A facility’s roof is the most important and consistently the most neglected building component. From construction to the end of its usable service life NOVA has the experience to get the most out of your capital and maintenance dollars. Let our Roof Consulting services help you.

Our services include:

• Roof Condition Surveys
  
• Infrared Moisture Evaluations
  
• Nuclear Capacitance Evaluation of Roof Systems
  
• Pre-Design Survey
  
• Roof Design & Specifications
  
• Construction Administration for Roof Systems
  
• Structural Steel / Roofing Inspections
• Plan Review

NOVA professionals bring to this process more than 25 years of industry experience and are prepared to focus this expertise on your facility.

More detailed descriptions of typical tasks associated with the Roof Consulting Services are provided below.

Roof Condition Surveys – Surveys begin with preliminary reviews of available and relevant drawings, specifications, reports and records, and interviews with property managers and/or maintenance engineers for the property. During the roof survey, observations are made to note the type of systems and general condition of the roof and associated components to locate problems and visible defects in the materials and roofing systems. 

Infrared Moisture Evaluations – Performance of infrared thermography for identifying areas of suspected subsurface moisture is performed with infrared imaging systems. The infrared scanner and imaging systems can be used to scan all or select areas of the roof. The infrared roof moisture survey is recorded on video tape for later processing.

Nuclear Capacitance Evaluation of Roof Systems - Performance of a nuclear moisture survey for identifying areas of suspected subsurface moisture is accomplished with a Nuclear Moisture Gauge. The nuclear survey can encompass all or select areas of the roof; specifically, those areas of subsurface moisture located with the infrared imaging system and in areas where the infrared roof moisture survey method is not effective. Nuclear moisture detection is generally performed on a 5' x 5' or 10' x 10' gird pattern, as appropriate, and a histogram of the readings is prepared.

Pre-Design Survey - The purpose of the Pre-Design Survey of the existing roof systems is as follows:

• To determine the condition of the existing roof systems and to identify what roof areas will require maintenance, what areas will require repairs and what areas will require replacement
  
• To determine what type of roof systems(s) are most suitable for use on the building(s) in the event that roof replacement is indicated
  
• To determine if the existing roof system components include asbestos containing materials (ACMs)
  
• To gather the data necessary to develop comprehensive roof repair and/or replacement plans and specifications
  
• To gather the data to provide budget estimates for the costs of the remedial work, including economic and service life comparisons of the alternatives for the repair or replacement of the roofs

Roof Design and Specifications - Based on the data obtained through the Pre-Design Survey, NOVA can prepare a detailed set of roofing specifications so equivalent competitive bids may be obtained. The specifications are generally nonproprietary, listing several manufacturers of equivalent materials. The specifications will typically include:

• Membrane manufacturers and specification numbers
  
• Insulation manufacturers and acceptable products
  
• Roof System Components consisting of:
  
  

  • Fasteners • Bitumens • Sheet Metal • Expansion Joints • Pitch Pans Flashing • Plastic Cement • Coatings • Wood • Surfacing  • Counter-flashings  • Caulks

  • Gutters • Conductors • Gravel Stops • Cant Strips • Base Sheets • Primer • Drains • Deck Repair Materials • Lead • Misc Sheet Metal Accessories

Detailed instructions as to the proper methods of applications for each component of the roof systems

Construction Administration for Roof Systems - NOVA offers Construction Administration Services to provide administration of the contract documents and to advise and consult with our client through the construction process. Services typically include:

• Preparation of the contract documents between the successful roofing contractor & our client
  
• Conduct/Attend Pre-construction conferences
  
• Verification of the contractor’s application for payment
  
• Review of shop drawings, submittals and change orders
  
• Review of permits and licensing
  
• Determine dates of substantial and final completion
• Redesign where required
  
• Review warranties offered by the contractor and manufacturer
  
• Recommend preventative maintenance programs for the new roof system(s)
  
• Review insurance coverage and bonding
  
• Coordination of job site meetings
  
• Project closeout administration

Quality Assurance Inspections - Monitoring of roof construction can be performed on a full-time or part-time basis to confirm the contractor’s general compliance with the plans and specifications. Observations of deck repairs and/or replacement, insulation attachment, membrane installation, flashing and perimeter component installation, drainage and water cut offs, surfacing, construction traffic, materials storage, and workmanship are made where appropriate. Field reports are prepared by a roof inspector and are reviewed by one of NOVA’s senior roof consultants. Inspection reports typically include:

• Roofing contractor and crew size
  
• Weather conditions
  
• Storage conditions of roofing materials
  
• Identification of the building area(s) where work was observed being performed
  
• Quantities of roof components installed
  
• Special notes and deviations from the specifications, including the location of the appropriate items
  
• General workmanship

While on site, non-compliance items are noted and reported so that the contractor can take corrective action.

NOVA’s professionals also assist our Clients with remedial repair specifications, contractor construction draw inspections and roof asset management.