Roofing design reviews

Design reviews are one lesser-known strand of the service offerings of Roof Inspection Reports.

Roofing design reviews are a highly specialised service, and Roof Inspection Reports is pleased to provide the necessary expertise. We offer fully professional, independent, third-party roofing design reviews that can save you from expensive mistakes and future roofing troubles.

With more than 35 years of professional experience, Roof Inspection Reports provide the most extensive range of roof consulting services that is available in south-east Queensland and beyond.

Commercial and government clients

For a good part of those 35 years, Roof Inspection Reports has been providing this essential service to architects and builders on major commercial and government construction projects.

Having a roofing design review at the pre-construction phase is ideal to ensure that roofing design, systems, assemblies and product choices will:

• be fully compliant with all relevant Australian standards
• be fully watertight
• lengthen the standard service life of the roofing
• be the safest and most economical choices for the project.
• provide economic solutions

Independence, experience, expertise

Independence is key to providing credible and ethical services, and Roof Inspection Reports is non-aligned. We are proud to offer the frank and fearless advice that has earned us our enviable reputation.

Experience allows for Roof Inspection Reports to offer both general recommendations and review of scope. We also offer product reviews and evaluations that add value to the architectural and/or engineering processes. At Roof Inspection Reports, we have the ability to come up with solutions that can be creative and even ingenious, and are guaranteed to stand the test of time.

Our service offerings take in the writing, reviewing and editing of specifications. You can also count on our up-to-date knowledge of roofing products to add further value.

Our track record of positive results speaks for itself.

For peace of mind on your major projects, we offer to add value on:

• savings
• compliance
• safety
• acoustics
• aesthetics.

For full assurance and completion at the design planning stage, please contact Roof Inspection Reports today for a confidential discussion and quote.

AS/NZS 1891.4

AS/NZS 1891.4, “Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices” is published by the body Standards Australia. It sets out recommendations for the selection, use and maintenance of industrial height safety equipment. If you install such equipment, you should have your roof inspected by a qualified roof inspector.

Who is Standards Australia?

Standards Australia is not part of government. It is Australia’s leading independent, non-government, not-for-profit standards organisation. Standards Australia doesn’t make acts or regulations. Their standards are generally voluntary documents. However, compliance with them becomes necessary when it is mandated by legislation.

Australian Standards reviews it standards regularly through its relevant technical committees to ensure they remain relevant and technically current. It also offers stakeholders across sectors pathways to developing new standards or updating existing ones. Another of its functions is to assess and approve other organisations to develop Australian Standards.

Compliance with AS/NZS 1891.4

Although AS/NZS 1891.4 is not mandatory under legislation, the falls code does include references to the AS/NZS 1891 series and “relevant Australian/New Zealand standards”.

Some sections of the industry raised concerns in 2015 about NATA-certified testing requirements, and in response Standards Australia held a fall arrest anchor forum to clarify these concerns. No clear outcome was derived but while the issue is unresolved many manufacturers are yet to complete testing to AS/NZS 5532 for their equipment, and some existing products are failing the test.

The track record of AS/NZS 1891.4

There have been no known instances of a correctly installed and inspected anchor that complies with the strength requirements from AS/NZS 1891.4 failing during a falls arrest incident.

Given this, SafeWork NSW has advised that product would be expected to comply with the standard.

The purpose of this standard is that fall arrest systems being used with anchors should provide energy absorbers, or other means, that limit the peak load on the harness connection. By doing so they will thus anchor during a fall to 6kN, as per the AS/NZS 1891 suite of standards.

Roof Inspection Reports strongly advises that inspection programs based on AS/NZS 1891.4, including annual load testing of chemical and friction anchors, should continue for all installed anchors.

If an inspection shows that anchors are damaged or not installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, the anchors should be made compliant with the manufacturer’s instructions or replaced. Examples include roof-mounted anchors with insufficient fasteners or anchors installed in roof sheeting that is thinner than specified.

Don’t take risks with workplace health and safety. Contact Roof Inspection Reports today for an inspection for compliance with AS/NZS1891.4.

Phil Beveridge, founder and owner of Roof Inspection Reports answers some roof inspection FAQs.

Why get your roof inspected?

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That goes for both your safety and your pocket. Problems caught early are more readily and less expensively fixed. And many serious structural problems are “silent”, that is, they can only be uncovered by a full professional inspection.

Roof Inspection Reports are experienced and independent. We will give fearless and forthright advice.

When should I get a roof inspected?

Roof Inspection Reports can carry out an inspection and make a report at any stage of the design, construction, pre-purchase, purchase or ownership phase. We recommend that if you are contemplating buying a property, you book an inspection for the roof as early as possible – our report can not only serve to highlight important matters that may impact safety or cost to you, but can be used to negotiate price.

