Tag: roof recovery systems

A Beginner’s Guide to Roof Recover Systems

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

It can’t be said enough: preventative maintenance is the best way to protect a commercial roof and make it last longer. Most major roof repairs can be prevented by following this important guide, but if you’ve lapsed on your maintenance or inherited roof problems after buying a building you may need to consider a roof recovery.

A roof recovery system uses a new membrane over the existing roof. These systems can be installed on roofs with damage, but only if the structural integrity of the roof deck is still sound. For many leaks and other types of damage, roof recovery may be the best option, but there are some things anyone considering a major change to their roof should know about.

Roof recovery systems are more affordable:

Reroofing requires stripping every part of the existing roof down. You have to tear off the insulation, membrane, and flashing all the way down to the roof deck. This is a time-consuming and expensive process. Because roof recovery systems also use the existing insulation and other roof materials, there is less to replace, making it more cost-effective.

Roof recovery systems are considered more environmentally friendly:

By reusing the existing roof materials, less new raw materials go into roof recovery. This isn’t just good for your wallet, but it’s also beneficial for the environment.

The age and amount of damage can limit the effectiveness of a roof recovery system:

Roof recovery systems are cheaper than a reroof, but they aren’t inexpensive. If a roof is already reaching the end of its life or has significant damage, it may be worth the extra money to just get a new roof that will last longer. Though this costs more up-front, it may save money in the long run.

Excessive moisture can make a recovery unviable:

While many types of damage can be papered over with a roof recovery, extreme moisture intrusion cannot. If the insulation or roof structure has gotten wet, putting a new roof over the existing one will only exacerbate the problem. It’s possible to remove moisture from some parts of the roof and replace wet insulation, but it’s important for roofers to use thermal detection to attempt to discover how much of the roof insulation is contaminated. If too much of the roof is wet, it may be more cost-effective to replace the roof. 

Consider the roof deck:

Without pulling up the existing roof, it’s impossible to adequately examine the condition of the roof deck. A damaged roof deck will eventually mean that the roof needs to be replaced and can render a roof recovery system ineffective. If there is reason to believe that the roof deck has been damaged, it may be necessary to replace the roof. 

Only a roofer can determine if a recovery is appropriate:

The best way to understand if your roof is best suited for a recovery or a replacement is to consult a reputable roofing company. Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. has decades of experience in both roof recoveries and replacements. To find out more, contact us today.

Roof Recover Systems: How to Know if Your Roof Meets the Criteria

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

What’s the difference between roof replacement and roof recovering?

Here are the basics:

Roof Recovering is when you install a new roof over the old roof. However, it’s only a viable solution in certain situations. (We’ll share more on that later.)

Roof Replacement is when you tear off your old roof and install a completely new one in its place. In certain situations, this is the best solution to roofing issues.

Why Choose Roof Recovering Over Roof Replacement

Unsurprisingly, roof recovering is cheaper than roof replacement. You won’t have to pay for the cost of removing and disposing of the old roof. You’ll just have to pay for the installation of a new one.

Beyond that, when a roof is torn off, it exposes your building to the elements, the most dangerous of these being rain and moisture. When your facility undergoes a roof recovering, it is never exposed to the elements, making it a less risky option than a complete replacement.

You may be thinking, “Why would I pay to tear off the old roof if I could just install a new one over it?” Well, because roof recovering is not always a viable option. If the existing roof has excessive moisture within it and has not been properly repaired, installing a new roof over it could trap the moisture and cause problems in the future.

Additionally, your existing roof may have been a recovering job itself, meaning— your existing roof may have been installed over the roof before it. Facilities are generally only allowed a limited number of recoverings before the roof must be torn off and completely replaced. Beyond that, there are certain requirements a roof must meet in regards to wind up-lift resistance and fire protection. A roof recovering is not a viable option if it would not meet those requirements.

When You Should Choose Roof Recovering Over Roof Replacement

In an ideal scenario, your “old” roof would be in perfect condition, aside from being a bit worn-out. It’s unlikely your roof will be in “perfect” condition, but your roof is a good candidate for recovering if damage is minimal and could be repaired before beginning a recover.

When You Should Choose Roof Replacement Over Roof Recovering

If you’re not following a preventative roof maintenance plan, you might hardly even notice your roof until something is wrong—which could prevent recovering as an option. Quite often, it’s a leak that gets your attention. If that’s the case, you’ll need a professional to assess the condition of the roof and help you determine the extent of the moisture present in the current roof. If there’s too much moisture trapped, the damage may be too extensive for repair to be cost-effective. In that case, a complete tear-off and replacement would be the best option.

Two Checklists to Help Determine if Your Roof Should be Replaced or Recovered

A complete roof replacement may be best if…

  • The existing roof is too damaged for repair to be a cost-effective option
  • The existing roof is too damaged to support a recover
  • Your current roof is a recover
  • Building codes do not permit recovering (or do not permit another recovering)
  • A roof recover would not meet wind up-lift or fire protection requirements

A roof recover may be viable if…

  • Your current roof is NOT a recover
  • Your current roof is structurally sound and could support a recover
  • Recovering is permitted by building codes
  • Little or no moisture is present in the current roofing system
  • The current roofing system is only minimally damaged or undamaged and can be repaired before beginning the recover

Regardless of your situation, make sure you get a professional commercial roofer’s assessment before deciding on a recover or a replacement. Click here to get in contact with us. We’d love to help you make the best decision for the future of your facility.