Up on the Roof

My Other Site

2008-12-07T21:31:00.003-06:00

In support of my campaign for CSI Vice President, I have established another website.

Go over to www.RobertDye.us

There I have a "mirror" blog to this one, along with some information about me (yawn) and some of my recent projects.

Thanks.

School Days

2008-12-07T21:29:00.001-06:00

I have the good fortune to be able to travel around the country as part of my work. It is not too often that my travel schedule coincides with a local CSI Chapter meeting, but I always check my local listings, so to speak, to see if I can attend. Recently, I was able to make two Chapter meetings.

In October I was in Houston and was able to attend the CSI meeting there. The speaker was Mr. Mark Lemanno of Franklin International speaking on moisture problems in concrete floor slabs. Mark gave a very interesting presentation. My field is roofing, so you might think that would not share much in common with floor slabs. Actually, there were a lot of familiar concepts. Moisture moves through systems from “wet” to “dry”, whether the system is a floor or a roof assembly. And when it does, it can make serious problems.

In November I was in Omaha and attended the Nebraska Chapter meeting. The speaker was my friend Ms. Joy Davis of CSI. Joy is the CSI Web Content Manager. Not only does she know her way around a website – which was the topic of her presentation – she is also an excellent public speaker. I am somewhat hesitant to share that two of the examples she referred to in her presentation were: 1) my blog and 2) a website called “Web Pages That Suck”. She used my site as an example of one that doesn’t suck. At least, I think that was her intent.

One other thing that really excited me about both these Chapter meetings: they had a large contingent of college students attending. Each of these Chapters had reached out to a local college and invited the students to attend. I do not know if these were Student CSI Chapters, but they certainly were well represented at the meetings. The students were majoring in Architecture and Construction Science. While so many of us are asking how we can keep CSI relevant in our industry, these chapters have the answer. Go back to school!

Here's How We Do It

2008-11-06T08:51:00.001-06:00

Kansas City’s Guide to Membership

There are so many ways to promote membership in CSI. CSI has several resources on-line and our Region Chair is always available to help with ideas. Most chapters have a Membership program, or if they don’t they will soon be heading in the wrong direction!

We consider the Chapter Membership committee to be the “marketing” department, not a recruiting office. There is a difference. The Membership committee sets the stage for our members to “sell” the benefits of CSI membership. The Membership committee is not responsible to recruit new members any more than any other chapter member.

It is important that we work with the other “growth” committees, namely the Certification, Education and Technical committees. These committees do the work that CSI is known for in the construction community. They do a great job of attracting and bringing potential members to our CSI chapter. They can also invite people to join.

Help your Programs committee set up impressive presentations at the monthly meetings. These will draw members and guests. You will be ready to “ask for the sale”.

Every Chapter meeting or event is also a membership recruiting event. Make it a point to “ask for the sale” at each meeting or program. If a potential member has made it all the way to you, the least you can do is to invite them to join. Our chapter has a tradition of introducing new members and presenting their CSI pin at Chapter meetings. This past month we had a joint meeting with another construction organization and we took the opportunity to introduce our new members. Since we had not presented our new members since last Spring, the list was impressively long. There was a buzz going through the crowd about how many new members we had. That is what we want.

That is our approach. Yours may vary, but it really doesn’t have to be hard. Delegate the tasks, get others involved, and keep pushing. You’ll be surprised at your success. Good luck.

Are you LinkedIn?

2008-03-20T15:59:00.001-05:00

It is well known that people join CSI for one of two reasons:

1. Networking
2. Education

Here is a website that makes networking as simple as a mouse click.

LinkedIn.com is an online network of more than 19 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries.

When you sign in, you create a profile that summarizes your professional accomplishments. Your profile helps you find and be found by former colleagues, clients, and partners. You can add more connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to you.

Your network consists of your connections, your connections’ connections, and the people they know, linking you to thousands of qualified professionals.

Through your network you can:

• Find potential clients, service providers, subject experts, and partners who come recommended
• Be found for business opportunities
• Search for great jobs
• Discover inside connections that can help you land jobs and close deals
• Post and distribute job listings
• Get introduced to other professionals through the people you know

LinkedIn is free to join.

What would you do if you had the current, up-to-date business information on everyone in our Chapter? How could you expand your network? What would a potential client find if they Googled your name?

LinkedIn is a great way to take control of your on-line identity. There are many social networking sites, but LinkedIn is for business.

Click over to LinkedIn to see how it works. If you want to check out an impressive network, go to LinkedIn and search for our North Central Region Institute Director, Mr. Sheldon Wolfe.

Remember, “Building and maintaining good relationships with other people is an important component for job success.” Krumholtz and Levin in “Luck is No Accident.”

Flint Hills CSI Product Show follow-up

2008-03-20T15:50:00.002-05:00

The Flint Hills CSI Chapter held a very impressive Product Show! This was the first time the held the Show outside of their hometown, and it was a great move.

I was pleased to offer the first of the technical presentations. The program was well attended and the questions were spot-on. It is always fun to have the audience engaged, and good questions are the best indicator.

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this event a success. Thanks to all the exhibitors for making the finances work. Special thanks to Suzette, Nance, and Will for their planning and organizing.

Superdome Presentation, March 11, 2008

2008-01-31T09:05:00.000-06:00

The Flint Hills (Topeka) Chapter of the Construction Specification Institute will have their annual Product Show on Tuesday March 11, 2008. The location will be the Holiday Inn Conference Center.

I will be speaking about the Superdome re-roofing project. This will not be the usual, dry roofing presentation, however (pun intended). Previous offerings of this presentation have been offered sans bullet points. No “death by PowerPoint”. There is a wonderful new book entitled “Presentation Zen” by Garr Reynolds. The author captures what I think are the essential aspects of successful presentations. This book will definitely influence my presentations from now on.

