School's New Metal Roof Gets an A+

By Karen L. Edwards. 

Metal roofing earns high marks from this school because of its visual appeal, performance and longevity  

Opened in 2003, Eastport South Manor Junior-Senior High School in Manorville, New York was built when two districts merged to become one. When the school district was putting together their proposal to the community for district-wide upgrades back in 2020, the district had identified that the existing asphalt shingle roof was in need of a replacement. Alongside Client Manager Richard Wiedersum, RA and Senior Project Architect Dana Gearrity, RA of H2M architects + engineers, it was decided to include in the budget to replace the existing system with the proposed high-performing roof system that would provide years of protection for the building. 

“The original design of the building called for a metal roof, but when it went to bid it was value engineered out,” explained Dana. The board and administration decided that they wanted to replace the asphalt shingles with a metal roof as originally intended for the building. “The budget was put together and the community passed the referendum, therefore the construction of the metal roof is underway. So far we’ve received great feedback , that the community is very happy with the portion of roof completed to date,” she added.  

The school selected a rib panel style in a patina green shade to match the existing windows. The metal roof would cover approximately 200,000 square feet of the sloped portions of the school’s roof. 

Now that the decision for a metal roof was made, and publicly bid out, the project was ready to move forward with More Contracting & Consulting being selected to do the work. Company owner Brian Morrell knew that he wanted the metal roofing to be supplied by ATAS International. “I chose them because they are very well known as a metal roofing manufacturer,” said Brian. “They specialize in metal roofing and they're all over the country. So, I felt more comfortable using them because of their background.” He is no stranger to ATAS International’s metal roofs, having installed their products numerous times.  

All components of the roofing system were secured through Beacon, who was very involved in the ordering, scheduling and material delivery. “The people at Beacon were very helpful,” said Brian. 

One of the challenges with school projects is coordinating work around the school year and avoiding disruptions to the teachers and students. Brian explained that the project began over the summer and knowing that they would still be working after students returned to school in the fall, his crews focused on the areas that are busier once school starts.  

“We did work on the front, some doorways, and now that the kids are back in school, we're working on areas that are in the middle of the building where you really can't see us,” explained Brian. “We're working after the kids leave, they get out at two o’clock, so we are mobilizing then and starting work at 2:30 p.m. If we go near any doors or anything, we barricade it off. We secure the area and make sure that it's safe.” 

Safety for the building occupants is a top concern as is safety for the crews performing the installation. The roof has multiple high areas and courtyards where scaffolding was used, and other areas required the use of lifts. Crews always wear safety harnesses to ensure everyone goes home at the end of the day. 

Helping to coordinate all the details is Thomas Sullivan from Park East Construction. He is serving as the construction project manager, and it’s his job to work with all parties involved to ensure that the work moves forward as smooth as possible. “We talk with Brian’s team daily about deliveries coming in and where we're going to be working, making sure that there's no students or staff coming through,” Thomas said. “We're also out there checking on the installation and the material, making sure the materials match what was submitted, coordinating with the architect, addressing any problems that arise or anything that was unexpected where we have to make a decision on the fly.” 

Coordination and communication have been key to the success of this project, keeping it on track and expected to be completed before winter sets in. Once completed, the ATAS International roofing system will provide the school with superior protection backed by a 35-year warranty.