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Tag Archive: Ludowici tile

  1. Honored By the Recognition We Have Received as a Leading Contractor in the Roofing, Sheet Metal and Waterproofing Industries

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    Here at Knickerbocker our progress reflects our birth in 1886. The awards that we have received over the years ultimately recognize us as a leading contractor in the roofing, sheet metal and waterproofing industries.

    Many industries, including our own, have changed throughout the years, but our company’s mission remains strong: to provide outstanding solutions to our customers by offering quality products installed by skilled professionals. At Knickerbocker Roofing and Paving, employers and employees alike consistently strive to maintain our leadership role in the industry.

    With that said, we are proud of our record throughout the years and honored to be recognized for our accomplishments. The awards received include:

    • Project Awards
    • Industry Awards and Certificates
    • Manufacturer Awards and Certificates
    • Safety Awards and Recognition
    • Charity Awards and Certificates

    Here is a brief overview of each category:

    Landmark Preservation Awards
    The ability to restore historic structures is a skill held by only a few companies. Because we are one of those companies who understand the importance of preserving history and we have the capabilities to do so, we are often called in to work on projects with historic and cultural significance. Three projects we have been involved with have been recognized with Chicago Landmark Awards for restoring, reusing, and promoting the city of Chicago’s historic architecture. Landmark Awards have been won with:

    Lorado Taft Midway Studios: This challenging project consisted of small, low sloping roofs with skylights. All existing roofing material was removed and replaced with new Vermont slate, architectural shingles, and copper metal valleys to restore it to the original design. A deteriorated cupola was rebuilt and replaced. The building also houses a working art studio where we installed 12 custom fabricated skylights to enhance the studio with natural sunlight.

    Indian Boundary Field House: Restoration of the fire-damaged building consisted of removing and replacing the multi-colored, multi-width, rescinding slate roof along with new copper sheet metal flashings, valleys, gutters, and downspouts. The challenge of working with multi-color rescinding slate requires skill and expertise to properly install the large slate at the eaves with progressively smaller slate tiles installed toward the top ridge.

    Monroe Building: The steep slope on this occupied office building required exceptional skill and planning to avoid major disruptions to traffic and pedestrians. After carefully removing the existing roof we installed a custom-manufactured, two-tone, green-glazed Ludowici tile with 20 oz copper gutters and flashings. The complex nature of this project included installing a vertical and horizontal batten system and a 5,000 square foot copper gutter system. The final effect is stunning.

    Industry Awards and Certificates
    Knickerbocker Roofing and Paving has won the prestigious National Roofing Contractors Association Gold Circle Award – one which recognizes workmanship excellence. Additionally (and closer to our Chicago region home) we’ve been repeatedly acknowledged by the Chicago Roofing Contractors Association, whose members include: contractors, manufacturers, distributors, manufacturer representatives, consultants and others industry professionals, who provide leadership for the industry in this region.

    Manufacturer Awards and Certificates
    For 2014, Knickerbocker received the Partner in Quality Award from Firestone Building Products. This award recognizes those contractors who meet requirements for installation excellence and performance of qualified materials within the roofing industry. We are extremely proud to be listed as a premier roofing contractor.

    Knickerbocker Roofing and Paving recently received the 2015 Firestone Building Products Master Contractor Award. Although this isn’t the first time we’ve received the recognition as a best roofing contractor, it is the most recent of the various awards we’ve received over the years. According to Tim Dunn, president of Firestone Building Products, “The annual Master Contractor Program recognizes our best contractor firms dedicated to installing roofing systems that help commercial buildings achieve long-term performance. We’re proud to have offered this award for the last 28 years to recognize our trusted contractor partners who are some of the best in the industry.” Other manufacturer awards and certificates that we’ve received include the “Ludowici Crown Installer” (Knickerbocker was one of only three companies to achieve this designation in the industry) as well as “Approved Carlisle Applicator of Sure-Seal Elastomeric Systems.” These are just two examples of the additional esteemed awards Knickerbocker has proudly accepted.

