be used as a guide only after determining the project-specific wind loads and required wind-resistance capacity. In addition, for added assurance of a roof system’s wind-resistance capacity a safety factor is often applied to the roof system’s design wind loads. For low-slope roof systems, a minimum safety factor of 2.0 is usually applied. Once the roofing system’s minimum recommended design wind-resistance values are determined, architects should specify roof systems with wind-resistance capacities equal to or greater than these minimum values.
Single-Ply Systems
There are several types of single-ply roof systems that are relatively new to the roofing market. Roofing contractors increasingly turned to EPDM single-ply roofing membranes during the 1970s in response to the oil crisis. TPO single-ply systems began to appear in the market in the 1990s, with self-adhering products introduced in 2002. Single-ply systems have gained popularity primarily due to competitive material cost, before consideration of installed cost.
Materials
Single-ply roofing systems are so named because the waterproofing element of the system is comprised of a single layer of material. Products commonly consist of a synthetic sheet material of either a thermoset or thermoplastic compound. Sheets are laid atop a substrate, commonly gypsum-based coverboards, and are either attached to the substrate only in overlapping joints which are made watertight through adhesive or hot air welding or are fully affixed to the substrate with adhesive. Thermoset materials, typically ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), cannot be heat welded at the seams and must use an applied adhesive. Thermoplastic single-ply membranes, generally either thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), can be hot-air welded together to form cohesive laps.
Durability
The most common commercial single-ply roofing system today is TPO. However, because the current formulations have only been on the market for a few years, data is still being gathered on TPO and this product’s ability to resist damage due to heat, UV, and general weather events. While early formulations experienced failures due to heat or UV exposure, the newer formulations are meant to address these early concerns, and time-in-place will be a reliable indicator of durability.
Aside from material breakdown, TPO roof failures generally occur as a result of improper mechanical attachment, inadequate sealing of seams, or damage to the membrane during installation. Installation by an unskilled TPO roofing crew can significantly increase the risk of these types of failures, leading to increased installation time and costs. In addition, as a single-ply TPO, PVC, and EPDM can be vulnerable to damage from foot traffic, they may not be an ideal choice for roofs loaded with mechanical equipment that may require frequent maintenance.
Multi-Ply Systems
Built-up roofing, or BUR (non-modified asphalt), and modified bitumen (asphalt modified with performance-enhancing polymers and additives) are the two most common types of multi-ply roofing systems. Modified bitumen roofing systems continue to be a popular choice for low-slope commercial projects.
Materials
Advances in traditional non-modified asphalt roofing have led to new materials and methods, including modified bitumen, which builds on the durability inherent in a multi-ply system. Multi-ply modified bitumen roof systems are comprised of layers of membranes that have been modified with either plasticizers (APP) or rubberizers (SBS). APP additives enhance a membrane’s resistance to oxidation and UV degradation and overall toughness; SBS additives allow the membranes greater flexibility or stretch, increasing resistance to rooftop strain and durability. Depending on their roll in the roof system, membranes are commonly surfaced with sand, film, or minerals/granules. New products have also led to new and improved installation methods over traditional built-up roofs, set only in hot asphalt.
Durability
Bituminous roofing systems have long been in use and have proven to be a safe and durable roofing choice. In fact, bituminous asphalt has been used for centuries as protection against fungal decay. The redundancy of layers provides increased durability over a single-ply roofing system and reduces the risk of leaks. Loaded roofs, such as green, living roofs or roofs that house PV systems or large amounts of mechanical equipment, are especially good candidates for the durability of a modified bitumen assembly. Because of the multiple layers and the resiliency of the materials, modified bitumen systems can withstand high foot traffic, and today’s products provide superb tensile strength, as well as thermal performance.
Specification Considerations: System Application
Given the current skilled labor shortage, in addition to material performance, installation time and complexity should also be a consideration when specifying low-slope roof systems.
Single-Ply Systems
Installation Methods
There are several methods of single-ply roof installation. The fully adhered method requires an application of manufacturer-specified adhesive and is installed by gluing the membrane directly to insulation or the substrate. This method is not considered environmentally friendly as the adhesive can emit unpleasant fumes and adhesive storage buckets may need to be properly disposed of.
A self-adhered single-ply membrane comes with a factory-applied adhesive on the underside of the membrane. A backing material is removed, and the membrane is rolled into place without the use of additional adhesives. Membranes can come with adhesive in the full seam area or can be sealed using a hot-air welder.
