Our Services
Professional Roof Consulting
These principles apply to a wide range of survey types, including:
- Leak/Moisture Intrusion Investigations and Analysis
- General Condition Assessments
- Roof System Evaluations to Determine Repair and Replacement Needs
- Budgetary Cost Estimating
- Life Cycle Cost Analysis
- Pre-Purchase Analysis (Due Diligence)
- Core Sampling and Wind Uplift Testing
- Moisture Surveys (Invasive and Non-Invasive)
- Expert Witness, Mediation, & Litigation Services
- Inspection Services
- Professional Design and Review Services
- Roof Asset Management
- Building Envelope Sciences
- Expert Witness & Forensic Investigation
- Infrared Moisture Survey (Thermal Imaging)
- Drone Services (Imaging and Inspections)
Roof Wise LLC assembles documents that combine a combination of strong and knowledgeable technical writing, with detailed and concise graphics to clearly illustrate the point of a report. The intent: thoroughly and accurately document conditions so that the problem(s) can be identified and properly addressed based on criteria identified during the assessment. Our technical expertise and full host of resources allows Roof Wise LLC to produce results that we believe are second to none.
Infrared Moisture Detection
(Thermal Imaging)
An infrared moisture survey can be performed utilizing a FLIR Infrared Scanner. With these thermal imaging cameras, we are able to see where moisture is trapped within the roof system. The survey is performed after sundown in order to allow thermal differences or “anomalies” to occur once the air and roof surface temperatures reach a state of equilibrium.
During the day, moisture within the roof insulation is heated and then it retains that heat into the night longer than the dry insulation. This results in thermal anomalies (areas that are warmer) that can be detected by our infrared cameras. These anomalies are then considered as suspect wet areas and are outlined on the roof surface with spray paint. Roof cores are taken in both dry and suspect wet areas to verify the instrument readings. Finally, the locations of the anomalies and the test cuts are marked on a roof plan.
Drone Inspection Services
Drone Imaging
Professional Roof Design Services
Our experience and philosophy for evaluations and inspections is coupled with our knowledge of good design practices. Driven by the principle to provide quality solutions for roof and exterior flashing-related problems, each project we design aims to significantly reduce future spending on maintenance, repairs, and water damage. Roof replacement design requires skilled and informed decision-making. Determination of design criteria is one of the keys to identifying potential roof system options.
Key items that are considered when determining replacement systems include:
- Results of the Forensic Evaluation
- Historical Performance of the Existing System
- Environmental Conditions
- Performance Enhancement Options
- Building Construction
- Building Function
- The Future of the Building
- Typical Maintenance Activities and Protocol
- Building Code Upgrades (Insulation, Seismic, Drainage, Etc.)
- Life Cycle Cost Analysis
- Budget Allocations
Cost control is integral with the design process. Each project starts with an established budget that is refined and checked at each milestone, and a final detailed cost estimate is prepared to confirm the budget.
Roof Wise LLC approaches individual projects as a team with active principal involvement. This collaborative approach allows for compact scheduling and takes full advantage of the specific skill set of each member of the team.
Design Review Services
The design review process assures a level of completeness by a competent team-member who specializes in the practice of roof consulting.
New buildings are constantly being designed and constructed. Roof Wise LLC specializes in designing systems and assemblies that are watertight at the roof, as well as the entire building envelope. Whether your project is new construction or modifications to an existing building, Roof Wise provides specialty services in the form of design review. As many have come to know, “industry standards” do not always apply to all building designs and flashing details. In many cases, it takes creative solutions to come up with a resolution that is long-term and low maintenance. Keeping up to date on roofing and flashing products and installation standards is our business, and our reference library is one of our most useful tools. Roof Wise takes pride in the ability to improve exterior design details to provide an installation that will serve beyond a “standard” service life.
Our design review services include:
- General Scope Review and Recommendations
- Specification Review and Editing
- Specification Writing
- Drawing Review and Editing
- Drawing Preparation (CAD)
- Product Review and Evaluation
- Substitution Request Review
- Value-Engineering Process
- Submittal Review (Post-Design)
- RFI Review (Post-Design)
Roof Repair Experts
Along with extensive research and design principles for roof replacement, Roof-Wise has consistently provided proven and reliable system designs for roof repair projects. The main objective when approaching the option to repair a roof system is to enhance the original investment made when the roof system was installed.
The primary purpose for roof repairs is twofold in most cases: (1) to control current and potential leaks and (2) to extend the life of the existing membrane to its maximum reasonable service life.