Building owners should then have inspections regularly, ideally once a year. That goes for both commercial and residential buildings. We live in a harsh climate that can weather roofs suddenly and badly. Take no chances with your prime asset and your safety, and arrange for annual roof inspections.

What does a roof inspection involve?

We will diagnose any issues that mean present or future problems. You will be given a comprehensive, professional report.

What are the benefits of regular roof inspection?

The outlay for a regular roof inspection is small compared to the costs you may face in major repairs or overdue maintenance.
Because many roofing problems are invisible, you risk not detecting them until after you have signed the paperwork. Remember that architects and project managers are not qualified to inspect roofs to the relevant standards. Only a qualified roof inspector like Roof Inspection Reports can provide you with a fully professional roof inspection.

Contact Phil Beveridge today to arrange for a roof inspection: email phil@beveridge.id.au or phone 0418 677 524.

Going green on your roof

We are witnessing a rising popularity in green roofs. This is for a few good reasons: green roofs can be very beautiful, and they can increase the sustainability of a building design dramatically. They will save you on your energy bills, even taking into account the initial outlay. A well-designed green roof will give your building thermal regulation, which may mean no need for air conditioning in summer and heating in winter.

They will make for healthier buildings and healthier inhabitants. Plus, you could harvest vegetables or flowers. They might even accommodate nocturnal animals and act as animal shelters.

What to consider when planning a green roof

First up, if you are planning to convert an existing building, get your roof inspected to assess its structural integrity and suitability.

You need to consider the weight of the soil and plants in any calculations about construction, so be sure to get accurate estimates about these. Take into account that plants will grow, so the weight will increase over time, so your roof needs to be even stronger than it might first need to be.

You also need to choose soil that is very permeable, and perhaps consider plants such as succulents that don’t need too much water. You certainly don’t want to have water pooling on your roof.

Layers of a green roof

Typically, a green roof has seven layers over the structural components. At the base is a waterproofing membrane, usually followed by a root barrier layer, then an optional layer of insulation. Next is a drainage layer, followed by a filter fabric, then the soil or growing medium and, finally, the vegetation.

The depth of your growing medium will determine the type of green roof. Extensive green roofs have a shallow layer of the growing medium and provide the environmental benefits of a green roof but can’t safely support regular foot traffic. Intensive green roofs can have a metre-deep layer of the soil or growing medium, and can support larger plants and hold more water. They can weigh a hefty 180 to 500 kg per square metre, so require a very strong structural base. This makes them harder to retrofit to existing buildings.

Roof Inspection Reports inspects green roofs
Once you’ve done your research and have a plan for a green roof, contact Roof Inspection Reports for a full professional assessment of and report on its safety and integrity.

Contact us today for all matters regarding green roof safety.

Your southside Brisbane and Logan professional roof inspector

The structural integrity of your roof should be non-negotiable. Before you consider purchasing any property, be sure to engage the expertise of Roof Inspection Reports. You will be rewarded with peace of mind, and avoiding potential safety hazards and financial pitfalls in the future.

However much you might be falling in love with a property, don’t make it a blind love. Buyers often get caught in the emotional side of things when contemplating buying a property. Roof Inspection Reports will give a clear-eyed, expert, honest and impartial thorough report on the safety, quality and integrity of the structure’s roof, and is essential before you purchase. You may find our report helps or changes your decision, and can be used to negotiate price.

Construction on Brisbane’s southside and in Logan is booming, in both the domestic and commercial sectors. Before you buy, be sure to contact Roof Inspection Reports to ensure the quality and integrity of your roof.

Southside Brisbane and Logan home-buyers and investors

So, you have found a residential property on Brisbane’s southside or in Logan that you would like to live in or invest in. Congratulations – these are some of the most liveable and best value properties in the state. But before you sign the paperwork, be sure to invest in a roof inspection from Roof Inspection Reports.

Our highly qualified and experienced roofing experts will inspect your roof and guttering thoroughly inside and out, leaving no stone unturned. Any potential or current issues will be flagged for your attention, so that you can be sure they are fixed before you buy. You can also use our expert reports to negotiate your price and your insurance. Rest assured that you will be able to buy a property with no nasty surprises up ahead in terms of safety and expense.

Commercial properties on Brisbane’s southside and Logan

Don’t let your legitimate concerns for location, square metres, building type and the other items on your property checklist blind you to serious actual or potential roofing issues. Having your roof inspected is just as important to your and staff and clients’ safety and your bottom line as having your electricals, plumbing and flooring inspected. Our highly experienced inspectors will provide you before the sale or lease with a comprehensive written report that covers:

• findings about the quality, workmanship and condition of all aspects of your roofing and guttering
• recommendations for work, replacements and maintenance
• photographs and plans for your reference

Spare yourself trouble and expense down the track and have a full professional roof inspection report carried out by our experts.

