Advanced Insulation Solutions Rehabs Leaky Roof Over Antique Car Collection

DICKINSON, TX – September 20, 2012 – The last thing you want when you own a large collection of antique cars is to have a leaky roof in the building that houses them. That is just what Advanced Insulation Solutions (AIS) was dealing with when they took on a recent spray foam roofing retrofit project.

A commercial metal building housing a personal antique car collection desperately needed a roof rehab. The owner wanted to protect his investments, some of which had very expensive paint jobs, from a failing, aging metal R-panel roof.

"The pre-existing roof had what appeared to be an elastomeric coating, but the coating had failed and was not properly applied," said Susan Baughman, President of AIS.

No cars were damaged, but the repercussions of the inadequate installation were quickly becoming a "continued annoyance" for the owner. Baughman said the owner spends up to seven days a month just washing his cars.

"It was leaking between the seams," she added. "The fasteners were coming loose because of the continual expansion and contraction on the roof deck under the 120 degree temperatures."

Addressing the roofing issues, Baughman added that over time, fiberglass pad insulation decompresses and allows the tin of the R-panel roofing to move against the building assembly, which causes leaks.

"The fasteners get loose or worn out as the metal's moving up and down hitting against the rubber washer on the screw holding the metal down," Baughman said. "This wears it out meaning you've got a thousand leaks in your roof because the fasteners are gone."

In preparation for application, AIS power-washed the roof abrasively, which removed most of the original coating and gave them a clean surface to work with.

125 Quick-shield, a 3 lb. closed-cell roofing foam made by SWD Urethane, was then applied. AIS also applied a 30 mil. coat of SWD's 1929F Quick-Shield high-reflective, fire-resistant acrylic roof coating. The spray foam machine used for this project was a Graco E20.

Plastic wrap and a handheld windscreen were used by the three crewmembers for overspray protection in the 5,000 sq. ft. spray area, although Baughman said wind was not a major factor during the three days it took to complete the project.

Baughman concluded that the customer was "very happy with the results" and, although AIS specializes in indoor insulation as well, the company now has a new focus toward taking on more roofing projects.

About Advanced Insulation Solutions: AIS services Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. With an emphasis on a tight thermal envelope and quality control, AIS's projects improve indoor air quality (IAQ), acoustics, and lower operating costs. AIS offers hybrid insulation applications that combine different types of insulation for maximum performance and value. AIS also provides insulation services to many builders, general contractors, HVAC companies, architects, and engineering firms. For more information about Advanced Insulation Solutions, please use the contact details and links provided below.