Roof coating or full tear-off? How to decide on your flat roof
Straight answers for Westwood commercial building owners from TruRoof, your local roofing contractor.
Your flat roof looks tired but not destroyed. You see some blistering, a few patches, maybe a small leak near Harrison Avenue. A coating sounds cheaper and faster. But if the insulation underneath is wet, a coating just traps the problem. You need to know what's really happening before you spend a dime.
A coating is a liquid-applied membrane that goes over your existing roof. It works when the roof deck and insulation are dry, and the current membrane is still bonded. Think of it like painting a wall. If the drywall is solid, paint makes it look new. If the drywall is rotten, paint hides the rot for a few months, then it bubbles and peels.
In Westwood, a commercial flat roof coating often costs $3 to $6 per square foot. A full replacement runs $8 to $15 per square foot, depending on insulation condition and deck repairs. Coatings can buy you 5 to 10 years if the roof qualifies. But if a moisture scan shows wet spots, you are paying for a temporary cover-up, and the full replacement becomes more urgent and more expensive later.
This week, do not sign a coating contract without proof. Get a moisture scan first. Infrared scans on a cool evening show where water sits inside the insulation. Then take a core sample in any suspect area. TruRoof can run both tests and give you a clear yes or no, with a report you can hold in your hand. No guessing, no sales pitch.
After a proper roof replacement, your building stays dry for decades. Ponding water drains correctly. Insulation works again. You stop patching every spring. If a coating was the right call, you saved tens of thousands and extended the roof's life. Either way, you made the decision on facts, not fear.
What people in Westwood 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 Westwood 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 Westwood and the area around it.