Focus

Most roofing materials manufacturers would jump at the chance to have their products atop a major sports facility. But they probably wouldn't want to face the headache GenFlex Roofing Systems, Maumee, Ohio, has had related to the roof system on Minute Maid Park in Houston.

The ballpark, home to the Houston Astros (and formerly known as Enron Field), is a $250 million facility with a $30 million retractable roof. The 480,000-square-foot (44592-m²) roof system features a GenFlex single-ply white membrane.

The park opened in March 2000. In May 2003, the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, which leases the building to the Houston Astros, noticed some growth on the membrane. Scientists who tested the growth determined it was Aspergillus, a common mold, coupled with yeast, bacteria and unidentified fungi.

So began a six-month dispute regarding who was responsible for cleaning the roof system—Super Bowl XXXVIII was headed to Houston, and the city wanted all highly visible buildings to be spotless.

The Astros organization, which, as part of its lease agreement, is responsible for maintaining the building, claimed GenFlex's materials warranty should cover the mold growth and, therefore, GenFlex should pay for the cleanup of the facility. GenFlex said its warranty does not cover mold growth but nevertheless agreed to pay for the costs associated with ridding the roof system of mold.

GenFlex hired Ken Barlow Cleaning Systems, Fairfax Station, Va., to clean the roof in December 2003. Upon the cleaning company's initial application of fungicide, company owner Ken Barlow said that not only was there mold on the roof but also layers of dirt underneath the mold—and cleaning the dirt was not part of his contract with GenFlex. Barlow planned to walk off the job after the mold was gone—leaving the dirt behind.

But after discussions with GenFlex, Barlow eventually relented. Two weeks before the Super Bowl, Barlow's crew hoped to finish hand-scrubbing the roof with soft-bristle brooms. His crew's efforts paid off—the roof system was white in time for the Super Bowl.

The Astros-GenFlex mold dispute brings to mind the importance of maintenance. During the three years the park has been open, the Astros did little to ensure the roof system was maintained properly. According to a Dec. 2, 2003, article in the Houston Chronicle, "Since the ballpark opened in March 2000, the ... roof has not seen a hose or detergent because the Astros ... assumed that rainfall would clean it."

Ambika Puniani is editor of Professional Roofing magazine and NRCA's director of communications.