No access, impossible logistics - just another day for Mike Chu of MRC Inc. when roofing on Oahu, Hawaii. Since 1987, Chu has been roofing the hotels, businesses, condos, and homes of Hawaii. Recently, when the Honolulu Park Place condominiums needed to be reroofed, MRC was the contractor of choice to get the job done.Honolulu Park Place started the reroof process after a routine inspection discovered significant installation failures that had led to water infiltration throughout the old system. “We realized that it was not a product failure but an installation problem with the flashing system and insulation,” stated Drew Camenson, general manager, Honolulu Park Place. “We decided that we needed help.”Camenson contacted Mike Smith of Smith Hawaii, a well-known and respected roofing consultant on the island. After reviewing the failed roofing system, Smith recommended replacing the system with either a torch-down system or self-adhesive built-up roofing system. He put the project out to bid and ended up with five roofing contractors who were chosen to present to the condominium management.“Mike Smith does things a little different,” stated Chu. “He puts the job out to bid and then asks the contractors to make a presentation to the property management. The decision is not on low bid but on who can do the job.”In fact, MRC was not the low bidder, but due to their excellent reputation, won the bid. Smith left it up to MRC to choose either a torch down system or self-adhesive built up roofing system. Considering that Honolulu Park Place is 41 stories high with impossible access, and also considering the dangers of high trade winds at the top of the building, Chu recommended Polyglass’ built-up self-adhesive membranes, ADESO SAV base sheets, and SAP cap sheet, from a specified list of competitive products.“As the roofing market has evolved, contractors have witnessed the emergence of several types of commercial roofing systems. But through the course of time, bituminous roofing has continued to take the largest strides forward,” stated John DeChandt, western regional manager, Polyglass. “In contrast to other materials and plastics, bituminous roofing offers an unrivaled solution for waterproofing flat roofs. That is why the evolution to bituminous self adhesives is so impressive.”Known for innovative modified bitumen systems, Polyglass has successfully manufactured a wide variety of modified bituminous roofing products for over 30 years. With years of experience in the field of APP and SBS roofing membranes, Polyglass envisioned an opportunity to create a hybrid system based on both traditional technologies. Based on Polyglass’ extensive knowledge of polyester and fiberglass reinforcements and through years of research and development, Polyglass has developed and launched the next generation of roofing called ADESO Dual Compound Self-Adhesive membranes.“One of the main advantages of ADESO, to a roofing contractor, is the lack of need for torch, mop or solvent based adhesives due to the inherent self-adhering properties of the membranes,” confirmed Chu. “They stick easily to most surfaces with exceptional adhesion at joints. The end result is no noise, smell or open flame to upset tenants, which is a great asset for our company with property management groups.”“We hardly knew that MRC was even here,” said Camenson. “They developed a plan for loading the roof that worked great. The use of the self-adhesive roofing really made a difference in noise and smell.”Chu worked with Roof Master’s Greg Clements to develop a special cable and hoist system that would enable MRC to hoist the old roofing system’s debris off of the roof and bring the new Polyglass products up onto the roof. “We were lifting materials 400 feet in the air and bringing down tear-off,” Chu stated. “It worked great. As always, we had a great emphasis on safety and with the help of Clements we were able to engineer it so that it worked very efficiently.”“There was no access from the outside except with a hoist,” Chu continued. “We did not want to carry tear-off and new roofing up and down stairs and elevators. We felt it would be to disruptive to tenants. Looking back it was a good thing considering the amount of tonnage we moved off the roof.”As noted, the old roofing system had failed throughout the flashing system and had been absorbing water into the insulation. As the tear-off began, it became clear that the tear off was going to weigh quite a bit more than expected. According to Chu, “We double bagged everything. We were tearing off phenolic foam and three plies of a modified bitumen roof. Total weight moved off the roof was 56 tons. Due to that amount, the tear off took longer than anyone planned on.”The installation made up for the tear-off. Chu hoisted all Polyglass materials up on the roof with one obvious exclusion; very little equipment. “That is one of the key benefits of self adhesive membranes,” stated Mark Alexander, Hawaii’s Polyglass sales representative. “When you are 41 stories up in the air, with no access, you cannot move a lot of equipment on to the roof. With ADESO, equipment is at a bare minimum.”“It is a self-contained application,” agreed Natalino Zanchetta, executive vice president, Polyglass USA. “Contractors do not need mops, torches, or adhesives. The ADESO self-adhering system provides extreme ease in application. The self-adhering properties provide the perfect alternative when traditional adhesives or propane torch techniques are not desired.”The system included 2-inch-two-pound EPS insulation, 1Ú4-inch dens deck, then covered by two plies of ADESO SAV base sheet and a white ADESO SAP cap sheet. “The SAV and SAP self-adhesive membranes are tough when laid and shrink-free. Due to Polyglass’ U.S. patent pending unique lapping system called SealLap, and U.S. patented granule-free system called FastLap, membranes fit tightly and bond instantaneously to each other,” DeChandt continued. “This provides extra security in resisting storms while providing tough joint connections which is key for the islands.”As one of the largest Hawaiian contractors of Polyglass ADESO in Hawaii, Chu agrees with the benefits and innovations of the product. “I have been using Polyglass self-adhesives since they were introduced. It is a great system that saves labor and really works. One of the main benefits for us is the lack of cold joints. The trade winds play havoc with seams especially when using a torch. With the FastLap and SealLap technology that Polyglass utilizes, we do not have problems with cold joints. All of our seams and joints are tight.”The 160-square roofing project went very smooth. The roof houses numerous penetrations leading MRC to install 165 Chem Curbs. Many of the penetrations were intake ducts. “Another benefit of the ADESO system is the lack of smell,” noted Chu. “With the number of intake ducts, we were very sensitive about the smell that the tenants had to deal with. We did not have one complaint.”The only change order on the job was the addition of 500 traffic walkway pads. “This roof gets a tremendous amount of traffic and we all want it to last,” stated Chu. “The walk pads added 10 tons to the roof but it was worth it for the long term.”“The job went swimmingly,” smiled Camenson. “Mike Smith from Smith Hawaii and Mike Chu and Kraig Smith from MRC were awesome. We would recommend them to anyone. Whatever came up during the job, Mike addressed and fixed. We love the roof and are looking forward to 20 good years of sound roofing.”
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