Reliable Roof

Spray Foam Magazine – Late Summer 2022 – The Metzenbaum Center supports more than 800 individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in Geauga County, Ohio, by helping them live, learn, and earn in the community. When the center replaced their 20+ year-old roof, they had a strict budget and needed a cost-effective, sustainable solution.

There were several challenges that needed to be addressed before undertaking this project, including a strict budget. The Metzenbaum Center has expensive equipment inside, so dependable protection against leaks was paramount. There were also different buildings that had different types of roofs, as the project was a combination of low- and steep-slope roofs with HVAC units and ductwork. There were different types of roofing systems on the building, both granulated mod bit and shingles. There were many roof transitions between roof levels, and low walls without room to create traditional flashings.

This project originally went out for bid with a different type of roof system that ended up being over budget. West Roofing Systems, Inc., a commercial roofing contractor that serves the area, proposed the use of SPF, suggesting that re-covering the existing roof would offer a high-performance, economic, and environmentally friendly alternative to tearing off the old roof. The architect reached out to them and reviewed their proposal.

The suggestion of leaving the existing Metzenbaum Center roof in place and covering it with 1.5"-thick SPF, followed by 30 mils of silicone coating with granules, made economic and efficient sense.

The products selected to create the roofing system were Carlisle Roof Foam and Coatings’s (CRFC) PremiSEAL SPF and SeamlesSEAL ULTRA HSLV Silicone Coating. PremiSEAL is a premium, HFC-blown, roofing spray polyurethane foam. PremiSEAL provides a continuous insulation without thermal breaks that is lightweight and easy to maintain. SeamlesSEAL ULTRA HSLV Silicone Coating is a single-component, moisture-cured, fluid-applied silicone coating that is specially formulated to meet low-VOC requirements. It offers excellent resistance to water intrusion, UV exposure, and natural weathering which was perfect for this project.

During the re-roofing process, there weren’t many laborers on the job, which attributed to it coming in under budget. CRFC’s SPF is easy to apply and was able to give the contractors the ability to create smooth transitions and surfaces. Speed was a huge benefit; the project was completed in a third of the time that was allotted in the spec. The architect loved the versatility of the system because it allowed them to conquer details and transitions while creating one seamless and completely adhered roofing system with insulation and membrane. 

The CRFC SPF system allowed West Roofing Systems, Inc. to not tear off the roof, saving the environmental and financial costs of shipping old roofing materials to the landfills. Once complete, the Metzenbaum Center roof received a 20-year Total System Warranty. By restoring this 20-year-old roof with a reliable roofing system, the Metzenbaum Center will be kept cozy and dry and ready to welcome and help many more visitors for years to come.