Important Steps Before Reroofing

Important Steps Before Reroofing

Important Steps Before Reroofing: when roof maintenance and repair can no longer prevent recurrent help or extend a roof system’s helpful service life. For instance, re-covering or roof removal and replacement.

Considering Reroofing

reroofing may also be considered in situations like:

• Repair expenditures become excessive
• Leakage becomes intolerable
• Maintenance no longer can address leakage
• Damage is occurring to structural components
• Building contents damage
• Occupancy type changes or building use
• The building owner wishes to increase building thermal resistance or roof reflectance
• Installation of a rooftop photovoltaic system
• Aesthetic reasons

Reroofing Evaluation of Existing Roof Systems

Evaluating an existing roof system can determine its condition and possibly the causes for its condition. Determining the causes for and deteriorating conditions allows for correcting the deficiencies as a part of a reroofing project. An evaluation of an existing roof system being considered for reroofing should follow a prescribed routine that allows professional evaluation to examine each functional component of the roof system to identify areas needing attention. In other words, a logical starting point for a roof evaluation is to review any documentation the building owner may have that applies to the roof system.

Interior Reroofing Inspection

In addition, an evaluation of an existing roof system to determine whether to re-cover or replace it should include a visual inspection of the interior of the building in the area underneath the roof area being considered. The inspection also should note the building’s interior environment, occupancy, and use. Whenever possible, it’s often helpful to walk through the interior of the building directly beneath the area being considered to visually observe any evidence of past or active water leakage that may be associated with the existing roof system. Therefore the reroofing underside of the roof deck should also be inspected to determine its type, slope, and attachment. Steep-slope roof systems are usually installed over attics or rafter spaces ventilated to the outside.

Roof System Inspection

Reroofing close-up visual inspection of the rooftop of an existing roof system is essential for adequately evaluating whether roof re-covering or replacement is necessary. As a result, a roof system inspection should include an evaluation of installation, materials, and design. Therefore should amount of:

• Drip edge material
• Base flashings and counterflashing
• Penetrations
• Roof surface condition
• Roof system composition
• Drainage and slope
• Moisture within the existing roof assembly
• Rooftop mechanical equipment