Get a second opinion. What harm would it do? Second opinions can help reinforce a decision that is being made or help you find a better solution. With most major life decisions, a fresh perspective can help you make the right decision.
Building owners and property managers should use this concept when deciding if and how to fix their roofs: finding the most cost-effective and proactive measures to keep their buildings safe from the threat of weather-related damage for a long time. There are several factors to consider when deciding if and how to fix your roofs.
An objective aerial infrared scan is a great start in determining if a roof needs to be replaced. This scan is the fastest, most accurate, cost-effective way to find hidden moisture within a roof system. This process helps prevent more significant problems and can help decide if a roof needs to be replaced. If you believe you need a roof replacement, ask yourself these questions:
- Did somebody do the proper inspections and provide a report that clearly outlines issues?
- What information was utilized to determine if roofs need replacement?
- Can the insulation be re-used?
- How did the roofs fail and was a failure mode analysis completed?
We see this often: an owner is replacing a roof (spending a lot of money) that doesn’t need to be replaced. Bringing in a consultant to get a second opinion is a great best practice.
Challenge
A roofing contractor told a building owner that the roof should be replaced. However, since this would be a significant expense, they wanted to make sure this was the appropriate action. Therefore, they called upon an industry consultant’s expertise to offer unbiased recommendations. The initial step was to use aerial infrared roof scanning and analysis, followed by a detailed roof survey.
Solution
The consultant used checks and balances to provide current information and recommend the best course of action for each roof section. As a result, the lowest lifecycle cost was determined.
Results
After the data was collected, the roof could be restored to perform like a new roof for about half the cost and given a 10-year warranty. With the consultant’s help, the client could spend a small amount of the overall project cost to save hundreds of thousands of dollars. Clients with an extensive portfolio of facilities could implement a similar plan to save millions of dollars and years of headaches.
According to research, 50% of roofs being replaced do not need to be replaced. This means a large amount of money is being wasted nationwide on unnecessary roofs. Taking a step back and getting a second opinion can be beneficial in more ways than one. Money, time, and peace of mind can all be saved when an intelligent and proactive plan is used.