Questions about restoring a flat roof

It depends on the size of the roof, its condition and how much repair it needs. On many small commercial buildings a restoration runs about half the price of a tear⁠-⁠off and new roof, often less, because there’s no demolition, no dumpsters and no new insulation package. You get a written quote after the inspection, and we’re happy to show you what a tear⁠-⁠off would run.

Prices and savings are estimates. Every roof is different, and we confirm after an inspection.

No. We keep your existing roof, repair it, clean it and roll on two coats of silicone that cure into one continuous, waterproof membrane. You skip the tear⁠-⁠off and get a new surface with a 10⁠-⁠year warranty*.

*Limited material warranty on qualifying roofs. Ask us for the full terms before you sign.

It can, especially if your roof is dark today and the building is air-conditioned. A bright white roof reflects most of the sun’s heat, and the Department of Energy reports that a cool roof in a hot climate can cut a single⁠-⁠story building’s air-conditioning use by up to 15%. The roof needs an occasional wash to stay bright.

Savings depend on your building, insulation and climate.

Most jobs take a few days on the roof, depending on the size of the roof and how much repair it needs. Your business stays open the whole time, because nothing gets torn off.

The coating is rolled on, so there’s no overspray drifting onto cars or the building next door. It’s a low-VOC product, but you may notice a mild solvent smell while it cures. We plan the work around your rooftop air intakes to keep it out of the building as much as possible.

It depends on your city. Building codes generally allow a coating over an existing roof without a tear⁠-⁠off, but some cities still want a permit. We check with your building department and pull one if it’s required.

Yes, once it’s cured, for normal maintenance traffic. Silicone is slippery when wet, so we recommend walk pads on the paths to your rooftop units, and anyone on the roof should take care in wet weather.

We inspect it first and tell you straight. If a restoration is the wrong call for your roof, you hear that before you spend anything.

Most low⁠-⁠slope commercial roofs: metal, modified bitumen, built⁠-⁠up roofs, EPDM rubber, spray foam and concrete. Every roof gets inspected first, so we’ll confirm yours before we quote.

Silicone is the go-to coating for flat roofs that hold water. It doesn’t soften or wash away under standing water the way acrylic coatings can. If water sits in the same spot for days, we’ll also look at your drains, because fixing the cause helps the whole roof.

Yes. Loose rust is cleaned off, rusted spots are treated, and every screw and seam is sealed before the coating goes on.

We fix the leaks first. Seams, flashings, penetrations and soft spots are repaired and reinforced with fabric and sealant. Then two coats of silicone seal the whole surface in one continuous membrane.

Tell us where your booth intake and exhaust stacks are. The coating is rolled on, so there’s no overspray, and we schedule the coats around the days you aren’t spraying. We go over the plan with you before we price the job.

A 10⁠-⁠year warranty* on the coating.

*Limited material warranty on qualifying roofs. Ask us for the full terms before you sign.

Call Chase and we come back to look.

The roof doesn’t have to come off. It can be cleaned and recoated with silicone for another term instead of torn off.

It may be. A restoration can qualify as a repair you deduct in the year it’s done, instead of a new commercial roof depreciated over 39 years. Since 2018, commercial roof work can also qualify for Section 179. Every building is different.

Talk to your accountant.

Call your insurance company before any work starts. We’ll inspect the roof, document the damage with photos and give you a written scope you can share with your adjuster. Punctures and cracks get repaired before any coating goes on. We don’t handle or negotiate insurance claims, and your deductible is yours to pay.

A coating isn’t a new roof in every insurer’s eyes. If roof age affects your policy, ask your agent how they treat a restoration before you decide.