ENGINEERING SYSTEMS INC.

Roof Construction,
Inspection, and Diagnosis

David Ahearn, PE
 Overview

The Basics
Types of Roofs
Weather Effects
Diagnosis
 The Basics

Structural Support
Foundation, Walls, Roof Structure
Structural Details
Deck Material
Insulation
Roofing Material
 The Basics - Structure

Construction/Structure Details = Drainage

Sloped vs. Flat
Pitch Changes (Valleys and Hips)
Elevation Changes (Sheds and Gable ends)
Through Items (Chimneys, Exhaust Pipes, etc)
Venting (Humidity and Temperature Control)

Leaks, Ponding, and Ice Dams

 The Basics - Structure

Structure
Load-bearing Masonry
Pre-engineered Metal / Steel Frame
Wood Frame / Engineered Trusses
Concrete Frame
Precast Tilt-up / Cast-in-Place
 The Basics - Decking

Wood typical in residential/light commercial

Concrete commercial / industrial
Steel Versatile
Wood Fiber large clear span
 The Basics - Decking

Tectum
 The Basics - Decking

Wood
- Easy to install
- Widely available (Plywood, OSB, T&G)
- Sensitive to Moisture
- Short Spans (typically <2-feet)
 The Basics - Decking

Concrete
- Precast or Cast-in-Place
- Structurally Heavy = Wind Resistance
- Some leakage resistance following wind damage
to roof coverings
- Normal joints and cracks can affect membranes
- Attaching roofing material more difficult than
for wood or steel
 The Basics - Decking

Steel
- Widely available
- Many styles and capacities available
- Easy to work with
- Lightweight = Possible Wind Damage
 The Basics - Insulation

Base for the roof membrane

Thermal Protection
Moisture Vapor Protection
Stress transfer between membrane and structure
Bonds membrane to structure in certain
applications
 The Basics - Insulation

Types
Polyisocyanurate (Iso Board)
R-value approximately R8
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
XPS (Extruded) R-board (R5)
EPS (Expanded) - (R4)
Foam Boards (P2000)
Vapor Barrier
 The Basics - Insulation

Types
Fiberglass
Light weight
Low Strength
Moderately moisture resistant
Wood Fiber
Attic recover applications
Not moisture resistant
 The Basics

General Categories of Roofing

Low-Slope (Waterproof)
Steep-Slope (Water Shedding)
 Low-Slope Roofs

Types (Built-up Roofs)

EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene M-class Rubber)
Asphalt Based (Modified Bitumen)
Other Membranes
Polymer Based (Durolast etc)
Hypalon (Hy-Tuff etc)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC-reinforced)
Polyurethane Foam (PUF) with various coatings
Acrylic
Urethane
Silicone
 Low-Slope Roofs

EPDM
(Ethylene Propylene Diene M-class Rubber)
Durable
Impact Resistant
No water pollutants for water reuse
Requires skilled labor installation

Also used in Ice and Moisture Shield (Sticky Paper)

 Low-Slope Roofs

EPDM
 Low-Slope Roofs

Modified Bitumen (Asphaltic)

Easy to Install, Easy to mess up
Required slope to drain overlaps
Suffers UV degradation
Snow/Ice Dam Problems

Sealer is a good idea!!

 Low-Slope Roofs

Modified Bit Good Example

 Low-Slope Roofs

Modified Bit Bad Example

 Low-Slope Roofs

Modified Bit Bad Example

 Low-Slope Roofs

Modified Bit Bad Example

 Low-Slope Roofs

Failure
 Low-Slope Roofs

Membrane Roof
 Low-Slope Roofs

Gravel
Built-up Roof
 Low-Slope Roofs

Metal Lapped
Seam Roof
 Low-Slope Roofs

Metal Lapped Seam Roof Wind Uplift

 Steep-Slope Roofs

Asphalt Shingles
Most widely used
Metal (sometimes used in Low-slope roofing)
Structural and Architectural
Other Systems
Single ply
Slate
Clay and Concrete Tiles
 Steep-Slope Roofs

