Most architects do not draw roofs in detail. The elevation shows a roof line; the building section shows a pitch and a material; the construction documents reference a few standard details. The specific assembly is left to the contractor.
This is sometimes fine. On the projects where the roof is a primary architectural element, it is rarely enough. Our experience is that early collaboration with the architect produces a better roof and a less expensive one — because rework on a value-engineered roof at framing inspection is much more expensive than getting the specification right at design development.
The phases where we add value
Schematic design
We are not designers, and we do not draw. But we can advise on material feasibility against the broader budget. If the architect is contemplating slate on a structure whose framing budget is tight, we can flag the dead-load implications before the structural design is committed.
Design development
This is the most leveraged phase. Material selection, attachment system, flashing detailing, drainage strategy — all of these are being decided in design development. Our involvement here means the details are buildable, the materials are available, and the cost is realistic.
Construction documents
By construction documents, the architecture should already include detail drawings for the critical roof transitions. We provide typical-detail drawings for our preferred attachment methods and flashing profiles; the architect incorporates these into the CDs as referenced standards.
Construction administration
During construction, we are an additional set of eyes on the roof installation — particularly at framing, deck, underlayment, and flashing. Our involvement at CA is light if the design was right; heavier if changes are needed.
What we ask architects to do
Three things produce the best collaboration:
- Tell us the design intent before you tell us the material. "I want a roof that reads as permanent on this Mediterranean Revival" is more useful than "I want clay tile in barrel profile."
- Bring us in before structural is committed. The framing decisions follow from the roof decisions.
- Trust the typical details. We have built a library of roof details that work. They are not innovative; they are correct. Innovation in roof flashing is rarely warranted on residential work.
What architects ask us to do
Three things:
- Be specific in writing. Our quote, our specification, and our construction notes should all match. They should be readable by the architect and by the inspector.
- Respect the design intent. If the architect drew copper accent, we install copper accent — even if a less expensive material would work. The cost goes in the line item; the design is non-negotiable.
- Communicate during construction. Field conditions sometimes require small adjustments. The architect should hear from us within 24 hours of any change, with a written note.
A short anecdote
We had an architect tell us, at the closeout walk on a Sarasota project last year, that the most useful thing we had done in the entire process was to flag — at schematic design — that the original roof material was incompatible with the structural budget. We changed the material. The framing came in at budget. The roof, in the end, was more honest to the architecture than the original specification had been. The architect's comment: "this is what hiring a roofer who reads drawings is for."
We try to be that kind of contractor.
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