Roof Replacement Vs. Flat Roof Coating In Bergen County, New Jersey
Roof Replacement Vs. Flat Roof Coating
In Bergen County, New Jersey
What Is The Difference? Which
Is Right For Your Property?
The flat roof of your Bergen County, NJ, commercial property should last 15 to 25 years, depending on the materials and the amount of maintenance you perform. For instance, it matters how often you clean the roof or replace your flat roof coatings.
Nevertheless, however well you care for the roof, it will eventually deteriorate and require replacement. Roofs must withstand weather events all day, every day, so the roof may fail and start to leak. And leaks could prove disastrous. Moisture infiltration damages the roof structure, destroys furniture and finishings, and often leads to mold.
Two of the most common solutions to roof leaks include the following:
- Roof Replacement
- Flat Roof Coatings
Unfortunately, many property owners don’t know their options and do not understand the differences between these two courses of action. The information below should help you choose between them.
What Damages Roofs Of North Jersey Properties?
Roof damage occurs for numerous reasons. Exposure to the elements is the main cause of failure to most roofs, although age is also a factor. Let’s look at some of the main causes of roof deterioration.
Age Of The Roof
Most roofs are only designed to last for a few decades. As the materials age, they naturally begin to deteriorate. Once a roof nears or exceeds its expected lifespan, you can expect it to start falling apart. The flat roof may turn brittle, bubble, or crack, and leaks may occur.
Wind Damage
Wind blows tree branches, which often strike or scrape the surface of the roof. Falling limbs can puncture the top layer and leave the roof susceptible to moisture infiltration.
Hail And Ice Damage
Hail and falling ice can cause impact damage to the roofing materials and the flashings that surround the chimney and other roof penetrations. The more frequently this happens, the more rapidly a roof can deteriorate.
Rain Ponding On The Roof
Rainfall is a serious threat to flat roofs. Dust, leaves, and other organic debris can collect moisture and hold it against the surface of the roof and permit water to seep inside. The same is true when drainage is impeded and water ponds on a flat roof.
Sunlight
Sunlight is made up of numerous types of electromagnetic radiation, including ultraviolet (UV) rays. The wavelength of UV radiation is shorter and more intense than that of visible light, and exposure causes oxidation to roofing materials. Oxidation is the same process that forms rust on iron, and it turns the roof brittle, making it prone to cracks.
What Is A Roof Replacement?
Roof replacement is when a roofing contractor tears the old roofing materials off and replaces them with new materials. The roofer often strips the roof down to the sheathing – or the roof deck that sits on the roof joists and to which the shingles or roof membrane is attached.
In some cases, such as when the roof sheathing is sagging due to being compromised by moisture, the roofing professional must replace the roof deck as well.
What Are The Pros And Cons of Roof Replacement?
Roof replacement gives you peace of mind knowing that your roof is composed of all new materials. It can therefore provide the protection you expect from a new roof. It should last for the full expected lifespan, eliminating the need to worry about problems for many years.
This is in contrast to roof repair, where the roofer repairs only the worst sections of the roof. The rest of your roof may still be compromised to some extent. You may soon face additional repairs, and other parts of the roof may eventually leak. This is particularly true of roofs that are 15 or more years old.
It is also in contrast to flat roof coating, which we discuss in depth below.
What Is Flat Roof Coating in Bergen County, NJ?
Flat roof coatings are a variety of viscous, paint-like liquids that a roofer applies to the roof of your North Jersey commercial building. Some are silicone-based,or asphalt based while others are made of urethane or acrylic. They adhere to the roofing materials and eventually cure or dry and harden.
What Are The Pros And Cons of Flat Roof Coatings?
The application of flat roof coatings is known as roof restoration. It offers numerous advantages over roof replacement.
Lower Cost
Roof restoration is far less expensive than a full roof replacement. Property owners can expect to save 60% to 80% on the cost of tearing off the old roof and installing a new one.
Less Intrusion
Roof replacement is an inherently intrusive activity. It can take one or more weeks to complete the project, as roofers must remove the roof and cover the opening with plastic tarps . It can interfere with a business’s daily routine, and the noise and activity might negatively impact operations.
Roof restoration takes far less time, does not require a hole in the roof, and there is far less noise and activity. It is thus the far less intrusive option.
Less Waste
When a roofing contractor replaces a roof, all the old materials must be discarded. These end up as landfill mass. Application of a flat roof coating rejuvenates the roofing materials and extends their lifespan by 5 to 20 years.
Less Environmental Impact
Not only does flat roof coating extend the life of roofing materials, it reduces your business’s carbon footprint. Coatings reflect sunlight, which make the building easier and cheaper to cool.
The extended roofing lifespan eliminates the need to manufacture and transport materials, and the lack of waste means contaminants do not end up in the soil or groundwater.
