Polyglass U.S.A., Inc. > United States

Project Country: United States

Foam Roof System Saves Texas Warehouse from Extensive Tornado Damage

On October 20, 2019, 10 twisters touched down along the storm line of North and Central Texas, making it one of the costliest tornado events in Texas history.  While, thankfully, there were zero fatalities reported, there was extensive damage to building structures.  These tornados resulted in over $2 billion of insurance claims.  One particular building that took direct hits from the EF-2 tornado, was a wholesale depot warehouse in Garland County. This 1,000,000 sq. ft. horseshoe shaped depot was in the path of the tornado’s 2.48 mile trek through Garland.

California-based roofing contractor, Barrier Specialty Roofing & Coatings, was enlisted by SPAN Construction to assess the extent of the damage to the warehouse roof. Blair Cunnings (CEO/President of Barrier) together with Brady Kolden (Business Development Manager for Polyglass Roofing & Waterproofing Systems) wanted to find out how the tornado affected the million square foot depot & what repairs needed to be made.

Roof Inspection and Tornado Damage Assessment

According to Blair Cunnings, “We conducted a job site evaluation with Span Construction and Polyglass to confirm the extent of the roof damage. We wanted to see for ourselves how much of the roof needed to be replaced or repaired, and what roofing/coating system would be the most prudent in this situation.” The team found that 700,00 square feet of the metal roof held up under the force of the tornado’s strong winds, due to the existing polyurethane foam & Polyglass silicone coating system on the warehouse roof.  This meant that only 300,000 square feet needed to be repaired on a one million square foot job.

Blair went on to say that “the majority of the metal roof held up under the force of the strong winds, because the foam self-adheres to the roof, adding extra compressive strength.” Brady Kolden noted that “while the building sustained damage from flying debris, the roof’s structural stability helped protect & save the majority of the building.  This meant there was no need to tear all down and the owner could rebuild and refurbish, which lead to major cost savings.”

In addition, the building owner had been able to keep operations going for two more years after the tornado hit in areas of the building where the roof had remained undamaged.

Warehouse Roof Restoration and Repair Project Details

The eight-month roof repair project began in October 2020, and was completed in May of 2021.  Important to note, is that the complexity of the project was heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic (supply chain demands), time of year (weather) and working around other trades on the project.  “Our contractors were challenged with keeping the roof dry and coatable during the cold/wet months, while also keeping water out of the building so other trades could complete their work simultaneously.”

First, SPAN Construction began with replacing all the structural metal deck on the damaged 300,000 square feet of the warehouse.  Then, Barrier Specialty added 3 inches of polyurethane roofing spray foam and silicone coating to the deck to match the existing undamaged areas and make the deck a roof.  Finally, Barrier chose Polyglass’s PolyBrite® 95 silicone roof coating to refurbish the entire one million square feet of roof.  This product was chosen because of its durability, longevity, ease of application, and the 20-year warranty given by Polyglass on the entire system.

George Goddard (President of SPAN Construction) said that “due to the complexity of the damage done by the tornado to the Garland, Texas warehouse, repairs were extensive and required a total team effort from all the companies involved; Polyglass, Barrier Roofing, and SPAN Construction.  Polyglass and Barrier listened to our concerns, addressed them, and worked with our local team daily to ensure they our customer had a quality roofing system.”

Product Information

Contact us today for more information about Polyglass’ range of modified bitumen roofing and waterproofing membranes and roof coatings for low-slope and steep-slope applications!

“Stick 1-Torch 1” Re-Roof in Waco, TX

Headquartered in Fort Worth, TX, Zenith Roofing and Waterproofing is a forty-year-old building company, unparalleled in the field, that prides itself on excellent customer relationships and retention. Zenith builds relationships first and roofs second. The company’s “Apex Approach” ensures excellence through unmatched customer connections, operations, and performance guarantees. Zenith consistently offers customers quality assurance, high standards, and exceptional service.

Zenith Roofing and Waterproofing was the first roofing company to affiliate with Polyglass in Texas and has since become a Polyglass Quantum Contractor, proudly utilizing our products over the last 30 years. Harkinson Dewan Commercial contacted Zenith Roofing and Waterproofing to inspect and determine the best solution for their commercial property in Waco, Texas. It was decided that a re-roof was required, and Polyglass products were selected for the project.

