Withstanding The Elements

By Melissa Lee, Marketing communications manager, Duro-Last, Inc.

New Metal Roof for Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake National Park, located along the Cascade Mountain Range in Southern Oregon, has long been a popular destination for travelers from every corner of the world. Formed over 7,700 years ago when Mount Mazama erupted and collapsed, Crater Lake is known for its stunning blue waters and steep rock walls. The natural beauty of the famed lake draws thousands of visitors every year, and a seasonal workforce to staff the park’s various amenities.

Roughly seven miles south of Crater Lake Lodge is Mazama Village and Campground, a popular location within the park for visitors to recharge and explore. The village features campsites, guest cabins, Mazama Village Store, and Annie Creek Restaurant and Gift Shop. The months of June through September at Mazama Village are a buzz of activity, and a sizable seasonal workforce calls the Mazama Dormitories home during these busy months.

The Mazama Dormitories are designed to blend into their surroundings and feature cabin-style architecture with a standing seam metal roofing system. Due to the extreme snowfall and chilly weather that Crater Lake National Park can experience during the winter months, the existing standing seam roof featuring custom panels had deteriorated beyond repair. Ice damming and heavy snow began pushing the metal panels apart at the seams and allowed for leaks to develop throughout the structure.

Pressure Point Roofing, Inc., Central Point, Oregon, assessed the project and provided a solution that would address the structure’s needs. Not only were they given a tight timeline due to unpredictable weather, they also had to be mindful of the staff living inside of the dormitory as well as park visitors. To minimize disruptions, they restricted their working hours to the time between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

“Weather is always an unpredictable factor when taking on projects like this,” explained Matt Stone, president of Pressure Point Roofing. “Thunderstorms can roll in quickly in the mountains during the summer months, and then we had to contend with the possibility of snowfall as late as June and as early as September. This location averages up to 44’ of snow during the winter months, so we had a tight timeline between the snow melting and the possibility of snow falling again in the fall.”

After evaluating different roofing systems with the Crater Lake National Park management team, Pressure Point Roofing ultimately selected 24 gauge SuperLok® vertical leg standing seam panels in classic green from EXCEPTIONAL® Metals for this 18,500 sq.ft. reroof project. Designed to withstand rigorous weather conditions and provide enhanced uplift resistance, Pressure Point Roofing installed the concealed fastening SuperLok panel over an ice and water shield underlayment to provide sufficient protection during the extreme winter temperatures and precipitation.

At the request of park management, approximately 8,000 sq.ft. of adhered Duro-Fleece® membrane from Duro-Last® was also used on select areas of the roof to maintain the aesthetics of the flat surfaces. The dark green membrane was installed over an ice and water shield underlayment as well as 1/4” glass matt cover board, and coordinated with the color of the metal panels to provide a uniform transition between the two systems.

“The Duro-Fleece membrane was a huge factor in this project,” explained Stone. “If we hadn’t been able to work closely with Duro-Last and EXCEPTIONAL Metals to ensure the membrane and panels would complement each other, we would have had to go back to the drawing board. Additionally, park management liked that we were able to plan and purchase our materials through a single point of contact, improving our efficiencies and reducing the risk of logistical errors.”

While developing a detailed plan for the installation, the Pressure Point team had to accommodate a variety of unique challenges. Facing limited working space and rooftop slopes varying from 7:12 to 12:12 pitch, they approached the installation systematically and worked closely with both EXCEPTIONAL Metals and Duro-Last to ensure that they had the needed membrane, panels, and equipment for each stage.

“We were limited in the space that we had to store materials onsite so we had to order it in stages to avoid running out of room,” said Stone. “In addition to the space limitations, we had to be mindful of the fact that we were working within a national park with protected resources. We could not disturb the vegetation around the worksite or compact the soil.”

To prevent leaving tracks and disturbing the surrounding soil, Pressure Point laid sheets of plywood along the ground where they were working to help distribute weight and serve as a protective barrier. In areas where plywood couldn’t be used, they tilled the soil that was compacted from their activities once that portion of the project was complete. From initial tear-off to the final inspection, the Pressure Point team completed the project in approximately 15 weeks with minimal complications.

“The commitment to quality and customer service shown by EXCEPTIONAL Metals and Duro-Last was paramount to the success of this project,” said Stone. “Without their ability to work with us at each stage to ensure we had the proper materials when we needed them, the logistics would have been chaotic. We’re proud of the work we accomplished on the Mazama Dormitories and to have a strong relationship with manufacturers that are dedicated to our success.”

For more information visit www.duro-last.com.

Original source: Western Roofing Magazine