Project profile: Avon Lake grocery store

By Emma Peterson. 

Faced with harsh weather conditions, rooftop obstacles and budget constraints, a Gaco coating system provided lasting protection on this project. 

Every region has unique weather and environmental factors that must be taken into account when roofing. For Avon Lake, Ohio, which sits just outside of Toledo, those conditions are especially intense. Why? The Northern Ohio town faces harsh weather fluctuations throughout the year that range from winter's heavy rain and below-freezing temperatures to summer’s intense heat and tornado threats. So when a grocery store in Avon Lake needed to have their 32,100-square-foot roof redone, all of this had to be taken into account.  

The grocery store roof 

Finding a roofing solution durable enough for the Ohioan weather was just one of the challenges for this project. Additionally, the store had a limited repair budget that didn’t have space for a costly tear-off and replacement that would shut down business operations.  

Further, they had just had new air conditioning units installed on the roof that had ductwork extending across the roof’s surface, creating tight spaces that were both hard for contractors to access and vulnerable to issues like water intrusion.  

The solution 

Luckily the contractor, Holt Roofing Co., is a Gaco licensed applicator. Being a Gaco applicator, the Holt team knew that the GacoFlex S42 Solvent-Free Silicone Roof Coating System would check all the boxes for the project. Not only is this system highly flexible, durable, waterproof and reflective, it also is far less intrusive to install than a traditional tear-off, making it perfect for the Avon Lake climate and for the store’s roof.  

The process began with the Holt team power washing the existing surface with GacoWash and repairing seams, penetrations and wall flashings with GacoPatch. From there they were able to coat it across the entire roof, even under the new air conditioning system. The result? A store with a durable roof that comes with a 10-year Gaco material and labor warranty that didn’t break the budget or force them to halt day-to-day operations!  

Learn more about the project!