The district originally allocated $16 million to replace 75% of the school’s roof, around 280,000 square feet, Bond Project Manager Sid Grant said at the Jan. 13 meeting. The district included the replacement in the bond package after identifying areas of the roof aged between 18 and 20 years.
“We typically get 20 to 22 years out of our flat roofs before replacement,” Grant said.
However, an analysis by roofing contractor Armko Industries Inc, which included moisture testing, determined that the roof was in good condition and a full replacement was unnecessary.
What to know
The roof structure consists of a metal decking topped with six inches of insulation board and a half-inch backer board wrapped with a thin, flexible material for water-proofing, which provides rigidity and protection, Grant said. The study checked the integrity of each layer and found that they were in good condition.
Before the roofing study, the bond package called for replacing each layer of this structure on 75% of the roof. Instead, the Armko architect recommended removing the water-proofing material and placing another half-inch backer board with a severe hail rating on top of the existing backer board. The new top layer would then be covered with a similar water-proofing material rated for 20 years, Grant said.
The change dropped the project cost from $16 million to $5.7 million and trustees approved the measure and Spectrum Resource Roofing as the contractor for the project Jan. 13.
Looking ahead
While there are no concrete plans at the moment, district officials said that the $10 million saved could be either reallocated into other bond projects or placed into savings.
The district could also realize insurance cost reductions for the high school roof by using the new backer boards with hail rating when it renews its insurance this year, Grant said.
“There will also be fasteners attached to the existing backer board, which will improve the wind rating for the roof," Grant said. "When they place the new boards on top the roof will be able to withstand higher wind gusts than the current product.”
The new roofing method with additional backer boards will set the standard for roof replacements going forward as the district works through bond projects outlined through 2027, including the new fine arts building and tennis center at the high school, Grant said. The remaining part of the roof is under 15 years old and won't be replaced until the next bond program.
