RolfTheRoofingGuy

Are you prepared for the unexpected? In many parts of the country, we’ve had significant snow followed by severe cold. Now is the time for a Safety Moment. Clear the area around the fire hydrant near your home. It can save precious minutes for the Fire Department if there’s a fire. The home you save may be your own. #safetymoment #firesafety #safety

What if you could see how a roof performs down the road? At the #TectaAmerica warehouse in the Chicago area, when we built this building in 1996, we installed a “Showroom” on the roof consisting of a dozen different roof systems It was meant as a way to show a building owner different roof systems before they bought. We employed the Good/Better/Best Philosophy. The world is full of unintended consequences though, isn’t it? Now, after 27 years, we can see how different roof types have performed. Some are performing better than other, and may I say, may be more #sustainable than others. Another observation: What was considered “the best”, and what was considered “experimental” all those years ago, didn’t turn out as predicted. If you’d like a tour of the roof, let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC AKA #RolfTheRoofingGuy, Helping you make better #roofing (and #sustainability) decisions. Like this post? Want to see more? Contact me at 630-514-1867 #innovation #roofinghistory

Does it make sense to keep an eye on your roof? Especially now before winter sets in? How do you feel about taking care of the small things before they turn into big things? Here is an example of a small problem which developed because regular inspections hadn’t been performed. No regular maintenance leads to problems like this. Lack of a preventive maintenance program typically leads to building owners who are: · Upset by recurring leaks at each rain, · Concerned about shortened roof life, · Worried about mold growth in the building. · Happy to hear a periodic inspection can find minor problems before they turn into a big deal. Is it time for a preventive maintenance? Statistics show a typical 300% Return of Investment on preventive maintenance. Want to know more? If it makes sense to you to learn more about preventative maintenance on your roof, to save money and make your roof a #sustainable asset, let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC, AKA #RolfTheRoofingGuy, helping you make better #roofing (and #preventivemaintenance) decisions. Like this post? Want to see more? Ring the 🔔on my profile. Contact me at 630-514-1867 Or subscribe to my YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/grzmeBAV #Maintenance #sustainability

How do you define best value? In speaking with Building Owners, I’ve found several common themes, they are: · Unhappy that their roofs didn’t last as long as expected, · Frustrated because the contractor wasn’t a good fit for the project, · Concerned about safety incidents or accidents during execution. There was always one common thread: They hired Low Bidder. Life is about priorities, should there be other considerations besides being the low bid? Let’s look at our personal lives as a comparison, how do we make decisions there? Healthy Groceries: $100 – Too Expensive Dinner Date: $100 – Reasonable Health Supplements: $100—Unaffordable Night out: $100—Every Week Start Business: $1000—Can’t justify that. New iPhone: $1000—Have to have it. 1 hour at Gym: Don’t have the time. 1 hour TV: Let’s watch the next show too. Life is about priorities after all, isn’t it? The question then becomes: does it make more sense to have early engagement, and to select the contractor who is most Qualified and can provide best Value? Your time is valuable too. Would your time be better spent running your core business rather than wasting time with the bad-fit contractor? If this resonated with you and you’d like to set up a conversation, let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC, AKA #RolfTheRoofingGuy, helping you make better #roofing (and #sourcing) decisions. Like this post? Want to see more? Ring the 🔔on my profile. Contact me at 630-514-1867 Or subscribe to my YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/grzmeBAV #contracting #management

Time to start your 2024 CapEx forecasting? There’s been a lot of upheaval in the markets the last three years. Common themes I hear from Building Owners is that they are: · Frustrated that they “Blew Up” recent budgets, · Unhappy because costs keep going up, and · Worried it’ll happen again next year. Why is it happening? The attached graphic shows that car prices have skyrocketed 31% in the last 3 years. Roofing costs mirror that increase. · Does it make sense to get some help and make better Capex forecasts? · Make better roofing decisions? · Consider different approaches? · (Some choices may also be better as it relates to #Sustainability and #environmental perspectives!) Is now the right time to make better roofing and cost decisions? If any of this makes resonates with you, let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC, AKA #RolfTheRoofingGuy, helping you make better #roofing (and #assetmanagement) decisions. Like this post? Want to see more? Ring the 🔔on my profile. Contact me at 630-514-1867 Or subscribe to my YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/grzmeBAV #management #capex

