Manual of Low-Slope Roof Systems [Hardcover]

C. W. Griffin (Author), R. L. Fricklas (Author), Richard Fricklas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0070247846 | ISBN-13: 978-0070247840 | Edition: 3rd

This edition has been updated to provide information on pertinent changes in applicable building codes, including recommendations stemming from Hurricane Andrew. It covers all major types of flat, multi-ply, built-up roofing systems that are typically used on commercial and industrial facilities.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

THE PREMIER GUIDE TO COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ROOFS

For decades, this manual has been the most widely respected guide to designing and specifying low-slope roof systems. It remains unique -- the only working handbook that treats all topics in roof design, from fundamentals to roof systems and materials options.

This fourth edition covers major advances in design and materials, as well as changes in building codes. It gets you up to speed on roof system performance, emerging materials, drainage, wind uplift, vapor control, fire resistance, thermal insulation, reroofing, and much more. You'll even find field-tested solutions for such problems as lap-seam failures, membrane shrinkage, and fastener backout. Covering all major types of flat, multi-ply, low-slope roofing systems for commercial and industrial facilities, this definitive text also updates you on new procedures in inspection and maintenance.

For architects, roof designers, roof consultants, contractors, spec writers, attorneys, materials manufacturers -- anyone who needs authoritative, up-to-date information on all aspects of roof technology -- the Manual of Low-Slope Roof Systems dominates the field.

Roof It Right

• Roof failure causes in depth (and specific methods for avoiding them)
• Roof design fundamentals and flourishes, based on voluminous industry research and experience
• New technologies and materials -- using them safely and correctly
• Comprehensive coverage of all major roofing systems
• Specifications, inspection, and maintenance tools for roofing work

THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO COMMERCIAL ROOFS
The Roof as a System * Draining the Roof * Structural Deck * Thermal Design * Vapor Control * Wind Uplift * Fire Resistance * Historical Background of Contemporary Roof Systems * Elements of Built-Up Membranes * Modified-Bitumen Membranes * Elastomeric Membranes * Weldable Thermoplastics * Flashings * Protected Membrane Roofs and Waterproofed Decks * Sprayed Polyurethane Foam * Metal Roof Systems * Field Inspections * Reroofing and Repair * Roof-System Specifications * Roofing Guarantees and Warranties * Glossary of Roofing-Related Terms --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

C.W. Griffin is a member of ASTM International and the American Arbitration Association. He is a consulting engineer specializing in roofing and energy conservation and a former Senior Editor for McGraw-Hill's Engineering News-Record. His books include Energy Conservation in Buildings and The Systems Approach to School Construction. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Until his retirement in 1996, R.W. Fricklas was Technical Director of the Roofing Industry Educational Institute. He is a columnist for RSI magazine and writes a Web column on roofing for Buildings.com. He has been the recipient of the Voss Award from the American Society for Testing and Materials, the McCawley Award from the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association, and the Piper Award from the National Roofing Contractors Association. Mr. Fricklas has also been presented with Lifetime Achievement awards by the Colorado Roofing Contractors Association and the Institute of Roofing and Waterproofing Consultants, and is an honorary member of the Roofing Consultants Institute. He lives in Centennial, Colorado. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing; 3rd edition (February 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070247846
• ISBN-13: 978-0070247840
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,478,483 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Roofing

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fills a need, June 17, 2001

By 

David Owens (La Mirada, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Manual of Low-Slope Roof Systems (Hardcover)

I gave this book 4 stars and not 5 because it was not large enough. It should have been the next size format, so that the drawings would render better. That said, however, I must recommend this for several reasons: 1, there is a paucity of books on roofing, a mundane subject at best and of interest to few people. However, for those people, not much to choose from. "Low slope roof" is industry parlance for a commercial/industrial roof which will have layers of hot tar and roofing felt, then gravel, placed on a generally flat roof. This book explains it all, from a history of this type of roof, to various materials used, what to watch for, how to write specifications, and problems that might occur in the design or construction phases. 2, for those architects that design or specify roofs, it explains roofing in depth, and helps avoid expensive mistakes that experience alone woould teach.

Although the book is expensive, the information given is worth every penny. Those who will buy this book will know that.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Help for building owners, consultants and architects..., June 29, 2000

By 

Nathan Rainey High - See all my reviews

This review is from: Manual of Low-Slope Roof Systems (Hardcover)

In the opening chapters the authors identify many roofing industry problems... insufficient owner budgets, over-reliance on warranties, insufficient work inspection, poor design and construction, and lack of maintenance.

Building owners, roofing designers, architects - the types of readers most likely to have an interest in this book - will know the problems first hand. And will appreciate the wealth of information presented. This text:

Identifies and discusses in depth the myriad causes of roof failure; Presents roof design principles in light of current research; Reviews factors that influence roof design; Review the various (generic) roof systems in depth; And offers guidance for specifying and inspecting roofing work.

The writing style is clear and consise, supported with graphs, current survey information, and other technical data.

Readers will be armed with enough information to sort through the information and misinformation published by roof system manufacturers, select the best roof systems for their roof conditions and budgets, develop sound designs, and plow through most procurement and construction obstacles.

Highly recommended.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Roofing Book Provides Helpful Information, January 15, 2001

By 

Harriston Banks (Washington State) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Manual of Low-Slope Roof Systems (Hardcover)

I reviewed this book for research on my own book, "The Roofing and Cladding System Handbook" by Robert N. Reid. It was a helpful book for anyone with a low slope roof and the diagrams and figures provided some really good information on causes of roofing failures in low slope systems and wind loads. The book also provided very good information for roofing asphalt. I acutally reviewed both the early version written in 1982 and this version written in 1996. I felt that this book is a very good book but it is especially helpful for roofing consultants, and others who specialize in roofing construction and problems.