Project Background

The client needed a complete tear-off and re-roof of their store building – an area of 88,700 square feet. The project called for a long-lasting roofing solution that the team could install quickly and efficiently while providing immediate waterproofing.

To meet this need, Zenith opted for a Polyglass’ “Stick 1-Torch 1” system, a hybrid 2-ply modified bitumen roofing system consisting of a self-adhered base sheet and a torch-applied cap sheet. This system is widely hailed for its ability to save time and labor during installation, providing immediate waterproofing protection during installation and offering multi-layer redundant protection once the installation is complete.

After tearing out the old roof and laying down a Polyboard E base layer, the Zenith team applied a self-adhered base layer of Elastoflex SA V, followed by a Polyflex® G torch-applied cap sheet. They finished with PolyFlash® 1C for the flashings and details.

According to Michelle Carson, Zenith Operations Coordinator, the project was completed without a hitch thanks to the ease of application and efficiency of the Stick 1-Torch1 system. “Our projects move seamlessly when working with Polyglass materials and products,” she shared.

Polyglass Product Spotlight

Zenith Roofing utilized the following Polyglass products for the Harkinson Dewan Commercial property roof installation:

  • Polyboard E: a semi-rigid multi-ply asphaltic panel highly conducive as a base for low-slope roofs.
  • Elastoflex SA V: a premium SBS-modified bitumen base layer, combining ADESO® self-adhering technology with high-performance weathering capabilities.
  • Polyflex G: a high-quality torch-applied granulated cap sheet known for its flexibility and tear/puncture resistance; also featuring Polyglass’ patented FASTLap® for easier application and reliable long-term weathering performance.
  • Polyflash 1C: a highly-durable, moisture-cure, white flashing compound that provides excellent sealing protection for flashing and roofing details.

Polyglass has a superior range of modified bitumen roofing products for low-slope roof restorations. Contact us today to discuss your commercial or residential roofing needs.

Flora MacDonald College

Based in Raleigh, NC, RiCal Construction is a noted residential and commercial construction contractor that has provided exterior roofing, repair, and siding installation and replacement services for more than 30 years. When contracted to replace the roof on a portion of the historic Flora MacDonald College building in Red Springs, RiCal opted for a Polyglass multi-ply SBS roofing system. The project was RiCal’s first one with Polyglass.

About Flora MacDonald College

The Flora MacDonald College building traces its origins to the 1890s when it first served as a Presbyterian seminary and later became one of the earliest women’s colleges in the South. The current historic neoclassical building has changed names numerous times since its construction in the early 1900s, but it has always served as an educational facility. The Flora MacDonald Campus is now home to Highlander Academy, a private school for Pre-K to 12th Grade students.

Project Background & Challenges

RiCal was tasked with a complete tear-off and re-roof of the kitchen area of the building – a project scope of 3,000 sq. ft. As the building was more than 108 years old, securing the roof to the old walls while preserving the building’s historical integrity posed the most significant issue.

Polyglass’ self-adhered roofing products and liquid flashing proved to be highly effective in solving this challenge and made the task easier to accomplish. After tearing off the old roof covering, the RiCal team laid down a dual SBS membrane over the plywood substrate using Polyglass Elastoflex SA V Plus for the base layer and Elastoflex SA P FR for the cap sheet.

Both products utilize a patented ADESO® dual-compound self-adhered technology for easy application without needing torches, asphalt, or other adhesives. The team then sealed the roof features and penetrations using PolyBrite® Reinforcing Polyester and PolyFlash® 1C liquid flashing.

Product Spotlight:

  • PG Elastoflex SA V Plus: A premium grade elastomeric base sheet designed for low-slope roofs, combining a top layer of true SBS asphalt and a self-adhered bottom layer reinforced with a fiberglass mat for increased strength and stability.
  • PG Elastoflex SA P FR: A self-adhered SBS cap layer with fire-retardant additives, designed with a non-woven polyester reinforcement that combines flexibility with superior tear and puncture resistance.
  • PG Polyflash 1C: A white liquid flashing compound made from moisture-cure silane-modified polyurethane, offering superior waterproofing protection around walls, vents, and other roofing penetrations.
  • PolyBrite Reinforcing Polyester: A flexible and white stitch-bonded polyester fabric that reinforces cold-process roofing systems and elastomerics.

