Advanced Roofing provides re-roofing and HVAC solutions to the School Board of Broward County McNab Elementary School

McNab Elementary School is a neighborhood school serving the community of Pompano Beach in South Florida. The school opened its doors in 1958, with new construction of buildings occurring in 2004. The facility’s eight buildings were in need of roof repair and HVAC improvements, which were made possible through the School Board of Broward County’s SMART Bond Program. The program focuses on improving schools and the educational experience of students through structural upgrades to campuses and infrastructure.

Project Solutions Roofing and Air Conditioning

With eight roofing systems to repair, the scope of work varied for each building. To prepare for the project, which took place while school was in session, the team built a gravel road from the street leading to the buildings for ease of access. A chain-link fence with mesh was installed to secure the site to ensure the safety of students and faculty. To prevent damage to the gym, the basketball court was covered with multiple layers of ¾-inch plywood for protection. Asbestos removal was also needed in several areas before the team could commence repairs.

The ARI team worked closely with the school’s HVAC and electrical professionals throughout the project, while also working in coordination with the Lightweight Insulating Concrete (LWIC) contractor to ensure adherence to all policies and procedures. As the project neared completion, ARI removed the gravel roads, all protective coverings and re-sodded the area to return the site to its previous state.

The full scope of work at McNab Elementary School included:

Buildings 1-4

• Rip existing ISO and Modified Bitumen down to the existing metal deck
• Mechanically attach 5/8″ DensDeck Prime to the metal deck
• Torch 1-ply Sopralene 180 SP on a temporary roof
• Installation of lightweight concrete (LWC)
• Mechanically attach Soprabase TG with 1.7″ Base Sheet Fasteners
• Torch Soprema Sopralene Flam 180
• Torch Soprema Sopralene Flam 180 FR GR
• Extend and cut plumbing stacks
• Modify curbs as needed
• Install hatch ladder extenders and new ladders as needed

Buildings 5-9

• Roofvac all loose gravel
• Rip gravel surface BUR down to the existing LWIC
• Mechanically attach 5/8″ Securock Prime to the metal deck
• Torch 1-ply Sopralene 180 SP on a temporary roof
• Installation of LWC
• Mechanically attach Soprabase TG with 1.7″ Base Sheet Fasteners
• Torch Soprema Sopralene Flam 180
• Torch Soprema Sopralene Flam 180 FR GR
• Extend and cut plumbing stacks
• Modify curbs as needed
• Install hatch ladder extenders and new ladders as needed

Aluminum Walkways

• Pressure wash existing aluminum walkways to clean

HVAC/Electrical Scope

• Pour a new concrete pad to sit two new large chillers

Project Challenges

Working on an expansive, occupied school during a pandemic brought its own set of challenges. The ARI team adapted to several changes to the scope of the project and project details throughout the process, along with daily inspection of the roof and other elements. Several restrictions and closures caused by COVID and subsequent lockdowns led to long lead times on receiving materials and equipment. Work hours were also limited due to traffic caused during student drop-off and pickup.

Hurricane Season also threw in its own set of challenges as severe weather and a hurricane warning mid-project required all equipment and materials to be offloaded and secured on the ground. The team had to remobilize their efforts during this time to make the site secure.

Removing the roofing debris also turned into a challenge with restrictions from the City of Pompano Beach, which required coordination of multiple sites for debris removal.

COVID-19 Safety

As COVID-19 became a threat to the public, ARI worked diligently and quickly to implement new safety procedures for employees at the start of the pandemic. Also, as with all of its projects, the company put in place measures to ensure the safety of students, staff, and crew by fencing off areas to prohibit people from entering the staging or work areas. Safety was maintained throughout the project without any infractions or injuries.