FBUS Roof Upgrade Details

Our school building is in urgent need of select roof repair and replacement in order to protect our long-term school facility investment from additional damage.

Here are some details relating to the proposed Roof, Insulation and Existing Mechanical System Upgrades:

A multitude of leaks all over the building leaves us no choice but to replace certain areas of the roof in order to preserve our school building investment from continuing deterioration. We now spend more than $6500 per year temporarily patching leaks rather than solving the larger, long-term problem which may be causing mold and rot in the existing roof and wall assemblies. We can pay a little now to save a lot later.
The Vermont Department of Education offers 30% construction cost aid for this renovation project, but only if the repairs occur before the project costs are not a result of deferred maintenance or neglect.
The roof replacement, building envelope and HVAC upgrades will cost the community about $2.6M over a 20-year bond, but may pay for themselves in energy savings alone.
About 2/3 of the existing roof was built 40 years ago with an effective R-Value of only about R-4. The result has been severe ice damming, icicles and ice block slides during the winter months causing structural damage and safety concerns for the building occupants. New structural insulated panels (SIP’s), fire rated sheathing and a new roof membrane will provide the needed structural span requirements and insulation increases needed to meet current energy code requirements as well.
Upgraded insulation levels could reduce winter heat loss and warm weather heat gain as much as 30%, thereby saving energy and increasing occupant comfort. Using less energy reduces air pollution emissions, climate and health impacts.
Many present classroom roof leaks occur at the worn out seams between the original tar/gravel built-up roofing and the later added membrane roofing. These leaks may be causing hidden structural, odor and occupant health/safety issues, but are presently being addressed with temporary tarps, buckets and cleaning.
Many of the sagging original roof decking areas and supporting laminated wood carrying beams do not meet current structural code requirements and must be upgraded and reinforced during renovations.
The 40-year-old Gymnasium roof has several major leaks which have caused severe facsia rot, ceiling lights to short out and damage to the newly refinished gym floor.
Many of the flat roof areas renovated in 1993 have roof drains in the wrong places, have failing seal assemblies and there is a “bathtub” area where proper drainage cannot occur without renovation.
A new membrane system with edge ice guards is best suited for all flat roof, 2:12 and 3:12 pitch roof areas.
The low 4:12 pitch shingled roof areas constructed in 1993 do not have ice and water barrier sheeting under the shingles and suffer many leaks when winter winds from the playground field above blow shingles off and water under the roofing. A new membrane is planned for these roof areas to reduce these leak problems.
Additional blown cellulose in the 1993-built roof attics will reduce winter heat loss and summer heat gain in those areas.
Infilling the Gymnasium single-pane glass curtain wall with insulation and new limited-area high clerestory windows and new energy efficient lighting will significantly reduce annual energy costs.
Repairing the existing Gymnasium fresh air handler per code requirements will use more energy, but will restore proper fresh air ventilation and improve indoor air quality.
Classroom window replacements and some wall insulation upgrades have occurred in recent years, but other select wall areas need to be insulated to at least current energy code levels in order to improve the energy performance of the overall building envelope.
Adding internal corridor airlock door sets will reduce heat loss due to indoor/outdoor exit traffic.
Adding select south and west-facing classroom window blinds will reduce summer classroom heat gain and glare impacting student/staff productivity and comfort.
Hooking up two temporary classroom buildings to the existing hot water heating system will allow them to be heated by the wood chip system rather than expensive propane.

Rev: 10/15/06

Flood Brook Union School

Roof Upgrade Details