ROOFING HANDBOOK

Robert Scharff (Deceased) Terry Kennedy

Second Edition

McGraw-Hill
New York San Francisco Washington, D.C. Auckland Bogot Caracas Lisbon London Madrid Mexico City Milan Montreal New Delhi San Juan Singapore Sydney Tokyo Toronto

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Scharff, Robert. Roofing handbook / Robert Scharff, Terry Kennedy.2nd ed. p. cm. ISBN 0-07-136058-1 1. Roofing. I. Kennedy, Terry. II. Title. TH2431.S28 695dc21 2000 00-062522

McGraw-Hill
Copyright 2001, 1996 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a data base or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 P/N 137056-0 PART OF ISBN 0-07-136058-1 The sponsoring editor for this book was Zoe G. Foundotos, the editing supervisor was Stephen M. Smith, and the production supervisor was Sherri Souffrance. It was set in Melior following the modified CMS 6x9 design by Joanne Morbit and Michele Pridmore of McGrawHills Hightstown, N.J., Professional Book Group composition unit. Printed and bound by R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company. DOC/DOC 0 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

his work is dedicated to Mr. Robert Scharff. His fine, clear writing style and mastery of the material are the foundation of the book. Many thanks to Michelle Martineau for her constant help and diligent approach, to Zoe Foundotos for her patience with endless questions and her ability to stay warm and human while being the consummate professional, to Stephen Smith for his grounded and steady hand in the production of this book, and to Emily Rose Kennedy for continual inspiration. Terry Kennedy

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Robert Scharff (deceased) was well-known as the author of more than 300 how-to books. He served as a consultant to industry manufacturers and contributed many articles to leading how-to and trade publications. Terry Kennedy has been a part of the AEC (architecture, engineering, contracting) business for 35 years. He has spent many hours in the field as well as in the office, working with computers since the 1980s. He is currently involved in the settlement of complex construction defect lawsuits, and that work has given him an in-depth knowledge of roofing. Mr. Kennedy has a great deal of respect for the roofing industry and wishes to thank the readers, one and all.

INTRODUCTION

his book was originally written for roofing contractors and crews involved with residential and commercial projects. It has been rewritten to make it an even more valuable companion to the roofing professionals workday. Its purpose is to serve as a reference for both people with broad experience and those who are learning about roofing construction and maintenance. The new companion CD offers live versions of checklists and the resources presented in App. A for immediate use. The information in the Roofing Handbook is suitable for anyone who is involved with roofs in any way: architects, general contractors, building owners, insurance professionals, experts, and equipment manufacturers. The list of people who require knowledge of roofs is long, and this book is a handy reference for any of them. It has a clear, easy-to-understand format and contains step-by-step construction procedures as well as up-to-date product information and techniques. It also takes the reader through the business of roofing, estimating, and the steps to take to win a contract and launch a job. The techniques related to different types of roofs are covered on a chapter-by-chapter basis, and equipment purchases and safety concerns are also reviewed. Measures that can protect a business, such as warranties, and contract information to help the roofing contractor maintain a profitable bottom line, including suggestions for new business that is both innovative and complementary to the roofers present work, are also explored. Chapter 1 provides a general overview of the roofing industry, including life expectancy and a review of the various types of roofs.

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INTRODUCTION

How do you plan for and bid on a roofing job? Do you know your actual cost of doing business? Are you making a profit? How do you coordinate your time on the roof with the other trades? What does customer satisfaction involve? These transitional partsmoving the beginning parts of a job from the office into the fieldare covered in Chap. 2, Planning a Job. Safety is such an important part of roofing that we dedicate all of Chap. 3 to the subject. From Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines to ordinary common-sense decisions, this chapter looks at how to prevent injury. The Roofing Handbook even provides a safety plan that is important for a companys workers, increases everyones sense of well-being, and can actually have a serious effect on bottom-line profits. The safety plan, along with many other lists, is available on the enclosed CD for printing and using as a part of doing business. Roofing equipment, from hand tools to heavy lifting machinery, is described in Chap. 4. In Chap. 12, the business chapter, the subject of major investments is discussed as a part of the general course of growing a business. In Chap. 4, the subject is examined specifically in relation to how an owner evaluates purchases of expensive equipment. Will the payoff from the purchase be timely for the health of the company or put too much of a crimp in the flow of cash? Chapter 5 details the techniques of working with built-up roofing. This popular roofing method can be applied successfully to a variety of substrates, and the information in this chapter tells how. Lightweight and easy to install, single-ply roofing is a popular choice among building owners and roofing contractors. Chapter 6 looks at the available materials and the appropriate installation methods. Asphalt roofing comes in a variety of forms and can be applied in pleasing designs to new roofs or over existing roofs that have been prepared properly. Chapter 7 details installation methods, as well as roofing accessories such as flashings, gutters, and downspouts. Chapter 8 covers the special installation techniques required for wooden shingles and shakes. They can now be made fire- and windresistant if they are manufactured well and application procedures are followed professionally.

INTRODUCTION

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Chapter 9 provides valuable information concerning the installation of slate roofing materials, including repair procedures for existing roofs. With a life expectancy of 75 to 100 years, slate is a fine and stately option for high-quality jobs. Chapter 10 follows up with an indepth guide to clay and concrete tiles. As everyone involved with roofing knows, concrete tile roofs have spread from Europe to the United States and become more important every year. Metal roofing, from thin copper to corrugated sheet metal, has been a popular roofing material for many years. Chapter 11 looks at the many benefits offered by metal roofs in both new and reroofing applications. Chapter 12 guides the roofer through a breakdown of the business of roofing. These basic principles were also noted in other chapters when the material came up. Chapter 13 takes the information reviewed in Chap. 12 and digs into what computers can actually do to enhance efficiency on a nuts-and-bolts basis. The intelligent use of computers is a must in order to be successful at business in the twentyfirst century. Chapter 14 offers the reader a look at some types of work that can augment the cash flow of your roofing business. It also offers a glimpse of the expanding future of the roofing industry. The twenty-first century is ripe with changes and opportunity. Roofing material manufacturers are now marketing their own roof drains and supporting specifications that make roofers responsible for the installation of these features. Nondestructive testing methods are available to roofers as a means of assessing existing roofs for moisture content. The list of possibilities is long and growing. And to wrap things up, lists of vendors of computer hardware, software, roofing equipment, and supplies, along with a reference to trade groups, magazines, and sources of further information, and a metric conversion table are found in Apps. A and B.