The Professional Roof Consultant: An Architect’s Perspective By Franklin B. Swanson, AIA
rchitects, contrary to popular assembly to our clients? I believe that one belief (especially among other solution is for architects to be more proac “The technical (as well as architects), do not have all the tive and insistent with their clients in answers. Case in point: in requiring the inclusion of roof consultants practical) knowledge that the 1934, Mr. Herbert Johnson, on the design team. This may not be essen then CEO of the S.C. Johnson tial for all projects, but for those that may roof consultant provides can Wax Company, was entertaining friends have complex or largescale roof systems, and associates in his newly completed resi the benefits can more than pay for the cost prevent critical mistakes from Adence designed by none other than Frank of an additional consultant. This is espe Lloyd Wright. During the dinner, a thunder cially true in the current climate of con occurring early in the design storm erupted and water soon appeared struction where schedules seem to be more over the dinner table in the form of roof and more compressed and skilled labor process by others who may leaks. Granted, the roof forms were dynam harder to find. ic and the details complex, I think there are four not fully understand a but there it was…water on major areas of considera the dining room table. Em tion that any project material or system.” barrassed and enraged, the architect should review in irate Mr. Johnson im order to decide whether mediately called on his or not it is beneficial to architect complaining that include a professional the leaking roof was ruin roof consultant on his ing his dinner party and design team. They are: Franklin B. Swanson, AIA that water was dripping on 1. Specialization, his head. 2. Appropriateness, Franklin B. Swan The fact of the matter is 3. Detailing, and son, AIA, is an that there are very few 4. Followthough. associate princi things that are more basic pal for the archi or essential to the human condition than Depending on the type of project in tectural firm of the necessity for shelter. An important com question, these issues may play an impor LS3P/Boney in ponent of that need is protection from the tant role in determining the necessity for Raleigh, North elements. When architects design new having a roof consultant on the design Carolina. He has buildings, we are required to provide struc team. been a member of tures that are safe and that shelter their Over the past 20 or 30 years, the roofing the firm for 15 inhabitants from the extremes of the out industry has seen an explosion in the devel years. Prior to that, Swanson worked in side environment. A building that does not opment and production of new materials Charlottesville, Virginia. He earned his do this because the roof does not perform is and assemblies. It used to be that the aver master’s degree in architecture from a building that has failed. age architectural practice had a developed Virginia Tech and his bachelor’s in design Why then, since this aspect of any set of roof details that were “tried and true” from the University of Florida. Swanson has design is so critical, do we still encounter and that could be put to good use on a been involved in the practice of architecture roof deficiencies and how, as architects, can majority of the projects that the architects for 20 years. we deliver a more reliable overall roof were typically accustomed to designing. 1 4 • W HAT Y OU R EALLY O UGHT TO K NOW ... U NDERSTANDING THE V ALUE OF R OOF C ONSULTING S ERVICES • © RCI, I NC ., 2 0 0 5 This still holds true for many firms, but assistance of a local roof consultant for a cerning the roofing installations can also be with the emergence of new roofing materials new high school prototype project. Indeed, extremely helpful if, for any reason, prob and systems, what used to be the “stan this very same school system now requires lems arise in the future. In fact, the role dard” is becoming more and more unclear. that all its architects include a roof consul that roof consultants play during construc Innovative roofing materials for special tant on the design team throughout the tion has become so important to many own ized building applications are making it design process for any school project. ers that several public school systems increasingly difficult for the design profes From my perspective as an architect, throughout North Carolina now require the sional to make intelligent and informed one of the most beneficial aspects of having presence of a roof consultant onsite during decisions about materials and assemblies. a roof consultant on my team is the fact construction and installation of the roof. Indeed, this is just the sort of case where that I know the details they are generating, I am a firm believer that roof consul architects, who know a little about a lot, as well as the relevant specification sections tants are an important and vital component need to know more. A professional roof con they provide, are getting the individualized of any successful design project. My experi sultant can provide that information and attention that today’s construction docu ences with projects that involved these con help sift through the scores of specialized ments require. The technical (as well as sultants is that design