We all have a lot of time left this year? Right? After all we all have two months to wrap up the year. That’s a lot of time…….right? Or is it? Let’s break it down, what do we really have: · 8 weeks left. · 61 days. · Subtract the 9 Weekends, take ways 18 days. · Subtract up to 15 days for the holidays (People burn their vacation time). · Subtract another 5 days, as you use up your remaining vacation time. · Many conversations from the week of Thanksgiving to the end of the year tend to be about personal plans, not about business. What does that leave you? For the typical American, at best you have 23 days left this year, and if you factor in “personal” conversations, it’s closer to 18 days. A little over 3 weeks. Plan for and use your time wisely. Rolf Snobeck, RRC, AKA #RolfTheRoofingGuy, helping you make better #roofing (and #timemanagement) decisions. Like this post? Want to see more? Ring the 🔔on my profile. Contact me at 630-514-1867 Or subscribe to my YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/grzmeBAV #management

Are you onboard with Preventative Maintenance? During a recent roof inspection, we found restricted drainage because the roof was not kept clean of process-exhaust residue. The Building Owner was concerned to find out his drains were nearly plugged and causing roof drainage to be forced out through the overflow scuppers, and worried because the standing water on the roof will shorten the roof life. They are looking to set up a Preventive Maintenance (PM) to remediate these conditions. Does it make sense to you to explore maintenance to assure that a roof will not only meet, but far exceed, its’ design life span? If you’d like to know more about a PM Program to eliminate problems, extend roof life, and the idea of a 300% ROI resonates with, let me know and I can set up a conversation. To learn more, contact me at: 630-514-1867 Rolf Snobeck, RRC #RolfTheRoofingGuy, Helping you make better #roofing (and #preventivemaintenance) decisions.

What the Hail is going on here? We’ve seen a lot of bad hailstorms across the country in the last few weeks. I’ve spoken with folks who are worried that they may have hail damage. As a building owner or homeowner, do you know what to look for? Let’s review a few simple tips: • Light gauge metal exhausts: They damage first in a hail storm, if they look good your probably OK. • Sturdy gravel surfaced built-up roofs and ballasted EPDM roofs are most resilient. • White thermoplastic roofs with damage will show concentric circles at a hail strike. • Shingle roofs and granule surface mod bit roofs with damage will show dislodged granules. I’ve heard from many owners they are concerned about dishonest “Storm Chasers” that are trying to scam them. If you live in an area that requires a roofing license, ask them to produce it. If they don’t have a license, they’ll leave quickly. Want to know more hail fact and fiction? Let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC #RolfTheRoofingGuy, helping you make better #roofing (and #haildamage) decisions.

When is a Roof Leak not a Roof Leak? What if it isn't just the roof? Can trained eyes can help tell the difference? What we’ve heard from many building owners is that they are: · Frustrated because they keep “chasing” leaks without resolution, · Concerned about water damage to the building interior, and · Worried about employee health due to possible mold and mildew in the building. Over the years we have found many clients that are convinced they have a roofing problem, only to find out later there were other issues contributing to interior leaks. Does it make sense to you to have trained eyes diagnose the problem? In this case we see open building steel as well as failed and missing sealant from the original construction which were allowing water to enter the building, and were masked as “Roof Leaks”. A leak: YES; a roof leak?: NO. If the concept of trained eyes making a complete diagnosis resonates with you, let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC 630-514-1867 #RolfTheRoofingGuy, Helping you make better #roofing (and #buildingenvelope) decisions. #BuildingEnclosure #propertymanagement #facilities #service

