A PDF of the Annual Roofing Survey can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
Key findings of the roofing survey
- Respondents named metal (56%) and EPDM (50%) as the roofing systems they (or their firms) employed most in projects. However, the results show that they used a wide variety of roofing types, including built-up, shakes and shingles, modified bitumen, TPO, PVC, and tiles.
- Insulation choice was also spread among several product categories, with polyisocyanurate leading the way (62%) and EPS, XPS, and sprayed polyurethane foam also showing support.
- More than half of respondents (53%) said their roofing projects were essentially all low-slope jobs (2/12 rise or less), but nearly a third (31%) said steep-slope roofs (>2/12 rise) comprised all or almost all of their roofing-related projects.
- New construction and retrofits were fairly evenly split among respondents’ roofing-related projects over the last couple of years.
- Initial cost is not the most important factor in choosing a roofing system. That honor went to durability and reliability, at least from the experience of respondents and their perception of their clients’ priorities.
- In a related finding, it is not surprising that “leaks or failures” (42%) was the single biggest concern or worry expressed by respondents, along with such related factors as “quality/performance” (17%) and “incorrect installation” (11%). Again, cost was not the key concern, with only 13% of respondents checking it as their number one worry.
- In terms of “green” factors, energy efficiency (52%) is far and away the crucial component of a roofing system, followed distantly by life cycle cost (25%).
- Building information modeling is still largely in its infancy in respondents’ roofing-related projects, with less than one-third (32%) saying that they used BIM. However, the use of BIM is expected to grow to about 59% over the next two years or so.
- Only a small percentage of respondents (4%) said they (or their firms) have made extensive use of photovoltaics on roofs in the last two years, but three in 10 (30%) had used PVs in a few projects. The upside is that 57% plan to do so in the next 18-24 months.
- Similarly, the extensive use of green vegetative roofs is limited (2%), but 23% of respondents (or their firms) have tried them in at least a few projects in the last two years, and 38% said they intend to do so in the next 18-24 months.
Survey Methodology
The survey was emailed to a representative sample of BD+C’s subscriber list. No incentive was offered; 263 qualified returns were obtained. The majority of responses (52%) came from architects and designers, a group that represents half of BD+C’s subscriber base; however, respondents were spread across the professions and included nearly one-fifth (18%) from among owners and facilities directors. In terms of location, respondents’ roofing-related projects covered the entire U.S. (and a bit in Canada), although the Mid-Atlantic region may have been underrepresented (8%). A margin of error of 6-7% at the 95% confidence level can be applied in most cases.
Note: Some of the tables refer to “Top % rank,” the percentage of respondents who rated the factor as their single most important factor. “Weighted score” was calculated by tripling the number of respondents who rated the factor #1, doubling those who rated the factor #2 by 2, multiplying by one those who rated the factor #3 by 1, and dividing the sum by three to obtain the average.
Download a PDF of the Annual Roofing Survey below
Related Stories
| Feb 10, 2011
Medical Data Center Sets High Bar for BIM Design Team
The construction of a new data center becomes a test case for BIM’s ability to enhance project delivery across an entire medical campus.
| Feb 10, 2011
Zero Energy Buildings: When Do They Pay Off in a Hot and Humid Climate?
There’s lots of talk about zero energy as the next big milestone in green building. Realistically, how close are we to this ambitious goal? At this point, the strategies required to get to zero energy are relatively expensive. Only a few buildings, most of them 6,000 sf or less, mostly located in California and similar moderate climates, have hit the mark. What about larger buildings, commercial buildings, more problematic climates? Given the constraints of current technology and the comfort demands of building users, is zero energy a worthwhile investment for buildings in, for example, a warm, humid climate?
| Feb 9, 2011
Hospital Construction in the Age of Obamacare
The recession has hurt even the usually vibrant healthcare segment. Nearly three out of four hospital systems have put the brakes on capital projects. We asked five capital expenditure insiders for their advice on how Building Teams can still succeed in this highly competitive sector.
| Feb 9, 2011
Businesses make bigger, bolder sustainability commitments
In 2010, U.S. corporations continued to enhance their sustainable business efforts by making bigger, bolder, longer-term sustainability commitments. GreenBiz issued its 4th annual State of Green Business report, a free downloadable report that measures the progress of U.S. business and the economy from an environmental perspective, and highlights key trends in corporate culture in regard to the environment.
| Feb 8, 2011
AIA names 104 members to College of Fellows
The Fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession. Election to fellowship not only recognizes the achievements of architects as individuals, but also their significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.
| Feb 4, 2011
President Obama: 20% improvement in energy efficiency will save $40 billion
President Obama’s Better Buildings Initiative, announced February 3, 2011, aims to achieve a 20% improvement in energy efficiency in commercial buildings by 2020, improvements that will save American businesses $40 billion a year.
| Jan 31, 2011
Cuningham Group Architecture launches Healthcare studio with Lee Brennan
International design firm Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. (Cuningham Group) has announced the arrival of Lee Brennan, AIA, as Principal and Leader of its new Healthcare studio. Brennan comes to Cuningham Group with over 30 years of professional experience, 22 of those years in healthcare, encompassing all aspects of project delivery, from strategic planning and programming through design and construction. The firm’s new Healthcare studio will enhance Cuningham Group’s expertise in leisure and entertainment, education, mixed-use/housing and workplace environments.
| Jan 31, 2011
HDR Architecture Releases Evidence-based Design Videos
As a follow-up to its book Evidence-based Design for Healthcare Facilities, HDR Architecture, Inc. has released three video case studies that highlight evidence-based design principles in action.
| Jan 31, 2011
CISCA releases White Paper on Acoustics in Healthcare Environments
The Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association (CISCA) has released an extensive white paper “Acoustics in Healthcare Environments” for architects, interior designers, and other design professionals who work to improve healthcare settings for all users. This white paper serves as a comprehensive introduction to the acoustical issues commonly confronted on healthcare projects and howbest to address those.
| Jan 28, 2011
Firestone Building Products Unveils FirestoneRoof Mobile Web App
Firestone Building Products Company unveiled FirestoneRoof, a first-of-its-kind free mobile web app. The FirestoneRoof mobile web app enables customers to instantly connect with Firestone commercial roofing experts and is designed to make it easier for building owners, facility managers, roofing consultants and others charged with maintaining commercial roofing systems to get the support they need, when they need it.