Polyglass has a superior range of self-adhered roofing products for low-slope roof restorations. Contact us today to discuss your commercial or residential roofing needs.

Warehouse Roof Restoration Project

Headquartered in Fresno, CA, Barrier is a fourth-generation roofing contractor specializing in a wide range of reinforced and unreinforced liquid-applied roofing systems for commercial buildings. Barrier and Polyglass’ Business Development Manager, Brady Kolden, have built a solid business relationship, working on projects over the past 20-plus years across the lower 48 states, Alaska, Hawaii, and even Taiwan.

Blair Cunnings, owner and president of Barrier, offered words of high praise for Kolden and Polyglass: “The professionalism Brady Kolden and Polyglass offered Barrier was second to none,” he shared. “Brady was a critical contributor to the success of the job, ensuring a close collaboration and team effort throughout the project. He was on point and addressed any concerns or project challenges in a timely manner.”

When contracted to install a new roof system for a 400,000 sq. foot warehouse in Puerto Rico, Barrier chose to use Polyglass’ PolyBrite® high solids silicone roof coatings, with impressive results.

Project Background and Challenges

The warehouse roof restoration project called for an engineering system that could be warranted for up to 20 years and installed by the available workforce in Puerto Rico. In addition, the team faced two significant challenges:

  • The existing Tectum roof deck. The roof deck limited the team’s options as to what kind of coatings could be applied.
  • Persistent atmospheric contaminants. Even after doing a hard clean of the surface at the beginning of the project, the overnight buildup of dirt each night forced the team to re-clean and dry the surface daily. They could only clean what they could coat each day.

The Barrier team’s solution to both challenges was to apply an elastomeric roof coating over the existing TPO roof from the PolyBrite “90 Series” high-solids, liquid-applied silicone products.

Both PolyBrite® 90.1 and PolyBrite® 90.2 l can be applied in one coat, curing to form a seamless waterproof membrane that resists ponding water on the surface. The coatings’ “cool roof” UV-resistant properties are particularly suited for the heat and humidity of Puerto Rico’s tropical climate.

The team was able to apply the coating without the need for additional primers. After reinforcing the seams and penetrations with fabric and silicone, they applied 2.5 gallons of high-solids silicone over the roof surface.

Hurricane Fiona No Match For Polyglass Silicone Roof Coatings

The results were remarkable. At the project’s start, the Barrier team counted more than 100 water leaks in the existing TPO roof. One month after project completion, Fiona, a category five hurricane, hit Puerto Rico. Although the island felt its worst flooding since Hurricane Maria in 2017, the new roof held superbly, with no reported leakage.

Polyglass Product Spotlight

Barrier utilized the following Polyglass products for its Puerto Rico warehouse roofing project:

  • Polyglass PolyBrite 90.1: A premium grade high solids, moisture cure, liquid-applied silicone coating formulated for excellent weather resistance, including excessive UV exposure and extreme temperatures.
  • Polyglass PolyBrite 90.2: A premium-grade, high-solids, liquid-applied silicone coating formulated to “cool roof” specifications to resist harmful UV rays and help lower energy bills.

PolyBrite 90.1 and 90.2 are designed to maintain waterproofing capabilities against ponding water and prolonged rain events. In addition, they are both algae- and fungal-resistant, even in high temperatures, helping to extend the roof’s useful life.

Polyglass has a superior range of modified bitumen roofing products for low-slope roof restorations. Contact us today to discuss your commercial or residential roofing needs.

M3 Roofing Brickell Terrace

M3 Roofing is a residential and commercial roofing company in Miami, FL, run by the husband-and-wife team, Xavier and Michelle Molina. This family-operated business is known for its commitment to excellence, quality, and customer service. When called on to complete a 6,000-square-foot re-roof project for the Brickell View Terrace Apartments in Miami, M3 Roofing selected a self-adhered, multi-ply roofing system from Polyglass for the job.

Project Background

Brickell Terrace is a five-story condo complex situated minutes from the beach in the Brickell area in trendy Downtown Miami. The roof was due for a complete replacement, having numerous areas of leakage and having undergone repairs multiple times.