Is Maintenance the same as Sustainability? Is Maintenance a way to Sustainability? Why do I ask? Coatings are often considered these days. · It’s unconventional thinking for many. Why are building owners thinking about coatings? Typically, I find they are: · Unhappy with the long lead time for roofing materials. · Frustrated that roofs aren’t lasting long enough. · Concerned about the environment: too much waste going to Landfills. · Worried by the financial impact of a new roof. So many Owners look at coatings as a way to mitigate those concerns. But let’s get real about coatings: · They are not an answer if the roof is shot. · I hear routinely that coatings need periodic renewal. OK, so what? Here’s a photo of Mt Vernon, George Washington’s home in Virginia. It’s been maintained in the appearance he left in 1799. Fun Fact: Despite the fact that it looks like a stone mansion, it’s actually wood. The wood siding is beveled to look like stone. Through regular restoration (coating/painting) it has been maintained in excellent condition. Think about it: a wood structure left unmaintained would have collapsed long ago. But with proper maintenance, it stands strong. What if this philosophy was applied to your roof? So, here’s the real question: Isn’t Sustainability just good Maintenance? If this concept intrigues you or resonates with you and you’d like to explore it more, let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC 630-514-1867 #RolfTheRoofingGuy, helping you make better #roofing (and #sustainability) decisions. #management #sustainable #coatings

How can you help on Earth Day? Can your roofing decisions make a difference? Many clients I speak with are concerned about the environment and want to know what they can do to help, but are worried that they will blow up their budgets if they build back everything brand new. I like to call myself The Practical Environmentalist. So, here’s the question: Rather than always starting from scratch, what improvements can you make that will have a positive impact? If you’d like to make a difference, here’s a list of items to consider on your next roofing project: • Recycle the old. (Divert from landfills) • Moisture Surveys. (Prolong the roof life) • Leak Detection System. (Prolong the roof life) • Coatings. (Prolong the roof life, divert from landfills) • Vented Roofs. (Prolong the roof life, divert from landfills) • Use Recycled Materials (Divert from landfills) • White Roofs. (Reduce Urban Heat Island Effect) • Daylighting. (Improve employee health) • Green Roofs. (Reduce utility use) • Solar. (Reduce fossil-based energy use) No one person can do them all. The question is, which items from the list can you implement to help make incremental change to make a positive environmental impact? We all live here, what change can you make? How will history judge us? If any of this resonates with you, let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC 630-514-1867 #RolfTheRoofingGuy, helping you make better roofing (and #environmental) decisions.

“Where the needs of the World and your talents cross, there lies your vocation.” I’m passionate about helping Building Owners to make Better Roofing Decisions through Education. When I speak with owners I find many are concerned because roofs do not last as long as they should and are frustrated by the high costs. So, if it makes sense to you or your organization to learn more about roofing, let’s talk about Educational Seminars, which can cover the following topics, or more: · Why roofs fail · Membrane types, which to use when · Insulation types, which to use when · Wind Design · Fire Ratings · Solar Ready roofs · Warranties—what are they? · Maintenance / Restoration techniques · Recycling methods · Sustainable Design How can I help you make better roofing decisions? If you would like to know more, let me know, and we can set up a program specific to your needs. To learn more, contact me at: 630-514-1867 Rolf Snobeck, RRC #RolfTheRoofingGuy, Helping you make better #roofing (and #safety) decisions. #professionalism #Management #facilities

What are the three Certainties of Life? · Death · Taxes · Roof Leaks You can’t do anything about them, right? In a discussion I had with a client last week, that’s what they told me. That got me thinking, can we do something about them? Let’s look at how we manage those items: Health: · Eat right. · Get exercise. · See a Doctor. Taxes: · Set up a Retirement plan. · Manage your holdings. · Use an Accountant or Lawyer. Roof Leaks: · Regular Preventative Maintenance. · Planned Restoration. · Use a Roofing Professional. Actually, they are similar, and you can manage all three. I can’t help you with the first two, but if forward planning for the extended life of your roof resonates with you, let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC 630-514-1867 #RolfTheRoofingGuy, Helping you make better #roofing (and #maintenance) decisions. #preventativemaintenance

