Commercial Roofing Questions, Answered

Four things: a walk of the full roof surface; a check of seams, flashing, drains, and penetrations; photos of problem areas; a written proposal with your options. The proposal explains what we found in plain language. See what the free inspection includes.

No. The inspection is free and carries no obligation. The photos and the written proposal are yours to keep, and you can use them however you like, including to compare contractors.

We respond to new requests within 24 to 48 hours and set a time that suits you. After the inspection, your written proposal arrives within 24 to 72 hours of the inspection.

It comes down to what is under the surface. A roof with a solid deck and mostly dry insulation is often a restoration candidate. A roof with widespread wet insulation or a failing deck usually needs to come off. Our article Restore, Recover or Replace? walks through the decision, and our commercial roof restoration page explains the process.

A recover is a new roof installed over the existing one, usually with new insulation board in between, instead of tearing the old roof off first. It is only an option when the existing roof is dry and there aren't already too many roofs on the building. We'll tell you whether your building qualifies.

Start by finding where the water is really getting in, which is often not directly above the drip. Then repair it with materials that bond to that type of roof. Our commercial roof repair page explains how we trace and fix leaks.

There isn't one number for every building. A well-maintained roof that has problems fixed early tends to stay in service much longer than one that is left alone until it leaks, and restoring a sound roof can put off replacement.

How long any roof lasts depends on the material, the installation, the weather, and how the roof is maintained.

It varies with the membrane thickness, the quality of the heat-welded seams, sun exposure, foot traffic, and upkeep. Our TPO and PVC roofing page covers both membranes in more detail.

How long any roof lasts depends on the material, the installation, the weather, and how the roof is maintained.

The biggest factors are the roof's size and condition, how much wet insulation has to be replaced, how much repair and cleaning comes first, the coating system and thickness, and the warranty term. We explain each one in What Drives the Cost of a Commercial Roof Coating in Upstate NY. Your free inspection gives you real numbers for your building.

That depends on the thickness applied, the roof underneath, and how the roof is cared for afterward. When a coating wears, it can usually be cleaned and recoated instead of torn off. Read more about our commercial roof coatings.

A restoration coating can extend the service life of a sound roof. Results depend on the roof's condition, the system used, and maintenance.

Not over wet areas. Before we recommend a coating, we check the roof for wet insulation. Wet sections are cut out and replaced and active leaks are repaired first, because a coating would seal the moisture in.

Usually, if the rust is on the surface and the panels are still solid. Panels that are rusted through need a different approach. Our metal roof restoration page explains the process, and Coat It or Re-Sheet It helps you judge your own roof.

Yes, for inspections and many repairs, whenever the roof is safe to walk. Coatings are different: they need a dry surface and temperatures above the manufacturer's minimum, so coating and restoration work is scheduled for the warmer months.

It gives you time. An inspection before or during the cold months shows you what the roof needs, so you can budget for it and get on the schedule before the coating season opens. It can also catch drainage and flashing problems before snow and ice make them worse.

Depending on the system, Shield Roofs can offer up to a 20-year material warranty backed by Conklin Roofing Systems, with maintenance plans available. Your written proposal spells out the coverage for your roof.

Warranty terms vary by system and project; ask for details.

Yes. A maintenance plan puts regular inspections on the calendar so small problems are found and fixed before they turn into leaks. Our roof inspection and maintenance page has the details.

It depends on the size of the roof, how much repair it needs, the system, and the weather. A small repair is usually quick, while a large restoration or replacement takes longer. Your written proposal includes an expected timeline for your building.

Most businesses stay open during repairs, coatings, and restorations, because the work happens on top of the existing roof. A tear-off needs more planning, and we'll go over access, noise, and scheduling with you before the job starts. See our commercial roof replacement page for how we plan a tear-off.

Commercial roofs of any size, including warehouses, manufacturing and industrial buildings, retail and shopping centers, offices, restaurants, churches, and healthcare facilities. See all of our commercial roofing services.

We're based in Fort Plain, NY, and serve commercial buildings within about 100 miles, and farther when a job calls for it, including Utica, Rome, Herkimer, Amsterdam, Schenectady, and the towns between. See the full list of areas we serve.

Yes. We install metal and shingle roofs on houses and handle gutters and skylights. See our residential roofing page.