The Nautical Towers, with its panoramic beach views and distinct architectural style, is a gem in Fort Lauderdale. Unfortunately, beneath its striking exterior, the building was wrestling with a significant challenge – its rooftop was retaining excessive amounts of water due to poor drainage and inadequate design. This issue, known as water ponding, was leading to repeated water intrusion within the building, compromising both the structure’s integrity and the comfort of its residents.
On September 15th, 2022, Perkins Roofing, a leading roofing contractor based in Miami, Florida, was enlisted to help solve this problem. As a Quantum Contractor with Polyglass, Perkins Roofing brought to the project their high level of expertise in roofing services, Polyglass products and a proven track record of installation quality. Moreover, this project posed unique challenges.
Project Challenges
Ideally, every roof should be designed with a slight slope to direct water towards drainage points, efficiently disposing of rainwater and preventing any form of water accumulation. Unfortunately, the original roof of the Nautical Towers had a flat surface as well as inadequate wall termination details, which resulted in severe water ponding issues – a chronic problem that can cause substantial damage over time.
In the case of the Nautical Towers, the inadequate roof slope meant that water collected in large pools on the rooftop after every rainfall. With nowhere else to go, the standing water began to infiltrate the structure, leading to considerable water damage inside the building and threatening its structural integrity.
A complete re-roofing would typically be the go-to solution for such a scenario. With that said, the Nautical Towers were confronted with a budgetary challenge. The funding required for a full roof replacement was well beyond the building’s financial capabilities, which called for a creative solution.
Complicating matters further was the height of the high-rise condo. The very characteristic that made the Nautical Towers an iconic part of Fort Lauderdale’s skyline posed a problem when it came to roof repairs. Heavy roofing materials and equipment needed for a conventional roof overhaul were difficult to transport to the top of the high-rise building. This not only required manual labor, but also specialized equipment and potential street closures for crane operations.
The Solution
With these complications in mind, Perkins Roofing had to think outside of the box, and leverage their knowledge of advanced Polyglass roofing products and their practical experience to develop a strategy that could effectively address all the issues.
“Perkins Roofing offered the building a Polyglass silicone restoration as a solution to restore the existing roofing system based on a certified engineer’s moisture survey,” said Dean Perkins, President of Perkins Roofing. “We recommended the solvent-based silicone system as it is more compatible for recoatability. Silicone is slippery when wet, so we also installed a Traffic System to the mechanical units on the roof along with a walk pad from the roof access door to the stairwell.”
As Dean said, the first step in this restoration process was to conduct a number of repairs using a variety of Polyglass roofing products. They used Elastoflex® SA V and Polyflex® SA P , both self-adhered roofing membranes with excellent dimensional stability and puncture resistance, to ensure a robust underlayer for the subsequent coatings. PG 500, a high-quality adhesive perfect for a variety of waterproofing repairs, was also used for its superior flexibility.
Polyflash® 1C was used for sealing various details like roof drains, vents, curbs, walls, pitch pans and other unusually-shaped objects. It’s a special kind of sealant that hardens when it comes into contact with moisture in the air. It’s made of a modified plastic-like material called polyurethane, which is changed (or “modified”) by adding silane for better performance and durability.
Combined with PolyBrite Reinforcing Fabric, a flexible stitch-bonded polyester fabric, these products provided an ideal solution to the unique flashing needs of the Nautical Towers building. The repaired and reinforced roof was then prepared for the silicone restoration process. First, the team used PolyBrite® 98, a water-based, one-part primer/bleed blocker. This primer helps the silicone roof coatings stick better to the roof, creating a strong base for the following layers.
Following the primer, a base coat of PolyBrite® 95, a moisture-cure silicone roof coating, was applied. This product extends the life cycle of new and existing roof systems, while also providing exceptional protection from ultraviolet sun and other weather exposures. Once the base coat was in place, another layer of PolyBrite 95 was applied as a top coat to ensure maximum protection.
Finally, a traffic coat of PolyBrite 95 with silica sand was applied to areas with heavy foot traffic, like the path to mechanical units and the walk pad from the roof access door to the stairwell. This additional layer increased the roof’s durability and provided improved traction – this made the rooftop safer for maintenance and other necessary visits.
The silicone restoration strategy was ideal for several reasons. For one, silicone is naturally water-resistant, so it’s an excellent solution for the water retention issue. The lightweight nature of silicone and the ease of application allowed for the materials to be transported to the high-rise location with less hassle than traditional roofing materials. It also led to significant cost savings when compared to a full roof replacement.
Product Information
PolyBrite® 95: This is a silicone-based roof coating that forms a continuous layer when applied over a roof. It protects the roof from sun damage and other weather elements, extending the roof’s lifespan.
PolyBrite® 98: A water-based primer that helps Polyglass silicone roof coatings stick better to various surfaces. It’s the preparatory layer before the actual coating.
PolyBrite® Reinforcing Fabric: A lightweight, white polyester fabric that strengthens cold process roofing systems for a robust and durable finish.
PolyFlash® 1C: A single-component white compound that seals different roofing and waterproofing details, preventing leaks and ensuring a watertight roof.
PG 500: A high-quality adhesive used to bond SBS roofing systems and other membrane systems. It’s ideal for attaching roofing details and making waterproofing repairs.
Polyflex® SA P: A self-sticking roofing sheet with a granulated surface, used in low-slope roofing for its toughness and resistance.
Elastoflex® SA V: A superior quality, self-adhesive roofing product reinforced with a fiberglass mat, providing excellent stability and durability to the roof.
For more information about Polyglass products, please contact us today.
