Building Overview
- The Jeff Davis Courthouse is an historical, neoclassical revival-styled building that was completed in 1907 and named after Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy. The two-story building was originally constructed with exterior walls of concrete blocks covered in stucco. The courthouse was extensively renovated in 1975, and in 1995 the courthouse was renovated again with a large addition built behind and joined to the old courthouse. The prominent feature of the courthouse is a clock tower with an historic metal dome, which was essential to preserve.
The Challenge
- The dome was heavily rusted and deteriorating, and water was leaking inside the courthouse. The roof is a low-slope, modified-bitumen roof that was blistering with pockets of water, also causing water to leak into the courthouse. The entire structure was endangered by this consistent water intrusion.
Solution
- Due to the building’s unique structure, HydroStop PremiumCoat® Roof System was selected as the best and most sustainable roofing product to protect the historic landmark. In order to begin work on the metal clock tower, 120-foot man lifts were required, which presented some difficulty as the project experienced delays on windy days. To begin, the dome was cleaned using HydroClean, a biodegradable rinse used to flush all loose material and contaminants from the surface. After repairs were made to the dome’s metal panels, StableRust Primer was applied, followed by the full HydroStop™ PremiumCoat® System. StableRust is a water-based, acrylic primer used to stabilize and protect metal surfaces. StableRust Primer encapsulates rust and prevents further corrosion on all types of metal surfaces, including steel, aluminum, and copper.
- On the existing mod bit roof, HydroStop™ BarrierGuard® bulked with HydroStop™ HydroFiber was used to build up low roof areas and to create a positive slope. Mixed with water and Portland cement, HydroStop™ BarrierGuard® forms a hard-wearing, flexible compound resistant to standing water. After the low areas were leveled out, the full HydroStop™ PremiumCoat® System was applied to the mod bit surface. The final coats of FinishCoat were applied in white, providing the courthouse with a reflective, cool roof surface.
- As the prominent feature of the courthouse, the clock tower received special attention. After it was cleaned and primed, the HydroStop™ PremiumCoat® System was applied to waterproof the structure. The System dried for seven days to allow for a complete cure (required before applying United Coatings™ Kymax™ Coating). Two coats of United Coatings™ Kymax™ Coating were applied in a beautiful, rich brown. As a fluoropolymer, low-build elastomeric coating, United Coatings™ Kymax™ Coating provides the ultimate in reflectivity, color stability, and weather resistance over new or existing roof surfaces. It gives an enamel-like finish to the dome, and was just the answer for the client who was concerned about durability and color stability.
Key Facts
- With endless color possibilities and a color retention warranty available, the client had a hard time deciding which color to coat the clock tower. To aid in the decision-making process, the contractor coated different portions of the dome with different custom tints of United Coatings™ Kymax™ Coating. The client then viewed the real-life samples from across town and decided on “Bull Valley” for the tower base, while the rich chocolate clock tower and dome color is rightfully named “Double Fudge.”