How to Anticipate and Avoid Common Roofing Delays

A spring roofing replacement can be fun and exciting, but even with proper planning and design, you may still encounter a few delays along the way. Although some are unexpected, others can be avoided or prevented with the right precautions. It also helps to work with a reputable contractor like Kingdom Roofing that can properly manage your project to reduce any likelihood of delays.

Only a professional roofer knows how to deal with matters that prevent your project from being completed on time. Some of the biggest types of roofing delays include the following:

• Inexcusable Delays

While these can include the contractor’s failure to manage the project adequately, these types of delays are unlikely to happen if your contractor has the right training and experience as well as the necessary equipment. Other types of inexcusable delays include the late arrival of roofing materials, although depending on the cause, that could have been avoided or anticipated. If the delivery was delayed because of an unforeseen event during shipping or manufacturing, then it may count as an excusable delay.

• Excusable Delays

These are typically caused by a third party’s actions or omissions. Excusable delays can also come from unforeseen events and factors that are beyond the control of the project manager. Even as a roof repair services provider, we know that some types of delays can’t be avoided. Often, the best thing we can do to overcome delays is to prepare and anticipate anything that might impede the progress of your roofing project.

Excusable delays can range from architectural design errors and owner-initiated changes to unexpected weather and natural disasters. Such delays also entitle the contractor to a time extension and possibly to additional compensation. However, adverse weather conditions that affect the execution of the work don’t always mean roofers will need additional time unless the weather conditions in your area are more intense than expected.

• Compensable Delays

A compensable delay stems from a cause that entitles the roof repair services contractor to additional compensation. This is necessary to cover extra costs the contractor incurs due to a delay. Depending on the delay’s cause and the terms of your contract, they may or may not be compensable.

It’s considered a compensable delay when another party’s conduct or performance causes a delay and incurs extra expenses that wouldn’t have occurred otherwise. Typical examples of compensable delays involve design changes, late material delivery, or failure of other parties to perform necessary work.

• Concurrent Delays

This type of delay can have multiple causes. This can sometimes be difficult to deal with because you’ll need to figure out who’s responsible for the delays, determine how much additional time should be granted, and account for the overall damage costs from the delays. Depending on the cause, these delays can also count as excusable or compensable delays.

A concurrent delay happens when two or more parties involved in the project have delayed or hindered contract performance. This affects the outcome of the roofing project and causes a delay in completing it on time.

Unavoidable Causes for Roof Delays

Some delays are unavoidable no matter how much planning has been made on your roofing replacement project. It can happen as soon as the old roofing materials are torn off and underlying problems are seen. These often cause delays because they’ll need to be addressed and repaired before the actual roof installation.

Here are a few other causes you need to look out for:

• Bad Weather

This can easily cause delays to your project even if the work is already underway. Roofers will stop working even if it’s a light rain shower because several components must be installed under favorable weather conditions, especially the roof deck. Delays are also to be expected if severe weather happens to occur in your local area during the roofing process.

If you’re planning a shingle installation, your exposed roof needs to be completely dry before applying other materials and layers to avoid moisture buildup from underneath. That means the weather conditions have to be favorable to allow the adhesives used in starter strips to dry completely.

• Sudden Order Changes

This can happen almost anytime during the roof construction phase and is often beyond the control of the roofing contractor. These types of delays are caused by several factors ranging from manufacturing or supply issues to last-minute adjustments to the project and compatibility issues. They can affect your project’s total costs, so be sure to discuss your plans thoroughly with your contractor to stay within budget.

How to Avoid Roofing Delays

It’s still recommended to prepare and anticipate all scenarios if you want to avoid delays in your roofing project. Even if delays are bound to occur, here are a few helpful tips that can ensure your project is completed promptly:

• Anticipate inclement weather. Your local weather has to be ideal and favorable so that the project stays on schedule. Most contractors also prefer working under predictable weather conditions because they get the work done more efficiently. This makes spring and summer the best time for roofing projects.

• Plan ahead for safety precautions. Professional contractors are trained and experienced enough to be aware of potential safety issues in your roofing project. Before the project commences, all the onsite workers are checked for safety. They’ll also make sure to put up proper signage and communication about risks and hazards to help minimize danger to everyone involved in the roofing project.

• Take shipping times into account. Since most roofing products have to be ordered from a manufacturer, this can take time depending on the location, the speed of delivery and the availability of the materials. If you ordered several specialty items for your project, you could expect a longer shipping time.

• Apply for the right building permits. Whether you’re planning a residential or commercial roofing installation, you need to be aware of the local building codes and guidelines relevant to your project. For instance, commercial projects will almost always require building inspections and the approval of construction permits, which can push back your completion date if they weren’t previously planned. This is why it’s best to have it done as early as the initial planning stages of your project. Fortunately, most roofing professionals take care of all the required documentation, so be sure to hire one who can get your roofing done properly.

When it’s time to replace your roof, turn to a reliable roofing contractor like Kingdom Roofing. Our consultants can meet with you to inspect your existing roof and go over options for the replacement to determine what’s best for your property. Our goal is to make sure your roof performs as efficiently and effectively as possible. Call us today at (941) 217-2411 for more information or you can also fill out our contact form.