The Flint Hills Chapter is putting a great deal of effort into making this event a success. Locating the Show in Lawrence is in recognition of the fact that many of their members are in the Lawrence area. There is also the School of Architecture at Kansas University in Lawrence. This will be a great way to share with practicing architects and students.

If you will be in the area on March 11, plan to attend the Flint Hills Product Show.

Using CSI Certification

2007-12-28T13:44:00.000-06:00

Recently had a telephone call from a friend at a nationally known roofing contracting company. They were investigating the advantages of continuing education for their key employees. As with many companies in the construction industry, attracting and keeping quality-minded employees is a challenge. The education and work experience of each individual employee is variable. How does a company bring all the employees “up” to a consistent and measurable standard of knowledge?

For this company, the Construction Specifications Institute offered an answer. The CSI Certification program is an industry-recognized standard of construction knowledge. It has been in place, and validated over many years of use. It provides an excellent overview of the construction process along with the rights and responsibilities of all the parties involved.

The CSI Certification program begins with the Construction Document Technologist designation. This is open to all applicants, there are no pre-requisites other than a willingness to devote time to study and preparation for the exam. The successful CDT candidate will have a good understanding of the construction delivery process and documentation. It is not simply about the construction phase, however. The life cycle of any building begins with a schematic design and continues through to decommissioning or re-use. This is a lot of information to cover, and the CDT candidate will have a good working knowledge of all the subject matter. The CSI Project Resource Manual and the American Institute of Architects’ General Condition document A201 are the main documents of study.

The CSI Certification Program also includes three Certifications. These are more specific than the CDT Program is and emphasize the application of information. The successful Certification candidate must be able to solve problems using skills or knowledge presented in the reference materials. The CSI Project Resource Manual is again the primary document of study.

The three Certifications and their applications are:

CCS, Certified Construction Specifier. This is for those individual whose primary work task is the preparation of Construction Documents. This is typically the “plans and specifications” used in the bidding and construction phases of a project. The prerequisite for this exam include successfully passing the CDT exam and providing evidence of relevant work experience.

CCCA, Certified Construction Contract Administrator. Once the agreement between the Owner and Contractor is signed, the construction phase begins. This is the phase of the project where the Contract Administrators do their work. Contract Administrators can work for or represent the Owner, the designer (Architect or Engineer), or the Contractor. An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the content and application of the Construction Documents is required.

CCPR, Certified Construction Product Representative. The CCPR candidate typically works for a manufacturer or product representation company. The CCPR actually works through all the phases of a building’s life cycle from conception to decommissioning. Product selection, substitutions, quality assurance, and maintenance are some of the tasks addressed by the product representative. They understand their role in working with the designer, contractor and building owner.

Back to the Contractor who initiated the call, since they operate on a nation-wide basis, having CSI study groups and exam administration nationally was a great benefit. CSI typically offers the exam nationally in late March or early April. In 2008, the CDT exam will be administered as a computer-based test for the first time. Many CSI Chapters around the country have study groups formed to help the candidates in their preparation for the exam. Not only are these groups a great motivator to stay on task with the reading, but they are excellent learning opportunities. Group discussions provide the benefit of different perspectives on the industry and study materials.

More information is available at www.csinet.org. Click on the “Certification” link.

Good news for the Environment!

2007-12-21T10:36:00.001-06:00

The President has signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act. Although I have already heard griping from some in the business community that this new law “really doesn’t do anything, because there are no tax breaks”, I think it is significant. (Tax breaks for developers are another topic for another day.)

Those of us in the roofing industry may have a greater influence in the reduction of energy use, and therefore greenhouse gas production, than is obvious.

Consider that 20 years from now, practically every building roof will be either new or recently replaced. That means that the current inventory of roofs will be totally replaced by 2030. For the designers, manufacturers, and installers of roof systems this presents a significant opportunity. We can build roof systems that are thermally efficient and high in reflectivity and emissivity. This can be done for very little, if any, added cost to the building owner. The benefits to the environment and the economy are substantial, especially when compared to the cost of replacing a roof.

The New York Times columnist, Tom Friedman would argue that reducing energy consumption is a matter of strategic importance for our country, as well. By reducing the amount of money flowing to oil-exporting countries, the cause of freedom and democracy is greatly enhanced. The rulers of oil-exporting countries are not always friendly and they can act with impunity simply because they have a great source of income – the United States!

However, we digress. Here is a press release from Architecture 2030:

After being passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Energy Independence and Security Act became law yesterday with the President's signature. Section 433 of this bill requires that all federal buildings meet the energy performance standards of The 2030 Challenge. The key passage in this section states that:

“buildings shall be designed so that the fossil fuel-generated energy consumption of the buildings is reduced, as compared with such energy consumption by a similar building in fiscal year 2003 (as measured by Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey or Residential Energy Consumption Survey data from the Energy Information Agency), by the percentage specified in the following table:

-------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year Percentage Reduction
2010: 55%
2015: 65%
2020: 80%
2025: 90%
2030: 100%
-------------------------------------------

This applies to Federal buildings. Consider, however, that the Federal government is the biggest "landlord" in the country, if not the world. This is definitely a step in the right direction.

New job

2007-09-24T14:20:00.000-05:00

Starting October 8, 2007 I will be working at:

Dressler Consulting Engineers, Inc.
4425 Indian Creek Parkway
Overland Park, KS

913.341.5575
www.dressler.net

Please update your file.

My e-mail and direct dial number will stay the same.

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

2007-09-24T14:10:00.002-05:00

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

Moral: You don’t get what you expect, you get what you inspect. (Or, you don’t get what you specify, you get what you observe.)

