Roofing Tear-off - vs- Recover Board
I’ve obtained several estimates on redoing my existing roof and I ‘m wondering if anyone can offer their opinion? One company wants to remove the roof down to the wood decking , install Firestone MB base sheet embedded in roofing cement, than installing a new Firestone SBS mineral surfaced modified bitument roof embedded in modified…
I’ve obtained several estimates on redoing my existing roof and I ‘m wondering if anyone can offer their opinion?
One company wants to remove the roof down to the wood decking , install Firestone MB base sheet embedded in roofing cement, than installing a new Firestone SBS mineral surfaced modified bitument roof embedded in modified bitumen adhesive.
Another suggests…… Since I can’t afford his price for his complete removal…..
Screw down one layer of 1/2 inch recovery board over existing roof and cover with one ply of base sheet, then install new Firestone SBS (rubberized) roofing material over entire roof surface. They want to install a black roofing, yet all my adjoining roofs are silver, Is there a difference?
Also should a roof be painted with a fibered aluminum roof coating?
Thanks!
In a region where homeowners insurance companies are canceling policies for fear of predictions of a large hurricane due to hit NYC in the near future, and in a region that gets so much rain, it would be pretty impossible to insure your roof if you’ve got grass up there. The soil the grass is in would hold dampness and you couldn’t drain your roof as effectively. The expense to set it up so it does drain is huge, and even then, that system would get overloaded in a super heavy rain. It’s a nice thought. But the first call anybody should make is to their homeowners insurance company and ask if they can even insure a grass roof. Plus if the OP can’t afford a tear-off to replace the roof, how on earth could he afford a complicated system for a grass roof? Again nice thought, but silly suggestion for this particular case.
have you looked into any form of green roof?
Costs are higher but I understand there are incentives that make it work out better. Depends on the roof, but a grass roof on top of a brownstone is pretty sweet.
Can they tell you exactly how many layers you have on the roof now, and SHOW you, not just tell you? (You should go up on the roof too). If they won’t tell you, and/or there are only 2 or 3 layers as someone above said, then they are looking to sell you more than you need. If you are in this house long term, have a new roof put on top of the old one now, and do a tear-off in 10 to 15 years when you can afford to put the bigger money into the place after its value appreciates some more.
You should be “Green” and install a white roof. It reduces the “heat island” effect…helpful for the energy efficiency of your house and will help cool down the city.
Stay away from screwed on boards over your existing roof. You will have a thousand holes from the screws under you new re-roof. I someone punctures your roof in the future, (like an antena or a fireworks rocket etc.) you’ll be sorry. The roof will fill up with water and leaks will pop up all over the place.
Stay away from screwed on boards over your existing roof. You will have a thousand holes from the screws under you new re-roof. I someone punctures your roof in the future, (like an antena or a fireworks rocket etc.) you’ll be sorry. The roof will fill up with water and leaks will pop up all over the place.
FYI,
All roofs start out black and then the aluminum roof coating makes them silver.
Most people like the silver coating because it reflects heat and protects the roof from solar breakdown.
If you have more than a couple (2 or 3) existing layers of roofing or if your roof is squishy you should probably go with the complete tear-off. Be forwarned that when they tear off the old roof you may need make some repairs to the roof deck if it has rotted or settled. This is also the time to make sure everything is sloped properly so that there is proper drainage and no ponding.