The repair or replacement of a roof may come unexpectedly and catch a building owner off guard. There are many issues that contribute to rooftop damage including the location, poor maintenance, moisture, and many others. When deciding whether to repair or replace an existing structure, certain factors should be examined in order to save time, money and labor costs.
Repairing
Repairs are ideal for roofing components which only have minor damage or if the structure itself is not very old. If the deterioration or damage is extensive, any repairs will have little to no chance of solving the problem. For instance, replacing an old base flashing may eliminate the source of water intrusion but is not a wise investment since a new element will not perform as well as the older roof on which it is based.
Repairs only work if the exact source of the leak is identified; if the leak is extensive or cannot be pinpointed, any attempt to repair is pointless as leaking will mostly likely continue. This will just lead to even more damage to ceilings and other interior components and repair costs will continue to escalate. If the existing system is older and leaking, it is simply a matter of time before replacement will be required. In this type of situation, a temporary repair is no longer reasonable as replacement is going to be inevitable.
Replacing
Following is a list of situations when a complete replacement or tear-off is strongly recommended for a roof:
- Local Code – A tear-off is required in order to be in compliance with local building code where it may be mandated.
- Age – If the existing system is very old and has deteriorated beyond recovery or is no longer serviceable, the roof should be removed and replaced.
- Deterioration– If the underlying structural decking has an extensive level of moisture or has significantly deteriorated, the roof should be replaced.
- Improper Protection – In situations where the system can no longer provide the proper fire protection or wind up-lift resistance required by local building code, then the structure requires replacement.
- Damaged Insulation – If the existing insulation contains phenolic foam that creates formic and sulfuric acid when exposed to moisture that corrodes any steel components, then a complete removal is needed.
Moisture
One of the most destructive problems to any roofing system is moisture. It is important to remember that climate and temperature has a great influence in the selection of materials and roof design. In certain areas, a vapor barrier should be installed with the new structure. The quality of materials used is equally as important to effectively combat future moisture problems.
The wisest choice is to contact professionals to inspect the structure, answer any moisture-related questions, and deal with roofing technicalities and code related issues. This will help dispel any false assumptions and provide factual information regarding the cause of such problems so a wise decision can be made whether to repair or replace a roof!
Schulte Roofing Are The Ones To Call Regarding College Station Roofing!
Trying to locate a College Station roofing company to help determine whether or not it is time to replace your roof? Contact Schulte Roofing at 800-367-7663 for any such needs in the College Station area!