Situation

In the preparation of Construction Documents, we spend a great deal of time determining the proper components for the building systems. We apply a great deal effort writing specifications and making drawings and cross checking between them.

Mistake

Rather than giving consideration to the perfect set of Construction Documents, we often overlook who will use them and how they will interpret them.

For example, for our roofing projects it is not uncommon for the foreman to have all of his instructions about how to assemble the roof system on a single 3 by 5 note card. He carries this card in his pocket.

All of the wonderful specification writing and drafting work in the Construction Documents is reduced to a single 3 by 5 note card!

Result

Some times the construction crew assembles their portion of the work by habit or “area practice”, rather than what was so carefully researched and specified.

Maybe they cannot do their work the way it was specified because of interference with other work. Maybe they were told to do their work at the wrong time in the construction sequence. Maybe the wrong materials were delivered to the project site.

The result will be a building not in conformance with the Construction Documents.

Lesson learned.

There is no substitute for timely jobsite visits. This means being at the place of work at the correct time.

For example, the roof is one of the largest field-assembled systems in a building. It is typically the assembly of multiple components. Looking at the finished roof does not show which components were used or how they were installed. For that, the Owner’s representative needs to be on the roof as it is being assembled.

Some clients forgo the expense of roof warranty premiums and use the saving to pay for a roof construction observer instead.

On Being Flexible

2007-09-24T14:10:00.001-05:00

On Being Flexible

Moral: Be especially careful when changing roof system type.

Situation

A large retail building was being converted for a different use. In the process of the remodeling, it was decided to change the roof system type. The existing roof was a ballasted EPDM (rubber) membrane. The new roof was a coal tar built-up roof.

The roof deck was corrugated metal on bar joists. The building exterior walls were tilt-up concrete.

Mistake

Little (or no) consideration was given to the movement of the roof deck relative to the walls. Since the roof deck was attached to the supporting bar joists, it can only more in the same direction as the bar joists. Since the bar joists span from one side of the building to the opposite side, there can be a differential movement between the deck and the adjacent wall.

Specifically, the walls at the ends of the bar joists will stay in the same relative location since they were fastened. However, the walls running parallel to the bar joists can move relative to the bar joists/deck since they were not fastened together. As the building moves with temperature expansion or contraction, or wind loads, or foundation settlement, the roof connection from the roof deck to the wall can be strained.

Result

The roof base flashing wrinkled noticeably along the parapet walls.

The roof membrane actually split in the field of the roof.

The EPDM roof provides a flexible membrane system that accommodates building movement. A coal tar built-up roof with fiberglass ply felts does not.

Both are good systems, with unique performance attributes.

Lesson learned

Changing the type of a system should be based on relevant factors. Swapping one type for another is not always as straightforward as it may seem.

Particular care must be paid to the interface between systems, i.e. between the building structure and the tilt-up walls or between the roof and the walls.

Self-inflicted Roof Blow-off

2007-09-24T14:07:00.000-05:00

Self-inflicted Roof Blow-off

Moral: Don’t override the safety system. It’s there for a reason.

Situation

We were asked to design a roof replacement for a small building that housed electronic switchgear and computers. The HVAC system was oversized with a backup system, because of the necessity to keep this equipment at its proper operating temperature.

Mistake

The mechanical system operator decided to test the system. In preparation for the test, the pressure relief dampers were blocked off. These dampers were spring loaded and calibrated to vent excess pressure from the building interior in the event of a problem with the HVAC system.

The HVAC system could operate by recirculating the interior air, or by pulling in air from outside the building.

With the relief dampers blocked, the HVAC system was turned on with full outside make-up air.

Result

The rise in the interior air pressure resulted in the roof system being “blown” off the building. It actually did not leave the building, but rose off the deck and came back down when the HVAC was shut off.

Lesson learned

The safety system is there for a reason. Someone has determined the need for the system and designed it for that purpose. The system may be designed for situations that may not be obvious.

Overriding the safety system can lead to unintended consequences.

Don’t Get Ahead of Yourself

2007-09-24T14:06:00.000-05:00

Don’t Get Ahead of Yourself

Moral: Don’t take off more than you can replace.

Situation

Note: This is not one of our projects. We don’t do residential work.

There was a residential roof replacement project being done by a friend of the homeowner. The scope of work included removing the existing cedar shake roof and replacing it with an asphalt shingle roof. No problem.

The “roofer” had ordered a dumpster to be placed in the driveway. As the existing roof was demolished it could be collected and hauled away at the end of the job.

Mistake

Rather than continuing to pay the daily charge for the dumpster, it was decided to completely remove the existing roof and have it hauled away. No temporary roof was installed.

A quick pop-up thunderstorm overnight dumped an inch and a half of rain in about 30 minutes.

Result

Most of the gypsum board in the house was ruined. Some ceilings dropped. The carpeting was ruined. The electrical system was damaged, etc.

Lesson learned

Although it seems obvious when we are writing re-roofing specifications, we always instruct the roofing contractor to tear off no more of the existing roof than can be “dried-in” or replaced each day. Apparently, this instruction was not obvious to the amateur “roofer”.

No weather forecast is perfect all the time. Make allowances for the worst-case possibility. Take control of the variables you can, because there is often another variable beyond your control.

Wrong place at the wrong time

2007-09-24T14:04:00.000-05:00

Wrong place at the wrong time, or Leaks at the Roof-to-wall Interface

Moral: Proper construction detailing is essential between building systems.

Situation

A new retirement home was built a couple of years ago. It was a three story building. The roof consisted of asphalt shingles on a plywood deck. The octagonal front entryway had stone masonry cladding. The General Contractor was anxious to get the building “dried-in” so that the interior work could be done without concern of getting wet.

