"The biggest challenge I personally see is the rapid growth in 'green' roofing that includes all manner of issues too numerous to list." — David R. Hawn, RCI's first-vice president and president of Dedicated Roof and Hydro-Solutions LLC

Although most roof consultants point to improved relations with contractors, many feel that low-slope installers can do a better job following roof specifications and communicating. They also say that manufacturers need to improve their communications with the consultant and the building team.

According to RSI's 2008 State of the Industry Report, relations between contractors and roof consultants have improved dramatically over the years. More than 70 percent of consultants say the contractor-consultant relationship has gained strength over the last five years. Just as important, the majority of low-slope roofing contractors agree.

Still, 41 percent of consultants report at least one major problem when working with a roofing contractor in 2007. RSI received almost 200 written responses documenting issues with contractors and manufacturers. As a follow-up to their responses, RSI interviewed many of the officers and directors of the Institute of Roofing, Waterproofing, and Building Envelope Professionals (RCI) to get further insights.

Interestingly, most consultant complaints involve business issues rather than roof installation problems. Contractors who do not follow specifications and contract documents are common in the industry, consultants say.

"The primary problem I have had with contractors are the lack of submittals and the substitution of materials without prior approval," registered roof consultant and architect Jeff Fuller, the project architect for Heffernan Holland Morgan in Pensacola, Fla., says. "Also, having the contractor keep a set of drawings on site to provide 'as-built' information is also a challenge. The final mark-ups I receive are usually pretty poor."

Andy Hoover, principal of The Best Consultant Inc., in Suwanee, Ga., and secretary of RCI's Georgia chapter, agrees: "We find some contractors will bid to the spec and then try to intentionally cut corners on it."

"I have to admit that BUR is still our assembly of choice." — Brandon Hexham, RCI Region V director

However, Hoover's concerns are not just limited to contractors.

"Our biggest problem with manufacturers is poor and misleading data about their products in both specification and application," Hoover says. "They are often vague or too specific to limit their accountability. There is also little recognition that details may need to be different, and they should defer to the on site consultant's drawings."

SPRI responds to consultant concerns

Although roof consultants often write the specifications, they generally do not review roofing contractors' bids.

"Often, the contractors' bids look like they never read past the beginning of the specification, and often they do not quote what the specification calls for, except for the products used," Ted Michelsen, president of Michelsen Technologies in Lakewood, Colo., and vice president of RCI's Denver Chapter, says.

Registered roof consultant David Hawn, the president of Dedicated Roof and Hydro-Solutions in Centreville, Va., deals mostly with pre-qualified roofing contractors or those he's had previous experience with. For this reason, he has few problems with contractor non-compliance or product substitutions.