Pros & Cons Of Roof Coatings Vs Roof Replacements For Your Bergen County, NJ, Business
Pros & Cons Of Roof Coatings Vs
Roof Replacements For Your
Bergen County, NJ, Business
How To Decide The Best Option For
Your Roofing Problems
If your commercial roof needs to be repaired in Bergen County, NJ, you’ll need to decide whether you’ll benefit more from a roof coating or a roof replacement. One critical factor in protecting your assets is ensuring your roof is watertight, and either of these options will ensure this.
Commercial roof repair and maintenance can help you protect your current roof, ensuring you get the most significant value from your investment. However, sometimes you will need a complete roof replacement, and trustworthy commercial roofing contractors will tell you when that’s the case.
This article will explore the pros and cons of roof coatings vs. roof replacements to help you understand which option is in your best interest. Read on for all the information you need to make the most informed decision for your commercial roofing problems.
Benefits Of Roof Coatings
If you’re unfamiliar with roof coatings, they are made of a high-solid, waterproof material, like silicon, rubber, or asphalt, and are similar to paint in the way they’re applied. Your roofing contractor can roll it on or use a sprayer.
However, that’s where the similarities to paint end. Guaranteed roof coating systems are specifically designed to withstand weathering and keep leaks out.
For a roof coating system to be most effective, several things must be taken into consideration:
- Wet insulation must be identified and replaced
- Sections of damaged roofing membrane must be identified and replaced
- The coating must be tested for adhesion
- The roof must be cleaned thoroughly and/or primed
- All seams must be reinforced
There is almost no limitation to the type of roofing that can be coated, except for a built-up gravel roof. In this situation, there is no cost-effectiveness due to the amount of material needed to ensure every nook and cranny is coated.
However, there are eligibility requirements for every roof that needs coating. It must have good-quality seams that are not in severe disrepair. In addition, at least 75% of the insulation must be dry and annual maintenance must have been regularly performed on the roof.
Now that we’ve covered roof coatings, let’s dive into the benefits of a coating vs a roof replacement.
Lower Cost
One of the most alluring factors of a commercial roof coating system is its cost-effectiveness. In general, you can save 60–70% of the total roofing replacement project costs when you choose this option.
A New Renewable Warranty
In most cases, the manufacturer will provide you with a solid warranty for their roof coating, covering the labor and material. At 1 Call Restore, we only install premium roof coating systems manufactured by reputable companies, such as GE(General Electrics), GAF, Karnak, Vitalcoat, Tri-Built, Mule-Hide, and GACO.
Many manufacturers will require a thickness of 20 mils. Over time, this thickness will depreciate so that by the time the warranty expires, you can have your North Jersey commercial roofing service company return to apply another coating. A new warranty can be provided once it’s restored to 20 mils.
However, other roof coating systems exist that retain over 90% of their thickness for more than 20 years. This process can be repeated indefinitely until you have no choice but to opt for a commercial roof replacement. Considering the amount of money this will save you, it’s no wonder why so many businesses rely on this exceptional roof repair and roof maintenance option.
Your Roof Will Become Seamless
The seams and penetrations on a commercial roof are the most likely places where it will suffer from leaks. This is due to the separation of the seams over time from exposure to changing temperatures.
However, when a roof coating is applied, it covers everything, seams and flashings included. This essentially makes your roof seamless and eliminates the most likely cause of leaks.
Minimal Business Disruption
Commercial roof coatings are easily and quickly installed, meaning you’ll have workers on your roof for a significantly shorter period than with a complete tear-off and replacement. This ensures you’ll have minimal disruption to your regular business operations, keeping everything moving smoothly.
Downsides To Roof Coatings
Despite all the excellent benefits of roof coatings, there are a couple of downsides you’ll need to consider. However, they may not be significant enough to warrant a full roof replacement.
Before deciding on a roof coating, you’ll need a thorough roof inspection to determine if you have any structural damage. This option will not address these concerns, which will only continue to worsen if not resolved as quickly as possible. In this situation, you may find a roof replacement is the better option.
There can be a lot of prep work involved with roof coatings. However, compared to the time it takes to tear off a roof and install a new one, it’s the better choice for minimal disruption to your business.
Unlike a roof replacement, the weather needs to be ideal for the application of a roof coating. If an unexpected rainstorm occurs on the day of your scheduled appointment, it will need to be pushed back to ensure you get the best adhesion to your roof.
Benefits Of A Roof Replacement
Getting a new roofing system for your Bergen County, NJ, business does have its benefits. The number one consideration is that you can increase the R-value of your roof, which cannot be done with a roof coating alone.
The R-value is the efficiency of your roofing material to prevent the transfer of heat flow. The greater your roof’s R-value, the lower your building’s loss of heating and cooling through the roof.
A new roof can also improve the overall strength of your building. The roof is key to protecting the structural integrity by keeping the elements from affecting everything inside. By having a replacement completed, you’ll have a leak-proof system you can count on for years without needing to worry about repairs.
Downsides To A Roof Replacement
Most commercial buildings in North Jersey have their HVAC and other critical systems installed on their roofs. This can be very problematic when trying to install a new roofing system. Working around these units is challenging for roofing contractors, requiring skill and knowledge to get the job done right the first time.
Parts of your building can be exposed for extended periods throughout the roofing project. This is generally the case during the tear-off phase and is something to consider before replacing your roof.
Unlike a roof coating application, a commercial roof replacement may cause a significant business disruption with all the equipment and workers coming and going from the project site. The replacement will take much longer to complete, increasing the inconvenience.