Mistake

The roofer was told to complete the application of the shingles before the stone mason laid up the wall. As a result, where the stonework extended above the roof, the mortar and stone was actually laid on top of the previously installed shingles.

Result

When it rained, the rainwater ran down the slope of the roof, under the stone and mortar and into the building. A gypsum board ceiling collapsed.

Lesson(s) learned.

There is no substitute for proper sequencing of construction work. The stone mason should have completed the wall before the roofer laid the shingles.

There is no substitute for proven construction details properly installed. The flashing between the roof and the wall cannot be left out simply because the roof is sloped.

Particular care must be paid to the interface between systems, i.e. between the roof and the walls. Each trade is responsible for their own work, but not for others’. Although there were several opportunities to prevent or correct this failure, no corrective steps were taken.

Refabricating Architecture

2007-05-09T10:58:00.000-05:00

Book Review
Refabricating Architecture
By Stephen Kieran and James Timberlake
McGraw-Hill 2004

In an historical context, the process of building design and construction has not changed greatly. Architects envision the building and contractors and material suppliers try to deliver that vision. The designers prepare the construction documents. The contractor then takes the documents, and brings to the jobsite all the craftspeople and construction materials necessary to assemble the building. This is a linear process, with a distinct segregation of skills. The authors point out that CSI adds to the structure of this process with MasterFormat.

In the future, the authors feel that architects will need to focus on the construction process, not simply the results. As examples, they show the advances made in the manufacturing industries of the automobile, aircraft, and ship building. These heavy industrial processes have several advantages over the typical building construction process.

For example, automobiles are designed, fabricated, and assembled as modules, rather than discrete components. A subcontractor assembles a complete dashboard with all the pieces, including various options. The dashboards are delivered (just in time, so no inventory) to the final assembly plant where they are joined with all the other modules from all the other suppliers to produce the completed car. The authors speculate that at some point, there will be automobile companies that do no assembly at all. They will be, in effect, marketers of a brand and not industrial manufacturers.

Shipbuilding and aircraft manufacturing follow similar procurement/assembly processes. The advantage to the customer is that the assembly takes place indoors in a controlled environment. The work environment is safer and not prone to weather related interruptions. The design allows for “plug and play” modules with fewer connections or interfaces with other parts. All of these factors mean higher quality and lower cost to the customer.

To demonstrate how the authors’ approach to the construction process might be carried out, there is a chapter devoted to the assembly and delivery of a house. They visualize the use a converted Boeing assembly plant in Washington State as the manufacturer of houses. The various module suppliers are located nearby. All the components are assembled on the factory floor and then the completed house is disassembled into “grand blocks” for packing and shipping. No delays and everything fits as designed.

I appreciated the authors’ premise. I encourage you to get a copy of this book and read it for yourself. It is available at discount on the CSInet.org website. The single chapter on how a house might be assembled at the Boeing plant was particularly enlightening. I wish there were more examples like this for other types of construction. As a roofing consultant, I see many examples of field assembly problems, particularly between systems. The interface between a roof system and a rooftop mechanical system is prone to leaks. The interface between the roof and the wall is another problem example. How can we design and fabricate our buildings to prevent these types of problems? The authors seem to be on a track that deserves our consideration.

Author James Timberlake, FAIA will give the Keynote presentation at the CSI Show in Baltimore, MD on June 20.

The 2010 Imperative

2007-02-22T14:42:00.000-06:00

Did you know that almost half the greenhouse gases generated in the US are from buildings? That’s almost as much as transportation and manufacturing combined.

About 40% of the greenhouse gases are due to the operation of our buildings – heating, cooling, lighting, etc. Another 8% are generated due to the construction process itself.

What should we do? What effect can contractors, designers and building material manufacturers have on greenhouse gases and climate change? By the year 2035, about 75% of the built environment in this country will be new or renovated construction. This means that the buildings we are working on now will have a tremendous impact on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Tuesday February 20 was the date for the international web-cast of the 2010 Imperative. The web-cast brought together three experts on climate change and the future of architectural design. The web-cast was viewed simultaneously around the world. During the question and answer session, comments were heard from Singapore, Barcelona, Jackson Hole, New York City (the location of the seminar), Tennessee and the Middle East.

Each of the three speakers gave a half-hour PowerPoint presentation. Dr. James Hansen is head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Edward Mazria, AIA is the founder of Architecture 2030. This organization has been a leading proponent of the role of architects in affecting the future climate change. The third was Dr. Chris Luebkeman, AIA of ARUP Foresight + Innovation + Incubation, London.

A web archive of the seminar presentation can be viewed at: http://www.2010imperative.org

Back to the question of what can we do? The 2010 Imperative suggests that the following statement be added to all design studio problems: “The design engage the environment in a way that dramatically reduces or eliminates the need for fossil fuel.”

Links:

NASA World Map: http://tinyurl.com/2t9jfu

Architecture 2030 (for practicing architects, engineers, and designers)
http://www.architecture2030.org

Monday Night Football at the Superdome

2006-09-22T11:35:00.000-05:00

The big “kick off” for the Superdome is Monday night September 25. According to the press reports, this will be a Superbowl-like event. Those of us who have had a part in the rebuilding of the Superdome will be excused for being a little too proud of the collective effort. It has been a most amazing project. The focus of everyone involved has been inspiring. Makes you wonder why we can’t do every construction project this way!

For more information on Monday Night Football check this out.

Pre-game show at 6 pm, game at 7:30 pm CDT on ESPN. Check your local listings.

Enjoy!

"Construction Methods" course

2006-09-22T10:12:00.000-05:00

For the Fall Semester 2006, I have a new teaching job! Actually, I am a semester-long substitute teacher at Johnson County Community College (Kansas) and it is lots of fun. The official title is Adjunct Associate Professor or something like that.

