Roof Restoration Repair or Maintenance

Roof Restoration Repair or Maintenance

Home Improvement roof

Your roof plays a very important role as the first line of defense against the attacks of mother nature and is vital not only to the interior comfort of your home or business but is a major factor in the overall structural integrity of your home or building.

There can be many options in the consideration to roof repair, maintenance and restoration. Consulting a qualified licensed roofing contractor is your best first step in evaluating your course of action and options to address your roofs current state of health. A thorough inspection of your attic and exterior roof surface will in most cases easily identify your course of action. Upon establishing your course of action a wide variety of options will present themselves depending on the current type of roof you have.

Standard pitch roofs common among residential construction are more often than not covered with asphalt shingles which of course come in a wide variety of styles and color. Other options include metal roofing which is becoming more and more popular today, slate, concrete or barrel tiles, cedar shake, and fiberglass based roofing which is manufactured to appear as slate, barrel, cedar shake, etc. These various options provide a wide range of life expectancy from 10 years to over 100 years.


Commercial roofing is quite a different animal altogether. Normally consisting of a very slightly sloped flat roof, commercial roofing is on average a mixture of rolled rubber based sheets that are rolled out over the roof surface and overlapped and sealed with a hot tar and then covered with small gravel. Drainage is internal in most cases and directed through the gradual slope of the roof to drains that run internally to the structure and tie into and empty into the city/county storm drain system.

Upon inspection by your qualified contractor your options will usually be small and decisive. Pitched residential roofs upon attic inspection will quickly determine any structural issues with the roof sheathing, framing or trusses.


If rot or termites have affected the structural integrity of the wood than completely stripping the roof in those areas will be necessary to replace/repair the damaged wood. if the sheathing and framing are intact your decision will be limited to what type of roofing you wish to replace your existing roofing with.

Flat roofs will normally require complete stripping of the existing materials and applying new base materials. Reuse of the removed gravel is possible but normally price prohibitive. In summary, begin with your roof inspection by a licensed contractor to establish current conditions and then explore your personal preference options.

Leaky Roof Restoration Tips

Leaky Roof Restoration Tips

Home Improvement roof

If you’re having a problem with a leaky roof you can be sure that you are far from alone, and the really good news is that it doesn’t always have to cost a lot of time or money to get the problem fixed.

How to spot the signs of a leaky roof

Sometimes a leak isn’t obvious at all. It’s one thing when there is actually water dripping onto your floor and you’ve got a bucket in place while you look up a roofer online, but many leaks stay within the structure of your home.

In these cases, they deal slow damage to your ceiling, walls, and even your floors, so by the time you notice them you might already have thousands of dollars in repairs to catch up on.

What to look for:

• Curled Shingles: This indicates that your shingles are dried out and damaged from the sun, and may have to be replaced
• Missing Shingles: This might mean your tar strip has worn out, in which case your roof may have to be restored.
• Cracked Shingles: Any number of things can cause this, but cracks can lead to leaks or further damage, so it’s best to keep on top of things.
• Excessive Moss: A little moss means you need a cleaning, while a lot of moss has probably damaged your roof, causing cracks and separation.
• Dark Spots on your Ceiling: This is a strong indicator of a leak, which could be caused by any of the above problems.

Should I Repair Leaks Myself?

I probably don’t have to tell you this, but working on a roof can be pretty dangerous, so you want to be sure you take all necessary precautions. If you are at all hesitant or the idea makes you nervous, it’s best to call a professional.

Things to be aware of:

• Weather: Bright and sunny days are by far the best time to work on a roof. Even if it isn’t very cold or raining, your roof will be slightly damp and have less traction when it’s overcast.
• Safety Equipment: You might need a ladder to get up there, and a safety rope may be necessary if your roof is high or steep. Generally, rubber-soled shoes will give you the best grip on your roof.
• Other Dangers: Be aware of the location of power lines running near your roof. This is an absolutely vital thing to educate yourself on, because exposed power lines can spell grave injury, or even death.

Hiring a Professional

This is usually the better option, unless you are absolutely certain that you can get the job done right on your own. It is almost always worth it to spend a little money here to ensure a job well done.

Roof restoration can greatly increase the life of a building

Roof restoration can greatly increase the life of a building

Home Improvement roof

Roof restoration can greatly increase the life of a building's roof, while saving money for the property owner. As its name implies, roof restoration is about improving the existing structure of the roof in order to prolong its usefulness. Unless the roof has been irreparably neglected or damaged, the framework of the roof is most likely to still be sound. Thus, it does not need to be completely replaced. By making certain upgrades and replacing beams and other components that have out lived their use, the property owner can use what is still good about the current structure.

Besides saving money by using what is still good, roof restoration has many other cost-saving advantages. Since restoration is a maintenance expense, the cost can be immediately attributed to the business as an expense. Further, it is advantageous to extend the life of a roof through restoration since the government allows the depreciation of the roof to extend over a 39 year period. Both of these factors can have benefits during tax time.

Further, roof restoration allows one to take advantage of special promotions and discounts. For instance, many states and municipalities offer tax credits and rebates for businesses and homes that upgrade their roofs. Also, insurance companies often lower a structure’s premiums if the restoration reduces the risk of fire.

The good news about roof restoration is that there are a lot of options from which to choose. Thus, there are solutions for everything from asphalt and gravel hybrids to metal roofing applications. Also, many property owners choose to take advantage of new high-tech coating processes, which can greatly save on a building’s energy costs and prolong the life of the roof itself.

In order to be a candidate for a roof restoration, it is imperative that the roof have a complete and thorough inspection no more than 6 months before the project is to begin. Since the success of the restoration depends upon the overall soundness of the roof, it is necessary to examine the beams and supports of the roof, as well as it insulation. Further, the roof must be checked for water damage and penetration using an infrared scanner. If the roof is found to be structurally sound, then the roof restoration may proceed.

A roof restoration is a great option for property owners looking to extend the life of their buildings, while at the same time saving money.