Posted on 05/25/2003 11:46:57 PM PDT by Diddle E. Squat
The roof of Minute Maid Park is growing like a Chia Pet.
In the three years since the stadium opened, an unidentified organism has overtaken its white plastic roof like an out-of-control biology experiment, turning the top of the $250 million ballpark into what may be the world's largest petri dish.
The growth -- which could be anything from mold to bacteria to algae, experts say -- has prompted the Houston Astros to file a warranty claim with the manufacturer, GenFlex Roofing Systems of Maumee, Ohio.
"We noticed the discoloration last year," said Rob Matwick, senior vice president of operations for the Astros, which leases the ballpark for $3.4 million a year and, according to the lease agreement, is responsible for the stadium's maintenance. The ballpark's retractable roof cost about $30 million.
"It's become more noticeable in the past year ... and we have had some questions asking about the appearance," Matwick said. "We are basically trying to hold the manufacturer responsible."
Fans walking to the game Sunday said they had noticed the roof's black streaks and yellowish tint from the highway and downtown streets, and wondered what it was.
"We saw it driving in," said Ron Jensen of west Houston.
Some guessed that it was mold, a common problem in humid Houston. Jensen suspected it was Ship Channel pollution. Regardless of the cause, Astros fans said someone should clean it.
"You can see it all the way downtown," said Daniel Zamora of Baytown, who thought it was stained by dirt and dust. "I should expect them to keep up with the maintenance."
GenFlex representatives were in Houston last week to view the roof, which has a 10-year warranty.
"It's unsightly," said Tom Kaufman, an engineering manager for the company, who would not provide details of the warranty agreement, although he said he expected the problem to be resolved this summer.
"A white roof is a white roof. It's going to get dirty," he said. "It's not going to be lily white for 10 years."
According to the Astros, the 480,000-square-foot roof hasn't been washed since the stadium opened in March 2000 because they thought rainfall would act as a natural cleanser.
The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, which owns the stadium, also said it was assumed that the roof would require little maintenance.
"I don't think anybody expected you would have to go up there and clean the roof," said Oliver Luck, the chief executive officer of the authority.
While the Astros are responsible for maintenance, "we fully support them in this," Luck said. "Clearly, something is not right with the discoloration up there on the roof. The resolution will clearly come from the company that put the roof in."
But an official with an organization that represents roof manufacturers said he hadn't heard of a warranty covering cleanliness.
"No one has guaranteed that a roof will stay white," said David Roodvoets, technical director for SPRI Inc., a Waltham, Mass.-based organization of 17 roof manufacturers, many of which make the type of roof that tops Minute Maid Park.
"These things can be washed," he said. "And from what we have seen so far, it doesn't hurt them a bit."
The stadium's roof, which is a fraction of an inch thick and technically called a thermoplastic membrane, is typically installed because of its ability to reflect sunlight, which cuts down on air-conditioning costs.
Millions of square feet of PVC membranes are sold each year for houses, stadiums and businesses, according to a leading industry group. Problems with fungus or some other plant growth have been reported on roofs from Texas to Michigan.
But the fact that Minute Maid's roof is one of the few in the country that is retractable "probably accelerates the problem," according to Roodvoets. In shade, the organisms would likely multiply.
"You get a little bit of dust ... and a spore of mold, and it starts to grow," Roodvoets said.
The start of the problem, scientists believe, is moisture. Since the temperature of the membrane is often lower than the dew point temperature outside, the roof gets coated with condensation much like the dew on morning grass.
Then a spore or seed, mixed in with the dust and pollution, lands and sprouts a microscopic garden of sorts, according to a three-year study by the Department of Energy paid for by the roofing industry.
The impetus for the study was to determine what factors led to the loss of the roof's reflective powers over time, Roodvoets said.
But in an analysis of 10 stadium roofs across the country, Bill Miller of the DOE's Oak Ridge Laboratory based in Tennessee detected a fungus growing on a stadium in Knoxville.
Miller said it is likely a fungus growing on Minute Maid Park, but Astro officials believe it to be algae.
"They (fungi) attach themselves to the roof for whatever reason," said Miller. Then, he explained, the fungus grows roots which contain enzymes that can dissolve its food. The organism could be feeding on some of the materials in the roof itself, Miller said.
Because of Miller's hypothesis, the industry is now looking at ways to combat the problem. Among the possibilities, Miller said, is adding a chemical to the roof material that would prevent anything from growing.
In the meantime, though, the roof can be washed with high-pressure water and a variety of detergents, Miller said.
Astro fans hope it gets done soon.
"It's definitely filthy," said Becky Baker of west Houston on Sunday.
Her friend, Shane Ressman added, "I'm hoping they clean it up for the All-Star Game" in 2004.
Great idea - turn in into a positive. If that fails, I'd suggest swimming pool strength liquid chlorine.
I've been waiting since the name change for people to start calling the players The Minute Maids. I guess none of the sports writers have any guts.
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