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Minimizing Disruption When Repairing Roofs on Schools and Hospitals

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Commercial Roofing

Minimizing Disruption When Repairing Roofs on Schools and Hospitals

August 29, 2024

Roofers install GAF EverGuard® TPO Quick-Spray Adhesive on a flat roof

As a roofing contractor, you know how noisy roofing projects can get. And when repairing or replacing roofs on institutional properties, like schools and healthcare centers, it's often not possible to remove occupants during the project's duration.

Accordingly, minimizing disruption at these facilities is key, as students need to be able to concentrate and patients must be protected as they recover. Here are common disruptions to consider and how to reduce them, with insight from GAF Building and Roofing Science Research Lead, Elizabeth Grant.

Common Disruptions on Construction Sites

You have several challenges to consider when working on schools or other facilities with ongoing operations, including noise, odors, and occupants' safety.

Elevated Volume

Heightened noise levels can affect both students and patients. At schools, loud sounds can affect students' ability to learn and concentrate. Likewise, construction noise can impact patients' ability to rest and recuperate in healthcare facilities.

Strong Odors

When using certain roofing materials on big job sites—like powerful adhesives or hot-mopped roofing systems—odors may infiltrate the building. This may be distracting and affect the comfort of students and patients.

Heavy Machinery

Unloading and staging material can also cause disruption, as materials must be staged onsite to be ready for installation as the job progresses. This often involves using heavy equipment, such as cranes and lifts. Proper safety protections must be in place to ensure worker and occupant safety.

Roofing Products That Minimize Disruption

Unfortunately, there's no good time for a roof repair or replacement at a medical facility. You may be able to complete school projects when school is out of session , but that isn't always the case if a leak or storm damage occurs.

The best (and most proactive) way to minimize disruption is to use durable, long-lasting materials, as this reduces the number of times crews need to work on the roof.

Single-Ply Membranes

Grant recommends a robust single-ply membrane or a system with some redundancy, such as a multi-ply modified bitumen. She also suggests leveraging a hybrid system, composed of a multi-ply modified bitumen system with a single-ply top sheet for reflectivity.

Cover and Substrate Boards

For resiliency against noise-causing conditions such as hail and foot traffic, Grant suggests using cover and substrate boards. Cover boards are installed on top of the insulation and provide sound insulation, while substrate boards are installed directly on the roof deck under the insulation.

"If you have a really noisy location, and you want to keep people inside from hearing a lot of disruption, having cover and substrate boards included in the system can be really important," says Grant.

Adhesives and Fasteners

Another change you can make to reduce disruption is using adhesive to attach roofing products instead of mechanically fastening them. This helps avoid the noise from driving fasteners into the roof deck—and enables a faster installation.

Grant notes that, depending on the FM and wind ratings required, it may be possible to adhere all the system components, including the insulation, cover boards, and membrane. An adhesive like GAF EverGuard^® TPO Quick-Spray Adhesive can effectively adhere TPO and PVC roofing materials. The product has a high initial tackiness, allowing for faster installation than traditional adhesives. You can also opt for self-adhering products (vapor retarder, pipe boots, TPO roofing, etc.), which can further reduce installation time by eliminating adhesive application from the process.

Materials That Shorten Project Timelines

A creative and efficient way to minimize disruption at school and hospital job sites is to reduce the time crews are on the roof. By taking advantage of time-saving materials, you can reduce the risk to workers and occupants, increase productivity, and ultimately take on more work.

In addition to the Quick-Spray Adhesive, GAF offers several materials designed to cut installation time and labor:

Wider rolls of TPO (12 feet instead of 10 feet) can help crews to spend less time installing systems on wide-open roofs.
Insulation installation is easier with lightweight Ultra HD Composite Insulation, and it eliminates the need for one full application of adhesive in adhered systems.
TPO self-adhered membrane can cut installation time by as much as 60% compared to installation using traditional bucket and roller adhesives.

Experienced Support That Streamlines Work

In addition to product and material selection, you can minimize disruptions by having GAF professionals from the Tapered Design Group help design the tapered insulation system. These professionals can help you with a variety of services, such as:

Tapered insulation design
Tapered insulation Inventory management and ordering
Budget friendly alternatives

Tapered insulation systems are designed to improve the drainage slope on roofs with substrate damage or without enough slope. The tapered design team at GAF "balances suitable slope with the least amount of material," Grant says. "To help with saving money, saving material, and saving time."