Do you understand the 2017 OSHA Walking-Working Surfaces Rules? Many Building Owners I speak with are not familiar. Yet these rules represent the first significant update since 1971. Building Owners, I speak with are: · Concerned about their employee’s safety. · Frustrated what the new rules means to them. · Worried how to implement / be compliant. What does it do: · Harmonizes Industry and Construction OSHA standards. What does it cover, as it relates to the roof or building facade: · Anchor Systems Certifications: effective 2017 · Fixed ladders: New Standards, effective 2018 · Rope descent systems: window cleaning/facades · Low-slope roofs: Fall Protection · Elevated walkways: Serving equipment That’s a lot to digest. Is it time to find out if your facility is up to current standards? If any of that resonates with you and you’d like to learn more, let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC #RolfTheRoofingGuy, Helping you make better #roofing (and #safety) decisions. #fallprotection #safetyculture #JLL #OSHA

When is a Roof Leak not a Roof Leak? What if it isn't just the roof? Can trained eyes can help tell the difference? What we’ve heard from many building owners is that they are: · Frustrated because they keep “chasing” leaks without resolution, · Concerned about water damage to the building interior, and · Worried about employee health due to possible mold and mildew in the building. Over the years we have found many clients that were convinced they have a roofing problem, only to find out later there were other issues contributing to interior leaks. Does it make sense to you to have trained eyes diagnose the problem? To look at the big picture? In this case we see an open joint around a window that had been missed by others and had always been diagnosed as a “Roof Leak”. A leak: YES; a roof leak?: NO. If the concept of trained eyes making a complete diagnosis resonates with you, let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC 630-514-1867 #RolfTheRoofingGuy, Helping you make better #roofing (and #buildingenvelope) decisions. #BuildingEnclosure #propertymanagement #maintenance #facilities #service #buildingenvelope

Is there a Return on Investment with Preventative Maintenance? When speaking with building owners about their roofs I hear that they’re: · Frustrated by leaks after every rain, · Worried about damage to the roof and building contents, and · Concerned about the financial impact when they buy a new roof. The question is: IS THERE A BETTER WAY? What does 5 cents buy you? That’s the common amount you’ll hear recommended for PM budgeting annually per square foot for a roof. Let’s take a look at those impacts: The “status quo”: 50,000 square foot roof: $500,000 orig. cost Cost/year Cost/PSF/YR: “20 year warranted” $25,000 $0.50 17-year statistical life $29,411 $0.59 Reroof to get to 20 $50,000 $1.00 PM Solution: $500,000 orig. cost ROI 20 yr life: $27,500 $0.52 1176% 25 yr life: $22,500 $0.45 941% 30 yr life: $19,167 $0.38 784% That’s anywhere from a 700% to 1100% #ROI on the cost of PM. I’d be happy if my retirement fund did that well. If it makes sense to you to learn more about #preventativemaintenance on your roof, to increase reliability and save money, feel free to reach out for a conversation. Rolf Snobeck, RRC 630-514-1867 #RolfTheRoofingGuy, Helping you make better #roofing (and #preventivemaintenance) decisions. #Maintenance #sustainability #management #service #coating #coatings

What made 2022 remarkable for you? I asked that question yesterday. For me it was all the wonderful professionals I had the opportunity to interact with, solve problems with, and learn from. My heartfelt thanks to each of you. I look forward to 2023 with optimism and enthusiasm. Make next year great. Who’s with me? Rolf Snobeck, RRC 630-514-1867 #RolfTheRoofingGuy, helping you make better #roofing decisions. #HappyNewYear #success #motivation #planning #management