The course is Construction Methods. This is an introductory course for students starting out in engineering, architecture, or construction management. We do a brief overview of the various building systems. The course includes terminology, a little history, and the relationship of the systems. We also discuss building materials used in the systems.

The students range from folks with many years of construction experience to those who are taking their first step into the industry. The student interest shown has been impressive. There is no lack of class discussion. This is good for the students and the teacher. In addition, we have several outside experts scheduled to present information about systems in their field of expertise.

Over the past few years I have been teaching a couple of classes for the Builders Association/AGC at the North Kansas City Training Center. The Fall Semester is the Construction Documents course and the Spring Semester is the Construction Planning and Scheduling course. Several construction companies send their employees to these classes. These courses may be used for credit in a degree program offered by the Metropolitan Community College, Kansas City.

Great Article on the Superdome project

2006-08-30T16:16:00.000-05:00

Symbol of Rebirth - Sports

NAWIC 51st Annual Convention

2006-08-04T17:18:00.000-05:00

I will be presenting at the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) National Convention on September 7, 2006 in Kansas City.

The topics of the presentations are "MasterFormat 2004 Overview" and "MasterFormat 2004 Applications".

In the past I have done MasterFormat presentations for the Builders Association/AGC, the Drywall Contractors Association and at my alma mater, Kansas State University.

This is an exciting opportunity for me, especially since it takes place near my office.

Here is where you can get more information about the

NAWIC Convention

Rebuilding the Superdome Roof, 9

2006-08-02T10:44:00.000-05:00

The "High Roof" is now officially complete. Sure, there are some additional work items to be completed, like the place the new smoke vents and some metal edge flashing. The roof deck, spray foam and urethane coating have been installed. Visually the roof looks great. It is difficult to describe want a presence the Superdome and its roof has on downtown New Orleans. It would be wonderful if every building looked as good!

On Tuesday there was a press tour and conference at the Superdome. In attendance were the Governor, NFL Commissioner and the Owner of the New Orleans Saints football club. From the press reports it seems they were quite impressed with the progress on rebuilding the Superdome. The completion of the roof work means the interior renovations can continue without concern for the weather outside. Also, the floor area is now available for use by the other contractors, since the roofing contractor is out of the way.

Representatives of the Contractor, spray foam manufacturer, and coating manufacturer joined us for a visual observation of the roof. The roof looks good, especially from the top. The roofers were able to improve their application techniques as the work progressed. That means the foam looks more level across the metal deck flutes towards the top of the roof. Not that too many people will have the opportunity to view the roof surface up close. From the street level it looks good.

As part of my site visit I also got to enjoy the view from a helicopter. The weather has been more typical recently, that is occasional rain showers in the afternoon. The first day I was there the helicopter was grounded due to bad weather at its originating airport. But the next morning was good, so we were able to take off about 7 am and take a few "laps" around the Superdome. Check out the photo link in the sidebar on the right.

West Virigina University Coliseum roof

2006-07-21T09:28:00.000-05:00

We were the prime roofing design professionals on the Roof Replacement project for the Coliseum at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. This project’s relevant features were a seriously deteriorated roof that had a very narrow time window for replacement to be completed. It also was constructed using a long span, folded plate, concrete roof that was difficult to access. In interviews with facility management personnel, it was determined that providing on-going roof maintenance was a challenge. There was concern about maintenance that could be provided over the required design life of the roof system. Research into roof systems available established a preferred system that met these criteria. The project was completed within schedule, within budget, and significantly upgraded the aesthetic appearance of the Coliseum. Professional Roofing magazine article. See photo link in sidebar.

Superdome Roof Coating

2006-07-19T16:33:00.000-05:00

The main objective for designing the new roof for the Superdome has been to produce a system that is highly weather resistant. The rains, hurricane-force winds, and possible debris present a challenge to all roofs there.

There has been little information provided about whether hail damage is an issue in New Orleans. Apparently, it is. In any event, we have specified a polyurethane coating for the Superdome roof. This material presents several advantages in this application. First, it comes with a proven performance history. In the case of sprayed polyurethane foam and coatings, it seems that the performance history has not been well documented and published. Here is an article that does a fine recap of spray foam roof systems.

A quote from the article: “Hail and wind-driven missiles rarely cause leaks and damage can typically be repaired at a later date without compromising long-term performance. One of the most famous examples is the New Orleans Superdome. A severe hailstorm damaged areas of the SPF roof in 1978, and the city debated for the next 10 years on how best to execute repairs. Finally, in 1992, the roof was repaired and re-coated. Despite such a long time before repairs were finally carried out, the roof never leaked from the hail damage.”

The second advantage with a polyurethane coating is its very high tensile strength. This tensile strength over a spray foam with high compressive strength provides a highly hail-resistant system. Although the Superdome roof does not have much foot traffic, it does have potential for impact.

The third advantage of a polyurethane coating is that it is moisture-cured. That is, the chemical reaction takes place with a reaction with water molecules in the air. In New Orleans, LA there is more than enough water molecules in the air. The heat and humidity are notorious!

Superdome Roof

A Visit to Taliesin

2006-07-17T21:37:00.000-05:00

In June my son and I made another stop for Mr. Frank Lloyd Wright. This time we were driving through Wisconsin and stopped to tour Taliesin in Spring Green. It is a lovely part of the state. We enjoyed the scenic roads through the dairy farmlands and stopped to buy some cheese. The skies were low and had been threatening rain all morning. As we got closer to Spring Green, it did start to rain lightly. It certainly wasn’t a “gully washer” and it did not deter our intention to tour Mr. Wright’s studio.