The mechanically attached method consists of fastening each row of membrane to the roof deck with screws and barbed plates. Seams are sealed using a hot-air welder.
Skilled Labor Requirements/Time to Install
Mechanically attached TPO membranes require workers skilled in welder use to fuse the overlapping membranes together. For fully adhered systems, installers must understand how to correctly apply the product as recommended by the manufacturer.
Multi-Ply Systems
Installation Methods
The first layer in a multi-ply system is either fully affixed to the substrate or mechanically attached, thereby becoming an “anchor sheet” and not technically a waterproofing layer. Using a mechanically attached approach, the membrane is secured to the roof assembly with mechanical fasteners through both the insulation and decking material. Base sheets may be fully adhered by the methods described below.
The original and most trusted installation method for BUR and modified bitumen membranes is mop-applied using hot asphalt. A layer of hot asphalt is applied to the substrate or base/ply sheet with a large mop and spread evenly over the surface. Quickly following (to avoid cooling), the sheet is set on top of the hot asphalt. BUR materials are manufactured to allow hot asphalt to flow through the sheets, creating a homogenous, watertight, bituminous membrane as the asphalt cools and hardens. Modified bitumen membranes are watertight; asphalt holds the system together and adds additional water protection but does not flow through the system.
Use of cold adhesives for the installation of modified bitumen roofing systems are also common today in the low-slope roofing market. There are several formulations of adhesive, including ultra-low VOC products for use on projects where solvent-based adhesives cannot be utilized, such as on schools and hospitals. Cold adhesive is squeegee applied to the substrate or base/ply sheet and appropriate bituminous sheets are set in place. Cold adhesive roof systems typically require 30 days to fully cure.
The torch-applied method requires the use of a propane torch and flame to heat the substrate or base/ply while melting the bitumen-containing backing of torch-applied products which then adhere to the surface.
Self-adhered modified bitumen membranes, introduced in the early 2000s, are relatively new to the industry. They come with a factory-applied adhesive on the underside of the membrane. A backing material is removed, and the membrane is rolled into place without the use of additional adhesives. Cold adhesive or a hot-air welder is used to seal granule over granule lap joints on cap sheets.
Skilled Labor Requirements/Time to Install
Traditional methods of applying bituminous roof systems require laborers skilled in the use of either hot asphalt kettles and mops, cold adhesive squeegees, or torches. Either of these applications take training, time, and repetitive experience to master. While any roofing material, including self-adhered bituminous membranes, requires training, the elimination of kettles, squeegees, and torches dramatically reduces the learning curve for proper installation. Self-adhered bituminous membranes have also been engineered to reduce application time.
Photo courtesy of CertainTeed and Tice Enterprises Ltd.
Application of a self-adhered modified bitumen base sheet
Factors Impacting Low-Slope Roofing Costs: A National Labor Study
As roofing manufacturers, architects, and contractors alike attempt to identify proven, reliable products that require less skilled labor, a study was conducted by Trinity ERD to quantify the labor savings self-adhered modified bitumen roofing offers as compared to other modified bitumen application methods and single-ply applications.
In order to compare product labor efficiency with data acquired from varying project types and geographical locations included in the study, task-level data (i.e., time required to install a drain with product A) was applied to a sample project. This sample project was then used for comparison of labor efficiencies and costs.
While the study uncovered both the roofing systems with the lowest labor time and the lowest installed cost, it was also observed that roofing-type agnostic factors such as roof design, crew and tool management, and climate had a significant impact on a project’s labor efficiencies.
Academically, the roof covering can be isolated and assessed for its labor needs, but in the real world, these other contributing factors cannot be ignored. Further, the impact that some of these factors have on both labor cost and roof system performance is potentially compounded by the skilled labor shortage. For instance, a quality installation of a complex roof design requires skilled and sometimes specialized labor. And as uncovered in the study, poor or inexperienced crew and tool management practices contribute to avoidable labor inefficiencies and potentially to a compromised installation.
How to Specify a Cost-Effective, Quality Low-Slope Roofing System
In order to write a specification that reflects a client’s goals for performance and cost, it is important, considering the skilled labor shortage, for architects and designers to consider both materials and labor. In other words, an architect must balance a roof system’s material costs and intended performance as specified on paper with comprehensive and current-condition labor costs that reflect actual performance once the potential for human error is introduced on the roof.