With just about any roof system, timing is everything. Almost all roof systems have a repair cycle and a time in the roof’s life when a “tune-up” may be required to extend the roof to its maximum estimated life. A proactive approach is important in an effort to minimize interior disruption (in the form of leaks), and to maximize the life of the system.
Instead of a ‘band-aid’ approach, permanent solutions and product selection should be evaluated and designed to provide long-term performance so that repairs can, at the very least, match the life of the roof system of which they are being installed.
Roof-Wise recognizes the fact that limited capital improvement funds can defer roof replacement, which in turn triggers the need for a roof repair project to extend life. It is especially important to understand that sometimes, however, implementing a roof repair project simply does not make economic sense, and will result in a waste of funds. Construction Documents and Project Implementation.
Whether designing for full or partial roof replacement, Roof-Wise provides a full range of services that are available to meet each client’s needs. Roof-Wise is very well-versed in assembling construction and contract documents at all levels; from simple outline specs to comprehensive public-bid project manuals.
Clear and concise contract documents are key to a successful project. When assembling documents for construction contracts, Roof-Wise assures that all scope of work items are clearly indicated and all code- related issues are addressed. To be fully aware of the project scope, construction documents must address all details pertaining to that scope.
Proper investigations are interpreted in the form of drawings and technical specifications that can be understood by the appropriate audience.
The competitive bid process is an important aspect of securing a contractor to perform work for a fair price. To establish a competitive bid process, a scope must be determined, and then published. A simplistic and recognized approach provided by Roof Wise often includes the following phases:
- Design Development
- Construction Documents
- Bidding Services
- Construction Administration
These phases include a variety of tasks and services that are available to assist the Owner through a prescribed process of design, bidding, and administration of the construction contract. As with all services provided by Roof-Wise, tasks and phases can be customized to fit the Owner’s needs and the requirements of the project.
Roof Asset Management
Roof maintenance and repair can consume large proportions of a building owner’s overall maintenance budget. Roofs that are not managed and maintained properly often fail prematurely, with failures occurring at the most critical of times. Roof leaks cause long-term building damage, immediate damage to building equipment and contents, and can disrupt normal business operations. Problems like these can be very costly; thankfully, they are preventable.
Our database computer program, Roofer, is specifically designed for customized Roof Management Programs. The program is a graphically oriented database containing information about the existing conditions found, combined with detailed analysis and evaluations. The data that is entered and evaluated helps generate intelligent, proactive recommendations with regard to maintenance, management, repair, and replacement options.
In simple terms, it’s all about determining (1) What you have? (2) What you should do with it? (3) When? and (4) How much it will cost?
Roof Wise’s technical staff evaluates each roof area that covers a building by performing precise tasks that include:
- Review of Owner-Provided Documentation, if Available
- Confirmation of Roof Dimension and Penetration Locations
- Review of Maintenance and Repair History
- Core Testing Where Required, to Determine the Type and Condition of Existing Roof Membrane, Insulation, Vapor Barrier and Other Membrane Components
- Identify Building Structure and Deck Types
- Identify Drainage Type, Slope, and Other Related Conditions
- Identify Flashing and Counter Flashing Types and Conditions
- Identify Penetrations and Type
- Identify Roof Age and Estimated Remaining Life of Roof System and Components
- Establish Key Design Criteria for Each Roof Area
Once the roof system is evaluated in the field, the information is entered into the database. Maintenance, management, and repair methods are evaluated specific to each roof area and recorded into the program. By inputting the gathered data and evaluating all conditions observed, the Roof Management Program is then capable of providing:
- Scheduled Maintenance and Management Activities
- Replacement Roof System Options, Costs, and Schedules
- Life Cycle Cost Analysis for Replacement Options
- 20-Year Repair and Replacement Costs and Schedules, Complete with Graphics and Strategies
- Repair History and Leak History, as well as Future Leak Management
Roofer was built and designed by the Army Core of Engineers and improved by our own staff and is intended to be used as an ongoing program as conditions change (updating data as time goes by). Its flexible design allows it to be customized for each client’s needs.
By implementing an effective Roof Management Program, a building owner can make informed decisions with regard to roof maintenance, repair, and replacement.
Building Envelope Services
The Roof-Wise team will meet the needs of clients trying to avoid potential problems with their new buildings or existing structures. There are many components in the building envelope that are subject to design, construction, and installation issues. Some of these issues require several years of operation before the problem is noticed. Our team has the knowledge and experience to consult on the numerous conditions that we observe in the field and offer targeted solutions to building problems.
