Planet Laundry Dec 2020

COVER STORY By Bob Nieman

Whether Buying an Existing Store, Building a New Facility or Just Trying to Maximize Your Current Laundromat, Don’t Neglect the Roof Keeping a Roof Over Your Head

By definition, a roof with a hole in it is like devouring a Big Mac and a large order of fries right after your workout. It kind of defeats the purpose. Then again, laundromats and their roofs have had an adversarial relationship since the very first store owner punched a hole through his roof to make way for the very first exhaust duct to accommodate the very first dryer. “Laundromats and roofs are generally competing with each other on a couple of levels,” said Karl Hinrichs of HK Laundry Equipment in Armonk, N.Y. “Roofs like wide open stretches with as few penetrations through it as possible. After all, the more penetrations, the greater the chance of leaks.” However, laundromats need to exhaust their dryers, and the most effective exhaust method is through individual dryer exhaust ducts – quite often through the laundry’s roof. In such cases, there can be as many as 50 exhaust ducts going through the roof. That’s quite a few holes overhead. What’s more, dryers also require makeup air… a lot of it. “It’s not uncommon for a 15-stack-dryer laundromat to need up to 25 square feet of makeup air,”Hinrichs said.“This would be equal to a five-foot-by-five-foot opening in the roof. Laundromats have more roof penetrations than any other business.” In fact, some of the openings one might find on a typical laundromat roof include: • Dryer exhaust ducts • Dryer makeup air ducts • HVAC units

• Evaporative (swamp) coolers • Plumbing vents • Bathroom exhaust fan vents • Electrical wiring • Wiring for television or satellite dish antennas

“I explain to all who will listen that the best form of dryer exhaust is not through the roof, but through the outside wall, with one penetration per dryer stack,” said Dan Marrazzo, who owns Newtown Laundry Company and is based inMorrisville, Pa. “Of course, when that’s not possible due to neighboring tenants, the roof becomes the only option. Each round exhaust duct will require a low-pitch flashing collar, which will be attached to the roofing material in accordance to the manufacturer’s specifications. To prevent fires, it’s recommended that a one- inch gap be maintained between the metal dryer stack and any wood material. “Many landlords will be responsible for the roof, until you cut 30 holes in it,”he continued. “Also, landlords often require that their roofer perform the installation to validate their warranty. If not, I’d recommend using an established commercial roofer. Often, this will satisfy your insurance underwriter as well.” Robert Maes, who owns Express Laundry in Houston, believes that store owners should always attempt to minimize the number of penetrations in their roofs, for some very basic reasons. “Less holes in the roof mean less leaks,”he pointed out. “Also, there’s less opportunity for vandals to break into the laundromat, and less expense in the sense that you’re probably

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PlanetLaundry Magazine

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Magazine of the Coin Laundry Association