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A roof is something everyone wants over their head whether it’s a residential or commercial application. You have to have a roof. It is one of the biggest expenses and investments for home and business owners. Few of us ever think about our roof until something happens whether through storms, winds, or the natural aging progression of human-made materials over time. Everything wears over time, even the best products and materials.
Typically no one considers their roof until there is a problem such as a leak, cracks, missing pieces like shingles, rubber, or deteriorated metal. Because roofing is expensive there are several things to consider when trying to decide if you should restore the existing roof, or replace it.
Restoring a roof is cheaper than replacing one. While it won’t extend the life of the roof as much as a new one it will get you farther down the road than you think. If your company is trying to save capital, planning on relocating, or expanding down the road this might be a great option for you. You get an improved roof with an extended life without having to shell out more capital than you want to at the time. This frees up capital to focus on growing your business, marketing, equipment investments, etc.
A restoration involves fewer material and labor costs than a new one. A commercial roof usually lasts between 15-20 years and with the restoration, you can usually stretch that to another 10-15 years before you would have to replace it. This provides valuable time to make long-range capital improvement and corporate growth plans.
Restoration reuses your existing roof. By doing so you are helping the environment. This is sustainability in action. Your facilities can be made more energy-efficient and you may qualify for energy credits.
When you restore your roof it is categorized as an upkeep/maintenance expense, but replacement is categorized as a capital expense. Taxwise the maintenance expense can be an advantage because you are taking a deduction as opposed to trying to recoup the cost through depreciation. Commercial roofing is depreciated on a 39-year timetable per Federal tax code. By extending the life of your current roof you are receiving a bigger tax advantage. Consult your accountant or tax preparer for the exact tables and numbers.
The decision to restore or replace a commercial roof is dependent upon the condition of your current roofing. Only a trained professional can assess whether your roof is a candidate for being restored, or if it needs to be replaced. Time is critical and it’s up to you to make the call and consult a professional roofer. Make sure you get more than one quote or opinion on the condition of your current roof.
A reputable roofing company will inspect your roof for things like ripples, tears or bubbles in the roofing material. They will look to see if there is any standing water on the roof, cracking in seams, or gaps. They will also inspect the interior of your building to see if there are wet spots, leaks, mold, and odors.
Commercial roofing is an investment and you need to make sure you have a professional giving you an informed opinion/recommendation after proper inspection. At Gilstrap Roofing our trained team strives to help customers make wise decisions in regard to roof repair, or replacement.
Brian Gilstrap, President
Greenville, SC 29611
Have you ever driven by a roofing job in your neighborhood and noticed the black paper on the roof before the shingles were applied? Roofing felt or felt paper, also called underlayment or roofing tar paper, goes between the roof deck and the shingles, which adds another layer of protection to your roof.
Underlayment has a base made from natural materials like wood cellulose, or synthetics like fiberglass/polyester. Then it is covered with a protective asphalt coating, known as bitumen. The felt paper repels water and still allows it to breathe.
Professional roofers know that by adding a layer of protection between the wood and the shingles not only serves aesthetic purposes but extends the life of your roofing. The underlayment serves several purposes:
Brian Gilstrap, President
Gilstrap Roofing
Greenville, SC 29611
864.269.1232
Email: office@gilstraproofing.com