Illinois Roof Consulting Project Case Study

PROJECT: A food manufacturer in Illinois contacted us to assess the overall condition of their plant and administrative facility. The buildings have multiple low slope roofing systems. RMS consultants provided investigative reporting and infrared scanning.

ROOFING SYSTEM COMPOSITION: 18 sections of roofing including single ply thermoplastic membranes such as PVC, KEE, and TPO, either mechanically attached or fully adhered, and 1 section SBS modified bitumen.

OBJECTIVE: To determine overall condition of roof systems throughout the site and make recommendations for repair/replacement over the next 5 years.

RESULTS: Investigative reporting was performed on 18 roof sections totaling approximately 224,000 sq. ft.. Ownership was provided with objective assessment of the overall conditions including:

• Roof Construction to outline each roof area in terms of approximate square footage, as well as a generic description of all visible roof components such as roof deck, roof insulation (where possible), roofing materials/system.
• Synopsis of current roof conditions and expectancies such as roof leaks, ponding, improper installation, missing expansion joints, porous walls, and in general, an analysis of existing conditions that will affect the overall longevity and performance of the roof system.
• Addressing existing conditions of major roof components with regard to their overall conditions and need for attention.  The typical items are perimeter flashings, sheet metal components, equipment curb flashings, caulking, drainage, pitch pockets, expansion joints, and the overall condition of the field of the roof.
• Recommendations as to whether or not each roofing section is maintainable and if so, for how many years.  Preliminary budget costs are included with regard to corrective actions.  However, preliminary budget costs are based on a cursory overview and are to be used for guideline purposes only.
• A review of major points is compiled in an easy to read format and supplied as a Summary Sheet.

This report is a cost effective way of reviewing roof systems in order to get a reliable overview of current overall roofing needs and to provide reliable information for the formulation of budgets for both expense and capital projects as they relate to roofing needs.