Roof Restoration Versus Replacement: School District Finds the Most Cost-effective Solution

By Cayden Wemple.  

A roof may seem like it needs a full replacement, but more often than you’d think, all it needs is a little restoration love to get it looking like new.  

When a roof needs major repairs, building owners face choices. If a roof is over 20% saturated, it must be fully replaced. However, if it's below that threshold, restoration can be a cost-effective solution, as the Monroe Township Public School District in New Jersey found. 

Two schools in the district, Williamstown High School and Williamstown Middle School serve almost 4,000 students. The district’s goal is to keep the environment comfortable, so the learning conditions are ideal. They sought out to achieve this goal by initiating construction projects, including solar energy and HVAC upgrades. This would also reduce energy costs significantly.  

Patriot Roofing, Inc., a commercial roofing contractor, was selected after a visual analysis of the roofs to identify wet areas and any sections requiring new insulation. Restoration was recommended as the most economical solution since the roof had low-to-moderate damage and saturation levels. Patriot proposed using a high-performance coating for the restoration project, which the district accepted. 

Restoration 

To restore the roof, debris was removed, the roof was cleaned, patched for waterproofing and coated for protection. Patriot Roofing used a liquid silicone membrane solution from APOC for the restoration of the schools. This one-coat system saved time as it didn't require a basecoat, fabric embedding or a topcoat. The silicone membrane they used is flexible, durable and can prevent weather damage when properly maintained. Restoration certainly saves time and money compared to a complete roof replacement. 

The future 

The Monroe Township School District is committed to upgrading its buildings to be more energy-efficient and better able to withstand the elements. As part of this effort, the district has turned its attention to restoring the roofs of several elementary schools. According to Tim Weaver, project manager for Patriot Roofing, the schools could benefit from silicone roof coatings, which are a growing trend in the market due to their ease of application and ability to resist ponding water. 

Read the full case study here to learn more about the restoration efforts and future of the buildings in Monroe Township School District. 

Learn more about ICP Group in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit icpgroup.com.