Contact Roof Inspection Reports today for an obligation-free quote.

Maintain your roof – your valuable asset

You maintain your car carefully, and address any issues as they arise. You know that ignoring problems can jeopardise your own and others’ safety, lead to greater expenses down the track, and reduce the value of your asset. Likewise, you keep your home well-maintained inside and out, and renovate, replace, repair or refresh periodically. Unfortunately, many people with otherwise responsible habits towards their valuable assets will neglect their roof. It’s a crucial part of the structure of your home and business that has maximal exposure to the elements, yet so often people allow problems to develop and deteriorate that lead to headaches, expense and compromised safety. Don’t be one of those people.

Why roof maintenance counts

Your roof should be inspected and maintained regularly every 6 to 12 months. In some cases, you actually risk voiding the manufacturer’s warranty on roofing materials if you do not adhere to this schedule of inspection and any maintenance required. In the harsh Queensland elements, 12 months is a long time – we have repeatedly witnessed guttering and roofs in need of repair and even replacement within 12 months of construction. If you have not kept up your required schedule of inspection and maintenance, and damage results, you may find yourself facing major avoidable costs on roofing and guttering. Ensure regular inspections for the sake of short and long-term safety, cost and time and trouble.

Diagnostic reports and roof maintenance

Whether you are a own or lease a commercial property or are a home-owner, you cannot afford to overlook the maintenance of your roof. Regular inspections with a written diagnostic report will ensure you keep within the terms of your warranty, and provide you with peace of mind.

Roof Inspection Reports will provide you with a comprehensive, expert, impartial and fearlessly honest assessment of your roof, including recommendations for any maintenance or repairs and replacements. We are on your side. Regular inspections will keep you in your warrantee, keep you and your family or staff and clients safe, and keep you from nasty surprises with the need for expensive repairs avoided through appropriate ongoing care.

Contact Roof Inspection Reports today for an obligation-free quote.

Home owners: What to demand from a roof inspection

Roof Inspection Reports have 35 years of industry experience that you can trust. Whether for a home you already own or one you are contemplating buying, having the roof inspected by a dedicated professional is a must.

Here we discuss what home-owners should look for in a roof inspection and why.

Alerting you to roof weaknesses and risks

A competent roof inspection will detect any defects in the roof of an existing building, and any issues that might be likely to develop into problems in the future that would call for repairs.

An inspection on a new dwelling should take place before you close out with the contractors. It will ascertain whether the roof has been installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and the design specifications, and according to Australian standards.

Impartiality, thoroughness and reliability

A roof inspection has particular value when it is conducted by in independent professional who has no stake in the sale of the home or investment property or other buyer services. At Roof Inspection Reports, we are proudly impartial, and frank and fearless in our advice. You should settle for nothing less.

A thorough report will cover, at a minimum:

• ensuring correct installation
• identifying actual or potential risks or faults
• diagnosing existing problems, e.g., leaks
• assuring that roof design is fit for purpose
• proposing a maintenance schedule
• certifying all relevant standards and systems.

Roof inspections are a specialised service. Don’t settle for one by a building inspector. Look for specialised expertise, such as is offered by Roof Inspection Reports.

Certifications and compliance

A roof inspection by Roof Inspection Reports will let you know with confidence whether your roof is compliant with all of the relevant Australian Standards. And if we detect non-compliance, we will advise you so that you can ensure you meet compliance in the most efficient and cost-effective ways.

No corners cut = long-term savings

It is simply not worth it to try to cut corners on roofs. As we have said, you should not settle for a roof report conducted by a generalist building inspector. And, especially, don’t opt to leave out a roof report altogether in your hurry to close a sale. The “savings” are an illusion, even possibly a dangerous one and very likely an expensive one.

You are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the people under your roof. Roof Inspection Reports provides roof reports you can trust. Safe as houses.

Queensland classic: the corrugated roof

For many Queenslanders, the sound of rain pattering on a tin roof is very evocative. In fact, it is almost part of the collective Queensland memory for locals of a certain age. But although this Queensland classic has less welcome connotations of rust and radiant heat, modern twists on the classic tin roof are renewing it as an attractive choice for home-owners.

Modernised corrugated roofs

The modern take on this timeless roof is powder-coated lightweight steel or aluminium in a previously unimaginable range of colours. Corrugated roof materials now also come in either the standard wavy sheets of metal or translucent plastic form.

Previously, the biggest drawback to corrugated roofs was corrosion, but these new materials have largely solved that problem. This leaves home-owners tossing up between a corrugated or a tile roof with a slew of advantages on the corrugated side, including ease of installation, durability, price, safety and – depending on the style of your home and your personal taste – aesthetics.

