Do More than the Bare Minimum
Collaboration is Key for a Successful Roofing Project
By Zach Cadet, Vice President, Fidelity Roofing, an HCR Group Company
(Editor’s Note: Zach Cadet is Vice President and General Manager of Fidelity Roof Company, the Oakland-based roofing and waterproofing contractor founded in 1948. A native of the East Bay, he earned his bachelor’s degree in California’s Central Valley and began his roofing career as a laborer in 2012. Over the following decade he advanced through field and management roles to his current position, where he oversees operations across Fidelity’s commercial, institutional, and high-end residential work throughout Northern California.)
A successful roofing project requires alignment between the architect, roofing contractor, manufacturer, consultant, owner’s representative, general contractor, owner, and key subcontractors. While each team member has a different responsibility, everyone shares the same goal: delivering a quality roof assembly that meets the owner’s expectations, complies with industry standards, building codes, and performs for decades.
Collaboration, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and open communication are essential to a successful roofing project. Bring the roofing, waterproofing, and sheet metal contractors into the conversation as early as possible. Early involvement allows specialty contractors to understand the project’s goals, schedule, and potential challenges before construction begins.
Roofing contractors understand how roofing systems are installed in the field, so their early input helps identify details that may look good on paper but create challenges during construction. They can also evaluate roof slopes, overhangs, drainage, and material constraints to ensure the design meets both the project’s aesthetic and performance goals.
This is also the time to clearly establish each team member’s role and responsibilities. Architects, consultants, contractors, manufacturers, and other design professionals should understand their responsibilities and work together within their respective areas of expertise. Open communication should begin during design and continue throughout construction and project closeout.
Once responsibilities are established, the architect and roofing contractor should have a clear understanding of the owner’s priorities. Regardless of the project type, safety must remain the highest priority throughout every phase of construction.
A clearly defined budget and scope of work provide the roadmap for the project. Roofing contractors should communicate material costs, lead times, and high-performance alternatives if the original design does not meet the owner’s budget or performance expectations.
Maintain a flexible schedule and communicate regularly with the entire project team. Conditions can change quickly, and keeping everyone aligned helps avoid unnecessary challenges. When changes are necessary, explain the advantages and disadvantages, discuss the impact on cost and schedule, and obtain the owner’s approval before moving forward.
At project completion, ensure the owner receives all required closeout documentation, including contractor and manufacturer warranties, permits, and any other necessary project records. Throughout construction, coordinate the work carefully to ensure the installation follows manufacturer requirements and protects both manufacturer and contractor warranties.
A roofing, waterproofing, or sheet metal system may work well on paper but create challenges once construction begins. Just because a design looks good doesn’t necessarily mean it will perform as intended in the field. Early collaboration helps prevent costly redesigns, delays, and change orders.
Roofing and waterproofing systems are typically designed around a specific manufacturer’s assembly. Architects, designers, and contractors rely on manufacturers to provide tested, code-compliant systems supported by long-term performance data. Working together with the manufacturer helps ensure the selected system is appropriate for the project, properly detailed, and well documented. More importantly, it reinforces the value of bringing the project team together early. When architects, consultants, manufacturers, and specialty contractors collaborate from the beginning, owners can be confident the system has been carefully evaluated before construction starts.
Experienced roofing, waterproofing, and sheet metal contractors should be involved throughout the design process for both new construction and reroofing projects. When there is uncertainty, mock-ups can be invaluable for confirming installation methods, workmanship, and design details before full production begins. If mock-ups are not included in the original agreement, document the additional work through an approved change order.
Just as the budget and scope should be clearly established, so should the project schedule. Understand everyone’s expectations and recognize that several factors, including material availability, can affect the timeline. Before setting project milestones, verify material availability and communicate potential delays with the entire team.
Weather also plays a significant role in roofing, waterproofing, and exterior envelope work. Consider the time of year, project location, and forecasted weather conditions, including snow, hurricane season, or El Niño conditions, when planning the schedule.
The relationship with the owner shouldn’t end when construction is complete. Like all commercial building systems, roofing, waterproofing, and sheet metal systems require ongoing maintenance. Educate owners on proper maintenance practices and the value of a preventive maintenance program to help protect their investment and maximize the roof’s service life.
Successful teams communicate regularly. They address issues early, keep everyone informed, and never make assumptions. When working with contractors in any trade, focus on solving problems and providing support rather than micromanaging the project.
Regular site meetings are an important part of that process. Site visits allow the architect to confirm the design intent is being achieved while giving the roofing contractor the opportunity to discuss field conditions and recommend practical solutions before small issues become larger ones.
Every decision should support manufacturer specifications and the overall system design. If field conditions require changes, obtain approval before proceeding. Quality contractors often have strong relationships with manufacturers and can work together to develop approved system deviations without compromising the integrity or warranty of the roof. Always use certified contractors who follow manufacturer requirements, industry best practices, and applicable state and local building codes.
The goal is not simply to finish the project, it is to deliver a roofing, waterproofing, and sheet metal system that performs as designed and provides long-term value to the owner. Successful projects are built on communication, collaboration, and trust. When architects, contractors, manufacturers, consultants, owners, and subcontractors work together as one team, projects run more smoothly, costs are better managed, and owners receive a higher-quality result. In our experience, when these principles are followed and the roof is properly maintained, owners have the best opportunity to achieve decades of reliable service and long-term performance.
