Here at Enviroply Roofing, we are leading roofing installation professionals. From replacements and renovations, to new build roofing projects, we offer a range of high quality professional services for commercial and industrial properties. But if your existing roof is damaged, what can you do? Well, there are several different commercial roof refurbishment options available. The type of refurbishment you should choose will depend entirely on the circumstances; it’s essential that your existing roof is inspected before you consider any refurbishment options.
What are the different commercial roof refurbishment options?
There are several different options available if you want to restore or refurbish your existing commercial roof. These options include the existing roof can be:
⦁ Stripped and replaced
⦁ Partially replaced
⦁ Overlayed
The existing roof can be stripped and replaced
A complete strip may be required if your flat roof has been leaking for any length of time, or if you have previously attempted to repair the leak and have failed. For leaks to be causing severe water ingress, there could be a series of external tears in the membrane, allowing rainwater through, or you could have a problem with blistering, surface stresses or just plain ageing. In any instance, while sealing the external holes or rips, or resolving surface issues might help, water may have caused damage to the other layers of your single ply roof. This means that roof stability can become a problem, as well as rot. Especially if your roof deck cannot dry out. This should be tested by a professional team like us here at Enviroply. We can take core samples to try and establish how widespread the moisture problems may be. If a significant portion of your roof is damaged, a full replacement will be the safest and most cost effective option in the long run.
By fully stripping the roof, all damaged roofing layers will be able to be removed completely, as well as the roof deck if necessary. This is crucial for the structural integrity of the roof, as well practical concerns like repairing water damage and maintaining thermal efficiency. Depending on the level of damage caused, the roof can then be replaced with a whole new roof system, including a roof deck, vapour control layer and insulation and single ply membrane. This can result in a number of benefits, including:
⦁ A roof that is compliant with all the latest industry standards
⦁ Increased value of the property
⦁ Lower utility bills
⦁ Improved aesthetic appearance
⦁ High quality, high performance roof
The existing roof can be partially replaced
In instances where only part of the roof has been damaged, or where a leak is contained to one small area, the roof can be partially stripped and replaced. Leaks that have formed in one single roofing area can still cause significant amounts of damage, so it’s important that this is judged by a professional team, like us here at Enviroply. Minor areas of damage to the uppermost layers of the roofing system can easily be partly replaced in the correct circumstances, however it’s important to ascertain the cause of the damage, be it weather, animal or age, to help find long term solutions to this issue before a partial replacement is installed. Otherwise you could face the same issue in just a short period of time.
When a roof is partly replaced, the problem area can be dealt with, without needing to replace the entire roofing system. This can only be recommended in specific circumstances, and when your existing roof meets the following requirements:
⦁ The roof is able to replaced in strips, without damaging the other layers of the roof, such as the insulation, vapour control layer or the roof deck
⦁ The problem or leak can be shown to only be localized, and not widespread
⦁ The roof elements are individually attached
The advantages of a partial roof replacement include:
⦁ Lower cost than a full roof replacement
⦁ Improvements to the roofs structural integrity by resolving the issue, preventing the damage from spreading
The existing roof can be overlayed
By overlaying the existing roof you can further protect your property from weather and elemental damage, as well as animal activity. This type of roof refurbishment however, is simply a new roof covering, and it will not help to repair or replace any other roof layers, such as the roof deck. As such, an overlay is only useful for a roof refurbishment if your existing roof is found to be stable and structurally sound, with no signs of water ingress or moisture damage.
Overlaying your existing roof involves using the existing roof waterproofing as a vapour control layer, and applying additional thermal insulation, and a single ply membrane on top of this. This will raise the level of the roof slightly, as more layers are added to the roof deck, and this can only be implemented when the existing water-proof layer is examined for durability, damage and security. It will need to be analysed in terms of how this is attached to the substrate, to prevent wind uplift from causing damage to the new roof overlay. This is something that will be examined and planned by your professional roofing team, using a thorough system of calculations.
Your property can benefit from a roof overlay if there is a small amount of moisture within the current roofing system, as long as this has not yet affected the roofing system.
The major benefit of a roof overlay is that your commercial premises can continue to operate as normal, with no downtime, while the work is carried out.
For more information or advice about commercial roof restoration options, get in touch with the experts today, here at Envrioply Roofing.