A High-Performing Roof for a High-Performing School
A best-in-class education requires best-in-class facilities, and that includes a roof that keeps students and educators safe, and ensures learning happens in a comfortable environment.
That’s why Mountain Island Charter School, a K-12 tuition-free public school that serves students in the counties surrounding Mount Holly, North Carolina, called in the experts – We Coat Inc. and Polyglass USA – when it was time for a new coated roof system.
The Roofing Contractor: We Coat Inc.
We Coat Inc. is a veteran- and family-owned business based in Charlotte, North Carolina, that provides an eco-friendly substitute for roof replacement. The pros at We Coat know that a durable, high-performing, energy-saving roof is a major investment – one that requires a trusted partner. From schools like Mountain Island to retail spaces, warehouses and industrial facilities, We Coat and its certified applicators deliver safe and reliable results from start to finish.
We Coat’s roof coatings are built to strengthen and extend the life of clients’ roofs. Whether that roof is metal, flat or low-slope, We Coat’s efforts create a strong, weather-resistant barrier that keeps UV rays, moisture and wear at bay – sometimes at half the cost of other roofing options.
The Challenge: Extending the Life of an Aging TPO Roof
Like many schools managing tight facilities budgets, Mountain Island Charter School needed a way to protect and extend the service life of its existing Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) roof without the cost and disruption of a full tear-off and replacement. The solution needed to restore waterproofing performance, improve energy efficiency, and hold up under North Carolina’s seasonal weather, all while keeping the 32,500-square-foot campus roof watertight throughout the project.
The Polyglass Solution: A Multi-Layer Elastomeric Coating System
The roof project at Mountain Island Charter School began with applying PolyBrite 79, a VOC compliant solvent-based primer, followed by PolyBrite 73, a premium-grade white elastomeric mastic with StretchSpan Technology™ (SST) applied directly to the existing Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) roof’s flashing, penetrations, and details.
PolyBrite 77, a thermoplastic rubber coating and mastic designed for waterproofing a variety of structural surfaces, was applied next to seal fasteners. Then, a fully reinforced PG 700, a high-quality, water-based elastomeric coating that cures to form a seamless membrane, was applied over the entire roof area. In addition to keeping the surface cool with an initial SRI or 110, PG 700 extends the life cycle of new and existing roof systems, providing protection from ultraviolet sun and other weather exposures.
The new coating system improves the school roof’s sustainability thanks to higher reflectivity, and reduces the heat load and HVAC demand. Plus, the use of Polyglass USA products ensures that the newly coated roof has superior UV resistance, weatherability and waterproofing – extending roof’s life and reducing maintenance compared to the previous roofing system.
And the new roof comes with a 20-year No Dollar Limit (NDL) warranty – huge win for everyone involved.
Execution & Results
“As the contractor for the Mountain Island Charter School project, we selected Polyglass coatings for their proven performance and long-term durability,” shared We Coat’s Joe Sherlock. “The system’s high reflectivity and superior weather resistance provide enhanced energy efficiency and protection, ensuring the roof will perform for years to come. Polyglass’ technical support throughout the process helped us deliver a quality installation that meets the school’s needs and exceeds industry standards.”
By the Numbers
Location
13440 Lucia Riverbend Hwy.
Mount Holy, North Carolina
Size
32,500 square feet
Product Spotlight
PolyBrite 79
A Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC compliant) solvent-based primer designed to improve the adhesion of acrylic and silicone roof coatings to most aged Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) membranes. Its orange color enables strong identification for the applicator to achieve complete, monolithic surface application.
PolyBrite 73
A premium-grade white elastomeric mastic with StretchSpan Technology™ (SST). This technology makes this product extremely pliable. PolyBrite 73 cures to form a seamless flexible, waterproof membrane that will expand and contract with the movement of the roof surface. Designed for use at various flashing and detail conditions when installing Polyglass’ elastomeric roof coating systems. Offers excellent adhesion, flexibility, high tensile strength and resistance to ultraviolet degradation.
PolyBrite 77
A thermoplastic rubber coating and mastic designed for waterproofing a variety of structural surfaces. The high-quality Styrene Ethylene/Butylene Styrene (SEBS) thermoplastic rubber mastic formula provides a brilliant white elastomeric film. Excellent for sealing screw heads and fasteners as well as horizontal and vertical seams on metal roofing systems. Can also be used over concrete and aged TPO membranes.
PG 700
A high-quality, water-based elastomeric coating available in white or tinted that cures to form a seamless membrane when applied over the entire roof area. In addition to keeping the surface cool with an initial SRI or 110, PG 700 extends the life cycle of new and existing roof systems, providing protection from ultraviolet sun and other weather exposures.