Bob Walden, assistant superintendent at Franklin Local School District in Ohio, knows how frustrating it is for teachers and school staff when water is dripping down from ceiling tiles due to a roof leak. It’s aggravating for the teachers and distracting to their students. That’s why Walden has taken a proactive approach when it comes to building maintenance and upkeep of the district’s five buildings.
Walden works with his local Garland representative, Wes Van Autreve, who regularly evaluates roofs and then recommends solutions and plans of action. “If we think there is a problem, most of the time we have the money to get the roofs fixed,” Walden said. “We try to stay ahead of it on everything, roofs in particular.”
There are two separate roof sections on Philo Junior High School, and both of them were leaking and had ponding water. During a thorough inspection, it was determined the roofs were beyond repair and needed to be replaced.
Rather than just tear off the old roof and put on a new one, Van Autreve recommended tapered insulation be installed to create proper slope and drainage to avoid any future ponding water issues. Once that was complete, Garland’s longest-lasting polyurethane-modified membrane, OptiMax®, was installed. OptiMax was developed using an innovative technology that combines asphalt and polyurethane to create a roof system designed to provide 40 years or more of protection.
With the new roof installed, it was time to focus on the most vulnerable part of the roof – its perimeter. When it comes to the edge of the roof, a strong metal edge translates to a longer service life. To ensure the perimeter of the roof was properly protected, Garland’s new flashless metal edge system, R-Mer® Force, was installed. This premium metal edge system meets ANSI/SPRI ES-1 requirements for extreme wind pressures, protecting the roof’s edge for the long-term. Additionally, R-Mer Force is engineered to save time and material by eliminating the need for flashing plies that would ordinarily be installed at the roof’s edge. Instead, this patent-pending metal edge system is anchored to the exterior surface, meaning there are no penetrations on the roof surface. Fascia cover pieces easily snap onto installed anchors, completing the easy installation and blocking out the elements.
The entire system is covered by Garland’s 40-year edge-to-edge warranty, providing Walden and the district peace of mind for years to come. Walden, a longtime Garland customer, has been consistently satisfied with Garland’s products and representatives.
“The products have always been good. The warranties are good and Garland reps have always been great to work with,” he said. “I appreciate Wes’ honesty. He tells me the truth and what he thinks we need to do instead of telling me what he thinks I want to hear.”
The contractor was Hash’s Construction Co. Inc.