WHAT SHOULD AN OWNER EXPECT FROM A QUALITY ROOF?

• Protect your investment by prolonging the life of your building.

• Save energy by lowering heat loss.

• Assure lower maintenance costs.

• Provide a long term trouble free roof system.

A new roof is a big investment. Our association would like to help you get a good roof at a fair price from a quality roofing contractor. We trust the information provided will help make you more knowledgeable when purchasing a roof.

ROOFING OPTIONS

There are a myriad of roof systems available for commercial and industrial type structures. It is important that you select the proper roof system to match your building needs. There are three basic categories of roof systems.

Built-Up Roofs - Also called BUR, are constructed or "Built-Up" on the roof surface, and consist of roof plies mopped in place with hot bitumen. Roof plies consist of alternating layers of organic felt or fiberglass membranes embedded into hot coal tar or asphalt bitumen. Top surfacing choices include aggregate imbedded into hot bitumen, a smooth surfacing of cold roof coatings, or a smooth hot glaze coating.

Single Ply Roofs - Can be subdivided into two basic type membranes - elastomeric and thermoplastic. Elastomeric membranes are "rubber" like materials such as EPDM or neoprene. Thermoplastic membranes are "plastic" type materials such as PVC.

Both elastomeric and thermoplastic roof membranes are manufactured in 30 to 90 mil thickness, and are available in reinforced and non-reinforced sheets. Installation methods include loose-laid ballasted, fully adhered (glue down) and mechanically attached.

Modified Bitumen Roofs - Can be subdivided into two basic type membranes - APP (plastic) modified and SBS (rubber) modified. Modified bitumen membranes are pre-manufactured sheets consisting of asphalt, and reinforcing layers of fiberglass and or polyester. Plastic or rubber is added to "modify" the sheet asphalt to improve its properties. APP membranes are generally "torched" in place with a direct flame torch, while SBS membranes are generally "mopped" in place with hot asphalt bitumen.  In some instances these roofs are installed using cold applied adhesives as well.

Modified bitumen membranes are usually installed over layers of fiberglass membrane mopped in place with hot asphalt bitumen. Modified bitumen membranes are manufactured with a variety of factory applied surfaces, such as mineral granules, metal foil, and smooth. Smooth surfaced sheets may be coated with cold roof coatings.

Miscellaneous Roof Systems - Low slope roof systems described in brief above, represent general categories of roof systems. There exists variations of the above membranes in the form of "Inverted Roof Membrane Systems", as well as additional roof systems such as CSPE, PIB, CPE, TPO and other prefabricated sheet applied membranes.

The Roofing Industry Information Council, a service of the Southeastern Michigan Roofing Contractors Association (SMRCA) can provide valuable roofing advice and design information to help you "onto the right road" to a good roof system. The council can also make recommendations for roof consulting firms, as well as qualified roofing contractors.

WORKMANSHIP IS IMPORTANT

3 Elements To Roof Success

Proper Design
+ Quality Materials
+ Good Workmanship
= Successful Roof Installation

The most important element is Good Workmanship!

Roof application is not an exact science. It is a "craft" involving people, dealing with a broad range of building materials, designs, techniques, and weather. Roof application is a construction process involving the skillful arrangement of several components that constitute a roof "system". The level of workmanship quality during the application process is the critical element of a successful roof installation.

Roofing Expertise - With the myriad of roof membranes, insulation boards, and application methods in the market place today, roof construction has become a very complex business. Roofing contractors must have the expertise to know the value of roof "systems", from the roof deck up. They must have the skills to install all the components in compliance with industry standards, and with the least disruption to an owners normal business operation.

Sheet Metal Expertise - Architectural sheet metal, which is utilized to address water drainage systems, fascias and flashings, is an integral part of a roofing system. A roofing contractor must be able to expertly fabricate and combine project architectural sheet metal components into the roof system to insure a complete and watertight installation.

Expertise is "Know How" - "Know How" is learned through education, training and experience. You can not afford to have your roof system installed by amateurs or by a company with "pick-up" workers. Good workmanship directly affects the quality of a roof installation.

WHY AN SMRCA CONTRACTOR?

Hiring an SMRCA Member Contractor represents "added value", which translates into dollar savings to building owners. There is a difference between contractors. SMRCA contractors employ only union tradesmen, who are school trained through the SMRCA/Roofers Union Local #149 roofing apprentice training program. SMRCA contractors are dedicated to quality, safety and customer satisfaction.

Benefits of hiring a SMRCA Contractor

• Installation of your roofing and waterproofing system by school trained journeymen.

• Roof installation by safety minded contractors with an active industry safety program.

