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May 2003 
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Alex Hernandez | Details
Hernandez, vice president of Clark Roofing Co.,
Broadview, Ill., celebrates at a retro birthday party with his
family. Clockwise from bottom left: Hernandez's wife, Michele,
holding son Christopher; brother-in-law, Matthew Nielsen; nephew,
Peter Nielsen; niece, Kara Nielsen; Hernandez with son Patrick; and
sister-in-law, Jennifer Nielsen.
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Professional Roofing: What is the most difficult
roofing project you've performed?
Hernandez: Harold Washington Social Security Center, Chicago. The
150-foot- (46-m-) tall, 70,000-square-foot (6503-m²)
building's existing coal-tar pitch built-up roof (BUR) system was
installed over water-logged, tapered fiberglass insulation on a
concrete roof deck. At its highest point, the insulation was 10
inches (254 mm) thick. Our 12-member crew used a 50-ton (45-Mg)
crane to hoist two 260-gallon (984-L) kettles onto the roof and
hang a debris chute. The crew then installed a two-ply vapor
retarder, tapered foam glass insulation with a 10-inch- (254-mm-)
high point, four-ply coal-tar pitch BUR system with a double flood
coat and gravel surfacing. We began work in October 1998 and
completed work in December 1998—10 days before Chicago
experienced a record snowfall.
Why did you become a roofing contractor?
I like to say Mike Promen, president of Clark Roofing, drafted me
into the business, but the truth is Promen gave me the opportunity
to join the company in 1994—six months after I married his
daughter Michele. He called it a three-month trial period to see
how things would work out. This November, my three-month trial
period will have lasted nine years.
What was your first roofing experience?
The first job I sold, while working as a salesman, was a 30-square
(270-m²) roof on a two-flat building in Chicago. I told the
building owner roofing work would be completed in about three days.
He and I equally were surprised when a seven-man Clark Roofing crew
appeared on his small side street with a crane and tanker truck and
replaced the roof...
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