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Knowing When To Say “Yes”
The ultimate success of any organization relies primarily on management’s ability to determine when to say “yes” and more importantly when to say “no”. And every good manager knows that they must have the proper information in order to make that judgment. This same theory applies to building and facility managers—once they have the information they need related to saying “yes” to undertaking a reroofing project (for larger commercial buildings, that information is often provided by an independent roofing consultant), they must solicit the information they need to say “yes” to the roofing contractor that will provide the reroofing services that have been specified.
Because no reroofing project is the same, knowing when to say “yes” to bidding on certain projects applies to reputable commercial roofing contractors. And some of the information they will need in order to determine if they should say “yes” to bidding on a project are:
Jobsite Planning
It is important to provide good access options to the building for equipment set-up, debris removal, and safety of pedestrians.
Some items to be considered when suggesting set-up locations options include:
- Locations where there are no underground pits, sprinkler lines, septic tanks, waste-water piping, or other items which could be crushed, otherwise damaged, or cave in under heavy weight.
- If kettles will be required for the project, keep in mind they should be a minimum of 25’ from the building, and propane for heating the asphalt kettle should be 25’ from the kettle.
- Indicate if the location of the project dictates security fencing that should be included in the bid.
Interior Contents
Always specify what is underneath the roof/inside the building. For example, if the building is an active residential facility or hospital? Will sensitive equipment, computers, or electrical equipment need to be covered and who will be responsible for the necessary interior content protection? Other sensitive interior contents can include pharmaceuticals, wood flooring, plaster ceilings, chemicals, etc.
Additionally, roof-top work can generate dust falling through wood or metal decks; debris in the form of specks of old asphalt or coal tar pitch can stain floors and surfaces. Interior dust accumulation can also be caused by rooftop work dislodging previously settled dust or even old fireproofing from steel joists. And, while drywall and plaster ceilings generally prevent dust from infiltrating the building, ceiling tiles do not prevent dust infiltration.
Pro Tip: Prior to starting any reroofing work for larger jobs or projects with particularly sensitive interior contents, leading the selected contractor on a video recorded tour of the area under the roof that is being replaced can be an excellent way to have a video and audio record that can be referred to in case of any interior condition changes during the course of the project. Confirm existing interior conditions of the building including any stained ceiling tiles, leak-stained carpet, previously damaged furniture, etc.
On The Roof
Serious contractors (you should consider saying “yes” to) will want to get on the roof.
There are a myriad of items that should be taken into account by the roofing contractor (more on that later) so be prepared to provide them safe access to the roof as well as any information you have about the conditions they are likely to experience related to your specific reroofing project. They will appreciate you for your honesty and being upfront will go a long way toward the shared goal of achieving a successful outcome on your project.