| Roofs: the Highest Number of Building System Law Suits |
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The number of lawsuits involving roofs equals or exceeds the total number of lawsuits filed for all other building systems combined.
Every year $19 billion is spent on flat roofs in the United States. In terms of roof area, $19 billion would cover the area of Washington D.C. twice. The number of lawsuits involving roofs equals or exceeds the total number of lawsuits filed for all other building systems combined. No other building system approaches roofing as a source of litigation. Even with their problems, commercial flat roofs maintain their dominance because the high costs of constructing steeply sloped roofs over acres covered by shopping centers and other modern buildings can not compete price-wise with low-slope roofs systems.
Roof cost may be segregated into initial costs and lifecycle costs. Initial and lifecycle costs may be further segregated into direct and indirect cost. A direct cost would include the cost of material and labor to install the roof, while an example of an indirect cost would include business downtime. While the roof is being replaced and the roof is unprotected, rainwater from a storm could infiltrate the building envelope and damage equipment. The damaged interior and equipment now becomes an indirect contributor to the roof-replacement cost. The economic challenges and risk posed by roof replacement needs consideration because the difficulties of re-roofing are not understood by building owners and the high costs unsettle them. The difficulty of a re-roofing project is almost always greater than a new roofing project of similar scope. Cost-data publishers provide regional data for roof costs, so accurate direct costs for roofing in your area may be found in published cost data. Single-ply elastomeric and weldable thermoplastic systems account for half the roofing market. Ballasted systems may cost from $6 per square foot. Mechanically attached and adhered roof systems range from $8 to $12 per square foot. Regardless of the cost, the roof design must meet the basic requirements of the local building code and satisfy an insurance company’s requirements for wind and fire resistance. The local building code and insurance company requirements establish initial roof costs for every project. It’s easy obsessing on initial costs. At the very least, an informal lifecycle cost analysis should be done. A lifecycle analysis will account for energy savings, salvage value, maintenance and other factors. When done well, a long-term financial picture of roofing costs emerges. Dollar-foolish decisions like scrimping on materials or substituting cheaper materials for another may result in a combination of incompatible materials. Preventing disastrous combinations is where building owners benefit from expert consultation. The roof system is an assembly of interacting components designed to protect the building interior, its contents, and occupants from the weather. Roofing may not be rocket science, but it remains the litigation king. |