Direct Answer
A general contractor should expect a commercial roofing subcontractor to submit a complete package showing what roofing system will be installed, how it will be installed, whether the proposed assembly complies with the project requirements, and how the completed roof will be warranted.
For a Florida commercial project, the submittal package commonly includes product data, system/assembly information, shop drawings or roof details, Florida Product Approval or other applicable compliance documentation, installation instructions, samples where required, color selections, manufacturer information, warranty documentation, and project-specific calculations or certifications when required by the contract documents.
The exact requirements should always be driven by the project’s specifications, drawings, applicable Florida Building Code requirements, manufacturer requirements, and the authority having jurisdiction. Florida’s Product Approval system, for example, allows verification of approved roofing products and assemblies by FL number, manufacturer, product description, design pressure and other criteria. Florida Product Approval Search :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Who This Applies To
- General contractors
- Construction managers
- Commercial roofing subcontractors
- Project managers and estimators
- Architects and consultants reviewing roofing submittals
- Owners and developers reviewing commercial roof construction documents
Not for: This FAQ is a general commercial roofing submittal guide. It does not replace the project’s roofing specification, engineered drawings, manufacturer requirements, permit requirements, or project-specific review by the architect, engineer, building official, or other qualified professional.
1. What Product Data Should Be Included?
The roofing subcontractor should provide manufacturer product data for the materials that make up the proposed assembly.
Depending on the roof system, this can include:
- Roof membrane
- Base sheets and cap sheets
- Insulation
- Cover board
- Vapor retarders
- Adhesives
- Fasteners and plates
- Primers
- Flashing materials
- Sheet-metal components
- Edge-metal systems
- Drains and accessories
- Pipe boots and penetration accessories
- Walkway pads
- Sealants
- Coatings where applicable
The GC should compare the submitted products against the specifications rather than approving a product simply because it comes from an established manufacturer.
2. Should the Roofing Subcontractor Submit the Complete Roof Assembly?
Yes. A product list alone is not enough for most commercial projects.
The submittal should allow the GC and design team to understand the complete assembly, including:
- Deck type
- Vapor retarder where applicable
- Insulation configuration
- Cover board
- Membrane
- Attachment method
- Fastener spacing
- Adhesive requirements
- Flashing configuration
- Perimeter attachment
- Edge-metal system
- Drainage components
This is particularly important in Florida because the roof assembly’s wind-resistance characteristics need to be evaluated against the project’s applicable requirements. Florida Product Approval records can identify roof-system categories and design-pressure information, and individual approved assemblies can include supporting evaluation information. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
3. What Shop Drawings Should a GC Expect?
Where required by the project specifications, the roofing subcontractor should provide shop drawings or detailed installation drawings showing how the roofing system will be constructed and detailed at critical locations.
Typical details may include:
- Roof-to-wall transitions
- Parapet conditions
- Base flashing
- Roof edges
- Metal coping
- Scuppers
- Internal drains
- Overflow drains
- Pipe penetrations
- HVAC curbs
- Equipment supports
- Expansion joints
- Roof hatches
- Skylights
- Walkway systems
- Changes in roof elevation
- Termination points
Florida construction-document requirements recognize the importance of illustrating and describing roofing systems, materials, fastening requirements, flashing requirements and wind-resistance characteristics. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
4. What Florida Product Approval Documentation Should Be Submitted?
For applicable products and assemblies, the GC should expect documentation demonstrating that the proposed roofing materials or assembly have the required Florida approval or other applicable compliance documentation.
The submittal should be checked for:
- FL Product Approval number
- Correct manufacturer
- Correct product or assembly
- Applicable code version
- Roof-system category
- Approved installation configuration
- Design-pressure information
- HVHZ applicability where relevant
- Evaluation reports or supporting documentation where applicable
Florida’s Product Approval database allows users to search by FL number, manufacturer, product category, product description, design pressure and whether a product is approved for use inside or outside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Important: The GC should verify that the submitted assembly actually matches the installation being proposed. An approval number by itself does not prove that every configuration or installation method is covered.
5. Should the Subcontractor Submit Wind-Uplift Information?
When applicable to the project, the roofing submittal should document the proposed assembly’s wind-resistance characteristics and attachment requirements.
Review:
- Required design pressure
- Positive and negative pressure ratings where applicable
- Fastener pattern
- Fastener type
- Plate type
- Adhesive application requirements
- Perimeter and corner-zone requirements
- Edge-metal attachment
- Manufacturer-approved assembly configuration
This should be checked against the project’s design criteria rather than simply accepting a generic “wind-rated” statement.
6. What Installation Instructions Should Be Included?
The subcontractor should submit the applicable manufacturer’s current installation instructions for the proposed system.
The GC should be able to determine:
- Required substrate conditions
- Installation sequence
- Fastener requirements
- Adhesive application requirements
- Membrane seam requirements
- Flashing requirements
- Temperature limitations
- Weather limitations
- Material storage requirements
- Protection requirements
- Inspection requirements
Florida Building Code roofing provisions require roof coverings to be installed in accordance with applicable requirements and manufacturer installation instructions. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
7. What Samples Should Be Submitted?
Samples depend on the project specification and architectural requirements, but may include:
- Membrane samples
- Sheet-metal samples
- Edge-metal finishes
- Flashing materials
- Insulation samples
- Color samples
- Coating samples
- Exposed accessory samples
For an exposed roof system, color and finish selections should be approved before materials are ordered when the contract documents require architectural approval.
