This article was contributed by Chase Williamson, Project Manager at Highland Roofing Company. 

Depending on the age of a commercial roof, there will come a time when routine repairs and maintenance will no longer suffice. But in many cases, a roof replacement is cost-prohibitive and the roof can actually be completely refurbished through a fluid applied solution. 
 
A fluid applied roofing system can be installed on top of the existing roof system for half or one-third the cost of a complete roof replacement and can extend the life of the existing roof by decades. They are stable, flexible and resilient and keep roofs safe from dramatic temperature extremes, daily UV exposure and ponding water. 
 
They come with 10, 15 or 20-year warranties, provide potential tax benefits and significant savings on ongoing energy costs, and may be eligible for rebates from the company’s energy company. Finally, when a business owner selects a fluid applied roofing system vs. tearing off the old roof and replacing it, the owner is being environmentally aware by helping reduce materials going to landfills.



The above photo from Seapath Towers is what a typical roof looks like that’s been worn down over time from the elements. But since the structure of the roof itself is in good shape, it’s not necessary to completely replace the entire roof.

An adhesion test is first performed to ensure the fluid applied product will adhere to the existing roof surface. To comply with current building codes, any existing wet roofing materials must be removed to prevent further deterioration of the substrate. To identify wet materials, a density or infrared scan is performed to identify and mark wet areas where materials are removed and replaced prior to installation of the fluid applied product.
 
Once all wet roofing materials have been replaced and the entire roof has been cleaned, the fluid applied roofing system is applied in an easy, one-coat application. This roofing system can be applied to most common roofing systems including EPDM, TPO, metal, asphalt, PVC, modified bitumen and concrete.
 
The photo below is what a completed fluid applied roofing system looks like after its been applied to the existing roof structure. The new fluid applied roofing system has extended the life of the existing roof and is protecting it from dramatic temperature extremes, daily UV exposure and ponding water. 



“Highland Roofing has been taking care of our roofing needs for many years. When they introduced us to the silicone roofing option, and we researched the product, we became very excited to coat our 25-year-old existing built-up roof system,” said David Foster, Building Manager at Seapath Tower. “The product has been installed now for two years and we have seen great performance. We highly recommend the silicone roof system installed on our aging built-up roof.”
 
About Highland Roofing Company

Highland Roofing Company is a family-owned and operated business with offices in Wilmington and Raleigh, NC. Highland Roofing Company’s mission is to build relationships and make life easier for its clients by providing exceptional service and quality at a fair price. Highland delivers quality work at a competitive price and is committed to completing the project as promised ensuring its clients recommend Highland to their friends and colleagues -- which is the ultimate compliment. For more information visit highlandroofingcompany.com

Chase Williamson is a Project Manager who managed the application of the fluid applied roofing system shown here at Seapath Towers. Chase is responsible for managing new construction and reroof projects throughout the Cape Fear region. 
 
While Highland Roofing Company is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, Chase is celebrating his 10th annrsary with Highland Roofing Company. Chase is currently the project manager for the Wilmington Airport expansion project and the replacement of the 182-year-old roof at Downtown Wilmington’s historic St. James Episcopal Church.ive