In Georgia, a luxury condominium complex's 20-plus-year-old tapered modified bitumen roof was failing, causing the owners to spend money on costly repairs that wouldn't stick. Reroofing was the only solution, but doing so while the buildings were occupied would prove to be tricky.

That's when the owners called Specialty Roofing & Coatings (SRC), a leading commercial roofing company serving Metro Atlanta and the Southeast. With decades of experience in all types of roofing projects, the professionals at SRC understood how to work with all types of building and materials to wrap up the job quickly and efficiently.

The Problems

In addition to having to reroof while the buildings were occupied, SRC had to deal with the roof having multiple levels, 16 skylights and numerous AC units that would have to be raised to roof underneath them.

In all, the project measured in at 32,500 square feet, consisting of five penthouse patios — each with pavers that had to be removed before roofing began and replaced afterward — as well as two penthouses attached to stairwells that needed to be reroofed as well. Doing this all in a swift but efficient manner to keep from disturbing the complex's residents would require the right products and process.

The Proposal

As a Versico contractor since 2005, SRC suggested installing .080 mil white VersiWeld TPO with APEEL Protective Film, which would be fully adhered to half-inch-thick DuraStorm VSH (Very Severe Hail) Cover Board. This system could be installed directly over top of the existing roof, saving the time, labor, and money required to tear off and dispose of the old roof. Additionally, it was eligible for a 25-year warranty.

DuraStorm VSH (Very Severe Hail) Cover Board is made from a proprietary blend of plastic and cellulose fiber, which is sourced from post-industrial and post-consumer waste streams. DuraStorm VSH offers unparalleled resistance to hail, moisture, and mold. The 80-mil VersiWeld TPO membrane with APEEL Protective Film eliminates the need to clean the roof once the project is complete. Durable and easy to remove, APEEL Protective Film would also save time and labor and improves the roof's aesthetics.

The Process

The SRC crew started by using Flexible DASH Adhesive to adhere DuraStorm VSH Cover Board directly to the existing mod bit roof. Flexible DASH Adhesive is a two-component, low-rise polyurethane adhesive that improves puncture resistance and helps to seal insulation joints in addition to being VOC compliant.

The SRC crew then used CAV-GRIP 3V to adhere 80-mil TPO with APEEL Protective Film to cover board. This was chosen due to CAV-GRIP 3V Low-VOC Adhesive being quick and simple to apply, easy to clean up, and provides excellent wind uplift resistance. It's also ideal for use on occupied buildings since it is is low-odor and low-VOC.

SRC used Flexible DASH to install 135-mil VersiFleece TPO perimeter sheets, which boasts excellent wind uplift performance and ratings and excellent hail damage resistance, passing FM’s severe hail test. They then flashed the walls/curbs and double-sealed coping joints.

To finish off the project, SRC used Versico’s prefabricated TPO accessories — Inside/Outside Corners, Pipe Seals, Molded Sealant Pockets, and T-Joint Covers — to complete the final details. When all was said and done, the project took about seven weeks to complete.