A Patriotic Roofing Solution

USA Flag Roof — All photos courtesy of GAF.

River City Roofing Company, based in Peoria, IL, found a unique way to honor the brave individuals who serve our country. With the company’s headquarters next to a National Guard Air base, where military aircrafts frequently fly overhead, Tim Garrison, the building's owner and founder of River City Roofing Company, was determined to find an innovative way to pay tribute to the service men and women nearby, while replacing the building’s leaking flat roof.

Developing a Patriotic Design - While Ensuring Functionality

To complete the final section of the 72,600sf flat roof, Garrison began to explore innovative ways to combine functionality with design. Inspired by a similar project in Colorado Springs, he envisioned a creative solution: replacing the leaking roof with one designed in the shape of the American flag.

This was no easy feat, as the team had to remove the saturated modified asphaltic coal tar pitch roof down to the decking before installing ISO insulation, a cover board in low rise foam, and an adhered TPO membrane.

River City Roofing Company utilized a grid system to accurately layout the stars and stripes, ensuring that the roof remained functional and waterproof. The grid served as a precise layout for the flag design on the roof surface, facilitating proper spacing and alignment of all elements.

The stars and stripes themselves were created using different colors of GAF EverGuard® TPO membrane, which form the actual roofing surface. Red and white TPO strips were installed for the stripes, while a blue field with white star shapes were created for the canton. These colored TPO sections are not just decorative - they form the waterproof roofing layer that protects the building underneath.

Committed to continuously upskilling contractors and fellow members of the roofing industry, Garrison also used the roof’s development as a training opportunity for project partners to better understand the roofing systems involved in the build.

Sourcing the Flag Colors

While Garrison had a vision, reinforcements were needed to make this complex design a reality. By working with the project stakeholders to understand the team’s specific needs, GAF was able to source a solution that solved a critical challenge of the design… the flag colors, bringing the project’s overall vision to life.

GAF’s EverGuard® TPO provides the industry's largest selection of color options, enabling Garrison to easily find the perfect shades for his project that were both in stock and matched his shade requirements. The colors are specifically formulated to minimize fading, adding functional benefits to Garrison’s aesthetic choice.

This unique combination of colors and materials allowed the contractor to create a stunning American flag representation using durable TPO roofing membrane.

"As roofing professionals, we're always looking for ways to push the boundaries of what's possible with our craft. Being situated next to a National Guard base, we wanted to find a meaningful way to honor all of the brave men and women who serve our country. We are grateful for our partnership with GAF and other industry leaders that helped bring this idea to life.” shares Garrison.

Roofing Contractor: River City Roofing, www.rivercityroofs.com

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