However, the weather must have deterred some less-hearty souls, because when our tour was announced at the front of the gift shop we were the only ones. So, we had a private tour! We had not really done our homework before going to Taliesin. As we often do, this was an unplanned and unscheduled trip. We were lucky to have the route to take us to Taliesin. The tour took us through the school and studio. There is so much to take in. These are inspiring spaces, and it is exciting to think of how many others have felt the inspiration here.

Since it was a rainy day, we could see the effects of the weather on the buildings. This is not good. Apparently, Mr. Wright did not care for gutters on his buildings, because there is significant water damage to the eaves and walls. One can hope the damaged parts can be repaired in time to save the rest of the building. We viewed the dining hall in the school, and there were wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen. We also went into the studio, where people were working. Presumably, these are interns being mentored in the theory of Mr. Wright. I wonder how he would have used a computer and AutoCAD?

After our tour was complete we had a nice lunch back at the Visitor Center. Mr. Wright also designed this building. His hand can be seen in everything he did.

Taliesin is definitely worth the effort to visit. As with the Oak Park, IL studio it is interesting to see how his talent evolved. We look forward to a return trip.

Taliesin

Rebuilding the Superdome Roof, 7

2006-07-04T18:02:00.000-05:00

During the visit last week, the Superdome deck replacement was almost complete. The hoists are being removed as the temporary construction hatches are closed with new metal decking. Everyone and everything is being squeezed into the top area inside the circle of the smoke vents.

The next task, after applying the spray foam will be to power wash the entire surface of the roof. Then, a primer coating will be applied to the entire surface. This preparatory work is being done so the roof coating will have good adhesion to the foam. The dark color of the primer will ensure the surface temperature will be warm (maybe hot) and allow for proper curing of the urethane coatings. The base coat will be grey and the topcoat will be white. That will bring the familiar appearance of the original Superdome roof back.

More later.

Superdome Roof

Rebuilding the Superdome Roof, 6

2006-06-29T10:56:00.000-05:00

Here is an article from "Engineering News Record" about the Superdome roof replacement: ENR Article

Superdome Roof

Rebuilding the Superdome Roof, 5

2006-06-12T11:12:00.000-05:00

The work of replacing the Superdome roof is progressing well. Do to the relatively good weather thus far the schedule seems secure. This can change, of course. At my last site visit, the lower ring had been completed full around the dome. The roofers “golden spike” had been placed! Since then, the deck replacement has past approximately 75% of the total. The process is well rehearsed. The new material comes in, is prepped and hauled to the top. At the same time, the old decking and roofing is removed, lowered to the Superdome floor and hauled off. The new roof system is spray-foam and the components are pumped to the roof directly from the drums on the floor.

Once the decking is complete and the spray-foam work is done, the coating will be applied. There is some talk of changing the color of the top coating to something other than white. This should not be a problem for the coating manufacturer, Neogard, so long as the decision is made with enough time for them to commence production.

There is a great deal of work taking place in the Superdome besides the roof replacement. The roofing work is simply the most visible from the outside. Since the Superdome is 35 years old, it was already scheduled for a remodeling and upgrade when the hurricane struck. I’m sure the public will be impressed with the work done this year.

Superdome Roof

NCR meetings, May 2006

2006-06-12T11:10:00.000-05:00

On May 27, 2006 we held the CSI North Central Region (NCR) Caucus or Member Meeting. After introducing the distinguished guests, we heard a presentation by members of the Milwaukee Chapter encouraging attendance at next year’s NCR Conference in their city. The Conference will be August 2 to 5, 2007. There was some discussion of the “challenges” for NCR CSI members in attending the Winnipeg conference. There was also discussion of future NCR meeting dates and the value of NCR leadership training.

Immediately following the NCR Member Meeting was the NCR Board Meeting. This meeting actually started before the scheduled time, but since everyone present in Winnipeg was in attendance, the meeting started early. The first order of business was the approval of the minutes of the last meeting in Des Moines.

It was mentioned that the Region budgets $2000 for “seed” money for use by the Conference host Chapter, if needed.

Elected to one-year terms was Darrell Jones, Secretary and Dan Goetsch, Treasurer.

A lengthy discussion of proposed By-Laws changes followed. This was possible for the first time in years, since there was a quorum present. (Perhaps we should schedule all Region Board meetings out of the country!) It was moved and approved that the terms of office for Secretary and Treasurer be changed to two years. It was moved and approved that meetings currently requiring 30 days advance notice be changed to five days’ notice. There was an article-by-article and section-by-section discussion and approval of several other changes to the By-Laws. Most notable among the changes was making the senior Institute Director the President of the Region. Those roles had been separated several (seven?) years ago. The consensus opinion of the Board was that that had simply confused the scope of the officers. The Board will still elect the Region Vice-President, however.

Upcoming NCR Conference locations include:
2007 in Milwaukee (50th anniversary)
2008 in Central Missouri (to be confirmed)
2009 in Kansas City (50th anniversary)

CSI

CSC/NCR Conference, May 2006

2006-06-12T11:08:00.000-05:00

The Construction Specifications Canada/North Central Region (CSC/NCR) Conference was an unqualified success. This year’s CSC national convention was held jointly with the NCR of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). The NCR has held joint meetings with other CSI regions in the past. I do not know if there has been a meeting with CSC, however.

Approximately 50 members represented the NCR. This is a smaller group than usually attends the annual NCR conferences, for sure, but probably not a surprising number. Since this was not a “home” conference for any NCR chapter the “traveling” attendance was probably not far off the average. Another factor limiting attendance is that many US companies do not operate or have sales territories that cross the Canadian border. Therefore, some NCR members who would normally attend would not have their company’s support. A third factor is that Winnipeg is not a short distance from any of the NCR chapters. Everyone who attended spent some time and/or money to get to Winnipeg. Next year’s CSC Conference will be in Vancouver, British Columbia. I have had the good fortune to attend a couple of conferences there. It is one of my favorite (or favourite) cities.

