Today, restoration options can be considered for practically any different type of roofing system, including single ply, metal, asphalt based, or coal-tar based structures. There are benefits associated with restoration, but how do you know whether your roof is eligible for this work in the first place?

What to Check

The first thing you need to look at is the maintenance history of the roof. If you've been in the house a long time, you will be able to provide this to the contractor quite readily. If not, it can be assessed during an inspection. Just remember that any inspection must be performed a maximum of six months before any planned works take place. Any longer and new damage could have occurred to compromise the potential outcome.

Areas to address during an inspection or analysis include the following:

• Do you have a history of any roof leaks?
• What's the condition of the underlying deck and the insulation? This can be checked by analysing a piece of insulation removed at source.
• Are there any existing locations where water is penetrating? Sometimes, an infrared scan can be used to reveal these problems issues.

If any problems are identified during the inspection phase, they must be fixed before any restoration becomes a viable option. However, when the roof is fundamentally sound, most smaller problems can be cost effectively and easily dealt with.

Why Leak Containment is Important

Roof leaks will tend to occur whenever penetrations are found at termination points: in other words, flashings, drains, curbs and perimeters. All of these penetration points must be repaired or their components replaced according to their condition before proceeding with a restoration. You may also find it worthwhile to add some drainage crickets to any area that is prone to ponding of water. These devices create an additional slope to force water away to other areas with better drainage.

Always try and make sure that water ponding is discouraged, as this can invariably lead to problems in the future. Work to increase run off slopes, or to reroute water channels in order to discourage ponding.

Consider a Hybrid Approach if Damage is Evident

Even if moisture penetration has caused damage to the insulation, the roof may still be a candidate for restoration, so long as this damage is relatively confined. In these cases, only the most seriously damaged part of the roof will be replaced, while the entire structure is then restored.

For more information, contact a business such as Reliable Restorations.