Is the Warranty fine print important? Does that language serve a purpose? I hear from a lot of building owners with a Contractor’s Long-Term Warranty (vs. a Manufacturers Warranty) that they are: · Frustrated that they feel locked in with only one contractor. · Concerned what happens if another contractor sets foot on their roof. · Unhappy to find out their warranty was voided because another contractor made a repair. Let’s look at some contractors warranty fine print: 1 “….or any subsequent work on or through the roof done…” 2 “Damage to the roof membrane caused by structural defects or failure of any subsequent component, i.e., materials used as insulation of vapor retarder, including defects in application of substrate components” Did you catch those? In the case of #1, you can’t have anyone else work on the roof except for one contractor. For #2, they flat out say if the materials they provided and installed don’t work, it isn’t covered. So, does the language in a Contractors Long-Term Warranty serve a purpose? You bet, and it’s not to protect the building owner, but to force them to only use one contractor. A Building Owner is served better with a warranty from a major manufacturer and the latitude to use any authorized contractor. Want to know more, or If any of this resonates with you, let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC 630-514-1867 #RolfTheRoofingGuy, helping you make better #roofing (and #warranty) decisions. #management #facilities

Is there a difference in Warranties? Are long-term contractor warranties anything but a marketing ploy? Owners perceive 20 years of protection, but that depends on type of warranty they get. What are different warranty types? · Material only (doesn’t cover any labor cost). · Prorated (decreases in value over time). · No Dollar Limit “NDL” from a Manufacturer. · No Dollar Limit “NDL” from a Contractor. An “NDL” warranty is what I believe most building owners think they are buying. The basic intent of an NDL warranty is that the owner has protection against leaks, without a limitation on cost for typically 20 years. So, what’s the difference on the last two? Well, it’s a question of who’s in control of your roof. If you have a manufacturers long-term warranty, you decide who works on your roof. If you have a contractor’s long-term warranty, and you decide who works on your roof, your warranty gets voided. Don’t fall for the Marketing Ploy of a long-term contractor’s warranty What are some other important things to consider? · Look for materials with track record. · Many materials have 30+ years of proven performance. · Use a reputable contractor. · As needed, use a knowledgeable Designer. Want to know more, or If any of this resonates with you, let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC 630-514-1867 #RolfTheRoofingGuy, helping you make better #roofing (and #warranty) decisions. #management #facilities

So why are roofs so expensive today? Building Owners are frustrated by rapidly rising costs. First, let’s look at some polls: 2021 2022 · Concerned about inflation: 8% 44% · Worried about Supply Chain: 64% 12% Here’s the reality: Roofing Material costs are up 45% year-over-year. That’s the crux: Inflation is huge. So, what does 2023 look like? · Reports are that supplies may catch up with demand. · Price: In my opinion, no relief in sight. · Why: OIL IS KEY. Reality: · The Strategic Oil Reserve has been drawn down to keep oil prices lower, it hasn’t been this low in 40 years. That’s no longer an option. · OPEC is cutting production. · The price of oil will go up next year. · Many roofing materials come from crude oil. · When oil goes up, so will the cost of many materials. So, will production catch up with demand because the supply chain issues have been resolved, or because the high costs will slow demand? It does point out that good roofing decisions by Building Owners will be more important than ever. What are your thoughts? I look forward to hearing other viewpoints. Rolf Snobeck, RRC 630-514-1867 #RolfTheRoofingGuy, helping you make better #roofing decisions. #management #facilities #inflation #supplychain

How do we make a more Sustainable Future? Can we make tomorrow better? I hear regularly from clients that they have a new ESG plan and will be starting “on a clean sheet of paper”. Do they need to, or can we make better decisions with what they have? Is it time to get practical? Here are some statistics: • 50% of the roofs replaced annually don’t need to be. • 36% of landfill volume is from construction debris. • 10% of landfill volume is from roofing debris. Those are all reactive statistics resulting from: • Last minute decisions. • Limited knowledge base. And result in clients who are: • Concerned about unmet #Recycling and Sustainability Goals, • Worried about overfilled landfills, and, • Frustrated about wasting dollars. How do you get around these problems? • Early engagement, start thinking now about ’23 and ’24. • Educational Seminars, to learn about todays’ roofing market. • Find a Trusted Advisor who can guide you. How will history judge us? Is now the time to improve those statistics? Should Asset Management and Preventative Maintenance be part of your thinking? If you’d like to know more, let me know, and we can explore todays’ options. Rolf Snobeck, RRC 630-514-1867 #RolfTheRoofingGuy, Helping you make better #roofing (and #sustainability) decisions. #sustainable #recycle #esg #thepracticalenvironmentalist #PreventativeMaintenance