I arrived in Winnipeg on the morning of May 25. Gordon French of the Winnipeg CSC Chapter was there to pick me up and take me to the conference hotel. Along the way he provided an interesting travelogue of the history of Winnipeg. I followed the NCR Leadership Training “track” of seminars. Richard Sophir presented a seminar on Chapter programs. Sheldon Wolfe presented a seminar on Chapter newsletters and websites. John Rickert gave a presentation on Chapter education programs. All of these presentations were only constrained by the time allowed. They were very well received and prompted interested questions and discussions by the attendees.

The CSC has similar but different certification programs. I have not had time to learn the details, but there are Certified Technical Representatives (CTR) and Registered Specifications Writers (RSW). More on this later.

Luncheon speakers included Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, former Canadian Foreign Secretary and Hannah Taylor, age 10 who has helped establish the Ladybug Foundation to help homeless people in Canada. Both speakers had inspiring messages.

On Saturday Lynn Javoroski and I attended the Registered Specification Writer’s meeting. It was an open meeting. It was literally an open forum, with everyone arranging their chairs in a large circle so we all were facing one another. The hour was filled with lots of discussion on various topics including: SectionFormat, open-book exams, outline specifications, manufacturer guide specifications, creation of a mentoring manual and creating a specification editing course. We were impressed with the openness and genuine interest of the members. I am not familiar with the CSC approach to their Certification programs, but it appears to be focused on mentoring, experience and education. I certainly enjoyed the open forum approach and the exchange among the members.

CSI

Rebuilding the Superdome Roof, 4

2006-05-11T09:13:00.000-05:00

Here is a roofing manufacturer's report on the re-roofing project at the Superdome. Photos included. Superdome and Katrina

Superdome Roof

Bob

Rebuilding the Superdome Roof, 3

2006-05-04T17:03:00.000-05:00

As of the first week in May 2006, the reconstruction of the Superdome roof is progressing well. The work thus far has been focused on the south side of the building. The procedures have been well planned and adjusted along the way. The logistics of removing and replacing the decking material is impressive. Once the decking crews have replaced the metal deck, the roofing crews spray the polyurethane foam. Over this, a primer coating is applied to protect the foam from ultraviolet degradation.

In the photo is shown the sequence of steps for replacing the roof. The checkered pattern in the white area is where the existing roof will be removed. The checkered pattern in the black area is where the new deck has been installed and the laps have been foamed. The all black or gray areas have been foamed and coated with a primer. This view is from the east side of the building looking west.

The work areas on the roof appear to be unfinished at this point. This is because the final coating will not be applied until after all of the deck has been replaced and foamed. The final coating will be white in color and will return the Superdome to its original – if not better – appearance.

The foam roof system is not designed to provide a specified thermal resistance. In most roof systems, the designer is trying to achieve certain energy efficiency with the roof system. The interior volume of the Superdome is so large that cooling it would be cost prohibitive. It is not necessary anyway, since it is only occupied at the lower elevation. The mechanical systems are designed to provide cooled air for the spectators and the floor level only. For the Superdome roof, we have specified a minimum two and one-half inch thick foam. This will adequately hide the ribs of the metal decking and provide a sturdy substrate for the roof coating.

Superdome Roof

Rebuilding the Superdome Roof, 2

2006-04-29T15:46:00.000-05:00

I certainly would welcome a definitive history of the Superdome roof. I have been told that it originally had a spray foam and coating roofing system. After 25 or so years of service, the spray foam roof was removed and replaced – although not completely – with a mechanically attached roof insulation board and a single ply rubber membrane. This is the system that was in place during Hurricane Katrina.

By the time I came on board with the design team, the decision had been made to replace not only the remnants of the existing roof, the temporary roof (see Part 1), but the metal roof deck as well. This was a concern to me, not from a technical perspective, but from a construction scheduling perspective. Removing/replacing the decking would add a lot of work and therefore time to the construction duration. The engineers had determined that the existing metal deck would not give the necessary service life, and so it would be replaced as part of the re-roofing project.

Research done for previous dome roofs had shown the advantages of a sprayed-polyurethane foam roof system (SPF). The advantages include: a fully adhered system, a monolithic system, reduced material handling, conformance to the substrate, and proven performance. The downside for this application is that the substrate is roll-formed metal decking. The flutes of the metal will tend to telegraph through the spray foam application and be visible at the surface.

The primary design objective is to construct a system that can withstand another hurricane. For this critical factor a SPF system is ideal. Because it is fully adhered to the deck, it will not leave the building unless the decking leaves!

Superdome Roof

Rebuilding the Superdome Roof, 1

2006-04-24T21:48:00.000-05:00

I have been honored with the challenges of unique projects in my work career. This year has already brought what I hope to be one of the most famous and visible projects I have had. In January I received a telephone call from my friends at Ellerbe Beckett in Kansas City. I was told that I was about to be added to a conference call in progress with a meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. And with that simple click on the line, I was added to the team working to re-build the Louisiana Superdome.

The story of the Superdome and how it sheltered the victims of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 is well known. There was significant damage to the roofing, primarily caused by the roof top vents blowing off and down the curve of the dome. The tumbling vents, three of twelve came off, ripped the rubber membrane roof. Once that happened the wind pulled most of the membrane off the leeward side. The photo shows one of the remaining damaged vents at the top of the Superdome. Note the large dent and the blown up counter flashing!

Structurally, the Superdome roof held up well. That fact allowed the dome to shelter those gathered within. The rain was able to blow in, however.