8. What Manufacturer Certifications Should Be Included?
The GC should check whether the project requires the roofing subcontractor to provide evidence of manufacturer authorization or certification.
Depending on the specified system, this may include:
- Authorized installer documentation
- Manufacturer certification
- Installer training documentation
- Manufacturer technical approval
- Quality-assurance documentation
- Inspection requirements
These requirements are especially important when the specified warranty depends on installation by an approved contractor.
9. What Warranty Submittals Should Be Provided?
The roofing subcontractor should clearly identify the warranty package required by the project.
This may include:
- Manufacturer warranty form
- Contractor workmanship warranty
- Warranty duration
- Warranty exclusions
- Inspection requirements
- Maintenance requirements
- Warranty registration requirements
- Final inspection requirements
- Manufacturer acceptance documentation
Do not wait until project closeout to discover that the selected roof assembly cannot receive the warranty specified in the contract.
10. What Safety and Material-Handling Information May Be Required?
Depending on the project’s submittal requirements, the GC may also need:
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- Material storage requirements
- Handling instructions
- Hot-work requirements
- Adhesive or solvent information
- Equipment requirements
- Temporary protection procedures
This becomes particularly important when roofing materials involve adhesives, primers, sealants, solvents, hot-applied materials or other products requiring specific handling procedures.
11. What Should the GC Check Before Approving the Submittal?
| Submittal | What the GC Should Verify |
|---|---|
| Product data | Products match the specifications and proposed assembly. |
| Roof assembly | Complete layers and attachment methods are identified. |
| Shop drawings | Critical roof details and transitions are addressed. |
| Florida Product Approval | Applicable FL number and approved configuration are correct. |
| Wind resistance | Assembly meets the project’s applicable design requirements. |
| Installation instructions | Current manufacturer requirements are included. |
| Samples | Required materials, colors and finishes are identified. |
| Certifications | Installer/manufacturer requirements are satisfied. |
| Warranty | Proposed system can receive the required warranty. |
| SDS | Required safety documentation is included. |
12. What Are Red Flags in a Roofing Submittal?
A GC should stop and request clarification when the package contains:
- A generic product brochure without a complete system
- An FL number that does not match the submitted product
- A product approval for a different assembly
- Missing design-pressure information
- Fastener patterns that differ from the approved assembly
- Missing flashing details
- Unclear edge-metal configuration
- Outdated manufacturer literature
- Missing warranty information
- Unapproved substitutions
- Unidentified alternates
- Conflicting information between shop drawings and product data
A common mistake is treating the submittal as a paperwork exercise. The purpose is to verify that the proposed system is actually compatible with the project’s drawings, specifications, code requirements, design criteria and warranty requirements.
13. How Should Roofing Submittals Be Coordinated With Other Trades?
Roofing should not be reviewed in isolation on projects with significant rooftop equipment.
The GC should coordinate the roofing submittal with:
- Mechanical equipment
- HVAC curbs
- Electrical penetrations
- Plumbing penetrations
- Structural supports
- Roof access equipment
- Roof drains
- Equipment screens
- Solar equipment where applicable
- Other rooftop trades
For example, a roofing detail around an HVAC curb should be reviewed against the mechanical equipment and structural requirements rather than approved independently.
ShieldLine’s related guidance on coordinating rooftop equipment and roofing can be found in How Should HVAC Replacement Be Coordinated With Roof Replacement?.
14. What Should Be Included in the Final Roofing Closeout Submittal?
The final closeout package should contain the documents required by the contract and warranty, which may include:
- Final manufacturer warranty
- Contractor workmanship warranty
- Final inspection report
- Manufacturer inspection documentation
- Approved product information
- As-built information where required
- Maintenance instructions
- Roof care requirements
- Final photographs
- Test reports where required
- Change-order documentation affecting the roof system
- Record of approved substitutions
Keeping this information organized makes future maintenance, warranty claims, leak investigations and capital planning substantially easier.
Related Questions
- What questions should a property manager ask before hiring a commercial roofing vendor?
- What documentation should I keep for my commercial roof warranty?
- Does a commercial roof warranty cover damage caused by other trades?
- Does adding rooftop equipment void an existing roof warranty?
- What voids a commercial roof warranty?
- Who inspects rooftop equipment reinstallation for watertightness?
- What roof documentation will an insurance engineer request?
Sources
- Florida Building Commission — Product Approval Search
- Florida Building Commission — 2026 Florida Building Code Development
- Florida Building Commission — Roof Assembly / Construction Document Guidance
- Florida Building Commission — Roofing Code Provisions
Last reviewed: September 2026
Related Resources
- Commercial Roofing Vendor Selection Questions
- Commercial Roof Warranty Documentation
- Rooftop Equipment and Roof Warranty Coordination
- Commercial Roof Access Rules
Need help reviewing a commercial roofing system or project requirements? Contact ShieldLine Roofing to discuss commercial roof assessments, specifications, installation requirements and project coordination.