Tiled versus corrugated roofs

The most popular tile options are glazed terracotta or flat slate shingles. These look lovely, depending especially on the style and period of your home, but come with a number of disadvantages and drawbacks, especially for the harsh weather conditions found north (and far north) of the Tweed.

Chief among these are that they are more difficult than corrugated roofs for installing solar panels and for sealing to be watertight. The tiles actually lay adjacent to each other with some slight gaps between. This means that, especially at flatter pitches, high winds can force rain between the tiles, resulting in leaks that can be difficult to track down and seal. If you live in a region prone to bushfires, the lack of complete sealing between tiles means that they are also a greater risk for ember attacks. Further, tiles can also be terribly smashed in severe hail storms.

Further cons are that tiles are far heavier than corrugated sheeting, and weight heavily on roof timbers and walls. They also absorb and radiate heat better than corrugated roofs, which can make them preferable in cooler climates but elevate corrugation to the preferred choice for much of Queensland.

Cost-effective, durable corrugated roofs

If you are weighing up the relative costs of corrugated versus tiled roofs, you should obtain several quotes, as the installation costs can vary, depending on the particular features of your home, and can be comparable in the short term.

However, keep in mind that modern corrugated roofs will long outlast tiled ones, and be less expensive for repairs or for additional work such as wiring, air conditioning or plumbing.

Patter on the hot tin roof

Tiled roofs, on the upside, are quieter, and therefore preferable if you have a sound studio or other room that is sound-sensitive.

But there’s the rub: who doesn’t love the comforting sound so beloved to Queenslanders of welcome, cooling rain on the corrugated roof?

Up on the roof

At Roof Inspection Reports, we spend our lives up on the roof. That’s your roof, because the safety of roofs and the people and businesses who depend on them are our business.

So, you can place your trust with Roof Inspection Reports, and let your roofing cares drift off in space. Our renowned expertise in all aspects of roof safety offers everything you need for a good night’s sleep.

Peace of mind: Roof safety and savings

Our mission is to provide independent and impartial roofing expertise to building owners and residents, ensuring longevity, structural soundness and long-term savings are achieved through proper roof design, construction, maintenance and repair.

So what does this mean in practise? The answer is simple: It means keeping you and your investment safe and sound. And we do this by being simply the best at what we do, in south-east Queensland and Australia-wide.

Director Philip Beveridge has been providing expertise in all aspects of roofing for 35 years. Long experience has led to an emphasis on prevention in his work, and he is proudly impartial in his approach, offering unparalleled integrity in his straight-talking advice.

Safety in the overarching concern of Roof Inspection Reports, along with protecting building owners and end-users with savings made by prevention as a priority.

Services offered by Roof Inspection Reports

A wide range of roofing services are offered by Roof Inspection Reports, and please contacgt us today with any roofing concerns or requests.

Our particularly popular services are:

• roof condition reports that focus on compliance in all aspects of installation and ensuring that suppliers’ warrantees are authenticated
• pre-purchase inspections for considering buyers of large-scale buildings and family homes that examine roofs closely for any signs of structural problems or other potential risks, and can be used in price negotiations on properties.

Roof inspections: quality, impartiality, credibility

Whether you are a home owner or landlord or managing or looking to purchase large-scale industrial and commercial buildings, Roof Inspection Reports has the expertise you can count on.

Contact us today on 0418 677 524 or at phil@beveridge.id.au. We know you’ll soon be singing our praises.

Faithful inspections

It’s the gospel truth. Roof Inspection Reports will save you heartache, if not your soul. We are still working on that one.

By the time you become aware of a leak in your roof, according to Roof Inspection Report’s director Philip Beveridge, the damage has been well-established.

He recommends annual inspections for all dwellings and commercial properties as a preventative measure, given how complex and expensive the job of repair can become. The annual fee for an inspection well offsets the size of the bill that can result for one-off major repairs.

But don’t despair if you do find you have developed roof damage. Even the most complex damage should always fixable, and you can put your faith in Roof Inspection Reports’ more than thirty years of experience in identifying problems and suggesting optimal solutions.

Watertight reports

Unfortunately, poor workmanship is the root cause of most roofing problems. And a leak after rain and storms is the sign you need to address well-progressed damage as soon as possible.

Visible signs of water damage on your ceilings and walls should be acted on without delay to prevent consequences you will regret that can be financial, structural and to you and your family’s or employees’ or tenants’ health and safety.

Your roof is too precious to your financial and general well being to be neglected.

Protect your assets and your people. Contact Roof Inspection Reports today for a professional inspection and report that will give you peace of mind.