Roof restoration 101

By The Coffee Shops®. 

Discover what makes a roof a good candidate for restoration and the steps contractors can take to protect it for the future. 

Years ago, when a roof was damaged or needed significant repairs, the typical solution was to tear it off and replace it entirely. Today, advances in roofing repair technology offer building owners another option – Roof restoration. But how do contractors determine whether your roof is eligible for a restoration?  

They’ll start by evaluating the current state of your roof. They will look for things like:  

• Standing or ponding water: This can indicate structural sagging in the roof deck. Soft areas underfoot may be a sign that the insulation is saturated. 
• Splitting membrane: This can be indicative of internal damage as it shows the age of the membrane and is often a spot where water can intrude. 
• Rust, rot or decay: Inspectors will look for this both on top of the roof and in the building as it signals areas with significant damage. 

During this process, they are trying to determine the extent of the damage to the roof. This is because, according to the experts at APOC, “Building codes and standards often state any roof that is more than 20% saturated must be fully torn off and replaced.”  

If this initial inspection goes well and it is determined that your roof is a good candidate for restoration, the next step is preparation. This process will look slightly different for every roof, but the APOC experts say there are four fundamental steps:  

1. Prepare the roof: Remove debris and thoroughly clean the surfaces. 
2. Prime the surfaces: Proper priming helps patches adhere to the roof. 
3. Complete the repairs: Patch the affected areas and make sure the roof is watertight. 
4. Apply a protective coating: Finish the project with a long-lasting coating designed to protect the completed work. 

While the cheaper cost and less disruptive nature of a restoration is attractive, it is important to make sure that your roof is being properly assessed and prepared before jumping straight into a restoration project.  

Learn more about the process.