5 Ways to Avoid Common Roofing Pitfalls

March 3rd, 2010

Through work with builders of all sizes in the National Housing Quality (NHQ) Certification Program, the NAHB Research Center has discovered several common mistakes and process omissions made on the jobsite that can jeopardize the quality and durability of typical, asphalt-shingle roof installations. Here are five areas builders should focus on to avoid those mistakes:

1. Follow all manufacturers’ installation instructions. Installation protocols and code requirements can vary significantly from one type, style or brand of shingle to another. For example, starter-course instructions, nailing-pattern requirements and roof-coverage area often vary from product to product. Unfortunately, instructions often get overlooked or discarded altogether during the construction process. Failing to follow instructions can lead to durability problems and can possibly void the manufacturer’s warranty, leaving the builder bearing the full cost of any needed repair or replacement. Here are three simple ways builders can reinforce the importance of following installation instructions:

•Take the time to read the instructions and quiz your crew on proper installation protocols. Regardless of how many times they’ve installed those materials, they may have been doing something wrong all along and just didn’t know it.
•Make sure all current installation instructions are on file with the jobsite superintendent and affixed to the scope of work given to the roofing-trade crew leader.
•Regularly take stock of installation instructions on file on the jobsite to be sure they are the most current for the type and style of material you’re using.

2. Create a comprehensive job plan. A builder’s goal with any element of a job should always be to do it right the first time to avoid costly delays. The key to getting it right is creating a comprehensive job plan for every type of work on the site. Roofing is no exception. Here are three tips for creating an effective roofing job plan:

•Carefully lay out the job before it begins. Place evenly spaced chalk lines along the roofing underlayment to give the installer a visible guide for every course.
•Before the roofing work begins, decide on valley style and ridge and gable end treatment, and be explicit about those details on the plans and scope of work.
•Periodically confirm the takeoff and make sure there is a sufficient quantity of shingles from the same dye lot on the jobsite. Running a few square feet short at the end of the job and filling in with shingles that don’t quite match is a rookie mistake that reflects poorly on your reputation for quality.

3. Get the fastening details right. Builders often specify the type and style of shingle for the roof, but they rarely choose the type and gauge of fasteners for those shingles. Using the wrong fasteners can lead to wind damage and result in a red tag by the code inspector.
The type of fastener required for the job is called out in the manufacturer’s installation instructions, as well as in the local building code. If you have a personal preference for either nails or staples, make sure that detail is included on the approved plans and specifications for a given project, as well as in the roofer’s scope of work. If staples are to be substituted for roofing nails, make sure the acceptable wire gauge and staple length are clearly stated, as well.

 
Surprisingly, one of the most common mistakes builders make on roofing projects is failing to follow installation instructions. Quizzing the crew on proper installation protocols and keeping current installation instructions on file with the jobsite superintendent are two ways builders can help avoid mistakes in the field.
Through work with builders of all sizes in the National Housing Quality (NHQ) Certification Program, the NAHB Research Center has discovered several common mistakes and process omissions made on the jobsite that can jeopardize the quality and durability of typical, asphalt-shingle roof installations. Here are five areas builders should focus on to avoid those mistakes:

1. Follow all manufacturers’ installation instructions. Installation protocols and code requirements can vary significantly from one type, style or brand of shingle to another. For example, starter-course instructions, nailing-pattern requirements and roof-coverage area often vary from product to product. Unfortunately, instructions often get overlooked or discarded altogether during the construction process. Failing to follow instructions can lead to durability problems and can possibly void the manufacturer’s warranty, leaving the builder bearing the full cost of any needed repair or replacement. Here are three simple ways builders can reinforce the importance of following installation instructions:

•Take the time to read the instructions and quiz your crew on proper installation protocols. Regardless of how many times they’ve installed those materials, they may have been doing something wrong all along and just didn’t know it.
•Make sure all current installation instructions are on file with the jobsite superintendent and affixed to the scope of work given to the roofing-trade crew leader.
•Regularly take stock of installation instructions on file on the jobsite to be sure they are the most current for the type and style of material you’re using.
2. Create a comprehensive job plan. A builder’s goal with any element of a job should always be to do it right the first time to avoid costly delays. The key to getting it right is creating a comprehensive job plan for every type of work on the site. Roofing is no exception. Here are three tips for creating an effective roofing job plan:

