Roof restoration or replacement? 5 steps for making the right choice

Share this important information with your customers to help them decide if they should restore or replace their roof.

Building owners and facility managers know that eventually they’ll have to face the prospect of replacing their roof. This typically requires a large capital investment and results in a significant disruption in the day-to-day activities of the facility.

Fortunately, in many cases there is a money-saving alterative to reroofing: roof restoration. Employing advanced roof coating technologies such as silicone, acrylic or aluminum, roof restoration systems enable the facility’s current roof membrane to be restored at a fraction of the cost of roof replacement, ultimately extending the roof membrane life cycle.

But there is a window of opportunity for roof restoration that you need to be aware of before it’s too late. Generally speaking, if 25% or less of a roof needs to be replaced, then restoration is a cost-effective option. But how can you know if your roof is a candidate for restoration?

As a trusted source to building owners, Henry® Company can assist you by taking you through five key steps that will determine whether roof restoration is an option for you or if roof degradation is too far progressed, closing the window of opportunity for this money-saving alternative.

Step 1- Information Gathering

The first step is to gather as much information as possible about your building, and in particular, your current roofing system. We will interview your team to determine the age of your roof, the type of roof system and whether or not it is under warranty. We’ll also want to note your roof’s repair and maintenance history, as well as locations of any previous leaks.

Step 2- Visual Inspection from Below

The next step is inspecting the condition of the underlying roof deck. Depending on the building type, it may be possible to visually inspect the roof deck from inside the building. This process will identify areas of water penetration, holes in the deck, rusted metal decking and degradation of the existing roof deck. The extent of damage noted is important, as it will help determine the financial feasibility of restoration.

Step 3 - Visual Inspection from Above

The next step is “walking the roof,” observing its overall condition and looking for confirmation of restoration feasibility. We will look for visual signs of surface degradation, such as cracking, exposed reinforcement and blisters on the surface, as well as take note of other roof conditions of concern. A thorough evaluation of the existing roof surface helps to determine the severity and scope requirements for restoration. We’ll also look to see if membrane plies are delaminating, if seams are well-adhered and if flashings and drain areas are intact. If signs of water intrusion exist, we will recommend obtaining a thorough moisture scan to identify the location and severity of the moisture intrusion.

Additionally, we’ll be looking for adequate roof drainage and signs of ponding water, especially in areas where leaks were identified during information gathering and inspection of the roof support system. An experienced professional can learn valuable information when walking a roof to help determine its viability for restoration.

Step 4- Assessment

Taking into account everything learned throughout the process, we’ll advise if roof restoration is an option. We’ll take into account the type of roof you have and what roof coating technologies will be compatible with those materials. We can also discuss how long different systems can be expected to last, warranty options, environmental concerns, potential tax credits and energy rebates, and which system is best for your geographic area. Additionally, we can evaluate how a restoration system can provide additional benefits such as increased energy efficiency, exceptional waterproofing integrity, reduced roof life cycle cost and wear-and-tear on rooftop HVAC equipment. Armed with a wealth of reliable information about the condition of your roof, we’ll be able to work in concert with a roofing contractor to provide a solid, fact-based quote that can eliminate costly surprises down the road, while simultaneously resulting in a timely preservation of your roof.

Step 5 - Schedule your FREE roof inspection

Simply complete this inquiry form to see if your commercial roof qualifies to have a Henry® representative come to your location and help you determine whether or not your roof is a candidate for restoration. Take this first step toward a money-saving alternative to roof replacement.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared on Henry Company’s blog and can be viewed here.