A hot new roof for Expo Square

It would be a hard job anytime of the year, but roofing the Expo Square building at the Tulsa County Fairgrounds in July is not a job for someone who doesn't like heat. Still, it's the only way

Monday, July 25th 2005, 10:04 am

By: News On 6

It would be a hard job anytime of the year, but roofing the Expo Square building at the Tulsa County Fairgrounds in July is not a job for someone who doesn't like heat. Still, it's the only way to get it done in time.

News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan has the story.

The roof on the Exposition Building is ten acres of summertime bliss. Jack Parker with Atwell Roofing: "It's a good 10 degrees hotter up here than it is anywhere else." A roofing crew is working to finish up before the fair. That's why they're working in the heat of July. "It's pretty hot up here; we just get started early and quit in the afternoon, drink lots of water and Gatorade."

It's a big job, ripping off the old layers down to a metal screen that holds it all up. The crumbs from the old roof fall through so they can't work if anything is happening in the building. Flintco project manager Kevin Saley: "And so we've had to work around the shows, when they're down there, it's like, get off of there."

This is the first time the roof has been completely replaced. The new roof is colored gray, replacing the old white roof that has leaked for years. Itâ€™s been patched in hundreds of places, and is so loose the wind puts waves in it. Kevin Saley: â€œThis is the oldest part; hear that crunch when you walk on it."

The replacement is a $2-million job funded by Vision 2025. After a year of work, it's 90 percent done, but there's enough work left to keep these guys up on the roof - through August.

The new roof has a 20 year warranty against leaks and damage from hail up to 2 inches.