Replacing the Roof on the Grandstand at Vernon Downs

Vernon Downs is a horse race track, casino, hotel and entertainment destination located in the town of Vernon, New York. The harness race track was opened in 1953 near Syracuse, New York, and operated successfully for many years as it quickly attained status as one of the most popular harness race tracks in the country. In 1955, Adios Harry ran a “miracle mile” in 1:55, a record that stood for 18 years.

In 2022, the grandstand at this historic race track had a catastrophic wind event resulting in the existing roof assembly being blown off, making the building inoperative. It needed a total roof replacement. Vernon Downs contacted CFE, Inc. located in Elmira, New York, to assist with this critical project.

The first consideration for this project was creating a site-specific safety plan encompassing the entire roof project. The grandstand had three exposed roof edges where fall protection was needed. CFE, Inc. installed a combination guardrail and warning line system to protect its employees from these existing fall hazards. Next CFE, Inc. needed to design a new roof assembly that could withstand the high winds and extreme temperatures in upstate New York. The new assembly consisted of two layers of wood fiber board and mechanically fastened 60-mil Sikaplan PVC membrane.

Down the Stretch

The time needed for the permit process, crane setup, material delivery and other important requirements meant work began in February. The extent of the damage and tough weather conditions in upstate New Your posed challenges during the installation, according to Bob Pringle, vice president of Evans Roofing Company, the parent company of CFE, Inc.

“During our removal process of the existing EPDM roof, our team found 216 square feet of bad deck, which had to be removed and replaced,” Pringle notes. “During the installation of the new PVC membrane, extra precautions were needed as the snow and ice made walking and working difficult — plus the shed-profiled roof was 2:12 slope. Using high density tarpaulins to cover the work areas was a must each evening.”

The CFE, Inc. team consisted of eight highly skilled mechanics, and they were ready for this challenge. Work began in February and the project was completed in April. “The good news is the race track was closed for the season, so there were no building occupants when loading materials by crane,” Pringle says. “During the entire process, Sika Sarnafil technical representation was present to assist when needed.”

Despite the challenging conditions, the project was completed on schedule. “CFE, Inc. was proud to continue its relationship with Vernon Downs, installing another quality roof at this prestigious harness race track,” Pringle says.

TEAM

Roofing Contractor: CFE, Inc., Elmira, New York, evansroofingcompany.com

MATERIALS

Membrane: 60-mil Sikaplan PVC membrane, Sika Sarnafil, usa.sika.com/sarnafil