Choosing the right roofing solution

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Strategic roofing choices offer more than just waterproofing; they can unlock value, streamline operations and even help close deals. 

In this CoatingsTalk, hosted by Karen Edwards, roofing veterans Alan Tatum and Jon Feick of BITEC unpacked the deeper strategic decisions behind coating systems, restoration and replacements, revealing how choosing the right roofing solution is often less about the material and more about the building owner's long-term goals. 

Jon expressed how each job starts not with materials, but with questions: “What are they trying to get accomplished? That's going to give me an indication of which direction we can look at next.” Whether it’s preparing a property for sale, upgrading insulation for long-term energy savings or avoiding business disruptions in a restaurant or hospital, restoration systems offer flexibility that traditional re-roofs can’t.  

“Jon and I worked on a project several years ago where the building was in the process of being sold when the contractor brought BITEC in to work with them on installing a new roof,” Alan shared. “It was the perfect scenario. They finished the closing about the time the roof was completed, and the new owner received a new warranty on their roof.” 

And if the goal is to sell the building soon, coatings offer a tax incentive. “A coating is considered maintenance. So, from a tax standpoint, a property owner can often take 100% depreciation that calendar year,” Alan noted. "That might be another reason that building owners decide to go with the coating option as opposed to replacing their roof, because if they plan to sell the building, they don't want to wait five years, 10 years or maybe even longer to get that full depreciation.” 

One of the most important things to consider is if the roof is a candidate for restoration or a coating. “There are roofs out there that are beyond saving... A roof coating is not a miracle in a bucket. If a roof is leaking, you should determine the source of those leaks before you even install a coating on it, because a coating may not fix those leaks and in most cases, it won't,” Alan cautioned. “Unfortunately, I think there are times when roofs are coated that should have been replaced and you're really doing a disservice to the owner when you do that, because that coating, instead of buying them five or 10 years, may only buy them a couple of months before they have to actually look at doing something else.” 

In a roofing landscape shaped by financial timelines, municipal codes and building use, finding the right solution is crucial. “Every situation is different,” Jon said. “A lot of that does boil down to education. Educating the contractor so then the contractor can educate the building owner to come up with the best plan of action for their particular situation.” 

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the conversation to learn more about strategic roof restoration and how to match solutions to building owner goals!