Ford Field Gets Energy Efficient Roof Upgrade

By Tremco Roofing.

The massive project entailed cleaning, roof restoration, walkway installation and custom logo.

The mammoth domed roof of Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions and a multipurpose indoor stadium, underwent an energy-efficient upgrade when its roof was restored in 2016 by Beachwood, Ohio-based Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance.

Problem: Harsh Detroit winters and steamy summers left the roof of the 14-year-old home of the Detroit Lions with areas of potential leaks, which could result in wet insulation. Tremco Roofing’s diagnostic testing was used to determine that a small percentage of the entire 340,000 square foot domed roof was damaged, making it an excellent candidate for roof restoration, rather than replacement.

Solution: The Tremco Roofing team, led by Senior Field Advisor James Getzen, proposed restoring the roof with its fully reinforced, two-coat AlphaGuard™ BIO fluid applied roofing system. The highly reflective, white AlphaGuard BIO system is an energy efficient choice, as it absorbs very little heat and can help to reduce energy use and provide better insulation value. In terms of sustainability, restoration trumps replacement as material is not torn off and sent to landfills. Restoration is also significantly less expensive, and can arrest roof deterioration, which is essential to safety. The fluid-applied system was installed by Tremco Platinum Contractor Schreiber Corporation of Wixom, Michigan.

The project began almost a year after the original moisture diagnostics, in late April 2016. It took an entire day for a helicopter to make 160 lifts and transport seven flatbed truckloads of material, including hundreds of 50-gallon drums of AlphaGuard BIO.

The roof membrane and insulation were replaced in areas where the insulation was damaged, and other necessary weatherproofing repairs were made. The balance of the roof was thoroughly cleaned with the RoofTec™ cleaning system to prepare it for coating. RoofTec removes dirt, mold and mildew from the roof surface without the negative effects of power washing; it requires little water and recaptures almost all that it does use, which aligns with the Lions’ emphasis on sustainability.

Excellent for use in highly sensitive areas such as an in-use entertainment complex, the low odor AlphaGuard BIO system is easy to apply and cures quickly. The AlphaGuard BIO base coat was installed in conjunction with a prefab polyester reinforcement, followed by the white AlphaGuard BIO topcoat. The installation took less than 60 working days. A complete replacement project would have taken over nine months and possibly impacted the Detroit Lions’ season. A 60-day installation was extremely fast for a project of this size, and a testament to both the system and the Schreiber team’s ability and willingness to work 10+ hour workdays as well as weekends, weather permitting.

Following installation, non-skid walkways were added along parapet walls and edges to improve safety. The Ford Field logo was painted in a custom color with Solargard Acrythane.

The complex project completed on time and on budget. The size and scale of the Ford Field renovation required incredibly complex staging of both material and manpower. Despite the massive scope, the entire project was completed on time and on budget, even with multiple change orders to address the discovery of additional damaged insulation. In keeping with Tremco Roofing’s commitment to safety, there were no safety issues or injuries throughout the three-month project, which concluded in time for the Detroit Lions’ preseason.

Learn more about Tremco Roofing’s solutions at www.tremcoroofing.com.