Preserving the Alamo

One of Texas’ most treasured landmarks was a structural risk until a roof restoration stopped leaks and preserved the historic building’s character.

Threatened by water

The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, is a World Heritage Site that attracts millions of visitors every year. Reports in July 2010 identified water intrusion in the roof as the largest threat to the structure of the Alamo.

Fixing it wouldn’t be simple. The first challenge was preserving the character of the hand-formed, standing seam copper roof installed in the 1930s. At the same time, the leaking flat roof areas had to be restored, and untreated parapet areas had to be rectified and waterproofed.

Protected for the future

The architect selected GAF HydroStop™ PremiumCoat® System, a liquid-applied, reinforced and water-based acrylic elastomeric roof membrane to provide a sustainable and watertight solution for the unique shape and structure of the Alamo roof. The HydroStop™ PremiumCoat® System adhered to every curve and maintained the historic character of the metal panels while extending the life of this treasured landmark.

Facts:

• To preserve the historic appearance of the Alamo roof, a custom PremiumCoat® Finish Coat color was tinted to match the color of the aged metal panels.
• Officially named Dover Grey, the color was nicknamed “Alamo Grey” on site.
• HydroStop™ PremiumCoat® System is FM 4470 tested for water leakage, wind uplift, hail damage, flame spread, and resistance to foot traffic.