Building Management Hawaii August/September - (Page 12)

Roofing Roofing Warranties: Read Them As far as 'warrantable' problems go, there are always strings attached By Sue Conner W hen it comes to your roof-as well as almost everything in life-let's remember how our parents taught us to save money: Take care of something before it breaks. It may seem counterintuitive and even boring to go back and read all the fine print your roofer reviewed with you when he or she completed your roof installation. You may even wonder why you need to read the fine print at all when you've got a brand new roof. The answer is simple. As building owners and managers, your first priority is to ensure the longevity of your properties, and that includes knowing everything about your roof and how to protect this major investment. ROOFING DECKING When Roofs Fail When your roof has problems, it's likely to be a big deal. Water intrusion can cause extensive damage to a roof and the interior spaces of apartments and offices, including expensive artwork and furnishings. Building owners will therefore pay for extra insurance. Specification writers often include intimidating requirements such as "no dollar limits," which give owners a sense of security and peace of mind at the thought that the manufacturer will pay for any warrantable problems. But the fact is that advancements in product development make material failure a rare occurrence; instead, two-thirds of new roof problems result from errors in workmanship. I N S U L AT I O N WAT E R P R O O F I N G C OAT I N G S Re-cover, don't re-roof. ELIMINATE WASTE-GENERATING TEAR-OFFS BY RECYCLING YOUR ROOF WITH GACO WESTERN'S S-20 TURN THIS INTO THIS N OT T H I S Reduce the environmental and economical expenses associated with replacing an existing roof by recovering the roof with Gaco Western's S-20, the industry's only 100% solvent-free and petroleum-free silicone roof coating. It releases no VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) into the atmosphere, allowing you to apply it in municipal locations or enclosed areas without concerns of harmful fumes affecting you or the environment. Plus, by re-covering your roof with Gaco S-20 instead of re-rooﬁng, there is no need for a waste-generating tear-offs. Call or log on today for more info about Gaco's environmentally-friendly rooﬁng solutions. www.gaco.com | Gaco Helpline: [800] 456-4226 BONDED MATERIALS COMPANY Honolulu (808) 832-1155 * Kailua-Kona (808) 326-2477 ® 12 August-September 2014 www.BondedMaterials.net BMH Manufacturers do have roofing companies undergo a product and installation training program to certify the qualifications of installers. But, keep in mind that although your new roof is supposed to last 10 to 20 years, roofing companies are currently averaging only five years in business. What Does My Warranty Cover? As far as "warrantable" problems go, there are always strings attached. It's amazing how many owners have no idea what their warranty covers or even where they've filed their warranty. We can't emphasize enough the importance of reading your warranty cover to cover and keeping it in a safe place should your facility go through a personnel transition. You don't want to start from scratch trying to locate your warranty because it was lost or misfiled. Owners and managers need to know what's excluded as much as, or more than, what's included in the coverage. Common to many warranties both in and beyond the roofing world are "nonrecoverable" clauses for damages. These may include items such as: 1. Chemical or hydrocarbon spills, including grease (i.e., a restaurant vent emitting cooking oil); 2. Acts of God or nature, such as floods; 3. Poor installation; 4. Accidents and neglect; 5. Design defects such as lack of drainage; and 6. Roof modifications. On a positive note, items 1, 4 and 6 above are not only avoidable, but also areas that property owners have full control over and rights of protection. Protecting Your Investment A proactive approach to your roof investment can prevent many problems. Start by familiarizing yourself with the Manufacturer's Care and Roof Maintenance Guidelines provided by your installer at project completion. Knowing how to care for your roof www.buildingmanagementhawaii.com http://www.gaco.com http://www.BondedMaterials.net http://www.buildingmanagementhawaii.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Building Management Hawaii August/September

Roofing Warranties: Read Them
Heeding Pacific Cyclone Warnings
Eco-friendly Metal Roofing
Cool Roofing Technology
When Good Pipes Go Bad
Why Cast Iron Pipes Fail
Is Your Sewer Squeaky Clean?
Water Heaters Versus Boilers
Preventing Backflow
Safeguarding Your Building’s Water
Safeguarding Your Building’s Water
Why Regular HVAC Inspections Matter
Why Regular HVAC Inspections Matter
Industry News
Industry News
On Site: A Well-Run Association
On Site: A Well-Run Association

Building Management Hawaii August/September