Full Roof Replacement with Conversion to Refrigerated Air

Tate was contracted by a homeowner in Placitas to perform a full home remodel inside and outside. Part of the overall project scope was to perform a conversion of the air conditioning system from swamp coolers to refrigerated air which necessitated that we replace the existing roofing system from a built up roofing (BUR) system to a TPO system and to also upgrade the existing electrical panel to accomodate the increased electrical load from the refrigerated air conditioners.

Project Details Block:

• Location: Placitas, NM
• Project Type: Refrigerated air conversion and full roof replacement
• Scope: Demo Existing Swamp Coolers and Roof and Install Two New Refrigerated Air Conditioners with All New Roof Mounted Ductwork and TPO Roofing System
• Features: Two 5 Ton York Package Units and Carlisle TPO Roofing System

The Vision

The homeowner wanted to upgrade the existing swamp cooler cooling system to a refrigerated air cooling system. Inside the home, the ceiling features architectural exposed vigas and tongue and groove ceiling planks throughout the entire home which added an additional hurdle and constraint in performing the air conditioning system.

The goal of this remodel was to provide the comfort of refrigerated air with out disrupting the charm and character of the traditional southwest interior architecture by installing ductwork throughout the living space.

The existing roof featured:

• Built Up Roofing (BUR) and Standing Seam Metal roofing systems
• Multiple skylights including both standard and custom-sizes
• Numerous changes in plane across the roof with stucco parapets separating each change in plane

The Transformation

The upgrade began with a full tear off of the existing built up roofing and installation of the new TPO system.  After the install of the TPO roofing, our HVAC subcontractor laid out and installed all of the necessary ductwork and made the necessary penetrations through the roof and into the living spaces below. We then coordinated with our electrical subcontractor to install the new electrical services to the HVAC units.

Key upgrades included:

• Two heat pumps
• TPO roofing system
• Electrical service upgrade
• Replacement of existing skylights
• Repair of stucco parapets

The final result is clean watertight installation of new energy efficient refrigerated air HVAC system.

Materials & Finishes

We selected materials based on a combination of the customers desired finished product and their budget. Inititally, the customer requested Trane high efficiency gas fired furnace package units because those were the units the homeowner had at a previous home.  However after our initial consultation, we quickly determined that was not in the customer's best interest or budget.

Hurdles that necessitated the equipment change were the homeowner was not aware that they did not have natural gas at their property, only electricity, which meant it was either run new gas service to the home or change to heat pumps - the customer chose to change to heat pumps.

Also, after reviewing the requirements to not run any ductwork inside the living space, we had to keep it all on the roof which brought about visibility requirements of the Home Owners Association. This necessitated that we build custom equipment screens to hide the units and we had to change the size of all the ductwork to a shorter but wider profile to keep it out of sight from the ground.

Featured Materials

• Two (2) 5 ton York heat pumps with added heat strips
• Tan Carlisle 60mil TPO roofing system
• 250A electrical service upgrade
• Two (2) custom 4'x8' skylights
• Four (4) Velux 2'x4' skylights

Craftsmanship & Attention to Detail

Successful HVAC conversion on a roof exposed ductwork with visibility requirements and roof replacement requires more than just showing up and doing the work. When completed, the customer only sees vents and enjoys their cool conditioned air.  What they don't see is all of the planning and coordinating it took to get there.  From reviewing site conditions, HOA equirements

Throughout this project, attention was given to:

• Existing site conditions
• HOA requirements
• Engineered load calculations for sizing the units and ductwork sizing
• Precise locations of ventlocations and roof penetrations
• Coordination of roofing, HVAC, and electrical trades

Every detail was thoughtfully planned out to ensure the finished product not only functions, but will function well and precisely for many years to come.

The Finished Result

The completed HVAC conversion and roof replacement now provides the homeowner a comfortable atmosphere while maintaining the charm and character of their traditional southwest Placitas home.

Ready to Replace Your Roof or Upgrade Your Home?

Whether you’re planning a simple roof replacement or an upgrade to one of your homes core systems, Tate Construction delivers thoughtfully planned renovations built around quality craftsmanship, communication, and long-term value.