Our team of professionals performs building envelope consulting services for:
- Roofing Systems
- Wall Systems
- Waterproofing
- Windows/Curtainwalls
- Footing/Foundations
- Air/Vapor Barriers
- Flashing/Rain Screens
- Stucco & EIFS
Roof Inspection Services
Roof Wise LLC has special expertise in Roof Inspection services – also referred to as QA/QC (Quality Assurance / Quality Control) services. Our experience in evaluating, designing, and specifying roof systems has led to our extensive knowledge regarding proper installation techniques. Our technical staff is trained to conduct thorough and detailed inspections, with services oriented to address important inspection milestones, including:
- Setting and Establishing Project Schedules, Including Critical Sequencing Aspects
- Confirmation and Documentation of System Components and Materials
- Documenting Acceptable Conditions for System Installation
- Documenting and Recording Installation Techniques and Progress
- Documenting Potential Installation and Detailing Problems and Making Recommendations for Improvement if Required
- Confirming that Installation is in Accordance with Applicable Installation Instructions
- Generation of a Punch List that Pertains to the Roof and Related Flashings
- Confirming Final Acceptance and Certification When Required of the Installation
Roof Wise LLC stresses the importance of documenting construction activities during all phases of a project. In the case of quality control inspections during construction, detailed Field Reports are prepared prior to the start of a project and are customized as required to meet the project or client’s needs. All our QA/QC inspections are supplemented with photography and color reproduction reports distributed to key project personnel. Typically, all daily Field Reports are distributed by the start of the following business day to facilitate correction of items of non-conformance; however, a 24-hour turnaround may be required on occasion depending on complexity of issues and project size. Through detailed quality control inspections, Roof Wise LLC can ensure that specified systems are provided and documented, reducing the risks of individual contractor “value engineering”. Roof Wise’s inspectors also significantly reduce the risk of construction defects, which can lead to water infiltration, related problems, and costly litigation and repair events.
Forensic Investigations & Expert Witness
Roof-Wise, LLC provides construction expert witnesses for construction litigation lawsuits across the nation. With nearly 30 years of experience and expertise in building envelope and waterproofing systems, we have developed an expansive track record of cases as expert witnesses. Our ability to analyze water intrusion, building assembly failure, latent construction defects, and construction reliability dispute resolution puts Roof Wise at the top of the list of desired expert consultants. It is our philosophy to utilize all our tools and knowledge in order to provide your attorneys the proper ammunition to ensure a successful outcome and/or verdict. As claims experts who prepare technically astute reports that are used to pave the way to settle your litigation, we have the ability to win or settle your case.
Most experts fail to win their cases because of inexperience in forensic analysis. Roof Wise LLC is forensic in nature and incorporates sophisticated testing to prove the facts of the cases along with providing reports and testimony as an expert witness that will make your case a success. Our team consists of nationally recognized construction expert witnesses that will put together the reports, documentation, and presentations necessary to win or solve your biggest cases. Roof Wise excels at bringing the facts to the forefront and backing it up with powerful testimony that is both confident and accurate. Our experience in court as expert witnesses and claims expert also ensures that we already understand precisely what information the court requires in order to make a decision.
Roof-Wise does not favorably support litigation in many construction related cases; however, we do realize that some cases cannot be resolved without the formal litigation process. In cases where two experts must confront each other, Woof Wise is the most credible construction expert witness to have on your side.
Moisture Intrusion Analysis
Roofs that leak can cause disruption and damage. Roof-Wise LLC has special expertise in determining where deficiencies originate and how to properly remediate. All components of a building; the roof, walls, and below-grade waterproofing systems, are vulnerable to moisture intrusion. One of the more complicated types of “leaks” are the ones that occur below-grade or within a system with heavy and complicated overburden. Leaks are not always obvious; they can often originate from an unlikely or overlooked source. Roof-Wise LLC principals have been involved with moisture intrusion analysis for more than 35 years, not just at the roof level, but the entire building envelope – including below-grade waterproofing systems. Our skilled technical specialists utilize several techniques and protocols to locate and determine moisture intrusion sources, depending on each individual case. We have a thorough inventory of experience, moisture meters, infrared cameras, capacitance meters, and other specialty tools that assist in determining the cause and source of a leak.
Premier Roofing Inspection Company in Orlando FL
Roof Wise LLC
Testimonials
A few testimonials from our great previous clients