Asphalt Shingles Bad Valley

 Steep-Slope Roofs

Asphalt Shingles Bad Valley Repair

 Steep-Slope Roofs

Asphalt Shingles Bad Valley Repair

 Weather Effects

Precipitation
 Weather Effects

Precipitation Hail Formation

Cold Front Storm = Cold Water
Updraft = Push into Freezing Air
Mountains
Hot Earth Surface
Heavy enough to fall = Hail
 Weather Effects
Ice Dam
Prevention
Proper Insulation
Proper Venting

Picture From:
Clean-up Procedures for Mold in Houses
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
University of Minnesota
Timothy Larson, Lewis Hendricks, and Patrick Huelman
 Weather Effects
UV radiation
Humidity/Rainfall
Photo Oxidation
Shrinkage / Loss of Cover (especially Built-up
Roofs)
Blisters, Ridging, Curling, or Splitting
 Diagnosis
Nature of Complaint
Leakage never leaked before the storm
Changed condition
Loss of roof covering

Age of roof / History of problems/repairs

Young or New asphalt/membrane roofs are typically very resistant
to hail damage

Location of the structure

Orientation of the building relative to complaint
 Diagnosis
Description of Damage
Old vs. Fresh
Random vs. General
Relationship relative to structural features
Valleys, Gutters, Walls, Chimneys, Dormers, etc
Correlation with weather data (wind, hail, or ice)
Hail Damage Threshold approximately 1 to 1.5 inch diameter stone
Similar damage nearby
Weathering
 Diagnosis
Old Roof Damage
(Generalized)
 Diagnosis
Old Roof Damage
Weathering
(Generalized)
 Diagnosis
Old Roof Damage
Weathering Clawing
(Generalized)

- UV
- Use
- Freeze/Thaw
 Diagnosis
Old Roof Damage
Weathering Alligatoring
(Generalized)

- Manufacture
- UV
- Moisture
 Diagnosis
Old Roof Damage
Weathering Longitudinal Cracking
(Generalized)

- Manufacture
- UV
- Moisture
 Diagnosis
Roof Damage
Tab Longitudinal Cracking

Old Brittle Shingles

- Wind
Newer
- Use
- Installation
 Diagnosis
Roof Damage
Transverse Cracking = Installation
- Concentrated stress along the tabs
- Edges of alternating shingle rows are aligned
- Typically appear after 6-8 year of service
 Diagnosis
Roof Damage
Transverse Cracking
 Diagnosis
Roof Damage
Blisters and Bubbles
Manufacturing Defect
Worsened, but not caused, by high moisture and exposure to
heating by the sun
 Diagnosis
Roof Damage
Blisters
 Diagnosis
Roof Damage
Bubbles
 Diagnosis
Hail Damage
Stones greater than 1.5 inches
Back of shingle will crack in tension before aggregate is gone
Tends to be random in location (not generalized)
Reflects direction of storm
Granules in gutter = are not a clue
Rubber type membranes
Small stars or concentric circle cracks
Especially on the underside of the membrane
 Diagnosis
Hail Damage - Membrane
 Diagnosis
Hail Damage - Membrane
 Diagnosis
Hail Damage Mod.Bit. (With UV Checking)
 Diagnosis
Hail Damage Polymer
 Diagnosis
Hail Damage Polymer
 Diagnosis
Hail Damage Shingles
 Diagnosis
Hail Damage Shingles
 Diagnosis
Wind Damage
Typically starts at roof edges, ridges, rakes, or corners
Tends to be random
May require confirmation test cuts
Especially Built-up Roofs
Some systems (fiberglass) will not test well
 Diagnosis
Wind Damage High Nailing
 Diagnosis
Wind Damage with construction problems
 Diagnosis
Wind Damage Steel Roof Uplift
 Diagnosis
Mechanical Damage
 Diagnosis
Mechanical Damage
 Diagnosis
Failing Boot
- Weathered Boot
- Exposed Nailing
 Diagnosis
Nail Hole
 Diagnosis
Nail Hole
 Diagnosis
Bad Flashing Installation (Gap in Step Flashing)
 Diagnosis
Who Did This?
No Drainage!
Question / Answer
 Thank You!
We hope you have learned at least one new and
significant point.

Special thanks to Bob Kenney, PE

and to VIP Construction and Remodeling.