Reroofing: A Humbling Review of Things I’ve Learned

This is a presentation recorded for the 2020 Region V Meeting.

I’ll admit it; I significantly overlooked some important technical complexities of reroofing during some of my first projects. Luckily, I’ve worked with experienced colleagues and competent contractors. After working on dozens of reroofs as the engineer of record, I’ve learned a lot. This presentation will focus on case studies from reroofing projects, highlighting a technical aspect of the project that can be helpful to anyone working on their next reroofing project. The projects reviewed are extensive and range from sloped shingle roofs to low-slope membrane roofs to flat lock copper.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn key code requirements that should be addressed during reroofing, such as venting, thermal issues, increased structural loads, and existing deck condition.
2. Understand peripheral reroofing considerations such as public safety during construction and adding fall protection anchors.
3. Identify critical items to include in the design documents to help reduce omissions and assist contractors with accurate information for bidding.
4. Review examples of how design decisions can impact performance and construction cost.

Rick Ziegler, RRO, RRO, PE

Morrison Hershfield | Salt Lake City, UT

Mr. Ziegler is a professional engineer specializing in the design, construction, and rehabilitation of the building enclosure. Rick’s technical expertise is broad but specifically includes thermal bridging analysis, energy code compliance, and roofing/waterproofing. Rick has worked on existing buildings and new construction across all market sectors in many climates on multiple continents.

Rick loves his job because of the people he works with and the never-ending technical challenges. He supports the industry by sharing experience and case studies through presentations and publications. Recently, Rick has presented at IIBEC-Nashville, CMAA, CONSTRUCT, ABAA, and ASHE. Rick was the recipient of the 2016 Richard M. Horowitz Award for the best technical article published in Interface journal.