Roof Recovery

Roofhaven specialises in roof recovery and warm roof solutions for residential and light commercial buildings.

Roof Recovery

Our approach

Roof recovery involves installing a new roofing system over an existing one without the need for complete removal. This method leaves about 95% of the current roof in place, allowing us to install a built-up roofing system with high-insulation materials on top. This process can be faster, more cost-effective, and less disruptive compared to traditional roof replacements.

This system is designed to enhance the lifespan, performance, and aesthetic appeal of an existing roof without the need for complete tear-off and replacement. By integrating warm roofing technology, roof recovery can also offer a highly insulated cost-effective way to upgrade residential and light commercial roofs.

There are several elements to a roof recovery system that can be customised to suit your requirements:

  • Vapor barrier

  • Insulation layer(s)

  • Roof Board

  • Waterproof membrane or metal roofing

The benefits

  • Cost Efficient: Reduces the need for extensive scaffolding and minimizes labour costs.

  • Minimal Disruption: Limits disturbance to building occupants and tenants.

  • Time Saving: Speeds up the roofing process.

  • Water Damage Mitigation: Lowers the risk of water damage during installation.

  • Performance Warranty: All our systems come with a manufacturer’s warranty and are backed by a robust in-service history.

  • Thermal Efficiency: can meet and exceed any NZ climate Zone H1 requirements.

  • Condensation management: all our roof systems are designed to minimise condensation in the roof space and eliminate the potential for mould growth.

  • Weathertightness: as a building’s first line of defence against the weather, we consider this to be our roof’s top priority.

  • Superior Durability: we only use the quality products and the best installation practices. All our systems are mechanically fixed, meaning we do not rely on glue to hold your roof down.

Don’t replace, recover!

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation assessment and quote.

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Recovery systems

Metal Roof

Our recover system can be installed over existing metal roofing. The perfect candidate for this is trough style roofing. This roofing material was traditionally installed at a low pitch. Factors like low pitch, damage, poor detailing, and complex junctions all contribute to these roofs being compromised in terms of weather-tightness. These roofs are the perfect candidates for a recover solution. Our system is cost comparable to replacement, while also adding thermal benefit and minimising occupancy disturbance. Roofhaven will examine the existing roof and develop a solution that allows for a robust, warrantable recover system to be installed.

Concrete Roof

Our recover system can be installed over existing concrete roofs. The benefit of the recovery system is that existing membranes can be left in situ and can often be repurposed as the vapor control layer. In our most basic concrete overlay, a roof board is installed over the existing roof and mechanically attached to the substrate. The board fixing pattern is engineered and designed to take into account wind loads – this effectively removes the adhesive bond of the existing membrane to the substrate from the equation and provides certainty with respect to the structural performance of the system.

Timber Roof

Our recover system can be installed over existing timber roofs structures. We need to inspect the timber sub-structure to ensure that it is still structurally sound. If it is, our recover system repurposes the existing membrane as the vapor control layer meaning that the old roof never comes off. This means that we can almost guarantee no water damage during our installation. In our most basic timber overlay, a roof board is installed over the existing membrane and mechanically attached, then a new membrane is applied over the whole roof. We can also incorporate an insulation layer to increase thermal performance if that is required.

FAQs

  • Yes, absolutely. However, because the most cost-effective roof finish is often a membrane, it is better suited for roofs with slopes under 10 degrees. If your roof has a pitch over 10 degrees, please give us a call to discuss your situation further.

  • We can install our system over almost any roof profile or material. However, we cannot install it over tiles or asbestos.

  • Without considering the specifics of your roof, it’s difficult to provide an exact estimate. Numerous variables such as access, size, shape, penetrations, drip edges, and flashing details can significantly impact the cost. However, we estimate that our costs are comparable to replacing long-run or trough-style metal roofing. It’s crucial to note that this cost comparison does not account for the significant thermal benefits provided by our system. Our system really stands out when compared to full roof re-pitching or plastic-wrapped scaffolding. If you are considering a full roof re-pitch or a plastic wrapped scaffold for your roof replacement, give us a call to see if our system can save you time and money.

  • No, we can also install metal roofing over our recovery system. However, due to the design of the system, it ends up being slightly more expensive than membrane roofing. This is because an additional layer of fixing over the insulation is required to secure the roofing screws. We understand that some people prefer the look of metal roofing, so give us a call today to discuss your options.

  • Our rigid insulation board has an R-value of 2.02 per 40 mm. It can be layered to achieve the insulation value you require. For example, a built-up roof recovery system over a Dimondeck 400 tray roof, using trough fillers and a 40 mm PIR-faced board under the membrane, would achieve an R-value of R4. The higher the R-value required, the more insulation will need to be added.

  • Yes! We have a system for trough-style metal roofing that adds very little insulation to the roof. This system only raises the roofing profile by around 15-20 mm, making it ideal for applications where the roof cannot be built up. We also offer systems that can go over existing membranes and concrete roofs without adding insulation or building up the profile. Call us to discuss these options further.

  • Yes. We recommend using torch-on membrane (a modified bitumen product developed in the 1960s by Italy and Germany) or FiberTite (a KEE/PVC product developed in the USA in 1979). Torch-on membrane is a two-ply system, meaning it has two layers, offering enhanced durability and resistance to harsh weather conditions. FiberTite is a single-ply system, known for its excellent chemical resistance and durability. Both systems are industry-leading and have an extensive history of reliable performance in various applications.