#AskCentiMark Series: A+ Roofing Tips for Educational Facilities.

Hi again! It’s Anne Serzz and I’m here to give you some roofing tips to keep your educational facility watertight. Whether you’re in charge of a small private school or a large college campus, you are deeply familiar with the strict codes and safety regulations that play an integral role in this industry. You need a roof that deserves an A+ and Joshua Attannaiso is here to help! He is well-versed in a wide variety of roofing projects for educational facilities. Let’s dive in:

1. Q: What are some industry-specific challenges you encounter with educational facilities and how do you address them?

Joshua: The facilities’ halls or campuses are always sprawling with people. Educational institutions typically don’t have the schedule for construction during the school year, so roof access can be limited. We conduct most of our work in the summertime, when there is minimal traffic, so we try to get it planned and scheduled as far in advance as possible to secure an optimal project timeline. However, some educational institutions run summer classes, camps, practices and end-of-the-year graduations, which limits the time and complexity of roofing work. We want to communicate and plan effectively to be able to work around events like these.

2. Q: How do the roofing needs of educational institutions differ from other commercial facilities?

Joshua: When roofing an educational facility, you really need to have a deeper understanding of their operations, their budget (and possible constraints) and what’s driving their roofing project. Due to the fact that they are often government-funded, the management may be very particular with any work that needs to be done so we really need to work with them to come up with customized roofing solutions.

4. Q: A single roof leak can disrupt classes, campus events and more. How can a facility manager minimize the possibility of roof leaks?

Joshua: My advice is to secure a preventative maintenance plan with a roofing professional! Having a contractor, like CentiMark, to maintain and assess your roof with extensive knowledge and the right tools will ensure you’re ready for the upcoming school year! This will ultimately help you maintain uninterrupted operations and prevent costly, unplanned repairs. 

6. Q: What safety protocols and best practices do you ensure before, during and after a roofing project is complete?

Joshua: Educational facilities have a designated safety member who will meet with CentiMark’s safety specialist to communicate immediately about any roofing work that needs to be conducted. We always have a pre-job meeting to discuss all safety requirements in order to create a customized, site-specific plan to fit their requirements. Sometimes they need sidewalk bridging, safety guardrails or even streets closed down nearby. So, we really prioritize communication and transparency to make sure we're all on the same page to ensure our roofing work goes smoothly.

5. Q: What are some optimal roof systems or materials for educational facilities?

Joshua: An optimal roof system depends on the building’s needs and local codes, so finding a contractor that can customize a roof to fit your needs is best! In the educational industry, they have a strict budget, so you need to collaborate to find the best roofing solution. We have implemented garden roofing or even rooftop playgrounds for our customers, but there is truly no one size fits all since every facility is unique!

6. Q: Can you share a challenging roofing project you’ve worked on in an educational setting and how you successfully managed it?

 Joshua: Of course! We had a roofing project a while back that needed to be completed over the university president's office. He needed to work in his office when the time called, so we sealed off the roof and shifted to another area until the space was unoccupied. Timing was a challenge during this project but was necessary to avoid any disruptions. With this in mind, we prioritized working with the facility’s team and maintained clear communication to ensure smooth project completion.

As you can see, there’s a lot of planning and communication involved in roofing educational facilities! By investing in preventative maintenance and customized roofing solutions, you can keep classes running smoothly for your students and faculty. So, whether it's handling tight timelines, adhering to safety protocols or choosing the best materials, remember that an A+ roof starts with the right partner!

About our commercial roofing pro:

Joshua Attanasio: Josh brings over 20 years of experience in roofing across a wide range of educational environments and other industries all around the country. With his extensive knowledge of this industry, he has what it takes to develop customized roofing solutions for this unique environment with stringent standards.

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