This group designs tapered insulation systems that can be loaded and labeled strategically to minimize material handling and time spent looking for and transporting materials. Products are bundled by roof area, and a color-coded plan distinguishes areas for each bundle. Materials are precut and specifically designed for each project.

Additional Tools to Save Time and Labor

Two other GAF tools can help you reduce the time spent on projects: GAF QuickSite™ and GAF QuickMeasure™.

GAF QuickSite™

GAF QuickSite™ provides the information you need before approaching a potential customer. It gives you a snapshot of local codes (important if you're working in an unfamiliar location), a 10-year wind and hail history, historical photographs documenting changes over time, and parcel information (including size and sales dates).

GAF QuickMeasure™

GAF QuickMeasure™ provides complete roof measurements including parapet wall lengths, heights and widths to help create estimates, past views showing how a roof may have changed over time, grid-lined paper for buildings with predominate pitch of 0 or 1, and a DXF file output for CAD.

With the help of GAF QuickSite™, GAF QuickMeasure™, and the Tapered Design Group, you can confidently give your healthcare clients and school customers accurate estimates for suitable roofing products to meet their needs. These tools can also minimize disruption to building occupants and help building owners select durable, long-lasting products that will protect their investments for years to come.

Leveraging GAF Professionals' Experience

When working on schools, hospitals, and other important institutions, you're working to satisfy not only your clients but the individuals visiting these locations. By minimizing disruption, you can help ensure everyone involved experiences minimal disruption while you complete the project.

For more insight into time- and labor-saving products and services, explore GAF School Rooftop Resources.

About the Author

Dawn Killough

Dawn Killough is a freelance writer in the construction, finance, and accounting fields. She is the author of an ebook about green building and writes for construction tech and green building websites. She lives in Salem, Oregon with her husband and four cats.

A low-slope commercial roofing system is responsible for keeping the elements out of the building. During heavy rain, water with nowhere else to go may pond on the roof. A roof drain prevents water from ponding by providing a way for it to leave the roof, and regular commercial drain maintenance ensures its continued performance.Although commercial buildings may appear to have flat roofs, some roofs have slopes built into the structure or require added slopes, typically achieved with tapered insulation to facilitate water drainage. This slope is designed to guide water to a drain, so it doesn't sit on the roof and damage the roofing system or structure. Standing water can slowly deteriorate certain roofing materials and cause premature degradation, failure, or damage. It can also promote algae and plant growth and attract nuisances such as birds and insects.Guiding Water off the RoofResidential roofs have gravity on their side—water flows down the slopes into gutters that transport it away from the home. Commercial buildings with low-slope roofs have to work a little harder to remove water, which is where roof drains come into play.The roofing system design can help guide water toward the drains. It often involves using tapered insulation such as GAF EnergyGuard™ tapered polyiso insulation. The two most popular tapered boards deliver a 1/8-inch or 1/4-inch per foot slope. This slight slope prevents water from standing on the roof, forcing it toward a drain strategically installed at various low points on the roof with crickets and saddles.Drain placement is particularly essential when the parapet wall sheds water. To help water arrive at the drain line or gutter, tapered crickets are typically installed in corners and between drains to direct the flow and alleviate ponding. This water must flow down the roof side of the parapet wall and follow the roof slope to reach the drain.3 Common Types of Roof DrainsInner DrainsInner drains are connected to sloped pipes under the roof that carry water off the roof and away from the building. They typically rely on gravity and the roof's slope to get water to the drain.ScuppersScuppers are found at the roof's edge, usually installed through a hole in the parapet wall. They're designed to drain water from the roof into a downspout or may extend out from the building to shed water.Siphonic DrainsSiphonic drains feature a baffle that keeps air out and allows water to fill the pipes. Once the pipes are full, the lack of air creates a vacuum that siphons water from the roof at a high velocity. The baffle also keeps leaves and debris from gathering in the drain and causing a blockage.Caring for and Maintaining Roof DrainsInspecting and maintaining roof drains should be part of your regular roof inspections. Because roof drains are located at low points on the roof, it's easy for debris or leaves to build up in these areas. Clearing debris is essential for the drains to function properly. Clogs encourage pools of water to form on the rooftop, which can cause structural issues for the building. Even just an inch of standing water can add thousands of pounds of weight to the roof, reinforcing the need for regular commercial drain maintenance.Advancing Roof Drain Maintenance with TechnologyGAF recently introduced the Steely Drain™. This is a roof drain solution that leverages technology allowing contractors to build their maintenace relationship by setting up building maintenance reminders to contact building owners or facility managers. This contractor-inspired drain is made of 316L marine-grade stainless steel, making it ideal for tough environments that require exceptional corrosion resistance.Steely Drain™ features a QR code etched onto the top that you can scan with your smartphone to instantly view information about the roofing system. This data can include the contact information of the contractor who installed the system, the architect and consultants for the project, and the roofing system details if all information is inputted.This critical data is managed from a convenient GAF-hosted dashboard and plays an important role in the roof's maintenance plan. Contractors can set up and receive email reminders when it's time to perform scheduled roof and drain inspections. The dashboard also eliminates the need for core cuts since every detail of the roofing system is available through the QR code—from the deck type to the cover board, underlayment, insulation type and thickness, to the final membrane.Knowledge Is Key to SuccessWhen properly installed and maintained, roof drains can keep the rooftop free of standing water for many years. Curious to learn more? Explore how the Steely Drain™ can help you with your ongoing maintenance programs. You can also visit the GAF CARE Contractor Training Center to gain additional tips and access valuable training courses that allow you to learn at your own pace.

