Roof coating vs full replacement for your flat roof
Straight answers from a commercial roofing team that works in Greendale, IN.
You walk your Greendale building and see the flat roof looks tired. No waterfalls inside, but some blisters and a small leak near the HVAC curb. A coating sounds cheaper than tearing it off. You just need to know if it will hold up through Indiana winters and summer storms, or if you are just delaying a bigger bill.
A coating goes over your existing roof membrane. It works if the roof is still solid. The insulation underneath must be dry. If you have soft spots, ponding water that sits for days after a rain, or multiple leaks, a coating will not fix those problems. It seals small cracks and reflects sun, but it cannot replace a roof that has failed underneath. Think of it like painting over rotted wood.
Cost depends on what a moisture scan finds. A coating job on a sound roof might run a fraction of a full tear-off. But if we take core samples and find wet insulation, that changes everything. Wet insulation means the roof has been holding water inside. At that point, a coating is wasted money. A full replacement removes the bad layers and starts fresh. The square footage, number of penetrations like pipes and drains, and roof access all affect the final number.
This week, get a moisture scan and a core cut. Do not let someone coat the roof without that data. A visual inspection is not enough. TruRoof can do both and show you the results on the spot. We work on commercial buildings along US 50 and I-275 all the time. The scan tells you exactly where moisture is trapped. Then you make the call with real information, not a guess.
When the job is done right, you stop worrying every time it storms. The roof handles Greendale weather. You have a warranty that makes sense for the work performed. No more patching and hoping. Just a dry building and a clear plan for the next twenty years.
What people in Greendale say
"I'm reviewing my two new roofs, on my house and my garage, installed by TruRoof. The company, and Damon Chuke, their representative, helped me work with the insurance company, and with understanding all the details of the whole process. They took out an obsolete chimney, were on time and professional, and the finished roofs and flashing are beautiful. Many compliments from neighbors. Highly recommended by me."
"We have a beautiful condo in a historic building from the 1840s. Late November had a bad leak in the dining room area. I called Britt at TruRoof who came out and inspected the entire roof of the building. He said to do the entire roof could be around $50,000. But then he started laughing and said you need to caulk the area around one of the chimneys. I thought he was nuts, but I did the caulking, which cost me about 25 bucks worth of outdoor caulk, and there are no more leaks. I cannot express my appreciation for his diligence and his honesty. That kind of a company and a person is rare these days. Highly, highly, highly recommend these guys."
"TruRoof did an outstanding job from start to finish. Communication leading up to the start date was great. Once on site and the project started, everything went as discussed, and the crew was very professional."
Other things people in Greendale ask
can you reroof over an existing flat roof
A recover works when there is one roof layer and dry insulation. A core sample tells us in an hour.
how much does a commercial roof cost
We price by square footage, system and insulation and give you a written proposal you can put in front of the board.
commercial roof keeps leaking after repairs
When a roof fails despite repeated repairs, the membrane is likely shot. Get a core sample to check insulation. If it is wet, a full replacement or a silicone restoration coating may be needed. Stop wasting money on patches.
TPO vs EPDM flat roof
TPO is white and reflects heat, which helps cooling costs in summer. EPDM is black rubber and handles ponding water well. For most Cincinnati commercial buildings, TPO is the default choice. Get a roof assessment to match the membrane to your roof's slope and drainage.
Ready to talk?
TruRoof handles commercial roofing in Greendale and the area around it.