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  

Gilstrap Roofing

Greenville, SC 29611

864.269.1232

office@gilstraproofing.com

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:

• It serves as a water repellent when heavy rain and storms can cause moisture to get trapped between the shingle and wood of your roof decking. Humidity is terrible news for any roof causing water damage, leaks, or even mold. The felt helps keep water away from the wood, so it doesn’t leak into your attic and home.
• Roofing felt can be a life-saver during extreme storms, heavy rains, and snow. Even if you lose a shingle, the felt provides an extra layer of protection for the roof deck. The underlayment continues to form a line of defense for your roof should a shingle come loose.
• For those living in areas where there is a lot of snow and ice, which can cause ice dams on roofs, it prevents water from building up and seeping through onto the wood decking. Ice or snow dams are hard on roofs because once the water gets trapped, it has to go somewhere when it begins to melt, and after sitting on top of your roof, it can only go down and attack the wood. The felt forms a powerful barrier preventing melting ice/snow from getting into your insulation, or worse, drywall ceilings.
• Roofing tar paper can increase the fire rating for your roof, which can result in lower insurance rates if you have a roof without it. The additional layer can yield a Class A fire rating. When roof shingles are rated, they are done so with felt underneath. By themselves, your particular shingles may not pass the Class A fire rating. Professional roofing companies choose a base that is a match with your specific shingle. Be sure to ask your roofer about the grade of your shingles and the felt paper they use. ASTM International is standard compliance.
• Ever noticed a new home that sits for a week, two, or even three before the roofers arrive to apply the shingles? If there is a lot of rain, snow, ice, or high winds during that period, the wood deck can be damaged. Felt roofing paper offers a layer of protection during this period before the shingles are secured. You don’t want to risk wood rot, moisture, or mold on a new roof before shingles are secured.
• This extra layer helps shingles lay flat by providing an even surface for the shingles to lay flat. Roof decking is not always uniform as it can have slight imperfections from the lumber yard. The smallest notch or bump can cause a shingle to set up, or sink. The underlayment helps the shingles bind to a flat, even surface, which causes uniformity with fewer abnormalities.

Brian Gilstrap, President
Gilstrap Roofing
Greenville, SC 29611
864.269.1232
Email: office@gilstraproofing.com