With the growing popularity and versatility of PVC roofing systems, GAF has responded by building a team of PVC experts to aid architects, specifiers, and the design community in project success. These highly trained and experienced professionals offer 1:1 support to help answer customers' questions and unique needs when working with PVC on roofing projects, and are here to help you!PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a single-ply thermoplastic roofing membrane. The material's characteristics help it thrive in particularly challenging applications. In fact, PVC roofing systems have a proven track record in the US, first introduced in the 1970s after making their debut in Germany a decade earlier.Here's a look at the benefits of PVC roofing systems as well as the guidance and support offered by the PVC experts at GAF.PVC Roofing Advantages and ApplicationsWhile several materials are available for use in roofing systems, PVC has been identified as a particularly long-lasting option. Accordingly, it's steadily grown in popularity nationwide.David Allor, senior area PVC specialist, joined the GAF team in 2022 as a PVC expert. His role was created specifically to support roof designers. Allor has an extensive background in the commercial roofing industry and extensive knowledge about PVC as a high-performance roofing solution."The industry refers to it as a very spec-driven product, and I believe what they're speaking to is a specifier's preference to work with a product that's been well established in the market and field tested," Allor shares. "It has the ability to provide protection against chemical exposure* and stand up well to challenging environments."While PVC may be a spec-driven product, it's also application-driven. Allor explains that PVC roofs may help provide protection for restaurants, food manufacturers, and packaging plants—any facility using animal fats where oils may be exhausted.* He also says that even if the building itself isn't exhausting gases, grease, or chemicals, it's important to consider the buildings and structures that surround it, as their exteriors may be subjected to exhaust that could degrade roofing systems.*Supporting the Design CommunityAs North America's largest roofing materials manufacturer, GAF has equipped teams with the resources and specialists needed to supply customers with more than just products. In recent years, the company built a solid team of PVC specialists that cover the entire US. These specialists assist customers with PVC specifications, roof system designs, and whatever else designers need to ensure successful project outcomes.Whether your project or design firm is based in the Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Midwest, or West Coast, a PVC specialist is positioned to help. Allor explains the team of GAF PVC specialists is active in the organizations specifiers belong to, including the American Institute of Architects, the Construction Specifications Institute, and the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants.Allor describes the team's role as supporting the customer and connecting them to other GAF project support teams that can help. For instance, he said he called on a leading architectural design firm in the Boston area—and two months later, someone reached out for assistance with a specific project needing a tight turnaround."Literally within 12 hours of them reaching out to us, we replied and committed to three pertinent deliverables, those being a Tapered ISO Design Package, an Assembly Letter confirming all FM Requirements, and last but not least, a conference call the next day with the Building and Roofing Science team to go over three critical transitional details." Allor says.Committing to Successful Project OutcomesThe PVC specialists at GAF are focused on one goal: helping architects, specifiers, and the roofing design community achieve successful project outcomes through a high-performing PVC roofing system. With professionals like Allor providing insight and guidance, you can rest assured your PVC project will be in good hands.Ready to get started on your next PVC roofing project? Explore the different PVC roofing solutions available, and visit this page to find your local PVC roofing specialist who is ready to assist you.*GAF warranties and guarantees do not provide coverage against exposure to chemicals, grease, oils, animal fats or exhaust. Refer to gaf.com for more information on warranty and guarantee coverage and restrictions.

