Maintaining a strong roofing system is important for the overall soundness of any property. For commercial properties, this is especially true considering the potential cost associated with allowing the roof to deteriorate too far. For example, a small commercial roof leak can result in widespread water saturation of insulation or electrical components, affecting the entire building.
However, there is good news to share. A damaged commercial roof can often be repaired instead of requiring a costly roof replacement. When we are able to extend the life of your existing roof with a repair, we will always recommend that option above a roof replacement.
So, when is it better to repair your commercial roof instead of replacing it?
When to Repair a Commercial Roof
A commercial roof repair may be a simple and budget-friendly option for your property, depending on the extent of roof damage and what type of commercial roof system you have.
You should consider a repair when:
- The roof has not lasted for its full expected lifespan (typically 10-20 years depending on material type)
- The roof is still serving the building’s energy efficiency, including dry roof insulation
- An inspection shows that the roof is in good condition without failing seams or edges
- Any damaged areas comprise 25% or less of the entire roof surface
When to Coat a Commercial Roof
Commercial roof coatings are a great way to extend the life of your roof, and typically cost only 50%-70% as much as a full replacement. Coatings also save landfills from construction waste resulting from roof replacements, and are much less invasive on the property’s tenants than a full replacement.
You should think about a roof coating when:
- The roof material is showing signs of age and may be leaking in one or more areas
- The roofing substrate and deck is structurally sound
- The roof is still serving the building’s energy efficiency, including dry roof insulation
- Coating testing shows that coating materials will adhere well to the existing roof material
When to Re-Cover a Commercial Roof
In some cases when roof damage is more extensive than a small repair or coating will allow, re-covering the roof with new membrane could be an option. If your roof is a single membrane material that has not been re-covered with another layer in the past, a new roof cover layer may be your best bet.
You should consider re-covering your roof when:
- The roof has met or exceeded its expected lifespan (typically 10-20 years depending on material type)
- The roof is still serving the building’s energy efficiency, including dry roof insulation
- The existing roof has not been covered with an additional layer yet
- The roofing substrate and deck is structurally sound
When to Replace a Commercial Roof
In some cases, repairs may not be an option if the roof has too many failure points. If your Denver commercial roofing contractor determines that repairs, coatings, or re-covering are not an option for your roof, it is likely time to replace it.
You should consider replacing your commercial roof when:
- The roof has met or exceeded its expected lifespan (typically 10-20 years depending on material type)
- The roof’s failure areas comprise more than 25% of the roof surface
- The roof no longer serving the building’s energy efficiency, and has saturated roof insulation
- The roof has already been re-covered with one or more additional layers
Schedule Your Free Commercial Roof Inspection Today!
If it has been more than a year since your last commercial roof inspection, contact our team to get your complimentary roof inspection scheduled. Our project manager will document the inspection with photographs that you will receive in an easy-to-use cloud photo sharing app, so if there are any areas that we recommend repairing we’ll be able to show you exactly where and why.
