Good candidate
Qualifies
Sound single-ply, mod bit or metal with dry insulation, functioning drains and localised seam or flashing failures.
Restoration Division
Renew the roof, skip the tear-off
Fluid-applied restoration turns a sound but weathered roof into a warrantied, renewable system — no demolition, no landfill fees, no shutting down the building.
- 10–20 yr renewable warranty
- Manufacturer-certified applicators
- Infrared moisture survey first
- Typical cost reduction vs. full tear-off
- 60–75%Typical cost reduction vs. full tear-off
- Building closure required
- 0 daysBuilding closure required
- Warranty renews at roughly half the original cost
- RecoatWarranty renews at roughly half the original cost
Restoration vs. tear-off, on your square footage
Connecticut planning ranges for budgeting only — a real number comes after the core samples and moisture survey.
Current membrane
Fluid-applied restoration$5–$7 / sq ft
$200,000 – $290,000
Full tear-off & replacement$12–$16 / sq ft
$480,000 – $640,000
$190,000+
Net capital saved
100% Yr-1
Section 179 deductible as maintenance
10–20 yrs
Renewable warranty term
Restoration is generally expensed in the year of work under Section 179 rather than depreciated over 39 years like a replacement — confirm treatment with your tax advisor. It only applies where the insulation is dry, and we will say so if it is not.
The case
Why restoration beats replacement — when it fits
A tear-off means demolition, disposal, exposure risk and disruption to everything under the roof. When the insulation is dry and the deck is sound, none of that is necessary. A fluid-applied system seals seams, flashings and the field into one monolithic membrane and carries its own manufacturer warranty.
Restoration typically costs a fraction of a full replacement, is usually treated as a maintenance expense rather than a capital project, and is renewable — a recoat at the end of term resets the warranty at a fraction of the original cost.
The honest caveat: it only works on a roof with dry insulation. We core-sample and perform a moisture survey first. If the substrate is wet, we will tell you that a coating is the wrong answer.
Replace instead
Does not qualify
Saturated insulation, failed deck, permanent ponding with no slope, or a membrane already past its structural life.
Chemistry
Coating systems we install
Silicone
The workhorse for ponding-prone roofs. Silicone shrugs off standing water and UV without becoming brittle, and it re-coats cleanly at the end of its term.
10–20 year renewable warranty · excellent ponding resistance · high solids
Acrylic
Water-based, highly reflective and cost-effective on sloped metal and sound membranes in well-drained conditions. Not the choice where water stands.
10–15 year warranty · highest reflectivity per dollar · easy recoat
Polyurethane
Tough, abrasion-resistant surface for roofs with regular foot traffic, service platforms and equipment access paths.
10–18 year warranty · superior impact and traffic resistance
Process
How a restoration runs
1. Moisture survey
Core samples and infrared scanning to confirm the insulation is dry.
2. Repairs & prep
Wet areas cut out, seams and flashings reinforced, roof power-washed and primed.
3. Base & top coat
Reinforced detail work at penetrations, then full-field coats at spec mil thickness.
4. Warranty & recoat plan
Manufacturer inspection, warranty issue, and a scheduled recoat date on file.
Next step
Get the moisture survey booked
RoofingCat AI Assistant
Ask the RoofingCat AI Assistant about this page
Not sure whether to coat or replace?
We'll core the roof, run a moisture survey and give you both numbers side by side, with the honest recommendation attached.