A brand-new roof is a costly purchase and puts a big dent in any budget. Here in Colorado Springs, it seems every hail season brings a new round of fresh roofs. Though sometimes a new roof is necessary, most of the time repairing the existing roof is a better option for you or your business. It is the responsibility of a roofing company to help extend the life of your roof as much as possible, rather than unnecessarily replacing it. In general, this is not only better for the environment, but also a less expensive option.
Benefits of Repairing Instead of Replacing Your Roof
It is normal for a roof to incur problems over the years due to external forces such as intense heat, heavy winds, or monsoon rains, but not every problem requires replacing a roof. In many cases, the roof can simply be repaired which in turn yields several substantial benefits for commercial building owners, such as:
Less Money
A completely new roofing system can cost thousands of dollars and put a major dent in a building’s maintenance budget. Repairs tend to cost much less and can extend the life of a roofing system without breaking the bank.
Less Disruption
The noise level that naturally accompanies a roof replacement may interfere with the work being done inside the building, and because the process can take an extended amount of time, it may ultimately hamper work and production levels. Repairs typically result in less disruption to people and processes inside the building: often no one notices we are there! Which can allow interior activities to proceed as normal.
Less Time
A replacement requires bulk orders of multiple materials and will take longer to finish. In contrast, many materials needed for repairs are often already on hand since they are not needed in bulk, and repairs require fewer work hours than a full replacement. Repairs tend to be much faster to complete, and much less of an inconvenience.
Less Waste
We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with building owners who commit to more sustainable processes, a roof repair can support that goal. A replacement roof is an involved process, and the waste created by tearing off an existing roof is vast; contributing to the overall environmental footprint of the facility. Repairs yield much less waste and allow for a much lower impact on the environment.
Does My Roof Qualify for a Repair?
Unfortunately, sometimes a replacement is the only option. There are a number of issues that a roof can have that can’t be fixed without a full replacement.
This can only be determined once the roof is professionally inspected, available moisture-finding techniques are employed, and the drainage systems have been thoroughly inspected. If a roofing system has sustained a leak that was left unchecked and has allowed water and moisture to be absorbed into the insulation, that insulation must be removed and replaced before repairs in that area can begin.
As a general rule, if a quarter or more of the existing roofing system is found to be saturated with moisture, or if the materials have deteriorated to a state that is beyond repair, it may require more serious measures such as a complete roof replacement.
How To Know If My Facility Needs a Roof Replacement
Respectable professionals will offer a variety of inspection and maintenance plans designed to ensure that potentially harmful issues are discovered as soon as possible. Roofing inspections should include leak inspections, identification of leak sources, examinations of a roof’s age and defects, a detailed report, and recommendations for the future.
One of the key areas of an inspection report is moisture retention findings in the roof. As noted above, moisture retention can determine if a system is eligible for repairs. Moisture retention testing should include multiple tests such as:
- Core sample analysis – For this method, samples of the roof are taken so a laboratory can better analyze the physical makeup, tensile strength, and moisture content of a system.
- Infrared scans – This technology can help professionals find moisture taking root in an area such as an open seam.
- Tramex – The Tramex Moisture Scanner is a tool that can help find sometimes hidden pockets of moisture in the roof.
For building owners, a detailed report from an inspection is key. This should clearly document the issues experts find in a roofing system. Many professionals also provide the client with pictures of the problems they find. This should give owners a better idea of the scope of problems which can better equip them to know if a roofing company is recommending an unnecessary replacement.
Be Smart About Roof Care
Whether the roof of your structure requires repairs, renovation, or a complete replacement, its longevity will depend heavily on how it is cared for.
smartCARE is a regular maintenance program which will extend the life of the roof and ensure that any warranties from material manufacturers stay in effect.
