If you are a commercial building owner, dealing with roofing issues is a priority. After all, if your building's roof is damaged, it's going to lead to leaks and structural issues within the building itself. Especially for flat metal roofing, restoration is a popular option for addressing roofing problems. However, restoration isn't a solution for every commercial roof. Some are better candidates than others. Here's a look at a few of the things you should consider if you're trying to decide whether or not your commercial roofing is eligible for restoration.

What Condition Is The Metal In?

The first thing that you need to think about is the condition of the metal itself. Restoration starts with grinding away any surface rust before coating the roof in sealant again. Sometimes, roofing panels have rusted beyond this restoration, and those panels will need to be replaced. It's important that you have a roofing contractor assess the entire roof to determine the overall roof condition and to identify any roofing panels that might need to be replaced completely.

It's important to know this from the beginning because it will directly affect the cost of your roof restoration. And, if more panels are deteriorated beyond restoration than not, you'll be better off just having the roof replaced completely.

How Many Layers Of Roofing Material Are There?

The next thing that you'll want to talk with your commercial roofing contractor about is how many layers of roofing there are on your building. If the prior owners had a roof-over done, that would leave your building with two layers of roofing since the old roof will be left underneath the new one. This can disrupt the restoration process and leave your roof more vulnerable to damage. As a result, you should make sure that your commercial roof has only one roofing layer before you consider restoration.

Is There Any Moisture Beneath The Roofing Surface?

You'll need to have your roofing contractor assess the condition of the insulation and sublayers of the roofing before you decide whether or not you'll have the roof restored. If there's an extensive amount of insulation and subroofing that's wet, that's a key indication that your building's roof is leaking. 

If so, it will need more significant repairs instead of a restoration. However, if the insulation and subroofing are dry, and there's no visible sign of any kind of leak in the roofing material, you might still be able to consider restoration instead of replacement.

Does The Roof Show Any Signs Of Drainage Issues?

Flat commercial roofing often faces drainage challenges. There's typically a small grade incorporated for drainage, so it keeps water from ponding on the roof and causing leak trouble. If anything has happened to the metal roofing that's disrupted that slope and drainage, you may have water pooling in some areas on the roof. If so, this needs to be addressed before you can even consider the possibility of restoration. In some cases, if the damage is extensive enough, you won't be able to restore your existing roof.

Are There Any Fasteners Backing Out On The Roof?

When you talk with a roofing contractor about roofing restoration, they will also look for any fasteners that may be backing out of the roofing sheets. In some cases, if it's only a couple of fasteners, your roofing contractor might be able to just repair the problem while they are restoring the roof.

However, many fasteners backing out across the roofing area could indicate that there's a problem with the roofing installation or the materials. In those situations, you'd need to have a roofing contractor replace the existing roof to address the issues from the first installation.

These are some of the things that you need to think about when you're considering a roofing restoration. Talk with your roofing contractor today for more help and information.