CLEARFIELD – After weighing their options again Monday night, the Clearfield Area School District Board of Directors authorized HHSDR Architects/Engineers for professional design services for the high school roofing project.
The board, however, heard an alternative roofing option from Ben Timko and Matt Pearce, of 768 Roof, prior to doing so.
Pearce said their Duro-Last system would be energy efficient, maintenance free and cost effective for the district.
Timko said their system would make the high school roof energy compliant. He said it would eliminate heat loss and gain through the roofing.
Pearce said the single-ply thermoplastic system has a highly reflective white membrane. He said it reflects over 86 percent of the sun’s energy.
In addition, Pearce said the Duro-Last system is pre-manufactured, resulting in both quicker installation and fewer human errors. He said all fasteners, flashings, and edge details come with the system.
According to him, every system is manufactured to the exact size in a factory-controlled environment. As a result, he said it eliminates up to 85 percent of roof seeming installation.
Pearce said they finished the Berg building, which was approximately 96,000-square foot, for $500,000. He said they could complete the high school roofing project for an estimated $738,000 – 984,000.
He said the district would not face architect fees that are usually in the six percent range, or around $100,000. Also, he said they would not be charged any third party inspection fees.
Timko said since 1978, over a billion square feet of Duro-Last membrane have been installed on buildings of all types.
Rick Bunning, director of buildings and grounds, inquired about leaking problems at the Hampton Inn, where 768-ROOF completed a project in 2007.
Timko, however, said it was typical for the roofing system to experience leaks during the first year or so following its installation.
Dave Glass, board president, led further discussion prior to the vote. He said although they had less costly alternatives, those may not completely resolve the problem.
Bunning said he contacted the Hampton Inn about their roof’s leaking problems. He said he learned they must be very careful with the system, while rock-like objects easily poke holes in the roofing.
“If their roof still leaks since 2007, we may as well keep the same roof,” he said.
He said he also had contact with school officials at Brockway. He said their roofing system is slippery during the winter months. He said they didn’t send their maintenance workers onto the roof as a result.
Bunning said both Bradford and Centre Elementary Schools have a build-up roof. He said they also installed the same over the administrative offices at the high school. He said they haven’t experienced any leaks.
“I think one is cheaper but comes with headaches. A build-up system is the way to go. I think we’ll be thankful that we did 20 years down the road,” board member, Jennifer Wallace said.
Mary Annie Jackson added it was a simple decision. She said why step on a stone and have a leaking roof again.
Superintendent Richard C. Makin said he wasn’t convinced and felt more comfortable with a build-up roof.
“That’s what we had (both) the architect and building director tell us,” Glass said.
According to a prior GantDaily report, Makin encouraged the board to go with a “long term solution.” He said he didn’t know of a single ply roof that could do so.
Last week, Bunning said he preferred a cold adhesive, modified build-up system. He said he realized it was more expensive but didn’t see the hot asphalt as an appropriate option due to the resultant smell.
He said he felt the district needed to approve the project by the April 26 board meeting. He said if they agreed upon by then, the roofing project could get underway at the end of this academic year in June.
Bunning suggested that they bid out both hot asphalt and cold adhesive roofing system options. Susan Mikesell, board member, said she too preferred to do so, as they’d then be able to compare the two.
Click here to read prior coverage of the high school roofing project.