Jews For Jesus - Rooftop Patio Flooring - Skokie, IL

By Brett Hart Created: May, 2017 - Modified: October, 2023

When Melanie Rose was tasked with finding a replacement for curled and tattered 3/8 inch thick EPDM roof protection mats at Jews for Jesus in Skokie, Ill., protecting the roofing membrane under their rooftop deck/patio was her primary concern. She researched nearly a dozen different kinds of roof mats and tiles before deciding on Sterling Roof Top Tiles from Greatmats.

After experiencing severe curling with the previous mats, the Chicago-area non-profit facility was looking for a material that would first and foremost protect the roofing membrane. As the thickest and longest lasting option, Sterling Roof Top Tiles were a clear favorite for Melanie and her Chief Administrative Officer at the San Francisco headquarters.

Among the factors that came into play were customer service, price and durability against foot traffic, furniture and weather conditions.

The eight-year-old roof protection mats to be replaced not only failed to protect the roof membrane after they began curling, but also became hazardous to walk on and left black carbon on the feet and clothing of children playing on its surface.

All 11 of the mats considered for the new surface were interlocking mats, but the 2'' Sterling Roof Top Tiles were the only ones with more than a 1'' thickness. Melanie spoke at length with sales representatives from each company and was impressed with the knowledge and professionalism of her Greatmats representative who confidently pointed her in the right direction and sent her a free sample. She eventually narrowed her field of options to the Sterling Roof Top Tiles, Jamboree Playground Tiles and Puzzle-Lock Rubber Interlocking Mats, which she presented to her CAO to make the final decision.

While the Sterling Roof Top Tiles were more expensive than the rest of the options, she and her CAO felt the benefits outweighed the difference in price. What most impressed Melanie was the fact that the tiles were well made, dense, thick and had excellent drainage. They also wouldn't fade, freeze or curl under the stresses of full sun exposure, extreme temperatures or snow that is so common in the area. To top it off, the tile comes with a 10 year limited warranty.

Once the tiles were ordered, Jews for Jesus, hired a local handyman and his partner to install the flooring, which took them two days to complete the project. Melanie's opinion of the product after installation only got better.

''I was surprised at how beautiful it looked!'' Melanie said. ''Even though the pictures on the website are nice, the real thing was more beautiful. ... To see and walk on the entire deck of them was impressive.''

The newly resurfaced space is used as a deck/patio for a pair of apartments above an office.

''People are always coming and going and we have events on the deck,'' Melanie added. ''The seams fit tightly together. It's very, very durable. It's comfortable to walk on. And we have the confidence that the roofing membrane underneath is fully protected.''
Melanie Rose
Jews For Jesus
Skokie Illinois 60076
Terra Cotta Flat Roof Floor Tile