——————————————————————————–
Builders often specify the type and style of shingle for the roof, but they rarely choose
the type and gauge of fasteners for those shingles. Using the wrong fasteners can lead
to wind damage and result in a red tag by the code inspector.
——————————————————————————–
 •Carefully lay out the job before it begins. Place evenly spaced chalk lines along the roofing underlayment to give the installer a visible guide for every course.
•Before the roofing work begins, decide on valley style and ridge and gable end treatment, and be explicit about those details on the plans and scope of work.
•Periodically confirm the takeoff and make sure there is a sufficient quantity of shingles from the same dye lot on the jobsite. Running a few square feet short at the end of the job and filling in with shingles that don’t quite match is a rookie mistake that reflects poorly on your reputation for quality.

3. Get the fastening details right. Builders often specify the type and style of shingle for the roof, but they rarely choose the type and gauge of fasteners for those shingles. Using the wrong fasteners can lead to wind damage and result in a red tag by the code inspector.
The type of fastener required for the job is called out in the manufacturer’s installation instructions, as well as in the local building code. If you have a personal preference for either nails or staples, make sure that detail is included on the approved plans and specifications for a given project, as well as in the roofer’s scope of work. If staples are to be substituted for roofing nails, make sure the acceptable wire gauge and staple length are clearly stated, as well.

4. Adjust nail guns for the job. As the builder, you may not own and use nail guns on the jobsite, but it’s your responsibility to make sure they are adjusted to the proper settings to provide adequate, consistent fastener penetration. Too little pressure leaves the crown of the nail or staple too high, creating a bulge in the profile of the shingle. Too much pressure and the nail or staple can crush the shingle or even be driven through it.

If a nail gun or automatic stapler is to be used, make sure the air pressure is correct. Also, because air pressure can change over the course of a day, the compressor should be checked periodically to ensure air pressure remains within an acceptable range. Ask your trade contractor to document all air pressure checks and adjustments during the course of the day.

5. Conduct a personal inspection of the completed work. An inspection from both the roof level and ground will ensure that the quality of workmanship and aesthetic details are what you expect. As part of the inspection, you should:

•Scan for holes in shingles that were created during the installation of cleats or other temporary framing members. Shingles with holes need to be replaced, not simply filled with roofer’s mastic.
•Make sure the paper and the shingles in the roof valley are secured to the roof sheathing, not suspended above it.
•Look for reverse shingling, especially near a chimney or a plumbing stack. Water flows downhill and shingles need to let it flow, not catch it.
•Look through the trusses or ceiling framing from the underside of the roof to confirm if nails or staples were used in compliance with your specifications. This inspection can also confirm if sufficient quantities of fasteners were used and spacing guidelines were followed.
Document all required corrections and agree with the roofing contractor on when a follow-up inspection can be scheduled. Don’t assume the corrections will be made; always re-inspect. Document all inspections and make sure you and the roofer sign off on the final report.

Specific scopes of work and inspection checklists are two key elements of a documented quality management system adopted and implemented by quality-minded builders across the country. Check out the NAHB Research Center’s Web site for more information on implementing quality management systems for both builders and trade partners.

Created in 1964, the NAHB Research Center is a full-service product commercialization company that strives to make housing more durable, affordable and efficient. The Research Center provides public and private clients with an unrivaled depth of understanding of the housing industry and access to its business leaders.

by Don Carr

http://www.housingzone.com/custombuilder/article/ca6718957.html?nid=2822&rid=6397697

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Posted in 2010 DV Wise | 3 Comments »

Back to the ranch; Single-story homes regain popularity among baby boomers, young families

March 2nd, 2010

During the 1950s, ranches accounted for almost 90 percent of new U.S. homes. That percentage bottomed out at 43 percent in 2006 and has since risen slightly, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

But in the Midwest, the return of the ranch has been far more dramatic: Single-story new homes jumped from 44 percent in 2003 to 52 percent in 2008, the last year for which figures are available.

