An emphasis on quality stressed and monitored at this Mabel Elementary School in Zionville, N.C., from its research and development, all the way throughout its life has helped to make it a defect-free and safe building. (Photo courtesy of LaFave's Construction Co. Inc.)
Quality First, During and Always
By Mark Robins, Senior Editor A quality emphasis produces better buildings
A signifi cant problem with metal buildings can be improper installation caused by a lack of effective quality practices. Not stressing and monitoring quality from a building’s research and development, all the way throughout its life can lead to system failure, warranty invalidation, liability and lawsuits. Without a quality emphasis, serious building
problems develop over time. Limited expansion and contraction, penetrating-through fasteners, poor detailing and reliance on exposed sealants can lead to serious performance issues long after the installer’s limited warranty is up. For instance, a metal roof can represent 10 to 25 percent of a building’s cost. But 90 percent of
24 METAL CONSTRUCTION NEWS October 2012
improper installation procedures are concealed and unviewable upon work completion and their result- ing defects will not be identifi ed until problems occur at a later date. Without a quality emphasis, metal building de-
fi ciencies can be so serious a metal roof may have to be torn off and replaced at great expense. “A $100,000 metal roof can cost $500,000 or more to correct when it is in place on an occupied build- ing,” says Robert Stanford, president of Robert Stanford & Associates Inc. Metal Roofi ng Consul- tants, Missouri City, Texas.
Without quality… One of the most common failures of metal build-
ings, according to Stanford, and the single largest allegation in lawsuits resulting from a lack of quality emphasis is waterproofi ng. “Water leaks will involve time to investigate,
and the removal or ripping out of panels and com- ponents, and their replacement and repair,” says Dr. Denis Leonard, ASQ Fellow and president of Business Excellence Consulting LLC, Bozeman, Mont. “Leaks create associated damage to the building which may include nonstructural or worst off, all structural components. The leaks can also damage materials stored by the owner of the build- ing which can become very expensive.” Joe LaFave president of LaFave’s Construction Co. Inc., Landis, N.C., has a lifetime of experience