Everything You Need to Know About Commercial Roof Restoration

Are you a commercial building owner in Illinois? Wondering about the state of your roof?

You’ve likely considered the necessity of a new roofing system, especially if you’re nearing the end of your warranty. Perhaps you’ve already experienced a water leak. Have you considered a commercial roof restoration?

The beauty of restoring a commercial building roof is that you can save a lot of money. By avoiding the cost of a brand new replacement roof, a commercial roof restoration saves up to 70% of your money!

If you want to save big while gaining the same benefits as a brand new roof, you need to consider a commercial roof restoration. Can you afford to risk the contents of your building and its foundation by neglecting the condition of your roof?

We’re going to explain the process of commercial roof restoration and let you know the plentiful benefits. Read on!

Roof Replacement

When it comes to commercial roof restoration, it’s not true that \”What you don’t know can’t hurt you.\” If you haven’t inspected your roof for a while, it may even have deteriorated beyond repair.

The signs of a roof in bad shape differ, depending on the type of roof, but are easy to spot. Seams that have split apart over time are bound to let in water. Roofing materials that show cracks are at risk of failure. Any bulges indicate a lack of adhesion and loss of water-tight seal.

Damaged flashings and gutter seams may start directing water inside the structure of your building.

Depending on your roof’s condition during the inspection, you may have no choice but to replace it. If prior water leaks have damaged your insulation, it needs replacing. Any discolored or dark patches on a roof could indicate that water has already compromised the seal.

The good news is that as long as the damage is not too extensive, your roof may still be able to be restored to like-new condition. Next, we’ll cover how we perform repairs to ensure the maximum longevity of your commercial roof replacement.

Seams and Surface

How is a building prepared for a commercial roof restoration?

First, the guttering system needs a full inspection, and any damaged flashings need repairing or replacing. Without proper drainage, the restored roof isn’t going to stand a chance against the elements. It’s surprising how much damage extreme weather can do if there’s a weakness in the roofing system.

If the roof on your building doesn’t clear rainwater within 48hrs, then the drainage system probably isn’t working correctly. The guttering may need unclogging and thorough cleaning.

The surface of the old roof is fully-examined to identify any gaps that need repairing. Pressure washing is a critical step that ensures a clean surface and allows a perfect water-tight adhesive seal.

Next, high-risk zones like the seams and fasteners receive a mastic waterproof coating (a form of sealant). Drains and fasteners receive a coating to accommodate the expanding and contracting of temperature changes.

Elastomeric Roof Coatings

An elastomeric roof coating gets applied as a liquid. It has elastic properties and is applied on both flat and low slope roofs.

The next step of a commercial roof restoration is to apply the base coat. We use high-quality Aldo products, and they reflect 85% of UV rays. It saves energy by making life easier on your HVAC system all year round.

The topcoat follows, and a specific thickness is built-up and carefully measured. For optimal energy-efficiency, a bright-white coating is used most often, though other color options are usually available.

The method used to apply the roof coating will depend on the type of roof and the preference of the roofing contractor.

One standard method is the use of an airless sprayer. During application, a hydraulic pump distributes the coating as very fine droplets. Tank spreaders are sometimes used, which involves the coating being vertically poured onto rollers and evenly applied across the roof.

Manual rollers can also be used, especially for parts of the roof that are difficult to cover with other methods. These are essentially the same as paint rollers.

Once full-coverage has been obtained with the roof coating product, your commercial roof is fully waterproof again.

Like-New Condition

Some commercial roof restorations only come with a 10-year warranty. The Aldo coating product we use has a warranty of 15 years. Its solar reflectance is still high after three years, and it is energy star certified.

Beyond the warranty, restoring a roof with a coating system can add as many as 25 years to the lifespan of an existing roof.

When your warranty is ending, you can consider further restoring the roof to protect and extend its life for another 15 years. Remember, a roof restoration can save money on maintenance and repair costs too.

Whatever existing roofing system you have installed, most all restore to as good-as-new condition with an elastomeric coating. That includes PVC, TPO, EPDM, built-up, and flat metal roofs. The membrane of your existing roof will be sealed and waterproofed by the elastomeric coating. 

The primary benefit of a roof restoration is that it does not disrupt business operations in the way that a complete roof replacement does.

It’s also much better for the environment since the existing roof does not end up as waste at a landfill site. Commercial roof restoration is a green, environmentally-friendly alternative.

Commercial Roof Restoration

We’ve shown that commercial roof restoration can save you a small fortune compared to completely replacing a roof. Don’t let your roof deteriorate until you have no option other than to replace it.

If you’re a commercial building owner, we can help you. We are commercial roofing contractors that you can trust to provide you with quality services. We offer commercial roof restoration in Springfield, IL, and the surrounding area.

Contact us today for a free inspection and a no-obligation estimate.