The Alamo Shrine

Attracting two to four million visitors annually, the Alamo is one of Texas’ most treasured landmarks. Originally a Spanish mission church (1755-1793), it later played a vital role in the 1836 Battle of the Alamo. Preserving this well-visited landmark was of utmost importance when it came to the roof restoration. That's where GAF Roof Coatings came in!

The challenge

An engineer’s report in July 2010 stated that water intrusion in the roof was the “single largest threat to the continued viability of the Alamo structure.” There were three main challenges to this project: preservation of the existing main roof (standing seam copper, hand formed circa 1937) with all its character, restoration of the leaking flat roof areas, and rectification/waterproofing of the untreated parapet areas. The architect sought a product that would preserve the character of the existing roof while providing sustainable, watertight solutions for the other areas of concern, namely the flat roof areas and parapet walls.

The solution

HydroStop^® Premium Acrylic System was selected as the most suitable and sustainable roofing/waterproofing product to restore the historic landmark. The GAF HydroStop^® Premium Acrylic System is a liquid-applied, reinforced, water based acrylic elastomeric roof membrane that has been FM 4470 tested for water leakage, wind uplift, hail damage, flame spread, and resistance to foot traffic. This coatings system was an ideal choice for the unique shape and structure of the Alamo Shrine roof. In a sense, the roof coatings acted as a “custom-fit” product, completely adhering to every curve while maintaining the historic “character” of the metal panels. To preserve the historic appearance of the roof, a custom top 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.