Commercial roof maintenance programs are a great way to expand your business and build long-term relationships with school facility managers. You may already be offering commercial roof maintenance services, or perhaps you're interested in branching out. Providing roof maintenance to K-12 schools and universities can be a good source of reliable, ongoing work. But you'll need to consider these facilities' nuances.Schools' Current Roof Maintenance ChallengesIn an educational environment, students' safety and comfort come first. Buildings must be secure and functional, and they must provide an atmosphere conducive to learning. Creating this environment starts with the roof, but this can easily be put off or forgotten about as many school facility managers focus on day-to-day maintenance issues. If students and teachers complain about a lack of hot water or classroom temperatures that are too hot or cold, facility managers swiftly address these issues.However, facility managers should prioritize regular roof maintenance in addition to addressing the most immediate facility concerns. Even something like a small leak from deferred roof maintenance can lead to much larger, and more costly repairs, creating headaches for everyone involved, that could have been avoided.The Value of Commercial Roof Maintenance ProgramsThe roof protects everything inside the school—from books and computers to shop equipment and musical instruments. If a roof leaks, many items could suffer damage. At the end of the day, ensuring a quality roof through regular maintenance not only protects everything inside the building, it can also help extend the life of the roof. Moreover, some roofing system manufacturers may require regular roof inspections to maintain warranties or guarantees. A roof maintenance program can meet this requirement, providing inspection records and evidence that any issues were addressed.How to Develop a Maintenance Program for SchoolsA commercial roof maintenance program for schools isn't much different from what you already do for other commercial buildings. And while regular maintenance inspections can be completed anytime, a neglected roof can often end up requiring repairs that need to align with the school's calendar to plan for minimal disruptions to the students. This can cause inconvenient delays, or date changes that could be avoided with regular inspections and maintenance.GAF Senior Product Manager Benjamin Runyan says that it's important to identify the manufacturer of the existing roofing system to ensure you are using compatible products that won't void the warranty or guarantee. "You want to be looking at this from a maintenance standpoint," says Runyan. "What does the roof look like? How was it built? How have they been maintaining it?"To start, Runyan recommends that you inspect the entire roof system and document its condition with photos and notes. Pay particular attention to the more vulnerable areas, such as seams, fasteners, flashings, edge metal, drains, and gutters. Look for cracks, missing roofing materials, evidence of ponding water, or of birds or other animals, and signs of moss or algae. An infrared scan of the roof can determine if any moisture is present and help pinpoint areas that need immediate attention.Your program should include basic tasks such as clearing debris from drains and gutters, removing leaves or branches, and making minor repairs where existing sealants are losing pliability or are showing signs of deterioration. If you identify larger concerns, you can document that with photos and provide an estimate for the repairs. Also, note how long the repairs should take and what products you'll use.Getting Started with SchoolsPreventative maintenance programs aren't just a benefit to the schools, they can also lead to other school roofing work including re-roofing opportunities. If you're ready to add school commercial maintenance programs to your business plan, GAF has the resources you need to get started. Runyan explains, "Your first step should be talking with your GAF Territory Manager as they will likely already have established relationships with school districts, colleges, roof consultants and architects in your service area."From commercial roofing system specifications to WellRoof® Guarantee Extensions, plus roof restoration options, GAF meets all your needs for stepping into the world of educational buildings.

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