Florida Power & Light – Main Control Room

The Challenge

The 9,900-square-foot tar and gravel roof had failed and needed removal. However, the existing roofing material contained asbestos.

Asbestos changes how roofing materials can be disturbed and removed. Standard demolition methods can release hazardous fibers into the air. Because of this risk, Florida Power & Light prohibited the use of power tools during removal.

The project also involved the main control room at an active Florida Power & Light facility. Whiting Construction had to complete the work while following the site’s existing regulations and chemical security requirements.

Why This Project Was Different

Most roof removals rely on power tools to cut, break apart, and lift sections of the existing system. That option was not available here.

Instead, Whiting Construction broke the failed tar and gravel roof into manageable pieces by hand. Each piece then had to be carefully lowered seven stories from the roof.

This manual process required a controlled approach from the rooftop through ground-level removal. The building’s height added another logistical challenge because debris could not simply be carried to a nearby dumpster.

The Roofing Solution

After the existing roof was removed, Whiting Construction installed a waterproof spray polyurethane foam, or SPF, roof with a protective coating.

SPF creates a continuous roofing surface across the roof deck. Its seamless application helps reduce vulnerable joints where water can enter. The protective coating provides the finished waterproof surface over the foam.

For this project, the completed system replaced the failed tar and gravel roof with a coated roof designed to provide continuous protection across the main control room.

Project Results

Whiting Construction completed the roof replacement while working within the facility’s security requirements and restrictions on demolition equipment. The project demonstrates the additional planning and physical work required when asbestos, building height, and controlled-site regulations affect a commercial roof replacement.