• Your roof installed properly, in accordance with industry standards.

• A contractor suitably equipped to complete your job on-time.
  

• A roof installed correctly to better realize the designed life expectancy of the system.

• Roofing contractors dedicated to the SMRCA "Principals of Excellence".

• Owner access to the free benefits of the "Roofing Industry Information Council".

• Contractors who offer meaningful warranties recommended by the Michigan Roofing Contractors Association.

Be wary of contractors with very low bids - they may have to cut corners to make a profit. They may employ untrained labor, or may subcontract their work to unknown workers. Remember, price is only one criteria for selecting a roofing contractor.  We suggest you examine the life cycle cost of the roof you are buying - the cost of the roof divided by its life expectancy. Life cycle cost analysis, together with selection of a quality contractor, can result in cost savings to you. It pays to hire a qualified SMRCA member contractor.

WHAT IS SMRCA

The Southeastern Michigan Roofing Contractors Association (SMRCA), represents a concerned group of locally based professional roofing contractors. They are dedicated to maintaining high industry standards through roofing expertise and quality workmanship.

The SMRCA was created over 40 years ago by roofing contractors in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties, who entered into an agreement with Roofers Union Local #149. Through the agreement many innovations were initiated, such as the Roofers Apprentice Program, Technical Seminars, and the Association Safety Plan.

Today the SMRCA has established presence with all elements of the construction industry. Building owners, architects and general contractors have learned to rely on SMRCA contractors for dependability and quality workmanship.

SMRCA Goals

• Provide a source of competent and qualified roofing and waterproofing contractors who are professionals in the art of roofing and waterproofing installation.

• Publicize the extent of services available through our member roofing contractors.

• Advance industry standards for roof construction and maintenance.

• Offer technical and practical roofing assistance to architects, engineers, specification writers, general contractors and building owners/managers.

• Disseminate new product research information.

• Sponsor the training of apprentices for the roofing and waterproofing industry.

• Expose fraudulent practices and misleading advertising which victimize the purchaser of roofing products and services.

SMRCA ADVANTAGES

Information Council

The Roofing Industry Information Council stands ready to provide recommendations on design information for new roof construction or re-roof projects. The Council provides advice on roof systems, material compatibility, installation methods and roof insulation requirements.

Apprentice Program

The SMRCA together with the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers Local #149 have formulated standards of education for the Roofers Apprentice School which was founded in 1958.   The program is approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training. The three year apprentice program combines 3400 hours of on-the-job training and classroom studies. The Roofers Union and the SMRCA member contractors jointly support the program, which provides highly trained journeymen roofers to our members.

Education

The SMRCA office has an extensive library of technical roofing information, and manufacturers literature. The SMRCA audio visual library contains many technical, safety and information video and slide programs for use by the construction industry.

The Information Council provides speakers to interested construction oriented organizations on various roofing related subjects. Combined with audio visual presentations, these programs serve to inform and update the industry on traditional and new roof systems technology.

Contractor Recommendations

The SMRCA office can recommend qualified roofing contractors to submit quotations on your roof project. The SMRCA office will be pleased to provide a roster of SMRCA member roofing contractors.  The contractors are "Professional Contractors", qualified to satisfy any of your roofing and waterproofing needs. They have proven records of performance and stand behind their work. To insure that you obtain the good workmanship that you deserve on your roofing project, hire a qualified SMRCA Member Contractor! Insist on a PROFESSIONAL Roofing Contractor!

Roof Consultants

The SMRCA office can provide a list of qualified roof consultants in the area. These consultants can conduct roof surveys and in-depth investigations of problem roofs through scientific roof analysis methods. Consultants can prepare new and re-roof specifications, assist with the bidding process, and perform on-site quality control monitoring during installation. SMRCA contractors welcome qualified roof consultant quality control, to assure the best possible roof.

SMRCA Membership

The Southeastern Michigan Roofing Contractors Association is a member of:

• National Roofing Contractors Association

• Midwest Roofing Contractors Association

• Michigan Roofing Contractors Association

• Construction Association of Michigan

WHAT THE SMRCA CAN DO FOR YOU!

• Provide a list of qualified roofing and waterproofing contractors to bid your project.

• Provide a source of school trained roofing tradesmen to member contractors to complete your project in a professional manner.

• Provide a source of roof consulting firms, that are qualified to provide independent roof evaluations, specification preparation, and quality control inspections.

• Help you obtain a professional roof installation at a competitive price.

Southeastern Michigan Roofing Contractors Association
3560 East Nine Mile Road, Warren, MI 48091
586-759-2140      586-759-0528 (Fax)   www.smrca.org