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David P Bennett (Whitey)
Posted on Saturday, March 10, 2001 - 12:35 pm:   

I agree with Ric. From the photos posted here, this does appear to be a built up roof with a smooth layer of asphalt or tar. Without actually cutting through the surface, would be unable to state how many layers or if a single cap. The build up of asphalt/tar does indicate repeated coating. As has been indicated the cracking at the parpet indicates that the felt may have been rolled up the parapet and sealed to the parapet using tar/asphalt and then coated. The cracking is generally from expansion and contraction during cold and hot seasons contributed to by moisture and condensation. Your pictures show no evidence of wind uplift or damage by weight of snow or ice.
GregS14
Posted on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 4:51 pm:   

Rick is 100% correct on this call!
Steve Florig (Sflorig)
Posted on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 1:22 am:   

My personal thanks to everyone who responded to this post. Extra thanks to Roy and all at CADO for making it not only possible to post comments but to be able to put my photos up also. CADO is a great tool and resource for everyone. I regard the advise and opinions I received to be very professional and informative. Great job guys!
You made my report to the company look good!
Thanks to everyone!
JIM SHAFRATH (Jshaf)
Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2001 - 6:32 pm:   

This thread, my friends, is what makes CADO the premier cat adjusters site. Great job and thanks to all that have participated in this educational class.
Ric Vitiello (Ricvitiello)
Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2001 - 1:22 am:   

Steve,
I've reviewed the photos that you sent me which showed more definition than is viewable here in the browser. first, I question whether this is Modified bitumen. Certainly the wall flashing is not, and the flat area looks more like an asphalt mopped down one ply felt overlay which has been top mopped with hot asphalt and the surface is now alligatoring. It also appears that the surface is whiting out, in other words the felt is showing through the top mop which indicates that the asphalt has weathered off. This means that the asphalt top mop is probably 5 to 10 years old. The walls were not re-flashed when the last overlay was done since the surface laps on the flat area at the cant line are visible. The walls appear to have been asphalt hot mopped several times without actually re-flashing. The asphalt hanging (dripping)from the edges of the terra cotta wall cap and lumpy surface of the wall is an indication of repeated mopping. I believe what you have here is just a very old roof system that has been repeatedly recovered and mopped over without addressing the developing substrate problems which are causing the wall flashing to fall away. Bottom line... I don't see any indications of a covered loss in these photos.

Ric Vitiello
Benchmark Services Inc
Roofing Consultants
Hail Damage Assessment Trainers
http://www.benchmark-services.com
R.D. Hood (Dave)
Posted on Monday, March 05, 2001 - 11:56 pm:   

Steve, after reviewing the B&W photos Roy has posted, they can only leave me with the impression that there is a maintainence problem with the roofing materials on this risk.

The tops of the parapet wall are covered with terra cotta coping or with bitumen, (no coping cap) and the fact that the materials are pulling away from the wall indicate poor fastening. Your call.
Roy Cupps (Admin)
Posted on Monday, March 05, 2001 - 10:33 pm:   

Here are the photos from Steve. I have reduced the photos for this thread however, under each photo you will find a link to the full size image.

roof1

Photo One

roof2

Photo Two

roof3

Photo Three
Ric Vitiello (Ricvitiello)
Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2001 - 1:57 am:   

one more thing Steve. You said "some of the masonry is "coming off"" . If by this you mean brick spalling, check to see if the brick is "core" brick which is usually a lighter shade of orangeish red. If this is the case the spalling is due to freeze thaw cycles since the core brick which is obtaned from demolitions of razed buildings is the inside core courses of a muli core brick wall. Core brick is low temperature fired and does not weather well as an exposed surface. Core brick therefore was not intended to be exposed to the weather. In cases where used brick is re-used in new brick construction it is commonly seen to spall its surface after going through freeze thaw cycles. This may be the real cause of the problem rather than the mod bit separatng from the brick, it may be the brick spalling and carying the mod bit with it. I'll be able to tell more when I see the photos.

Ric
Ric Vitiello (Ricvitiello)
Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2001 - 1:55 am:   

Hi Steve,
I received CC's of David Dye's and Jim Flynts messages. They have asked me to participate in this question. I'm assuming that they will forward your photos to me but just in case you may want to send them direct to me too. I'll be glad to help. If this Mod Bit material is installed directly to the brick parapet wall and does not have a metal termination bar securing the top edge of the flashing to the brick, it would be expected to separate from the brick and would be considered an installation fault (no coverage) The accepted method for termination of the flashing on a vertical surface is elastomeric sealant and minimum 1/8" metal termination bar with prepunched holes at least 12"OC (or less depending on the manufacturer) at the top edge and secured through the mod bit membrane into the parapet with appropriate fasteners which in the case of brick would predrilling 1/4" holes a minimum of 1" deep and securing lead lags (or equal) into the brick. I'll see if I can dig up a sendable detail drawing and send it to you.

Ric Vitiello, president
Benchmark Services Inc
Roofing consultants
hail damage assessment trainers
502-499-9970
http://www.benchmark-services.com
Bruce (Bholling55)
Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2001 - 12:42 am:   

I just completed a continuing education at Hagg engineering last week and it was about commercial roofing products. One of the issues that was discussed was some of the different problems that take place with different products, and one of the problems with modified was it can srink and pull away from the walls. It is not uncommon. If it is ballowning away from the walls is one sign, and another is if the wall flashing is sliding down the slope, For more information email hagg www.haagengineering.com
Roy Cupps (Admin)
Posted on Saturday, March 03, 2001 - 10:29 pm:   

<Bulletin Board Tranfer>

I need help accessing a problem with a flat roof here in Chicago. This is a modified bitumen roof that appears to be in fairly good condition but looks like it is pulling apart at the parapet walls where there are openings. Some of the masonry is coming off also in a couple of spots where the roofing is peeling back (this looks like fresh damage). The rest of the roof shows no signs of any damage and only slight wear and tear. Like I said, the roof is in fairly good shape. The insured has an estimate to install new modified bitumen over the existing roof. Can any of this be due to ice and/or weight of ice and snow? I don't feel that the roof has buckled or is sagging due to weight of ice and snow. If anyone can help, please e-mail me. I will try and send you digital scans of my photos if that will help (yeah, yeah I need to get a digital camera. I know). My e-mail is: sflorig@yahoo.co


Posted: 3/3/01 4:51:35 PM By:steve
IP Address: 63.215.117.17

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