Commercial roof restorations have been proven to cost significantly less than a roof replacement and delay replacements for years, if not decades to come. But restorations are also sustainable roofing solutions because they significantly reduce the amount of commercial roofing waste.
Nearly ten percent of U.S. landfill space has been occupied by roofing waste (source: U.S. Army Corp of Engineers). Too often, commercial roofs are replaced before necessary. Completely tearing off an existing roof fills dumpsters upon dumpsters with membrane materials, insulation, fasteners and more.
Here is just one example. A small- to medium-sized commercial building generally has a roof around 12,000 square feet. Let’s say this roof has two roof systems already installed so it needs a complete tear-off and replacement. The bottom roof includes 2 inches of insulation with a roof system and the top roof adds another 0.5 to 1 inch of roofing materials.
Usually one 30-yard dumpster is required for every 1,200 sq. ft. of roof so in this example, a tear-off would require a minimum of 10 dumpsters. Each dumpster generally holds about 7,000 – 10,000 pounds so that’s about 100,000 pounds of roofing waste going to the landfill.
Restorations are by far a more sustainable roofing solution because they utilize the strength of the existing roof system. This results in significantly less roofing waste, less debris and minimal disruption to operations. In addition, a restoration installation uses far less fuel with fewer dumpsters and fewer hauls.
A restored roof not only prevents landfill waste when initially installed but can often be renewed toward the end of the original warranty period. Simon Roofing’s restorations are designed for long-term performance. Warranties can be extended by 5 years or more through the same restoration process, using fewer materials and maintaining environmental efficiency over time.
Most of the commercial roof restorations by Simon Roofing utilize a product from our Wite Brite coatings line. Wite Brite coatings reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat, lowering roof surface temperatures by up to 50–100°F. This leads to a measurable reduction in air conditioning demand and supports key sustainability outcomes:
Our Wite Brite coating holds a legacy ENERGY STAR rating from the EPA—a designation no longer issued for energy-efficient roofing products. This means it passed rigorous, standardized testing by a recognized governing body. More importantly, it demonstrates that Wite Brite maintains energy efficiency over time, even as it weathers across diverse climate zones. We don’t rely solely on initial solar reflectance and emittance values. Similarly, our commercial roof restoration solutions wear at an average rate of just 0.22 mils per year, compared to 1–2 mils per year for TPO and other single-ply membranes.
Cool roofs tend to have longer service lives, as elevated temperatures accelerate chemical degradation, typically doubling the rate of weathering.
Do you have sustainability goals for your facility? Let's connect about how small changes in your roof can make a big difference. Contact us today to speak to an expert.
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