The following are a few guidelines to assist in the process of specifying a cost-effective, quality roofing system while considering the skilled labor shortage.
Identify Materials Proven to Meet Performance Goals
Roof system performance goals include reliability, resistance to puncture, fire and chemicals, and ease of maintenance and repair. The lifespan of a roof depends on many factors, beginning with proper installation, but proven performance of the roofing materials must be a consideration for specification.
Single-ply TPO roofing systems have been on the market since the early 1990s. While single-ply systems have gained popularity, this product has not been time-tested in the field for as long as other roofing types. Additionally, the relatively thin, single-layer of waterproofing protection increases the system’s risk of failure from multiple potential factors over multilayer solutions.
Modified bituminous roofing systems have been in use in one form or another for more than 100 years and thus are well-known for their durability, stress resilience, and low maintenance. In addition, because of their multi-ply makeup, these systems provide better protection from damage by sharp objects than PVC or EPDM, which—although durable—are still only single-ply membranes.
Understand the Impact of Design on Product Selection and Cost
As an architect or designer, your choices regarding roof design can play an important role in determining the best product and the installed cost of your client’s roof. Across all types of roof coverings observed in the study, base flashing and equipment curbs required more labor and time to complete and can represent a significant percentage of the total project labor costs. However, some products require more labor time on roof features than others.
Overall, the labor impact of flashing details were found to be 24 percent of the total man-hours on the multilayer bituminous systems and 31 percent of the total man-hours for the single-ply coverings. It can be concluded from this data that specification of a multilayer modified bituminous roofing system can offer labor cost savings on projects with a high number of flashing details.
Understand the Local Roofing Contractor/Labor Market and Crew Factors
Understanding the local roofing contractor and labor market is becoming increasingly important for architects and designers when trying to meet client cost expectations. A little research can go a long way in determining the skillset and reliability of local contractors. Many roofing contractors are in the position of taking on more work than they can handle and then using any warm body they can find to get the work done. However, in some markets, savvy contractors are realizing the benefits of balancing a skilled, professional, and reliable crew with the amount of quality work they can complete.
Beyond the skill level of the employees, the study also found multiple other factors that impact the efficiency of a roofing crew. These include:
Climate
Climate, including both extremes of hot and cold, can have a great impact on the efficiency of a roofing crew. Cold weather creates added time and additional work for heating adhesives, relaxing rolls and to weld all types of membranes. Workers can be inhibited in movement and accuracy with heavy and cumbersome cold-weather clothing and gloves and may require longer or more frequent break periods to warm up.
Heat can also affect crew efficiency by slowing installation because of heat-related fatigue and the need to hydrate and take regular breaks to avoid heat illness.
Another consideration is geographical areas that experience frequent storms, especially summertime thunderstorm activity, which can lead to increased costs because of disrupted workflow.
As an architect or specifier, these factors are outside of your control but should be considered when specifying a roof system in line with the client’s budget. Some roofing products and application methods may be impacted greater than others by project geography.
Crew Management
A roofing crew’s efficiency is impacted by how the crew is managed. Not surprisingly, unorganized or unmanaged crews will generally increase total installed costs. Important factors to consider when understanding local roofing contractors include:
- The communication methods and style of the crew and foreman
- Whether the contractor uses specialized teams
- How the tools and materials are staged
- Whether the foreman has effectively managed crews
- How much unproductive time a crew incurs (15.6 percent according to the study)
- The effectiveness of quality control measures to catch and fix mistakes
As a specifier, and considering the current labor market, investigating roofing contractors’ abilities and track record before making final decisions may aid in minimizing issues when it comes to installation.
Tool Management
Beyond the efficient staging of tools for crew use, the type and condition of tools is a contributing factor to crew efficiency. Using the effective and well-kept tools, such as automated screw and plate installers, rooftop generators for consistent power, and power tools, all contribute to increased performance. For example, under the right conditions, significant time savings can be realized by using a multi-torch cart, or “dragon wagon,” on the field application of a torch-applied project.
Even if a contractor is using the best tools, proper maintenance and availability of the replacement parts are needed for effective and efficient installation projects. Using the “dragon wagon” example, the time savings observed during the study could easily be reversed into lost time had a crew relied on such a tool and experienced a tool malfunction with no crew member or parts on-site to remedy the issue.
