A common pitfall for designers is lack of familiarity with the principles of roof design. This is manifested in selection of inappropriate materials or systems or inadequate details, or use of poorly prepared specifications. To assist designers, several periodicals and books are available (Art. 12.21) and seminars are offered by the Roofing Industry Educational Institute and the National Roofing Contractors Association (Art. 12.20).
In addition to these resources, designers would find it helpful to establish a working relationship with a professional roofing contractor. Many contractors are willing to spend some time with designers. This can be particularly helpful if the designer is working on a project that has some unusual aspect, or if a material or system is being contemplated with which the designer is not familiar. For more extensive input, utilization of a professional roofing consultant may be advantageous.
