Roof System Keeps Historic Grain Mill and Your Favorite Breakfast Cereals From Getting Soggy
Knappen Milling Co., one of the first providers of grain for the famous cereals of the Kellogg’s family of Battle Creek, Mich., had a roofing problem. It needed to replace a portion of the roof to keep the processed flour and grains inside from getting wet.
MOUNT AIRY, N.C. - Knappen Milling Co., one of the first providers of grain for the famous cereals of the Kellogg’s family of Battle Creek, Mich., had a roofing problem. It needed to replace a portion of the roof to keep the processed flour and grains inside from getting wet. They chose the EnduraTech spray polyurethane roofing system by NCFI.
The building, originally a lumber mill, burned in 1846 and was rebuilt as a flour mill by Dr. William Upjohn, founder of pharmaceutical giant, Upjohn Co. Dr. Upjohn convinced Charles Knappen Sr., a local farmer, to purchase the milling company. His family has expanded the building and the business time and again to its current size and successful scope. Today they are one of the largest providers of grains for the Post Foods family of cereals: Fruity Pebbles, Raisin Bran, Shredded Wheat and Grape Nuts, to name a few.
Steve Eddy, estimator and project manager for True Colors Industrial, Caledonia, Mich., the roofing company chosen for the job, said, “Moisture is the enemy of a grain mill. A good roof is essential to maintain the quality of the equipment, processes and products. They also had some ponding issues up there, so they were searching for a solution that would provide stability and durability with all the foot traffic, keep out water, and look good.
The mill project posed numerous challenges. “There are many, many more penetrations in the roof from all the pipes and vents,” Eddy said. “The normal roof has maybe two or three; this roof has 30. For other roofing systems that’s a flashing nightmare. Plus, it’s a grain silo, so it’s 70 feet in the air. Certainly not your average roofing job, but it’s the kind we love because the EnduraTech roofing system is the ideal solution and we have 25 years of experience with unique challenges.”
Chris Bohn, owner of True Colors Industrial, showed the folks at Knappen Milling Co. the benefits of a polyurethane roof. “We took them to a few sites and showed them the benefits of the system: seamless, flexible, durable, lightweight, incredible thermal resistance, and since it’s made of billions of closed cells it’s an excellent barrier to water and air,” he said. “It inhibits moisture infiltration, which is the number one cause of building deterioration. Plus it’s attractive and won’t change over time.”
Mitch Clifton, manager with NCFI, said Knappen Milling is “a true landmark; a piece of Midwest and American history.”
“We’re proud they chose EnduraTech to protect their greatest assets and we’re glad to play a role in preserving this great American structure,” he said.
For more information, call Dale McGlothlin at 202-341-8615 or visit www.enduratechsystems.com.
The roof has more than 30 penetrations and is some 70 feet in the air.
MOUNT AIRY, N.C. - Knappen Milling Co., one of the first providers of grain for the famous cereals of the Kellogg’s family of Battle Creek, Mich., had a roofing problem. It needed to replace a portion of the roof to keep the processed flour and grains inside from getting wet. They chose the EnduraTech spray polyurethane roofing system by NCFI.
The building, originally a lumber mill, burned in 1846 and was rebuilt as a flour mill by Dr. William Upjohn, founder of pharmaceutical giant, Upjohn Co. Dr. Upjohn convinced Charles Knappen Sr., a local farmer, to purchase the milling company. His family has expanded the building and the business time and again to its current size and successful scope. Today they are one of the largest providers of grains for the Post Foods family of cereals: Fruity Pebbles, Raisin Bran, Shredded Wheat and Grape Nuts, to name a few.
Steve Eddy, estimator and project manager for True Colors Industrial, Caledonia, Mich., the roofing company chosen for the job, said, “Moisture is the enemy of a grain mill. A good roof is essential to maintain the quality of the equipment, processes and products. They also had some ponding issues up there, so they were searching for a solution that would provide stability and durability with all the foot traffic, keep out water, and look good.
Knappen Milling Co. provides grain to cereal manufacturers, so a watertight roof is essential. When a portion of the roof had to be replaced, True Colors Industrial installed the EnduraTech spray polyurethane roofing system by NCFI.
Chris Bohn, owner of True Colors Industrial, showed the folks at Knappen Milling Co. the benefits of a polyurethane roof. “We took them to a few sites and showed them the benefits of the system: seamless, flexible, durable, lightweight, incredible thermal resistance, and since it’s made of billions of closed cells it’s an excellent barrier to water and air,” he said. “It inhibits moisture infiltration, which is the number one cause of building deterioration. Plus it’s attractive and won’t change over time.”
Mitch Clifton, manager with NCFI, said Knappen Milling is “a true landmark; a piece of Midwest and American history.”
“We’re proud they chose EnduraTech to protect their greatest assets and we’re glad to play a role in preserving this great American structure,” he said.
For more information, call Dale McGlothlin at 202-341-8615 or visit www.enduratechsystems.com.
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
