For most manufacturing facilities across the country, the threat of water penetrating the facility and impacting operations or damaging equipment is something no business owner wants to encounter. So in an effort to avoid that, Dave Fisher, president and treasurer at James Monroe Wire and Cable Corporation in Lancaster, Massachusetts, takes a very proactive approach to his building maintenance.
Challenge
The company’s original 30,000-square-foot manufacturing facility was built in 1974 and has been added onto three different times in the last 40 years. The facility now encompasses 110,000-square-feet and the majority of its roofs have been replaced within the last 10 years. The last section of roofing to be replaced was a 15,000-square-foot section that was causing some problems.
Solution
Brendan Wall, a local Garland representative, who has a longstanding relationship with Fisher, recommended the roof be replaced with Garland’s revolutionary new polyurethane modified membrane, OptiMax. The groundbreaking membrane was developed using a unique, innovative technology that combines asphalt and polyurethane. Modifying an asphalt membrane with polyurethane reduces fatigue cracking, allowing the membrane to perform for longer periods of time.
The roof area that was replaced had two roof systems in-place – the maximum amount allowed by international building code. The bottom roof was a built-up roof with gravel, and over that was a Hypalon single-ply system over extruded polystyrene. Both were completely removed down to the deck. The OptiMax system was then installed using Garland’s Weatherking® cold process, VOC-compliant, interply adhesive and the entire roof was surfaced with Black-Knight® Cold and gravel. “OptiMax is iconic of everything Garland stands for. We strive to provide products that will provide long-term protection and peace of mind and that’s exactly what OptiMax will do,” Wall said.
Wall coordinated the project with Specialized Roofing Co., Inc. to ensure there was no disruption to the company’s manufacturing operations. “We were able to conduct business as normal throughout the duration of the project,” Fisher explained. “I’m very satisfied with the work of the contractor and Garland’s products. The bottom line is that if you have good materials and the contractors install it properly, the roof shouldn’t leak.”
To learn more about these noteworthy products and the impact they could have on your project, contact your local Garland representative to learn more!