Hinds County Courthouse

Built in 1930, Hinds County Courthouse, a National Historic Landmark in Jackson, Mississippi,  was experiencing roof leaks that threatened its historic interior architecture. With its modified bitumen roof and copper components showing signs of failure, the government facility needed a complete reroof while remaining open throughout construction.

Malone Roofing and Metal Walls, an Elevate Master Contractor since 1994,  worked with the design team to support the 24,000 square-foot reroof project. The team installed a hybrid roofing system featuring Elevate UltraPly™  TPO XR 135-mil fleece-backed membrane over an SBS base sheet, along with extensive custom copper work that replicated the courthouse’s original architectural details to preserve its historic appearance and status.

The courthouse’s existing modified bitumen roof was compromised and showed granule loss, while deterioration of copper components, drainage and flashing issues, and ponding water added to the concerns. The threat of damage to the building’s historic interiors made a complete reroof necessary.

The courthouse’s more than a dozen roof levels presented significant logistical challenges. Because of its unique architecture, some areas of the roof were accessible only through windows, while tight work areas limited the number of crew members who could work at one time.  Exterior construction access was restricted to one side of the building at a time, requiring careful coordination of cranes, stair towers, staging, and material loading as crews moved between roof sections. The courthouse also had to remain operational throughout construction, so Malone Roofing planned its work around daily courthouse activities.

Preserving the building’s historic character required just as much attention as replacing the roof.The project required extensive review by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH), with all visible replacement components required to match the originals.

To meet the strict preservation requirements, Malone Roofing replicated every exterior component being replaced, including standing-seam copper, gutters, downspouts, ledge metals, and counterflashings. This meticulous work was essential to maintaining the courthouse’s National Historic Landmark status, preserving its original appearance, while providing long-term protection for the building.

Malone Roofing installed a hybrid Elevate roofing system, backed by a 30-year Elevate warranty, that combines the redundancy of a multi-ply modified system with the advantages of a single-ply TPO membrane. Following a full tear-off of the existing modified bitumen roofing system and deteriorated copper components across various roof areas, 1/4-inch tapered polyiso insulation and 1/2-inch DensDeck® Prime cover board were applied over the concrete deck. Elevate SBS Torch Base was then installed to dry in individual roof areas as the tear-off and reroof continued, while Elevate UltraPly™ TPO XR 135 fleece-backed membrane was placed in larger sheets to minimize any laps and splices.

The hybrid roofing assembly provided the durability needed to address the roof’s ponding water concerns while minimizing seams across the finished roof surface. The fleece-backed membrane added protection and a more uniform appearance. Its cushioned backing helped minimize the appearance of minor surface irregularities beneath the TPO, working with the SBS base sheet to deliver the clean finish required for the landmark. 

That attention to detail extended to the courthouse’s copper components. Malone Roofing custom-fabricated 16-ounce copper to match the original architectural profiles, including 1-1/2-inch mechanical-lock standing-seam panels and copper ledge metals. Replicating these details was essential to preserving the courthouse’s original appearance and maintaining its National Historic Landmark status.