Coating a 74-Foot Dome: The CalPortland Silicone Project in Portland OR
An inflatable storage dome in Portland was recoated with GacoFlex silicone by crews on telescoping lifts…
"Alis Volat Propriis."
Oregon splits into two roofing climates at the Cascades, and coating strategy splits with it: west-side roofs fight eight months of rain and biological growth, while east-side roofs bake under high-desert sun. For Portland's industrial and warehouse stock in particular, restoration is attractive because it renews waterproofing without exposing buildings to weather during a long tear-off.
West of the Cascades, rain falls steadily from October into May, not usually violently, but relentlessly, keeping roofs saturated and feeding moss and algae on any surface that holds moisture. Ponding on flat roofs can persist for weeks in winter. East of the mountains the climate flips to dry, sunny, and cold in winter, with strong UV and real freeze-thaw. Snow load matters in the mountains and the east; sustained wetness rules the west.
Portland's industrial districts carry older built-up roofs alongside TPO and EPDM on the I-5 distribution corridor. Metal buildings serve timber operations, agriculture in the Willamette Valley, and the ranch and processing economy east of the Cascades.
Gaco's Pacific Northwest roots make it a fixture in Oregon specification, with GAF and Henry widely distributed and Rust-Oleum elastomeric products moving through general channels.
West-side roofs call for silicone, the only common chemistry truly indifferent to months of wet, and pre-coating moisture testing is essential on saturated stock. Bio-growth cleaning and priming make or break adhesion in this climate. East-side metal and well-drained roofs open the door to acrylic and SEBS at better price points.
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