WHY SHOULD YOU AVOID INSTALLING A SECOND ROOF?
Roof replacement is a very stressful time for building owners. It costs a lot of money, takes up a lot of your time, and requires a lot of attention on your part managing the project. Because roof replacement can be such a difficult process, many building owners try to minimize the task and avoid the difficulty as much as possible. One method is installing a second roof over top of the first roof. This method eliminates the need for roof tear-off in the present. Tear-off adds a layer of complexity to the project, so roofing is easier when you can avoid it. However, there are some serious concerns with installing a second roof on your building. Most of these concerns are born from the fact that a second roof utilizes traditional roofing methods. We prefer newer roofing methods like silicone coatings. Let’s check out some concerns with installing a second roof.
Traditional Roofing Methods are Expensive
Installing a second roof means you’re going to take a traditional roofing system and install it above your current roof. The issue here is that traditional roofing systems are expensive. Installing a second roof on your building means you’ll spend more money than required on your roof. A silicone or spray foam roof can be more effective and less expensive. Traditional roofs cost more for installation, and also for the materials themselves in many cases. Don’t spend more than you have to by installing a second roof. A silicone coating works just as good (or better) for a smaller investment.
Installing A Second Roof is Time-Consuming
In addition to requiring a larger financial investment, installing a second roof requires more time. First off, there are special accommodations that must be made on the roof to make it compatible with the second system. On top of this, traditional roofing systems just take longer to install than a silicone roof coating or a spray foam roof. These two “new” roofing systems require less setup time, and less install time when compared to traditional roofing methods.
Both Roofs Will Eventually Be Torn Off
Current building codes forbid installing more than two roofs on a building. So, if you want to avoid roof replacement and install a second roof in order to do so, when it comes time to replace that roof you’ll have to tear off BOTH roofs. This will eliminate any time, money, and energy you saved the first time around because it will take twice as long. However, silicone roof coatings and spray foam roofs aren’t seen as secondary roofs installed over top of the old one. They don’t count against your two roof total. So, if you install a silicone roof coating, you can simply recoat it again at the end of its life without every tearing the roof off. Then, recoat it again after that! And, if for some reason you install a silicone coating and hate it (which you won’t), and wish you had installed a second roof instead (which you won’t), then you can install your second roof right over top of the silicone coating.
Conclusion
Installing a second roof on your building is a fine way to avoid tear-off right now, but eventually both roofs will have to be torn off. A second roof is expensive, time-consuming, and ultimately ineffective. If you’re considering roof replacement or installing a second roof, give us a call today to see how our coatings and foam can help you during this process.