An application of spray foam was used to quickly dry-in the dome. This was a Superdome version of a blue tarp and provided a weather barrier. If you have visited an area ravaged by a hurricane, you know how important it is to prevent further damage.

“Roofing” Codes

2006-04-17T16:59:00.000-05:00

Recently I was asked to deliver a half-day seminar on the application of the International Building Code (IBC) to roofing. At first, speaking four hours on a single twelve-page chapter seemed impossible. How could this brief chapter be made relevant to an audience that included very few roofing professionals? From a speaker’s perspective, nothing is worse that the prospect of running out of material. From a listener’s perspective, nothing is worse than a speaker with nothing to say.

Putting the presentation together turned out to be relatively straightforward. There are a few roofing terms to define. The IBC says that the roofing system (whatever it is) shall be installed according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. What turned out to be the interesting part of the PowerPoint presentation was the photos of the different roof systems. Not many people have experience with all the various roof systems on the market today. In addition to the steep slope applications we covered (no pun intended) built-up, modified bitumen, single-plys, sprayed foam and fluid applied roof systems. We were able to discuss some of the selection criteria for roof systems. The benefits and limitations of the roof system types prompted some spirited exchanges. I’ve heard that there are over 600 commercial roof systems available. Sorting through all that keeps my job interesting.

There was something “new” for everyone it seemed. The photos and video clips prompted lots of questions and discussion, which makes for a successful presentation. For me the adage: “the best way to learn is to teach” was certainly true. I learned a lot in my research and even more from the discussions during the presentation.

The CSI Show, Part 2

2006-04-12T08:33:00.000-05:00

The 2006 Edition of the CSI Show actually had a “roofing” track. Friday afternoon, March 31, featured three roofing-related seminars. I attended all three. The seminar topics were: “Cool Metal Roofing,” “Roof Cleaning,” and “Roofs, Energy and the Environment.” This last session included the best of the two previous session’s topics. Cool Metal was primarily a presentation on special paint pigments and how they improve the reflectivity and emissivity of metal roofing. Scott Kriner or Akzo Nobel Coatings was the presenter and did a fine job. Dane Bradford and Jennifer Smith presented Roofs, Energy and the Environment. I thought this seminar had the most value to my work, since they were discussing application of the ASHRAE 90.1 energy guide as it relates to roofing. The presentation was on topic, relevant and addressed some questions that I have had.

Of course, attending any conference, convention or show is mostly about networking. CSI is known for providing access to business professionals in the construction industry. I spoke with Paul Bertram, Jr., FCSI, CDT, LEED AP (CSI loves the initials!). He wants to develop a liaison between CSI and the Roof Consultants Institute. Since I am a member of both organizations, I certainly agree with that idea. I hope to be working with Paul and the folks at RCI in the future to share some education ideas and perhaps expand the Roofing seminar track at future CSI Shows.

I also spoke with Ellen Kral, Publisher of the Construction Specifier Magazine. The Specifier is the excellent publication of CSI. Ellen encouraged me to consider writing roofing related articles for publication. Aside from this blog, I’ve never written technical articles for publication. As you are aware, writing is not a natural gift for me!

Oak Park, IL and Mr. Wright

2006-04-07T15:56:00.000-05:00

In March, my son and I took a quick spring break road trip to Chicago. We had less than a day to spend in Chicago so we decided to visit Oak Park, IL and tour some of the Frank Lloyd Wright sites. The first stop was the Wright Home and Studio. The early stages of Wright’s style can be seen developing here. The Studio looks like it would have been a stimulating place to come to work. As often happens when I’m touring or visiting a building, the question — what roof would you use? — came up. Very hard to answer, of course, without knowing the construction of the building. There are low slope and steep slope portions. Visit the site: http://tinyurl.com/z4b29 Yes, I know. This photo is not of Mr. Wright's home/sutdio.

Our next stop was the Unity Temple, which was designed by Mr. Wright in 1905. This is an amazing building. If you thought exposed concrete was in style in the 1970s, Mr. Wright was there 65 years ago. The sanctuary is particularly interesting. It can seat 400 people and none are more than 45 feet from the podium. Very impressive. Visit the site: http://www.oprf.com/unity/

The CSI Show, Part 1

2006-04-06T14:38:00.000-05:00

The last week of March was the 2006 edition of the CSI Show. This year's event was back in Las Vegas, NV after three years in Chicago, IL. The attendance seemed very good. The registered attendees outnumbered the last event in Las Vegas. This was evident by the "oversold" education seminars. In some cases, it was required to get in your seat early because there were not enough chairs for everyone.

Wednesday morning was a special treat. Two famous "black cape" architects lectured. The first was "Frank Lloyd Wright" portrayed by Lyman Shepard. I had seen Mr. Shepard before at the Kansas City CSI Chapter 40th Anniversary Banquet. He has a slide rack (no PowerPoint here!) of photos of Mr. Wright's work and delivers an entertaining and informative narration.

The second famous architect of the morning was Mr. Frank Gehry, FAIA. He gave a brief overview of some of his work. Within the course of a couple of hours we were able to enjoy two of the most famous architects of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Up and running!

2006-04-05T09:25:00.000-05:00

Welcome to a new blog on the commercial roofing industry.

I have the great pleasure to meet and work with many interesting people around the country. I also enjoy the professional challenges presented by my clients and their buildings.

As a Registered Roof Consultant, I am able to approach each roofing project without bias. I try to not show preference to a particular roofing system type or manufacturer. The motto here is, "Let the building tell us which roof is best." There are many resources to draw from, including contractors, manufacturer's reps, and other roof consultants. I would be remiss if I did not mention my main network, namely the members of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI).

There will be more on these topics in the future. Thank you for your interest.

Bob