Before settling on a roofing system and contractor, specifiers may want to talk to references and visit job sites to better understand a contractor’s process. A roofing contractor with a reputation for quality and on-time work likely will be eager to share its efficient processes.
Understand How Product Selection Will Impact and Be Impacted by Labor Costs
According to the study, when roof coverings are installed in accordance with manufacturer’s published installation recommendations, by trained crews, with proper tools and management, in relatively temperate climates, there are clear differences in labor needs across roof covering types, as shown in Figure 2.
Source: Factors Impacting Low-Slope Roofing Costs – A National Labor Study, June 2018
Figure 2: Man-hour comparison for sample project
When the study data is applied to a sample project, the fastest installed roof covering was a two-ply bituminous system with a mechanically attached base sheet and a self-adhered cap sheet, demonstrating the benefits of new technologies in asphalt roofing. In contrast, the slowest installed system was a bituminous system with both the base sheet and cap sheet installed with hot asphalt, requiring almost three times the labor effort over the self-adhered system. Further, a 60-mil mechanically attached TPO covering required more than twice the labor of the self-adhered two-ply bituminous system. The data verifies that newer, high-performance modified bitumen roofing systems are quickly installed and debunks the myth that a multilayer system cannot be installed competitively with a single-ply system.
As mentioned earlier, Figure 2 also illustrates the impact of roofing detail elements on the overall labor needs of a project. The type of flashing detail was observed to have significant bearing on the labor required and the difference in labor across roof coverings. Base flashing and equipment curbs require more labor and have a wider delta for observed time to complete across roof coverings.
Referencing the sample project, the total man-hours required for 900 lf of base flashing are:
- mechanically attached bituminous base and self-adhered cap: 82.5 man-hours.
- mechanically attached bituminous base and hot-applied cap: 116.25 man-hours.
- mechanically attached 10-foot, 60-mil TPO: 228.75 man-hours.
The difference between the fastest observed installed base flashing, mechanically attached bituminous base sheet and self-adhered cap, and the 10-foot, 60-mil, TPO-installed base flashing is equal to $6,581 in sample project labor costs.
Flashing details such as pipes and drains, however, require relatively little time to install regardless of product selection. The average time to complete a drain detail across all observed roof coverings was 64 man-minutes. When the task data is applied to the sample project, the difference in drain detail labor needs between the slowest roof covering and the fastest roof covering was a total of 97.5 man-minutes, less than $100 difference in labor cost at a burdened labor rate of $45/hour.
While other factors must be considered, it can be concluded that product selection is a way to offer labor savings to your clients. The study demonstrated that self-adhered bitumen roof systems can offer labor cost savings while providing a historically proven level of safety and durability that multilayer modified asphalt roof systems are known for.
Conclusion
Design professionals must always find the balance between quality and cost when specifying roofing systems for their clients, who ultimately make purchasing decisions by weighing installed cost against value; in this case, how likely the roof is to protect the building and its occupants/assets. To meet this challenge, when comparing roofing systems, it is important to understand the roofing contractor labor market and how the current construction labor shortage can affect the proper and cost-effective application of the specified roof covering. The installed costs of any roofing system can skyrocket due to unskilled applicators, poorly managed crews, malfunctioning tools, and extreme climate conditions.
This national labor study concluded that modified bitumen, multilayer roofing systems can be installed cost-competitive with single-ply coverings. Given the current skilled labor shortage and bitumen roofing’s more than 100-year track record of successful performance, self-adhered modified bitumen was shown to be a quality and cost-effective specification choice that can meet the challenge of providing clients with cost-saving opportunities while supporting the durability of a roofing specification.
However, there is no one solution in the roofing market. Project-specific considerations, such as building type, roof design, roofing contractor, local climate, and budget, may affect the value of one system over another. To help ensure success and meet client and project goals, all aspects of the project goals and parameters need to be considered when selecting products and roof assemblies. In addition, the study results clearly indicate that for any product a certain level of expertise and proper crew and tool management (including quality control) are key factors to ensuring long-term performance of a selected system, while a lack of these can significantly affect the final product.
End Notes
1Databases, Tables & Calculators by Subject. Bureau of Labor Statistics. United States Department of Labor. Web. 8 Oct. 2018.
2Distribution outlets were a combination of national and regional roofing wholesalers responding to an RFP for 500 squares of products.