decisions were more roof types while assisting the architect in practical) knowledge that the roof consul informed and relevant, the bid process was understanding the physical characteristics and attributes of different systems. Whether “Innovative roofing materials for specialized building applications are making it the need is for a roof that performs best in increasingly difficult for the design professional to make intelligent and informed a certain application or one that responds to a level of environmental sustainability, decisions about materials and assemblies. Indeed, this is just the sort of case knowing the physical limitations and attrib where architects, who know a little about a lot, need to know more.” utes of which a certain material or assembly is capable is an invaluable resource that the tant provides can prevent critical mistakes smoother and generated fewer questions (as roof consultant can provide. from occurring early in the design process well as fewer addenda to the construction This leads directly into the next area of by others who may not fully understand a documents), construction was better coor consideration that the architect should material or system. Typically, we (that is, dinated, requiring fewer RFIs or subsequent evaluate, which is the issue of appropriate architects) rely on shop drawings or other bulletin drawings, change orders were kept ness. Selecting the most suitable roofing information provided by the manufacturer to a minimum for roofrelated items, and system for any project is critical. In order for assistance in making sure a design that at the end of the day, the final product to be able to do this, the designer must works or to verify that what we designed is was a better built roof with fewer problems. have an extensive knowledge of how cer correct. But the daytoday experience that The result? From my perspective, the tain materials perform under prescribed a specialized consultant can provide with result of designing with a roof consultant’s conditions and circumstances. Any roofing correctly designed details most certainly input is that I rest easier when it rains manufacturer will tell you that his or her pays in the long run. which, I hope, is something that the owner systems work great, but objectivity is And finally, the last item for architects experiences as well. something that is hard to come by from to consider when deciding if a roof consul Architects hate the dreaded call from someone trying to sell a product. Unless tant is appropriate for the design team is an owner (which many have received at one the architect is up to date on roofing issues that of followthrough. Whether the details point or another in their careers) saying, and performance statistics, it really isn’t a are drawn inhouse or are provided by a “My roof is leaking.” I can’t guarantee that wellinformed basis on which to make crit consultant, any design is meaningless if not having a roof consultant on board as part ical judgments. The roof consultant can installed correctly. Possibly the most impor of the design team will eliminate those provide this objectivity in order to fully tant aspect of a roof consultant’s services calls; however, I am certain that those calls understand and evaluate systems that are those of construction administration. will be fewer and if a leak does work best in the type of application appro Architects vary on the levels of construction occur, easier to rectify. priate to the project. administration they provide, and indeed, it Which begs the question, A careful evaluation of appropriate roof may be unnecessary in many cases, de how did Frank Lloyd Wright ing materials and systems can yield infor pending on the circumstances. However, in respond to Mr. Johnson’s tele mation that benefits not only the design, most cases, the design architect may visit a phone call when informed but can also help the owner in other ways. jobsite once a week and even then, is being that his design was Lifecycle cost analysis of roof options can pulled in a hundred different directions, leaking on his provide data that will help reduce costs in looking at anything from rebar placement to client’s head? the longterm which, depending on the type door hardware installation problems. Mr. Wright sim of client in question, may affect decisions on A roof consultant who is onsite to ply suggested other projects. inspect and review a roofrelated construc that Mr. Johnson As an example, the public school district tion activity is focused solely on that activi move his chair. for the county where I work has adopted a ty. An experienced consultant can antici Try that the next time a client roof design assembly as a “standard” in low pate problems, detect incorrect installa calls with a roof leak. slope applications for new school designs. tions, and prevent construction delays by This decision was based on a roof analysis ensuring that it is done right the first time. and design that we performed with the The documentation that is provided con W HAT Y OU R EALLY O UGHT TO K NOW ... U NDERSTANDING THE V ALUE OF R OOF C ONSULTING S ERVICES • © RCI, I NC ., 2 0 0 5 • 1 5 © 2005 RCI, Inc. All rights reserved. 1500 Sunday Drive • Suite 204 Raleigh, NC 27607 (800) 8281902 • (919) 8590742 (919) 8591328 fax www.rcionline.org
Published through a grant provided by the RCI Foundation (RCIF)