Raising R-value Without Raising Parapet Walls

By Sika. 

When multiple apartment building roofs in New York needed replacing, this system came in handy. 

The Southridge Co-op Section #2 in Queens, New York was in desperate need of a complete roof makeover. When it came time to replace the 54,000 square feet of existing roof, contractor Exo Industries chose a Sikalastic Roofpro® system with Sika VIP (Vacuum Insulated Panel) Insulation to get the job done right. Sika VIP Vacuum Insulated Panel  

The Sika VIP insulation is a revolutionary high-performance roof insulation that achieves a minimal R-value of 50 in an ultra-thin 1.5” profile. The VIP insulation is a composite panel high R-value core insulation protected on both sides with ¼” high-density cover boards that come prelaminated from the factory. The thickness of the VIP can be increased to achieve R values of 75 and beyond. 

Scope of restoration 

The existing older roof systems had minimal insulation and were in need of replacement. The existing roof decks consisted of sloped wood planks. Roof replacement was first evaluated using conventional polyisocyanurate roof insulation. Due to the thickness of the insulation needed to meet the current energy code it was determined that there was insufficient parapet and through wall flashing height as well as low bulkhead door thresholds.  

The costs associated with modifying the building to accommodate the new roofing system thickness using conventional polyisocyanurate insulation were determined to exceed the cost of utilizing the Sika VIP insulation. Not only would the use of the Sika VIP insulation avoid costly alterations and increase the overall R value of the roof system, it would also reduce the overall project duration and minimize disruptions to the building.  

By using the Sika VIP insulation, the project remained just a roof replacement project, not a roofing and masonry project, and eliminated the potential need for sidewalk shedding that would have been required as part of the masonry work. The existing roofs were removed down to the sloped wood deck. A new Sikalastic RoofPro system featuring Sika VIP insulation was installed in a fully adhered conventional roof assembly system. 

Conclusion 

The Sikalastic RoofPro® system featuring Sika VIP insulation reduced the overall thickness of the roof system. This eliminated the need for building alterations and reduced the construction cost and schedule while increasing the overall R value and thermal performance of the building. 

A 20-year, Single Source, NDL, full system warranty inclusive of all the roofing system components was provided to the Building Owner to ensure the long-term performance of the new roofing system. 

Project participants 

Owner: Southridge Co-op Section #2 

Consultant: Merritt Engineering Consultants PC 

Contractor: Exo Industries Corp. 

Learn more about Sika in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit usa.sika.com. 

Original article source: Sika