Although many of those are patio homes targeted at retirees, the traditional family ranch is slowly reappearing.

During the past few years, several central Ohio homebuilders have introduced three-bedroom family-style ranches boasting more than 2,000 square feet.

At Parsons’ suggestion, Romanelli & Hughes built a 2,914-square-foot ranch model at Mansard Estates in Galena in 2008. Since opening the model, Parsons said, five of the 12 homes the company has built in the subdivision and neighboring Walnut Grove Estates have been ranches.

Dominion Homes, central Ohio’s second-largest homebuilder, also introduced a family ranch home, the 2,230-square-foot Waltham model, as part of its Tradition collection last year in several central Ohio subdivisions.

And Hallmark Homes, which entered the central Ohio market last year, offers its 2,354-square-foot Westport ranch at its Oak Park community in Dublin.

“Everyone said we need to build a ranch, ranches are what’s selling, and I said if that’s the case, we’ll build it — and in the first month we offered the design, we sold three of them,” said William Hayes, who oversees Oak Park for Hallmark Homes.

Hayes said the company plans to introduce three more ranch models at Oak Park, an atypical number for the New Jersey-based builder.

“In the Midwest, the ranch seems to be enjoying a resurgence,” he said. “We don’t see that as much in our other markets.”

New family ranches share a single-floor plan and three-bedroom design with their 1950s ancestors, but, as Parsons likes to say, “This ain’t your mama’s ranch.”

For example, Romanelli & Hughes, Dominion and Hallmark ranches all come with at least 9-foot ceilings (the Romanelli & Hughes model has 10- and 12-foot ceilings) and walls of windows in the rear of the house, giving the homes a larger feel.

“Today’s ranches feel more open; they have more windows and don’t feel so confined,” said William Cornely, president and CEO of Dominion Homes.

Layouts get an update, too.

In the newer floor plans, the master suite is separated from the two other bedrooms, as opposed to traditional ranches, which cluster bedrooms in one wing or down one hall.

The most striking difference, though, is the reduction or elimination of formal rooms: The homes group kitchen, living and dining uses into one large living area at the rear of the house.

“The main focal point of the ranch is around entertaining,” Hayes said. “The kitchen is the center; everything revolves around (it). Families just don’t use that formal space anymore.”

In place of a formal living room, ranches often offer a “flex room” off the foyer that can serve as an office, den, formal living room or media room.

Although some contemporary ranch plans offer open dining areas, others dispense with a dining room altogether. Romanelli & Hughes has built smaller versions of its ranch model that replace the dining room with a larger breakfast room off the kitchen which a homeowner can dress up for big holiday meals.

“Who needs a formal dining room anymore?” Parsons asked. “We’re very informal now.”

Modern ranches also come with 8- or 9-foot-deep basements that can be finished, taking advantage of the homes’ large footprints.

As Parsons quipped, “The best part of a ranch? What you get up, you get down.”

In its Mansard Estates model, Romanelli & Hughes finished about 1,300 square feet in the basement — plenty of space for a bar/entertainment room, theater and fourth bedroom and bath — leaving 1,600 square feet for storage, utilities or future living space.

The large ranch footprint, however, is a prime reason that ranches slipped in popularity. As an industry rule of thumb, two-story homes are 20 percent less expensive to build because the foundation, basement and roof are smaller, and framing costs less.

Such expenses turn a $300,000 two-story home into a $360,000 ranch.

Charles Ruma, president of Virginia Homes, which has offered three or four ranch designs for several years, said many buyers who say they want ranches end up purchasing a two-story home because they can get more space for their money.

But for other buyers, cost is less important than the convenient layout and accessibility as the homeowners get older.

According to a National Association of Home Builders’ survey, 52 percent of all buyers prefer a single-story plan to a two-story. The figure skyrockets with older buyers: 79 percent of buyers older than 55 prefer a single story.

