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Should You Tear It Off? A Guide To Flat Roofing

Dec 23, 2021Construction, Education, Planning, Product

1. Roof Over?

If your roof is still in good shape, consider covering it over to save money on labor. Many roofing companies will benefit from tearing it off and installing again, but that’s not always necessary.

  • Should you decide not to tear your roof off, youll be saving money on labor and disposal fees while increasing the R-Value of your home by leaving that existing membrane on.
  • By not tearing your roof off, this reduces waste material and trips to waste facilities. 
  • Doesn’t affect manufacturers warranty (TPO isn’t covered under PVC warranty)
  • You should tear it off and replace it if there is significant plywood damage including rot or soft spots. (Pictured below)

2. Insulation

Fanfold
  • Lightweight and resilient expanded polystyrene sheathing. 
  • Single-ply, easy to install insulation
  • Thermal barrier prevents condensation.
  • This is the option we prefer because of it’s easy rollout and single ply attributes, especially for a roof over job.
Polyiso
  • Foam board insulation made of closed cells to keep out air and moisture.
  • Popular choice for roofing projects.
  • If you want to add more insulation to your roof, you can get thicker sheets of Polyiso insulation compared to Fanfold.

If you’re unsure on what to choose, call us to help you find the best materials to use.

3. Flat Roof Systems


  • We recommend PVC or TPO roofing. They are modern thermoplastics that last long, don’t dry out, and they don’t need to be coated.
PVC
  • Single-ply thermoplastic roofing membrane.
  • Chemical and fire resistant.
  • Trusted in the roofing industry for 30+ years.
  • It welds together for a watertight bond when high heat is applied (pictured above).
  • Great in cold weather climates.
TPO
  • Great for office buildings or general use buildings.
  • Single-ply thermoplastic roofing membrane.
  • More affordable than PVC
  • Not as good in colder climates

To get a better idea of what you’ll need, give us a call and we’ll help you decide what system is best. 360-900-ROOF

4. Color Options

  • Commonly PVC and TPO come in white and grey. However, you can custom color match your roof to be any color you want it to be. 

If you found these tips helpful, leave a comment below. Reach out to us if you need any assistance setting up a consultation, or if you have any general roofing questions!
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