    Safety Awards and Recognition
    Our team takes safety extremely seriously and, as a direct result, we have been frequently recognized for our commitment to safety in what we do. A part of our safety program is the annual safety training program for all of our supervisors and field employees. We commonly share the company philosophy of “safety first.” In fact, many times over the years, our safety program has been recognized by organizations like the American Subcontractors Association (ASA –Chicago).
    Charity Awards and Recognition
    Last, but certainly not least, our company and employees have received awards and recognition by charity organizations for service to our local community. We’ve been honored for our contributions and service to the DuPage Habitat for Humanity, the Leukemia Research Foundation, and the cities of Harvey and Chicago, as well as other communities and organizations in the area.

    Check out the photo gallery on our website which includes a display of several of the many awards and certificates Knickerbocker Roofing and Paving has received over the years. We’re honored and proud to share our accomplishments with you and our community!

  2. Look Up! You’ll Find Examples of Our Work All Around the Chicago Area

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    It would take us hours, days, weeks, to tell you about all of the projects Knickerbocker Roofing and Paving has completed over the past 125+ years. So, for today’s blog we decided to save you the time and carefully selected a few of our favorite projects from recent years. Mind that if you’re ever in the Chicago area, you can simply “look up” and find examples of our work! Here’s a preview of what you’ll see:

    Steep Slope Roofing at the Historic Monroe Building in Chicago
    Make sure to sneak a peek of the roof at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Monroe Street in Chicago! Knickerbocker completed the roofing and gutter fabrication and installation job at this historic site, located at 104 S. Michigan Avenue. According to the building’s historical website, the Monroe Building “set a new benchmark for Chicago office space” when it was built more than a century ago. Specializing in projects such as steep slope roofing allowed us to complete the complex project. With Michigan Avenue and Monroe Street filled with local congestion, we used a cantilevered scaffold system that was erected 200 feet above the intersection. The project demanded capabilities beyond any standard roofing installation to meet the historic requirements for the job. This included removal of the existing roof and installation of a custom-manufactured, two-tone, green glazed Ludowici tile with 20oz copper gutters and flashings. The end results were, and still are, stunning. The Illinois Landmark Association awarded the Monroe Building project “Renovation of the Year.” You can take a look at all of the details of this project by visiting our website.

    Architectural Sheet Metal at the Museum of Science and Industry
    At Knickerbocker, we offer roof and gutter fabrication and installation. You can see an in-person example of our architectural sheet metal fabrication at the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago). The museum is a “hands-on” educational center with engineering exhibits and more. Before completing this project, MSI was in desperate need of a new roof. We shared the museum’s “hands-on” approach to work day-in and day-out on the installation. Replacements included a new in-laid gutter system that had to be coordinated with another contractor’s masonry repairs. Daily adjustments had to be made for precision and accuracy. Different size radius panels were required, and intricate soldering helped to secure water tightness on every seam of the roof. It was an intricate job, but everyone was happy with the end results! Read about this project on our website.

    Low Slope Roofing at the River City Condominiums
    Located on the Chicago River in the “South Loop” neighborhood, the River City Condominiums were designed by Bertrand Goldberg as a “city within a city.” The distinctive “S” shaped building called for installation of new insulation, coverboard and Sarnafil’s EnergySmart PVC roof membrane and flashings. And it wasn’t just one, but 19 different and odd-shaped roofs belonging to the condominium community. This was a complex job, with material needing to be, at times, double-, triple- and even quadruple-handled with cranes, hoists and extra manpower to reach the different roof areas of the serpentine-shaped, multi-level building. Knickerbocker safely managed the complexity of the project, from start to finish. Learn more about this unique effort by reading further details on our website.

    Green Roofing at the University of Chicago Medical Center
    We installed photovoltaic panels at the University of Chicago Medical Center, bringing the Medical Center all of the advantages of a green roofing installation. This project was a large, land-locked roof replacement with multiple levels, and was also logistically challenging. We staged the area with 7-story scaffolding, taking into consideration that the area also housed MRI equipment and other sensitive testing materials. After replacing the roof at the Medical Center, we installed 59 photovoltaic panels. You can find more details about our proud accomplishment here.

    Roof Maintenance Services Throughout the Area
    We believe the best way to extend the life of your roof is to maintain it. Here at Knickerbocker we offer customized maintenance and service plans to fit our customers’ needs and budgets. The roofs we maintain are all over the area; Chicago, and other areas of Illinois, not to mention Northwest Indiana and Southeast Wisconsin. See examples of our work near and far!

    Find these stories, and many more, on the Knickerbocker Roofing and Paving website. Or simply “look up” the next time you’re in the area.