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Consultant warns of $22 million in roofing assets; recommends phased restorations
Summary
A roofing consultant told the Elizabethtown Area School District board that restoring rather than fully replacing many roofs can save money, but replacing all roofs today would cost about $22 million; the board was advised to prioritize Bainbridge and time restorations around HVAC work.
A roofing consultant told the Elizabethtown Area School District board on Tuesday that district roofs are showing increasing seam failures, punctures and wet insulation, and that addressing the worst sites now will lessen long-term costs.
Mike Cromwell of Tremco presented infrared survey results and new photos showing pinholes and open seams at Bear Creek, East High and other buildings. He said proactive removal of wet insulation in 2022 slowed spread but widespread seam failure has emerged in recent inspections. Cromwell estimated that if the district replaced all roofs today the roofing-only bill would be roughly $22,000,000; his 10-year restoration plan, however, lays out phased restoration work that he estimated at about $7.9 million in planned spend, with sequence and scope chosen to avoid underfunding unknown deck or insulation repairs.
The recommendation to restore — a liquid-applied seamless membrane over existing roof systems where feasible — is driven by Cromwell’s assessment that many single-ply roofs can be extended through restoration rather than full removal. He urged the board to prioritize Bainbridge, whose slate roof is losing pieces and was described as a safety hazard, and to delay restoration investments on buildings that will undergo HVAC work this summer so contractors do not unnecessarily damage new membranes. Cromwell said restoration could extend service lives by decades and reduce lifecycle costs, while delaying work tends to raise replacement costs.
Board members asked for clearer ‘asks’ and sequencing. Directors sought confirmation on what to bid next and whether the plan included allowances for damaged deck or insulation; Cromwell said his budget figures intentionally include contingencies to avoid underfunding and recommended staff proceed with bid solicitation for the highest-priority projects.
The board did not take a vote on roofing expenditures at the workshop but received the consultant’s long-range plan to inform upcoming capital and procurement decisions. The facilities team said it will incorporate the recommendations into a five-year capital plan and pursue bids for the Bainbridge work as an urgent priority.
