How To Get a Roof That Works (the First Time)
Part Three
The Making of a Roofing Expert
By: Scott W. Davis
Reprinted from December 2006 ohioconstructionlaw.com
Highlights.
This month we close out this three-part series with an in-depth look at one of the essential
members of the roofing team: The roofing consultant. In
Part Two (the October segment) we discussed “Finding & Contracting with Your Roofing Team,” which stressed the importance of having someone with real roofing expertise on the job daily to make sure a weather-tight system is being installed. That person may be on the staff of the Desigrn Professional or the Construction Manager, or may be an independent consultant working directly for the Owner. This month, we talk with one such expert, Dr. Rene Dupuis, P.E., who shares some of the insights gained from 32 years in the roofing industry.
A Career Based on
Leaky Roofs
Roof leaks are probably the single most annoying defect in the construction industry. They are unsightly and disruptive to operations; they can be a source of embarrassment to an Owner trying to show off a brand new facility; and repairs can be difficult and expensive. So who would ever want to dedicate a career to addressing an issue that is so frustrating to most others? Dr. Rene M. Dupuis, P.E., is one such person, and he recently sat down with ohioconstructionlaw.com for this interview.
Dr. Dupuis is president and co-founder of Structural Research, Inc., a consulting and structural engineering firm that specializes in the roofing, building envelope and waterproofing industries. Widely recognized as a leading expert in the roofing industry, Dr. Dupuis has an extensive educational background rooted in the Badger State, where he earned four degrees from the University of Wisconsin: a BS in agricultural engineering, a BS in civil engineering, an MS in structural engineering, and a PhD in civil engineering. Dr. Dupuis is also a licensed professional engineer.
Why so many degrees and so much time in the classroom? That was our first question, and his answer was simple: "It all stems from my interest in materials, why they worked and how they worked,” he said. “I have a basic curiosity regarding materials."
This curiosity led him to Dow Chemicals in 1974, where he began his professional work investigating the adhesion between roof membrane materials and roofing insulation. His work on various flat roof systems quickly grew, causing him and a business partner to form Structural Research, Inc., just four years later in 1978. The company began with a modest staff of seven people, doing a lot of research on the performance of large transmission towers under various weather conditions. Since that time, Structural Research has grown to include three offices performing work in four main areas: (1) design, (2) asset management, (3) laboratory research, and (4) field investigations.
Trends in the Industry
With over 30 years in the construction and roofing industry, Dr. Dupuis must have seen a lot of improvements in roofs. What are some of the biggest improvements in roofing today?
"Roof systems perform better on average these days," was his answer. This change is mostly attributable to engineered materials that can withstand a multitude of different weathering conditions. It doesn’t come without a price, however. With improved roofing systems sometimes come the need for additional maintenance and management. "Sophisticated Owners know that some pro-activity will yield a better performing roof." By this Dr. Dupuis means that some roofing systems will require greater Owner maintenance, such as cleaning and flashing upkeep.
Dr. Dupuis also saw consolidation in the roof manufacturing industry as a positive trend. According to Dr. Dupuis, "There are vastly fewer roofing manufacturers these days." The value added here is that the larger companies bring to the table products with much more research and development and also products with longer track records of performance. Dr. Dupuis commented that when he first started, many roofing systems did not have a long history of performance. Owners did not really know what they were getting when buying a roofing system.
Another trend that Dr. Dupuis has noted in the roofing industry is the increasing number of attorneys involved on projects. This can be both good and bad, notes Dr. Dupuis: “Attorneys help sort out priorities and timelines on a project where Contractors and Designers will tend to float along.” Here Dr. Dupuis referred to the fact that many contracts contain time limits for various tasks such as payment, inspections and filing claims. Strict adherence to such time limits will ensure that expectations are met and that work progresses on the project in a timely fashion.
A Challenge for the Industry
Dr. Dupuis sees labor as the biggest challenge facing the roofing industry. “Finding and keeping a skilled workforce is tough.” This is true of the entire construction industry, and Dr. Dupuis’ comments are consistent with data from the U.S. Department of Labor, whose survey shows a steady increase in the number of production workers in construction from 1996 through 2005, with construction workers working on average 4.8 hours more per week than their counterparts in other industries.
The problem, however, is that unemployment in the construction industry (7.4% in 2005) exceeds the overall unemployment (5.1% in 2005). This shows that the work is there; however, the workers themselves are not sticking around for one reason or another. Contractors’ associations seem to agree: Recruiting and retaining a talented workforce is a large challenge facing the construction industry as a whole.
Tips for Owners
For those construction Owners trying to navigate the ever-changing world of construction, Dr. Dupuis gives three pieces of advice to ensure a watertight and weather-tight roofing system:
Peer Review—Dr. Dupuis suggested that Owners seek a Designer peer review for projects with difficult roof designs. “Difficult roof designs” include projects with a lot of flashing and changes in the roofing profile. They also include projects with complex vapor conditions, such as indoor swimming pools or large kitchens.
Contractor Screening—Here, Owners should ask, “Is the lowest bidder really qualified to perform the work?” Previous experience on similar projects, individual employee experience on similar projects, project staffing and financial ability to complete the work should be among the many factors considered by the Owner before making a decision on a Roofing Contractor. (For a public project, of course, these factors should be spelled out in the Instructions to Bidders, so there are no surprises.)
Maintenance—Dr. Dupuis suggested that Owners familiarize themselves with the maintenance requirements of their chosen roofing system. This should take place during the design stages of the project, thus enabling Owners to compare maintenance requirements with their current resources (e.g., installing a roofing system with numerous complex flashing details may require bringing on additional staff knowledgeable in the inspection and upkeep of metal flashing).
Tips for Contractors
Similarly, Dr. Dupuis offers two tips for Contractors wanting to ensure a quality product for their customers:
Staff Consistency—Projects that maintain the same lead foremen and superintendents throughout the duration of the project tend to have fewer problems, Dr. Dupuis noted. Having experienced and knowledgeable leadership on the project will help to ensure use of the best construction practices on a daily basis.
Follow-Up—Dr. Dupuis believes that sticking your head in the sand is never the best
approach to addressing problems that arise on construction projects. Do not assume the manufacturer’s warranty is going to solve
the problems of construction. Contractors should make it a point to respond to all issues raised by the Owner and all issues that pop up in the field.
Dr. Dupuis' career exemplifies how everything in life is a matter of perspective. While building Owners may see roof leaks as a source of frustration, Dr. Dupuis views them with fascination and interest. They have led to research for many leading organizations in the construction industry as well as 60+ publications. Dr. Dupuis has built his childhood curiosity into a long and distinguished career, while keeping everyone dry and free from leaks.
Part One: Getting the Right People On Your Bus In the Right Seats
Part Two: Finding & Contracting With Your Roofing Team
