Project Profile

Project Sika Sarnafil Breaks the “At times we had to have the local fire Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Coliseum Roof department come out to spray on Madison, Wisconsin the ice to melt it,” said John Schraufnagel, The striking, scalloped shape of the Veterans project engineer for Dane County. The Memorial Coliseum dome roof, as well Owner ice and formations posed a danger as the architectural “waterspouts” that Dane County, Wisconsin to Coliseum visitors, so concrete culverts protrude from the perimeter valleys, make were added over the pedestrian walkways. the building a distinctive landmark in the Roofing Consultant Portions of the parking lot also had to be Structural Research, Inc. Madison, Wisconsin skyline. Unfortunately, closed at times to prevent damage to nearby Middleton, Wisconsin however, the roof’s unusual shape also vehicles. creates numerous problems during the Roofing Contractor winter months, when snow and ice create The roof was also a victim of the damaging Walsdorf Roofing Company, Inc. problems not only for the roof, but for nearby ice and snow. When snow and ice Kiel, Wisconsin pedestrians and vehicles as well. accumulated in the valleys, it would start melting at the lowest part of the ridges, “The curvature of the dome and the massive Roofing System creating one-foot voids where the water ® depths of the valleys combine to facilitate Adhered EnergySmart Roof would run. This created ice bridges ® significant snow accumulation in those areas using 80 mil Sarnafil G410 between the two valley slopes, which of the roof,” explained Todd Culliton, vice membrane created abrasion and damaged the roofing president of Structural Research Inc. (SRI) of membrane. In addition, the falling Project Size Middleton, WI. damaged the flat areas of the roofs below. 123,000 square feet He explained that this thick, insulating layer SRI and Sika Sarnafil Work of snow and the heat loss from the building Completed to Bridge the Problems would melt the snow at the roof membrane June 2009 level. Some of the water from the melted Dane County asked SRI to come up with snow would run off the valleys and onto the recommendations on how to eliminate the unheated waterspout areas where it would ice and snow problems when replacing freeze, creating an in the valley the roof of the Coliseum. “During our areas and forming huge icicles. “During investigation we found out that the original the most severe conditions the icicles would roof failed for two reasons,” Culliton said. grow one inch per hour and reach lengths of “First, the membrane was mechanically 25 feet,” he added. attached, allowing the ice bridge to create a ‘wave’ of membrane to be pushed up and damaged as the ice forced its way over the surface.” Culliton said the second reason for the roof’s failure was because it only had 22 mils of membrane above the scrim material. “The abrasion of the slide ice eventually wore through the membrane above the scrim, exposing the non-UV stable material below,” he stated. SRI decided to use an adhered, Sika Sarnafil 80 mil polyester-reinforced roofing system for the Coliseum’s new roof. “We selected the Sika Sarnafil system because of its high quality and because it also had the most mils of membrane above the scrim,” Culliton explained. “We have done many projects with Sika Sarnafil and both their reputation and our experience with them are very good.” Harry Walsdorf, field supervisor at Walsdorf Roofing Co., of Kiel, WI said, “We feel more comfortable with Sika Sarnafil than with any other brand. Their products are great and people to work with, in my opinion,” Walsdorf “Walsdorf Roofing did a fantastic job and their tech support is always there for you. If stated. “Their design for this job was were very creative in their approach,” Culliton you don’t have the answer they will find it outstanding.” said. “Their work on this was unparalleled.” for you.” Added Schraufnagel, “SRI produced a good Sika Sarnafil representatives also played a Culliton added that the decision to fully set of specifications and adapted them well role in the success of the project. “They adhere the membrane was made because to this situation, which was not an easy task. made sure everything was okay and that that method of roof attachment would “stop I would definitely work with them again.” we weren’t having any problems,” Walsdorf stated. Added Culliton, “The local Sika the formation of a membrane wave as snow A Slippery Slope and ice unloaded from the valley.” Sarnafil representative worked with us from Installation of the new roof was very the very beginning and led us to our decision A Dam Good Solution challenging, due to the “intimidating” steep to go with the 80 mil membrane.” slopes, Walsdorf said. To keep the workers SRI decided to take a “belt and suspenders” A Shining Landmark approach to the critical valley areas, Culliton safe, each Walsdorf Roofing crew member explained. SRI’s design called for a layer was tied off and a special railing system was The outstanding work of all involved was of Sika Sarnafil’s 48 mil membrane to be installed at the lower edge of the valleys as a certainly recognized by Sika Sarnafil — installed in the roof valleys, reaching up to secondary fall protection system. Materials SRI Consultants earned First Place in Sika 18 inches on the valley sides. Then a layer and tools were brought up to the top of the Sarnafil’s 2009 Roofing Consultant Project of of the Sika Sarnafil 80 mil membrane was roof using what Culliton referred to as an the Year competition, and Walsdorf Roofing installed over the 48 mil layer, reaching up to “ingenious” trolley system built by Walsdorf. was awarded Third Place, Steep Slope two feet on the valley sides. The remaining category, in the company’s 2009 Roofing membrane sheets were then lapped and Contractor Project of the Year event. welded onto these two-foot sections and the Today the new roof of the Coliseum is rest of the roof system was then installed performing well. “We are very happy with In addition, SRI also designed a sophisticated the results,” Schraufnagel said. “This winter heat trace system — managed from one has been a good test of the roof — we had internal location — for the water spout 15 inches of snow in two days without any locations to reduce ice damming and stop the problems.“ formation of icicles. Culliton remarked, “We are confident this roof These unique design features and the will provide problem-free performance for attention to detail earned SRI accolades decades and will continue to be a trademark from those involved with the project. “SRI of the Madison skyline for years to come.” Consultants are phenomenal – the best And that’s no snow job.

Sika Sarnafil Sika Sarnafil A Division of Sika Corporation A Business Unit of Sika Canada Inc. 100 Dan Road 6820 Davand Drive, Unit 2 Canton, MA 02021 Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1J5 Telephone: 1-800-451-2504 Telephone: 905-670-2222

Telefax: 781-828-5365 Telefax: 905-670-5278 1 4 6 / 0 M www.sikacorp.com www.sika.ca