The aging population probably will continue to drive the rise in ranches, although the homes might come in a variety of designs.

Westport Homes is working on a ranch design that will feature two master suites, with the idea that empty nesters might use one bedroom for an elderly parent or for guests, said Jack Mautino, president of the Columbus division.

“Baby boomers are aging differently than prior groups,” he said. “They’re not looking to go live in a community that’s 55 and older. They like their independence, their single-family home. They still want to be outside, with the privacy of outdoor living and a garden.

“What I anticipate is we will see more ranches, maybe smaller ones, as people hold onto their homes much longer.”

Jim Weiker, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

http://www.housingzone.com/probuilder/articleXml/LN1132370794.html

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The 20 Healthiest Housing Markets for 2010

February 26th, 2010

Housing economists have long held that the housing rebound, when it comes, will be uneven. The markets that benefit first will be the ones with the strongest core dynamics; places where house prices never got out of hand, cities where a diverse and progressive employment base drives job creation, towns that continue to draw population despite the economic recession.

Now that the housing recovery is nearly upon us–most economists expect a full-fledged recovery to begin this year–it’s time to figure out which markets will be the front-runners. Based on last year’s performance, especially the level of building permits pulled in the fourth quarter, it’s already clear that some markets are poised to grow at a faster pace this year than others in 2010.

Green shoots may be sprouting in markets throughout the country, but which markets will flower first? That’s the question we attempt to answer with the Builder Market Health Index, compiled by Hanley Wood Market Intelligence, our market research arm. Market Intelligence (MI) first input 2009 data and 2010 projections for household formations, resale values, and job and income growth. Then, after sprinkling in some secret sauce to weight these drivers, it ranked by health the top 100 housing markets (determined by permits pulled in 2009).

Not surprisingly, many of the markets that topped our 2009 list are on the 2010 leader board, including most of the major markets in Texas, where low development costs kept a lid on house prices during the boom, and strong local economies provided a cushion from the blow of a national recession.

But Lone Star markets were eclipsed this time around by some relatively hot markets in the Carolinas, which accounted for seven of the top 20 spots. Many of the major cities along the Mid-Atlantic seaboard continue to benefit from a strong influx of people drawn by a comfortable way of life, affordable housing, and growing employment prospects.

As with last year, markets that hit the trifecta–having within their borders a state capital and a big university along with a diversified economy–dominate our list of hottest markets. A strong base of government employment, whether it be from the state or the military, has helped stabilize some markets through the housing recession. In many cases, the government is the biggest employer among the 20 markets on our list.

We present this data with one big caveat. These markets may be healthier than others, but they aren’t healthy in the way they were during the housing boom, when it was common to find rising population, employment, and income. Virtually every housing market still has at least one blemish. And for that reason only two received a rating of 50 or more, indicating they are truly healthy. That’s an improvement, though; only one scored 50 or higher last year.

Hanley Wood Market Intelligence, which took into consideration forecasts from Moody’s Economy.com and other sources, is looking for several of these healthiest markets to break out this year. A few of them witnessed dramatic increases in building permits pulled in the fourth quarter of last year, momentum that is expected to carry over into 2010. Several of the markets on this list are poised for double-digit growth. Read on.

3. Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC

Market Health Indicator: 48.0

2009 Total Building Permits: 7,607

2010 Building Permit Forecast: 7,442

Home to 1.77 million people, Charlotte has been one of the strongest housing markets in the country during the last three years. Housing prices in this banking center (Wachovia and Bank of America have big presences here) were pretty stable last year, barely inching down. Income levels actually rose in 2009. And households continued to form at a relatively high rate, compared to the rest of the country. The job picture should brighten in 2010; the area is projected to add 2% more jobs. Single-family permit activity began rising in the fourth quarter–it was up 20% over the year-ago period–despite a glut of downtown condos that have been converted to rentals.

By:Boyce Thompson

http://www.builderonline.com/local-markets/the-20-healthiest-housing-markets-for-2010.aspx?cid=BLDR100225002&page=1

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