Re-covering your roof is faster, less expensive and better for the environment than tear-off and replacing it

Installing a new roofing system over your existing roof (if viable) is an alternative approach to roof replacement.

The major advantage is the cost savings associated with not having to remove and dispose of the existing roof membrane. This can be acheived with a variety of materials including cool roof coatings like those from Conklin. Another advantage is the reduction of materials sent to landfills because labor, disposal and trucking costs are high and are climbing faster than material costs.

There is also an opportunity to improve the thermal performance of the roof system, as most re-covers include the installation of a thin section of insulation or other material to separate the new roof membrane from the existing roof membrane. A final advantage that re-cover has over replacement is that the existing membrane stays in place, protecting the interior from water damage while the new roof is being installed.

Determining the Presence of Moisture
As with repairs, an issue that must be addressed prior to any re-cover is determining whether moisture is present under the existing system. Trapping water within an existing roof assembly is a problem that often occurs with improperly executed re-cover projects.

If moisture is present under the existing system, additional investigation is warranted. If the subsurface moisture is extensive (30-35% or more of the entire roof area) it may be more practical and cost effective to remove the entire roof system and replace it rather than attempting a re-cover.

There are many devices and methods used to detect and quantify subsurface moisture including nuclear backscatter, infrared imaging and capacitance meters. There are advantages and disadvantages of each system, and these should be explored.

Roof Layers and Weight
Another factor influencing whether or not a re-cover project is feasible is establishing how many roof systems or layers are currently in place, which requires making inspection openings. Most modern building codes allow a maximum of two non-ballasted roof systems on a structure, mostly due to the weight associated with the roofing materials. 

Other code-related issues are wind up-lift and fire resistance, which the building’s insurance carrier may also influence through specific requirements. The length of the warranty required for the new roof also needs to be considered, because many roofing manufacturers will limit the duration for the warranty available on re-cover projects.

Consider Re-Covering Your Roof

Before you tear-off and replace your aged roof, consider getting a quote from a professional roofing contractor who specializes in re-cover systems for a more affordable, more energy efficient, more environmentally friendly, more sustainable, and faster-to-install alternative to re-roofing.

To learn more about re-covering your roof, please watch this short video:

 

Find a Contractor here


 
ROOFING CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!

Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com/ 

Should you have a foam roof installed?

A relatively small experienced crew can install a large spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roof system. The key, though, is experienced - when incorrectly installed, SPF roofing systems can blister as a result of poor installation timing, improper substrate preparation, or even equipment problems.

Like most roofing systems, SPF must be installed under suitable environmental conditions. The applicator should not proceed with substrate temperature below the manufacturer’s recommendations or humidity within 5 degrees of dewpoint. Both the SPF and the protective coating should not be applied when there is ice, frost, surface moisture, or visible dampness present on the surface to be covered. Barriers may be required if wind conditions can affect the foam quality or create overspray problems.

Since applicator knowledge and experience is important to the successful installation of an SPF roof, it is important to thoroughly investigate past performance when selecting a SPF contractor. Fortunately, the United States has high-quality foam contractors in every 
geographic region.

Cost of SPF Roofs
SPF roofing systems vary widely in cost depending on the foam thickness required, the type and thickness of the coating or covering, the degree of substrate preparation, availability of contractors in a specific region, and other factors. As with other roofing systems, there are high-end and low-end SPF roofing systems. Michelsen Technologies performed a life-cycle analysis for SPF roofing systems in five climate areas of the United States. The study concluded that the average SPF roofing system in those areas cost between 15-50% less to install and maintain than conventional membrane systems over a 30-year time frame (the study reported costs based on 6-year, 10-year, and 15-year recoat schedules).

Learn More!

To learn more about the many benefits of SPF roof systems, please watch this short video:

 

When your roof begins to age and fail, consider getting a quote from a professional roofing contractor who specializes in SPF roofing for a more affordable, more energy efficient, more environmentally friendly, more sustainable, and faster-to-install alternative to re-roofing.


Find a Contractor here

 

 

ROOFING CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!

Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com/ 

Preserve and restore single-ply TPO roofs with reflective roof coatings

TPO, or thermoplastic polyolefin, single-ply roof systems are durable and fairly energy efficient, cost effective and easy to install. TPO-based products have been available since the 1980s, and the first sheets for membrane roofing were introduced in 1989. By 1993, the earlier non-reinforced membranes were replaced by fabric-reinforced sheets, which is what is available today. It is the fastest-growing segment of the membrane roofing market.

But high heat and solar loading can cause premature failure in single-ply roofs. Another issue is moisture below the roofing membrane, causing debonding and curling of insulation and cover boards, loss of thermal performance and compressive strength, mold growth, and deterioration of the structural roof deck and roof structure. One other issue is the cost and landfill impact of tear-off when it comes time to replace an aging TPO single-ply roof system. The entire system must be removed and completely replaced once it has reached its useful life.

Applying a white roof coating to a new or existing TPO roof reduces the heat load on the membrane and the building, and significantly prolongs the roof system's service life. White roof coatings have an initial solar reflectance of 80% or higher, keeping the roof surface near ambient temperature to reduce your energy bills.

Installation begins with power washing to clean the roof. Next, a primer is applied to the entire roof surface. Seams are reinforced with base coat and fabric, and finally the white top coat is applied.

Coatings also reflect UV rays, which protects the membrane, preserves elasticity & flexibility, and provides a protective barrier - all contributing to fewer leaks, extended service life, and reduced life cycle cost of your roof. Recent improvements in coating adhesion technology in addition to the need for enhanced solar reflectance have created an even greater opportunity for home and building owners to have restoration coating systems installed, avoiding tear-off and replacement of aged TPO roofs.

So before you replace your aged TPO roof, consider getting a quote from a professional roofing contractor who specializes in single-ply roof restoration coatings for a more affordable, more energy efficient, more environmentally friendly, more sustainable, and faster-to-install alternative to re-roofing.


Find a Contractor here


ROOFING CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!

Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com/
 

Questions to ask a roofing contractor about foam roofs

Here are a few tips to help you select the right spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roofing contractor for your home or commercial building.

Try contacting roofing suppliers for a list of reputable contractors in your area. If they only provide you with a couple of companies, keep them handy as there is probably a good reason for the limited recommendations. Also, if more than one manufacturer or supplier recommends the same contractor, it is usually a positive sign.

You can also contact trade groups such as the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) or the National Roofing Contractors Association for recommendations on roofing contractors in your area who are experienced with foam roofing.

Ask the contractors submitting bids if they participate in educational programs such as SPFA’s Accreditation Program.

Obtain recommendations from friends and associates, but be sure to compare apples to apples - for example, hiring a great commercial roofer for a residential project may not be ideal.

Interview the contractors to determine if they have the qualities and experience you desire. Some questions to ask your prospective contractor include:
- What types of roofing system do you install?
- What types of roofing system do you prefer or typically recommend?
- How long have you installed these systems?
- What is your specialty?
- What is your preference for my particular roof?
- What is your service area?
- Do you have offices or personnel in those regions?
- How many crews do you have?
- Have you ever declared bankruptcy; if so, what were the conditions?
- Who will perform the work on my roof?
- How are they trained?
- What certifications, approvals, licenses, or awards does the company have?
- How does your company address site safety and regulatory compliance?
- What associations does your company belong to?
- What is the average length of a roof project like this?
- How soon can you schedule my project?
- What warranties are available?
- Do you provide maintenance services (including inspections)?
- How do you handle complaints or call-backs?
- How do you verify quality?

Check references. Most contractors will provide a list of references on projects similar to yours. Be sure to check out enough to get a good understanding of the contractor’s relative performance and customer service. A few helpful questions to ask references provided by a roofing contractor include:
- Were you happy with the overall project?
- Was the contractor reliable, informative, helpful, on time, etc?
- Were there any misunderstandings?
- Did the project start and end according to estimates?
- Do you consider the roof a good investment?
- How old is the roof?
- Were there any complaints or problems; if so, did the contractor address your concerns satisfactorily?

The information you collect can assist not only in finding the right contractor, but in evaluating pricing differences. With a little effort, you should be able to find a contractor you can trust to do a great job.

Please watch this short video to learn more about Conklin  spray polyurethane foam (SPF)  roof systems:

Find a Contractor here

 

 

ROOFING CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!

Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com/