Do you test drive a car? How about a roof? What if you could see how it performs down the road? At the #TectaAmerica warehouse in the Chicago area, when we built this building in 1996, we installed a “Showroom” on the roof consisting of a dozen different roof systems, and two versions of green roofs. It was meant as a way to show a building owner different roof systems before they bought. We employed the Good/Better/Best Philosophy. The world is full of unintended consequences though, isn’t it? Now, after 26 years, we can see how different roof types have performed. Some may be more #sustainable than others. If you’d like a tour of the roof, let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC 630-514-1867 #RolfTheRoofingGuy, Helping you make better #roofing (and #sustainability) decisions. Tecta America Commercial Roofing #innovation #TechnicalTuesday

Does Roof Warranty Language matter?Does it serve a purpose? Let’s look at some warranty fine print: Natural disasters and Acts of God, including, but not limited to, flood, lightening, hurricane, earthquake, hail, tornado, windstorm in excess of Beaufort Number 8 of the Beaufort Scale, objects driven by wind, dust, rain or earthquakes; Reasonable, or is it?. Well, a Beaufort #8 is wind speeds of 39 to 46 mph. Has your roof ever been subject to such a wind speed? Probably. What’s the solution: 1) Pick a roof that withstands higher wind speeds. 2) Get a warranty that states that (say 72 mph) Want to know more, or If any of this resonates with you, let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC 630-514-1867 #RolfTheRoofingGuy, helping you make better #roofing (and #warranty) decisions. #management #facilities

How does your Roof Warranty work? Do they serve a purpose? Yes, they do, but you need to understand how they work. First, what do they cover? · Leaks from Materials or Workmanship. Second, what don’t they cover? · Abuse. · Acts of God. · Damage to the Building or Contents. · Damage to the roof substrate. Third, what do you need to do? · Twice a Year Service Inspection. · Document the inspections. · Notify the Manufacturer of any leaks. Simply put: Follow the Rules and you can KEEP THE WARRANTY IN EFFECT Want to know more, or If any of this resonates with you, let me know. Rolf Snobeck, RRC Snobeck, RRC 630-514-1867 #RolfTheRoofingGuy, helping you make better #roofing (and #warranty) decisions. #management #facilities

Why are there warranties in the roofing industry? Before the 1980’s, they were an anomaly. So where did they come from? Here’s the history of roof warranties, explained: · 1850 TO 1870: Built-Up Roofs (BUR) come into vogue. · 1870’s: Chicago and New Orleans fires cause change (rock on roof). · 1870 TO 1940: Stable Industry. Roofs worked, performed well. · 1940’S: Labor and material shortages cause inflation. · 1950 TO 197O’s: Industry brings in cost reduction response. · 1970’s: OPEC oil embargo causes more inflation. Performance issues result, and force change. Warranties didn’t exist before this time period. · 1980’s: Result: Single-Ply Roof (SPR) Revolution. Problem: No material track record: Warranties enter the market. · 1990’s: SPR’S take significant hold, ballasted EPDM popular. · 2000’s: Codes drive change: TPO becomes popular, Urban Heat Island Effect. · 2020’s: And Again: Labor and material shortages cause inflation. So, how will we buy in the future? There are SPR’s on the market with 40 years’ service. Will we buy based upon actual service again? Imagine a roof that far outlives it’s intended lifespan, doesn’t that sound like #Sustainability? Or will warranties continue to be a prime decision criterion? Rolf Snobeck, RRC 630-514-1867 #RolfTheRoofingGuy, helping you make better #roofing (and #warranty) decisions. #management #facilities