Excellence built to last

By EXCEPTIONAL Metals.  

How B&M Roofing transformed Clement Elementary’s roof with craftsmanship and care.  

Every year, EXCEPTIONAL® Metals celebrates the skill, creativity and craftsmanship of its contractor partners and the outstanding projects that go beyond functionality to make a tangible impact. The 2024 Metal Roofing Award shines a spotlight on B&M Roofing for its transformative work on Clement Elementary School, where superior materials and meticulous execution created a roof built for performance, safety and long-term beauty. Clement Elementary, located in Autryville, North Carolina, had been struggling with severe roof leaks that caused disruption to classrooms and safety concerns for teachers and staff for years. Maria Rose, plant operations manager for Sampson County Schools, explained, “It was a constant issue. Every time it rained, we’d patch it up, but the leaks would always come back.” After struggling with this for years, they finally received enough grant funds in 2024 to finance a full roof replacement. That’s where B&M Roofing came into the picture.  

For the work on Clement Elementary, it all started with applying EXCEPTIONAL HT Underlayment, a high-temperature, self-adhering underlayment to the roof deck in order to protect against moisture and high-heat conditions. This was a crucial step as 15,000 square feet of the assembly had to be removed down to the insulation, leaving two layers of 1.5-inch ISO. Alton Rogerson, operations manager at B&M Roofing, explained, “The previous roof had an EPDM system that had deteriorated over time, and it was clear a complete tear-off was necessary.” The work on those flat portions of the roof ended up totaling 15,000 square feet of new membrane.  

The next step was installing the EM LokSeam® panels over the rest of the roof, which measured 52,000 square feet. There were multiple layers of complexity to this process. Firstly, the process was a bit time consuming as some of the panels were shipped in by truck and many needed to be roll-formed on-site to ensure a custom fit and prevent the need for mid-panel seams. And because of their length, the panels had to be crane-lifted to the roof. Secondly, because the team was also installing 7,500 square feet of wall panels on the school, it had to carefully coordinate between the placement of those panels and the standing seam roof panels. In other words, they had to intricately plan the installation so that the roof and wall panels would meet at a variety of connection points precisely and accurately. And the challenges weren't just on the roof. Down on the ground, the school’s layout created a logistical challenge because of restricted access to certain areas. Much of the building was bordered by playgrounds and wooded areas, making it difficult to move materials. “We didn’t have good access to the back of the building,” Alton said. “Most of the work had to be done from the front, so we used a crane to get the materials where they needed to be.”   

This project also happened while school was in session, which required close coordination with the school’s administration. “They did an excellent job of minimizing disruption,” said Mark Hammond, executive director of auxiliary services for Sampson County Schools. “B&M Roofing kept noise down during class times and never used cranes or lifts during school hours, which was a huge concern for us with students on campus.” Additionally, B&M installed overhead protection around egress doors and rerouted students to ensure safe access to playground areas during the work.  

A special moment during the project occurred when the school’s principal approached B&M with a unique request. He asked if the students could sign one of the roof panels before it was installed, marking the project as a lasting piece of the school’s history. B&M Roofing accommodated the request and the signed panel was placed on the roof, creating a meaningful connection between the students and the new roof. “The principal was thrilled that we could make that happen, and it’s something the kids will always remember,” Alton said.  

Beyond the logistical challenges, the project also included unexpected discoveries. Once the metal roof was removed, B&M found several skylights were in much worse condition than initially thought. “It wasn’t just a flashing issue,” Alton said. “The skylights themselves were causing leaks.” To address this, B&M reinforced the skylights by installing hat channels and two layers of 3/4-inch plywood before covering them with ice and water shield and Duro-Tuff® 50 mil blue membrane.   

The installation process took approximately 3 1/2 months to complete, with B&M maintaining a crew size of eight to 10 workers on-site each day, and the transformation was immediately visible. The striking blue standing seam roof gave the school a fresh, modern appearance, greatly enhancing its curb appeal. “It looks like a brand-new building,” Maria said. “The colors came together beautifully, and we’ve had nothing but positive feedback from everyone who’s seen it.” More importantly, the leaks that had caused so many problems for years were finally gone. “The principal actually joked that he could finally get rid of all the trash cans they’d been using to catch water,” Alton said.  

See this incredible project for yourself in the EXCEPTIONAL Metals 2024 Metal Roof Project Award video!