The re-roofing project came with several challenges. The five-story roof was accessible only through the stairwell, there were multiple air conditioning units to work around, plus a wireless communications tower impeded progress. The building was also occupied, presenting a challenge when it came to turning off the air conditioning units to work on the roof and putting pressure on the roofing team to disrupt residents as little as possible. The M3 team needed a high-quality, durable roofing solution that was easy to install while dealing with these issues.

After removing the old roof to expose and clean the concrete deck, an asphalt primer was used to prep the deck before an underlayer of tapered insulation ISO was applied. The Polyglass multi-ply roofing system utilized Elastoflex SA V for the base layer and a Polyflex G cap sheet. A combination of ADESO® self-adhering technology in the base membrane and granule-free FASTLap® end laps for the cap sheet meant the M3 Roofing team could complete the project within a month with minimal disruption to residents.

“This project presented itself with many difficulties due to the height of the project and accessibility,” said Xavier Molina, Chief Roofologist for M3. “Using Polyglass products, we installed a quality roofing system in a timely and efficient fashion.”

Product Spotlight

M3 Roofing used the following Polyglass products in their re-roofing of Brickell View Terrace:

  • Elastoflex SA V: A premium SBS-modified asphalt self-adhered compound membrane, Elastoflex SA V is designed to provide lasting waterproofing and durability against the hot, humid climate of Miami, utilizing an ADESO self-adhering bottom layer for quick, easy application.
  • Polyflex G: A high-quality APP granulated cap sheet designed for low-slope roofs. Polyflex G offers a powerful combination of flexibility and puncture resistance with patented FASTLap technology for granule-free end laps, facilitating ease and speed of application.

Polyglass has a superior range of APP and SBS modified bitumen roofing products for every roofing requirement. Contact us today to discuss your commercial or residential roofing needs.

Cypress Cove

Based in Fort Myers, Florida, CFS Roofing is one of the pre-eminent roofing companies for both residential and commercial roofs in the Florida area, having a proven reputation spanning more than 40 years. When CFS was contracted by the Cypress Cove residential community in Fort Myers to install new metal roofing throughout the 43-acre campus, Polyglass was their brand of choice for the roofing project’s underlayment.

Project Background

The Cypress Cove project involved installing an Englert S2000 snap lock metal roofing system across a series of complex roofing structures – more than 500,000 square feet of surface in total. The team used Polyglass’ Polystick® MTS Plus as a steep-slope roof underlayment before installing the snap-lock roofing system. They then applied Tite Bond metal roofing sealant for final weatherproofing. Not only was the project a massive undertaking in itself, but the CFS team also had to fight through the COVID pandemic and supply chain issues to get the job done.

Although Englert typically requires contractors to use their own underlayment for such projects for warranty purposes, due to the sheer scope of the project, the company made an exception for CFS at their request and allowed them to install MTS Plus instead.

“The exposure rate [for MTS Plus] is much longer than the required Englert HT, which is mandatory to use for their weathertight warranty,” explained Aaron Manual, Roofing Metal Manager for CFS.

Polystick MTS Plus is rated for exposure for up to 180 days.

“Englert accepted the use of MTS due to the large-scale project and knowing that the underlayment would be exposed for a longer than normal period of time.”

Exposure time was not the only reason CFS chose Polyglass. Said Manual, “The MTS Plus has a cover sheet that is more slip-resistant than the competitors. All in all, I think it is one of the best underlayments on the market for metal roofing.”

This project was selected as the 2023 Shining Star Award.

2023 S.T.A.R. Awards

Polyglass Product Spotlight

Polystick® MTS Plus is a self-adhered waterproofing underlayment formulated for metal roofs and other high-temperature applications with a temperature resistance of up to 265 degrees Fahrenheit.

Equipped with revolutionary ADESO® self-adhered technology, MTS Plus gives contractors the benefit of the most advanced and time-tested technology on today’s market, saving money by cutting down installation times. This underlayment also features an effective anti-skid top surface.

At the cutting edge of technology and innovation, Polyglass is an industry leader in providing professional commercial roofers and specifiers with reliable, time-tested products for every application.

For more information about our range of Polystick roof underlayments for steep-sloped roofs, click here. Alternatively, contact us to learn more about how our products can benefit your next residential or commercial roofing project.