How to Tell If a Roof Is A Good Candidate for Restoration?

Generally, roofs that have been 20%-25% (or more) saturated will require replacement. But a thorough assessment can paint the full picture.

A visual inspection can help uncover troublesome areas across the roof. Look for splitting membrane, soft areas underfoot, rusted or rotted decking, and ponding water. Further testing can give you a clearer picture of the roof’s health. Roofs with low to moderate damage and saturation levels are often good candidates for roof restoration.

Restoration Basics

Generally, the restoration process looks like this:

Step 1: Remove debris and thoroughly clean the roof.

Step 2: Apply high-performance primer to the roof membrane to ensure good adhesion for patching, stain blocking, and rust inhibition. 

Step 3: Patch and seal the roof and ensure all parts of the system are watertight.

Step 4: Supplemental protective coatings can be applied to better protect against common forms of roof damage.

Benefits for Contractors

As illustrated in the recently published Roof Restoration Index, a collaboration between APOC and the Cotney Consulting Group, the benefits for contractors are clear: 

Improved profit productivity. Restoration generates ~85% higher modeled gross profit per crew day vs. reroof options. Further, restoration can deliver nearly double the profit per crew day. 

Enhanced labor efficiency. Restoration requires lower labor intensity—up to ~85% less vs. tear-off benchmarks. Time on job decreases significantly as well.

Greater time efficiency. Restoration averages ~eight crew days compared to 13 for recovery and 26–30 for tear-off. Findings showed that restoration can be completed in roughly one-third the time of tear-offs

Stronger margins. Restoration generates stronger average gross margins compared to study comparison ranges for reroof alternatives by ~43%. 

Want to learn more? Read the full Roof Restoration Index or contact your APOC representative today.