ADVANTAGES OF RETROFIT ROOFING SYSTEMS
Most things in life and in nature prefer the easy way over the hard way. The shortest path between two points is a straight line, electricity follows the path of least resistance, and humans are great at finding easier ways to do things. It just makes sense that if something can be done more efficiently and with less effort, that’s the best way to do it. That’s why retrofit roofing systems, specifically ours, are such a fantastic roofing system!
Most traditional roofing systems require tear-off of the old roof before the new system can be installed. This is almost a universal requirement. If you can install the new roof over top of the old roof, then the next time you install a new roof, you have to tear off both of the previous roofing systems. If you go the traditional roofing route, you will have to tear off at some point. Let’s look at why you don’t want to install a second roof on your building and why you should take a hard look at retrofit roofing systems.
Problems with Installing a Second Roof
There are three main problems you’ll encounter when installing a second roof on your building using traditional methods. These three problems are that it is expensive, time consuming, and you have to tear-off both roofs next time.
Traditional Roofing Methods are Expensive
Installing a second roof over top of your existing roof is expensive. It requires a large team, lots of equipment, long hours and many days, and special work to fasten the second roof to the first. As you might imagine, installing a new roof over top of the other one just isn’t an easy process, and it is also very expensive.
A Second Roof is Time-Consuming
One of the reasons traditional roofing systems are so expensive is because of the labor requirements. They take a lot of man-hours to install. Installing a second roof over top of the old one eliminates tear-off (for a while), but also takes a long time because of the labor required. Don’t expect your installation of a second roof to go by quickly.
Both Roofs Will Eventually Be Torn Off
If you install a second roof over top of your original roof, you may postpone tear-off, but you don’t eliminate it. The next time you need a new roof, you’ll have to tear out both roofs on your building. This becomes an even bigger task than the one you originally wanted to avoid.
Benefits of Retrofit Roofing Systems
Instead of trying to put off tear-off by installing a second roof, you can eliminate tear-off by installing retrofit roofing systems such as foam or coating. Both of these systems are installed directly to your roof system and never require tear-off.
Quick Application
In contrast to traditional roofing, retrofit roofing systems can be installed extremely quickly. They can be installed quickly because they are applied directly to the roof surface with minimal modifications required beforehand. This saves time and money.
No Tear-Off
Obviously, a benefit of retrofit roofing systems is that they don’t require tear-off. We already covered how tear-off is a problem for traditional roofing, so just read those paragraphs again if you forgot.
Roof Renewal In the Future
Once you install a retrofit roof system, whether it’s foam or coating, you’ll see benefits for years to come. Instead of tearing the roof off in twenty years, just add another layer of coating and renew the roof. No tear-off, no replacement, just another thin layer of coating.
Conclusion
Installing retrofit roofing systems is becoming more and more acceptable as a good roofing practice. Many roofers and building owners are resistant to change and spray foam and (especially) roof coatings are relative newcomers to the market. They have both proven themselves as viable alternatives to traditional roofing, and even outperform most other traditional roofing systems.
