When Amazon took over an existing facility in Colorado Springs, the building required roof repairs, updates, and carefully executed modifications to support new refrigeration and mechanical systems. For our team at Done Right Roofing & Exteriors, this was a large-scale commercial roofing project where precision mattered at every stage.
The facility measured approximately 1,000,000 square feet, which meant the work had to be planned and completed with the kind of discipline that commercial roofing demands. On a roof of this size, every opening, every walkway, every support structure, and every watertight detail matters. A commercial roof is not just a surface over a building. It is part of the building’s operating system, especially when rooftop equipment, refrigeration units, and mechanical access are involved.
This project involved three core areas of work: installing walk pads around rooftop units, cutting into the existing roof to accommodate refrigeration units, and installing the mechanical structures needed to support the new equipment. Once those elements were in place, our responsibility was to make the modified roof watertight and ready to perform.
Working on an Existing Commercial Roof
One of the most important details of this project is that this was not a new construction roof. It was an existing building that Amazon took over. That changes the nature of the work.
The existing roof system has to be opened, adjusted, reinforced, and sealed correctly. If the work is rushed or handled without the right experience, the result can be leaks, premature membrane wear, structural issues around rooftop equipment, or long-term maintenance problems.
For us, the goal was straightforward: complete the necessary roof updates while preserving the integrity of the building envelope. That meant paying close attention to the areas where new refrigeration and mechanical systems interacted with the existing roof.
Installing Walk Pads Around Rooftop Units
A major part of the project was the installation of walk pads around all rooftop units.
Walk pads are an important part of many commercial roofing systems, especially on large buildings with frequent rooftop maintenance needs. Rooftop equipment has to be accessed by technicians, maintenance crews, inspectors, and service providers. Without protected walking paths, repeated foot traffic can damage the roof membrane over time.
On a commercial roof, even small points of wear can become expensive if they are ignored. Foot traffic can scuff, compress, puncture, or weaken areas of the roof surface. Walk pads help reduce that risk by creating designated paths around rooftop equipment. They also make the roof easier and safer to navigate for the people who need to service mechanical systems.
For this facility, installing walk pads around all units helped protect the roof and support long-term maintenance access. On a building of this scale, that kind of planning matters because the roof is not only covering the facility; it is also supporting a large amount of equipment and activity.
Cutting the Existing Roof for Refrigeration Units
Another key part of the job was cutting open the existing roof for refrigeration units.
This is one of the areas where commercial roofing requires real technical care. Any time a roof is opened for new equipment, the work has to be done with precision. The opening itself is only one part of the job. The surrounding structure, waterproofing, flashing, and final seal all have to be handled correctly.
Refrigeration units and other rooftop mechanical systems introduce concentrated points of stress and potential water intrusion. If the curb, support, or flashing details are wrong, water can find its way into the building. That is why the work around these openings is so important.
For this project, our team cut into the existing roof where needed for the refrigeration units and then installed the mechanical structure required to support the equipment. The objective was not just to make space for the units, but to make sure the roof could properly accommodate them as part of the building’s updated system.
Installing Mechanical Support Structures
After the roof openings were made, the next major step was installing the mechanical structures needed to support the rooftop equipment.
Mechanical support is critical on commercial roofs. Equipment cannot simply sit on a roof without the right supporting structure. The roof system, curbs, framing, and waterproofing details all need to work together. If one of those elements is poorly executed, the roof may perform badly even if the surface looks finished.
On this job, the mechanical support work was part of the broader roof repair and update process. Our role was to help prepare the roof for the new systems and ensure that the modified areas were properly integrated into the existing building.
This kind of work is not always visible from the ground, but it is one of the most important parts of a commercial roofing project. The success of the roof depends on details most people will never see: how the openings are made, how the supports are installed, how the roof is sealed, and how water is directed away from vulnerable areas.
Making the Roof Watertight
The final and most important result was making the roof watertight.
On any roofing project, waterproofing is the measure that matters most. On a large commercial facility, it becomes even more important because the roof contains more seams, more equipment, more penetrations, and more areas where water can collect or enter if the work is not completed correctly.
After the walk pads, refrigeration openings, and mechanical support structures were installed, our team completed the waterproofing work around the modified roof areas. The goal was to ensure that the building remained protected after the updates were finished.
Colorado weather adds another layer of importance to this work. Commercial roofs in Colorado Springs can face intense sun, sudden storms, snow, hail, wind, and fast temperature changes. A watertight roof is not optional. It is essential to protecting the building, the equipment inside, and the people who depend on the facility.
Commercial Roofing in Colorado Springs
This Amazon Colorado Springs facility project is a good example of how commercial roofing often involves more than repair work alone. Large facilities frequently need roof systems that can support mechanical equipment, provide safe maintenance access, and remain watertight after new equipment is added.
At Done Right Roofing & Exteriors, we apple the same principles to every roof we work on. A roof should be durable, functional, and properly sealed. It should support the needs of the building. It should be built to handle the local climate. And when modifications are made, they should be done with care.
If your commercial or residential building needs roof repairs, mechanical roof modifications, walk pads, or waterproofing work, Done Right Roofing & Exteriors can help assess the project and provide a practical roofing solution built around your facility’s needs
