Case Study: Carlisle EPDM Restores Historic Masonic Lodge
One of the oldest fraternal organizations in existence is that of the Freemasons, which dates its heritage back to the fourteenth century. A vital aspect of the Freemason community is the many ceremonies and events that it holds for its members, all of which typically take place in a lodge. These lodge facilities are foundational to the social function of the Freemason organization.
The Freemason lodge in Indianapolis, Indiana, known as Millersville Lodge No. 126, first convened in 1852 in the home of one of its members. The current temple—the building where the masonic lodge meets—was constructed in 1925. Over the years, the temple has seen many construction improvements and restorations. While the lodge has tried to maintain as much of the original building materials as possible, some of the building elements have deteriorated over the years, not the least of which was the roofing system, which has been replaced more than once.
By 2017, the lodge trustees began considering enhancements to their existing Carlisle SynTec Sure-Seal 60-mil EPDM roofing system which had been installed in 1985 by R. Adams Roofing. Because the existing Carlisle EPDM system had performed so well over the last 32 years, the lodge trustees decided to install another Carlisle EPDM system to provide lasting performance and ensure the watertight integrity of the building. Additionally, since R. Adams Roofing had provided stellar service and workmanship during the previous roofing installation, the lodge trustees hired them back to install this new system. R. Adams takes pride in being a full-service commercial roofing contractor that has provided expert craftsmanship while prioritizing the safety of its employees for more than thirty years of experience in the roofing and waterproofing industries.
The lodge trustees and R. Adams Roofing chose to install a 60-mil Sure-Seal EPDM membrane with Factory-Applied Tape™. Carlisle’s innovative FAT technology applies tape to the edge of the EPDM membrane sheets in a factory-controlled setting, increasing the quality and reliability of a rooftop’s membrane seams, as well as reducing the installation time.
In addition to the seaming strength of Factory-Applied Tape technology, this Carlisle Sure-Seal EPDM membrane also provides enhanced durability and long-term weatherability, featuring superior resistance to hail and puncture damage, temperature fluctuations, mold, and exposure to ultraviolet rays. Carlisle’s EPDM is one of the most durable, weather-resistant roofing membranes on the market and would enable the Millersville Lodge to continue operating for decades to come.
The first step in this roofing installation was to tear off the existing EPDM membrane and wood fiber insulation. The installation crew left the existing built-up roof system in place and mechanically attached a one-inch layer of Carlisle’s InsulBase polyiso insulation using plates and fasteners. Providing one of the highest R-values per inch of commercial polyiso insulation, Carlisle’s InsulBase is composed of a polyiso foam core bonded on each side to fi ber-reinforced paper facers. Because of its unique construction, Carlisle’s InsulBase polyiso can be applied directly over a myriad of substrates and has proven to significantly reduce the amount of energy used to heat and cool a building.
Once the insulation was in place, the installation team rolled out the seamless pre-cleaned 60-mil EPDM membrane and fully adhered it to the insulation using Carlisle’s CAV-GRIP™ III Low-VOC Adhesive/Primer. Manufactured with a low-VOC, chloride-free formula, CAV-GRIP III creates a tenacious bond, significantly minimizing fl ash-off time often required with the use of other low VOC adhesives. CAV-GRIP III is applied using a spray system that not only ensures even, consistent coverage for an optimum bond, but is also quick to apply and has minimal odor. The use of CAV-GRIP III, in combination with Carlisle’s pre-cleaned EPDM with Factory-Applied Tape significantly reduced the installation time for this 5,000-square-foot re-roofi ng project, an important feature in today’s tight labor market.
With a time tested fully adhered Carlisle EPDM system installed by one of the leading single-ply roofing contractors in the Midwestern United States, Millersville Lodge No. 126 will be protected from the harsh winters and warm summers for decades to come. The Freemasons of Indianapolis, Indiana will not only be protected from the elements but will be contributing to the environment and saving energy as they utilize their newly energy-efficient facility.
Roofing Contractor: R. Adams Roofing, Inc
Manufacturer: Carlisle SynTe
Type of EPDM: 60-mil
Type of Attachment: Fully adhered
Location of Project: Indianapolis, Indiana
Type of Building: Historical building
Text of the project profile is copied from original source.