Riku Ylipelkonen, Owner, Standard Building Advisors and FRSA Technical Advisor
How hot is it out there today? Summer is in full swing in Florida, so the sun is out, it will probably rain a little and roofing is full speed ahead. The economy is playing its part in the market, as is the upcoming election. Some parts of the state are still repairing hurricane damage and roofing crews are going to work.
The summer heat is brutal and the direct sun exposure is combining with ambient humidity to create conditions to consider. Most roofing materials have a temperature range for proper installation and operation. Keeping materials as cool as possible and out of the direct sunlight is a must to keep installation as efficient as it can be. Adhesives used to install roof tile, insulation, cover boards and waterproofing membranes have temperature ranges of operation. Just as you cannot leave these products out overnight on a cold night in winter, you also can’t leave them out in the summer sun to overheat. Too much heat in products can cause separation of components, solvents to flash too quickly or even improper curing. Seek shade on the jobsite for materials you will consume for the day’s work. Even better, materials will perform as designed if you keep them out of the heat and direct sunlight and out of those afternoon showers.
Daily showers can also create havoc on a jobsite. Scheduling can be challenging when the rains are unpredictable. Not only that but a wet jobsite can also be unsafe for workers and unsuitable for select product installation. Material storage on the jobsite may require more than a tarp to cover the materials until needed. They should be kept cool and dry; the jobsite and materials must be kept dry and clean. As discussed last month, building materials can absorb water. Getting a quick go/no go check on substrates will help keep the production going. Ponding water conditions should be reported and addressed to manage the conditions of the roof and surrounding site. A wet puddle in a sandy lot can cause some issues if a vehicle gets stuck in it. Recording the moisture checks and site conditions with a quality manual or protocol will also help for any future reference. If a maintenance and quality record is stored for future reference on each job, this will go a long way if something ever comes up down the road.
Florida has the looming hurricane season during the summer as well. Having a plan in place for work in progress is a proactive must. If high winds and rain are forecasted to impact the jobsite, the materials on site should be made ready to weather the storm.
Sometimes this means getting materials protected inside a building or, for example, making sure tile bundles are strapped on the roof. A hurricane plan can account for project materials, jobsite conditions before and after the storm and personnel contact
information and a plan for who calls who to communicate all pertinent information to the entire team. This kind of standardized documentation will be helpful for future reference.
Another consideration in these summer conditions is to make sure all personnel are properly hydrated, protected from the sun and aware of any conditions and safety concerns. As with most things in life, being proactive about personnel health and safety goes a
long way. Water at the jobsites and some shade available to get out of the sun or rain is required by OSHA. Taking care of available labor is especially important when labor is hard to find.
Overall, summer affects jobsite conditions, products used and personnel that perform the work. Florida is one of the most severe environments in the world during the summer for any activity but for roofing especially. In these times, roofing is a team sport.
Contractors have resources available for anything that may come up. For product issues, make sure to use product representatives available for your local area. Sometimes this can be a challenge, especially if any investigations cause installation delays but that may be the more prudent course depending on the scenario. A soaked pallet of product may be salvageable and perfectly safe to use. Getting product manufacturer approval usually helps if something comes up later.
Roofing projects are also a part of the overall construction industry. Working together with other trades, product suppliers and building officials makes for a complex organization living under the contract for the project.
Riku Ylipelkonen, Owner, Standard Building Advisors has been in the roofing industry for 15 years working for Polyfoam Products. When Polyfoam Products was acquired by 3M and the name changed to ICP Building Solutions Group. Riku worked at ICP as Technical Services Manager until March of 2023, when he left to begin his own company. Riku is an engineer and is working as a consultant with FRSA. He is a member on FRSA’s Codes Committee, Codes Subcommittee, Tile Committee and on the FRSA-TRI Manual Rewrite Committee. Riku is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
Previous Article
Next Article