Cover Story: Withstanding the Storm
Community Gym’s New Multi-Ply Roof Stands Up Against Severe Weather in Hawaii
by Ali Turner, editorial assistant
Hurricane season on the Hawaiian Islands is not for the faint of heart. Intense wind, torrential rain, and widespread flooding can cause devastation to areas not equipped or prepared. For the island of Oahu, the 2018 hurricane season was relentless. Tropical Storm Lane and Hurricane Olivia brought power outages, mudslides, and uprooted trees. Heavy winds and rain did major damage to countless roofs on the island. Fortunately, for the Waianae District Park Gym, its newly installed multi-ply roof system remained intact.
The Waianae District Park Gym is a two-story building owned by the City and County of Honolulu. A community hub, residents frequently attend events such as hula lessons, art classes, and meetings at the facility. Prior to the 2018 hurricane season, the gym’s old roof leaked and had electrical issues. As a result, city officials restricted access to the second floor of the gym for several months. The Waianae community looked forward to the restoration of the gymnasium roof, which would enable them to have full access to second-floor amenities.
“Waianae District Park Gym is one of the most used public areas in our community. It serves our athletic organizations, area schools, and government entities,” said Cedric Gates, representative for the State House District 44 of the Waianae Coast. “As a community member who utilizes this park, I am extremely grateful for the collaborative effort that went into this project.”
Leeward Roofing and General Contracting, Waianae, were brought in to replace the damaged roof, which had reached the end of its life. Leeward Roofing and General Contracting is a family-owned business that has been providing residential and commercial roofing services to Hawaii since 1972. The company was established by Peter Rivera and is now owned by third-generation roofer Rocky Rivera. Leeward Roofing and General Contracting was founded on principles that still hold true today and they strive for a safe workplace where employees live out the values of the company. For the reroof project, Leeward Roofing and General Contracting chose a Polyglass® U.S.A., Inc., SBS modified bitumen roof system.
“Our crew has been successfully installing commercial roofing systems for more than 40 years,” said Rivera. “We selected a Polyglass roof system for this project because they are also a one-stop shop, providing membranes and roof coating solutions that are backed by long-term warranties. We also have the same values, which allows us to work well together.”
Leeward Roofing and General Contracting began the project with a mechanically attached polyiso insulation and DensDeck® roof boards. On top of the DensDeck they installed Polyglass’ Elastoflex® SA V base sheet, a durable, SBS membrane manufactured using patented ADESO® Dual-Compound Self-Adhered technology. Next, Polyglass Elastoflex V, a fiberglass reinforced, SBS membrane was torch-applied. To complete the three-ply system, the roofing crew torch-applied the Elastoflex S6 G FR white cap sheet. This fire-rated SBS membrane is designed to be water and wind resistant, which is a great attribute for a roofing product used in a hurricane-prone region.
To seal and prevent water from penetrating the roof system, Leeward Roofing applied Polyglass’ PolyBrite® 70 over flashing areas. PolyBrite 70 is a bright white acrylic coating that helps to keep surfaces cool by being highly reflective, it also provides protection from ultraviolet sun and other weather exposures.
“It’s always a team effort between a roofing contractor and a manufacturer to have a successful project,” said Howard Meechan, Polyglass representative in Hawaii. “Leeward Roofing is focused on the customer and known throughout Hawaii for their quality workmanship. We are pleased to work with them on this project.”
“This project was an example of leaders understanding the importance of this gym to the community,” said Honolulu City Councilmember Kymberly Pine. “Numerous department leaders worked overtime to find money within our resources to finish this project faster than the normal pace. I am extremely grateful for their help.”
After the installation, the Waianae District Park Gym’s roof was quickly put to the test, as tropical storms and hurricanes tore through the Hawaiian Islands. Not only did the gymnasium’s new roof stand up to the extreme wind and rain, but the community relied on the Waianae District Park Gym to keep residents safe as an official evacuation space. With a reliable and sustainable 20-year warranty roof system from Polyglass in place, the Waianae District Park Gym will continue to serve the Waianae community for decades to come.
