Surf Mall, Ocean City, N.J.
Posted
09/1/2011
The Surf Mall recently became the enhanced highlight of the
Ocean City boardwalk because of a new metal roof from Drexel Metals
Inc.
"Reroof projects give a building owner the opportunity to
express a building's history but with updated technology and
materials," says Brian Partyka, president of Drexel Metals. "Almost
any look can be created with metal because of various profile
options, but metal also provides added strength, durability,
longevity and sustainability."
The mall was originally the Showboat Theater developed in 1929
as a re-creation of the previous theater that was destroyed by a
fire in 1927. Showboat changed its name to SURF in 1939, and by the
1970s, the years began to show. Standing water, crumbling walls and
roped off dangerous theater sections forced the theater to close in
1979. A renovated facility reopened years later as the Surf Mall, a
stop for tourists and locals to collect souvenirs and boardwalk
memorabilia, but by late 2010, improvements were once again
needed.
"The mall was in desperate need of improvements," says Michael
J. Schlembach, president of design-build firm KMR Enterprises Inc.
"The previous steel roof was rusted and faded, and there was
evidence of coastal destruction and blow off. It was in really bad
shape, and the owner needed to look at what could be done to
improve the look of the building but also the safety issues."
Schlembach and his team joined forces with Drexel Metals to
tackle the renovation. Tear off work began in November 2010, once
the summer boardwalk season was wrapped up. Working on the coast in
the winter presented challenges, but what the crew uncovered was
worse than expected. Underneath the deteriorated metal were a
modified bitumen roof and wood decking that needed to be replaced.
All these layers showed signs of damage and the entire roof
structure had a bounce factor that needed to be corrected. The
building's original construction span created a roof deflection,
which Schlembach believes allowed wind and water to penetrate the
system and deteriorate the roof faster than is typical for a
properly installed metal roof.
The crews worked quickly but meticulously to ensure the safety
of the building contents. In the end, the 20-plus-member crew
installed a new 5/8-inch plywood deck, redid framing and adjusted
roof pitches to correct areas of ponded water. The addition of new
plywood along with 2- by 6-inch stiffeners and thousands of
fasteners eliminated the deflection issues.
Drexel Metals supplied DMC175, a 24-inch coil with 18-inch pan.
The new metal roof is a 1 3/4-inch Snap Lock panel, which was roll
formed on-site. The 0.040-aluminum is coated with TRINAR from
AkzoNobel Coil and Extrusion Americas. The coating contains 70
percent PVDF resin for unmatched durability even in a harsh ocean
front environment. At the owner's request, AkzoNobel created the
custom color-Wind Surf Blue-to match the previous metal roof
system.
Coastal considerations were vital for a building that sits
directly next to the ocean. KMR selected a thicker gauge coil,
stronger profile, additional clips and superior coating to help
this roof stand up to Mother Nature. The roof was tested to meet
Miami-Dade County standards of 135-mph wind load. New Jersey
officials also enforced stringent engineering requirements to
ensure the safety of the structure.
As a local business, KMR appreciates the team effort that was
put forth for more than six months to improve Surf Mall. But as a
resident, Schlembach hears firsthand what this retrofit means to
the community. "I often ride my bike down the boardwalk and friends
and familiar faces stop me and say, 'Hey Mike, the Surf Mall looks
great. The color just pops out at you, you can't miss it.'"
Design-builder: KMR Enterprises Inc., Ocean
City
Metal roof panels: Drexel Metals Inc., Ivyland,
Pa., www.drexelmetals.com
Coil coating: AkzoNobel Coil and Extrusion
Americas, Columbus, Ohio, www.akzonobel.com/ccna
Coil coating: AkzoNobel Coil and Extrusion
Americas, Columbus, Ohio, www.akzonobel.com/ccna