Location made the Magdalena Grand Beach Resort an attractive destination for travelers seeking a tropical resort experience. But its ocean-front setting on the island of Tobago proved a double-edged sword. Salt water corrosion eventually took its toll on the Caribbean Sea resort, forcing the complex to close for two years for repairs. The financial hit was more than its owners were willing or able to bear. They walked away from the project but the government of Trinidad & Tobago quickly stepped in. Under the direction of E TecK, an arm of the Ministry of Trade, all necessary repairs were completing, including the installation of a new Englert metal roof system.

The Magdalena Grand Beach Resort is located within the gates of the 750-acre Tobago Plantations Estate. It is an opulent getaway, with 178 deluxe oceanfront rooms and 22 suites. It is situated along two-and-a-half miles of beach and coastline, on grounds that include nature trails and canopy walks through a virgin mangrove forest. And then there’s the golf course—an 18-hole PGA-designed championship course surrounded by villas, condos and bungalows. The resort is a traditional colonial style building on a dramatic outcrop of coral looking south and east to the Atlantic and Scarborough, the capital town of the island. The “W” shaped hotel mimics the wings of the Frigate Bird that flies over this area of coastline, and the design allows each of the 200 hotel rooms to enjoy a view of the sea.

After E tecK took over the property, they began planning renovations for the roof and other infrastructure components of the property. Initially, officials issued specifications for 160,000 square feet of copper roofing. But that design was shelved when it was learned what the cost would be. The government also considered, and ruled out, a coated steel roof—the same material that had succumbed to the salt air and water of the Caribbean Sea where the resort is located. Finally, working with consultants and a local roofing contractor, Robert Costelloe of Lifetime Solutions, the government agreed to a Kynar-coated 040” aluminum standing seam roof.

“Starting with the material itself, we needed a robust system that would stand up to the elements,” said Costelloe. “Not only to the salt air and water but to high winds as well.” Costelloe notes the project went smoothly, coming in on time and budget in 145 days.

Officials chose an Englert Series 2000 1-¾” snap lock standing seam system made from 040” aluminum, specifically to stand up to salt corrosion. The aluminum itself was only part of the solution to prevent future corrosion and any damage from wind uplift. The installer conducted a site-specific engineering analysis to determine clip spacing at a specified number of feet throughout the roof area and especially around the eaves and ridge areas which were most susceptible to high wind. Fascias were wrapped with peel and stick underlayment all the way up to the ridge. Clips were installed six inches on center for the first two feet and eight inches on center for the balance.