The two primary qualification criteria are substrate dryness and layer count. Substrate dryness is evaluated through infrared thermal scanning — a scan performed at the right time of day (typically within an hour after sunset, when solar-heated wet insulation radiates distinctively against dry surrounding areas) gives us precise moisture mapping. Layer count is a code question: Kentucky limits commercial roofs to two total layers. If your roof currently has one layer of membrane, it’s potentially eligible for re-cover. If it has two, tear-off is required by code. We evaluate both criteria during our free site assessment and give you a clear eligibility answer before any commitment is requested.

From a performance standpoint, a properly installed re-cover on a qualified substrate delivers equivalent leak protection and energy performance to a tear-off replacement — with the same manufacturer system warranty. The new membrane system doesn’t know or care what’s underneath it, provided the substrate is flat, dry, and structurally sound. The one scenario where tear-off delivers a meaningfully different outcome is when the existing substrate has problems that re-cover would conceal: wet insulation, deck damage, or inadequate slope. This is why the infrared assessment step is non-negotiable for us — we won’t install a re-cover over a compromised substrate regardless of the cost savings it would represent.

Kentucky building code, following the International Building Code, limits commercial roofing assemblies to a maximum of two total layers of roofing material before a full tear-off is required. This applies statewide including Richmond and Madison County. “Layers” in this context means complete membrane systems — so a building with one existing TPO membrane layer is eligible for one re-cover. A building with an original built-up roof and one previous overlay is at the two-layer limit and must tear off before any new system is installed. We verify this during the assessment by reviewing available records and, if necessary, taking core samples.

Yes — when installed by a certified contractor to manufacturer specifications, a re-cover qualifies for the same manufacturer system warranty as a tear-off replacement. Major membrane manufacturers including Carlisle, Firestone, GAF, and Johns Manville all offer full system warranties on re-cover applications. The warranty covers the new membrane system; the existing substrate beneath it is not covered, but that’s acceptable because you’ve already verified through infrared scanning that the substrate is sound and dry. We register your warranty with the manufacturer and provide complete documentation at project close, identical to the process for a tear-off replacement project.

Infrared (thermal) scanning uses a calibrated thermal imaging camera to measure surface temperature variation across the entire roof area. The physics is straightforward: wet insulation absorbs and retains solar heat during the day, then releases it more slowly than dry surrounding material as temperatures drop after sunset. This temperature differential — typically 2 to 8 degrees Fahrenheit — is clearly visible as warm zones against a cooler background in the thermal image. We walk the roof with the camera after sunset and produce a thermal map that shows the location and approximate size of every wet insulation zone. This data tells us whether your substrate is re-cover eligible and, if not, exactly how much wet insulation needs to be removed and replaced during a tear-off project.