The Foreman’s Guide to Roof Restoration


Restore & Repair So You Don’t Have to Replace

Bituminous roofs and flashings oxidize and dry out as they age. Becoming increasingly brittle, they eventually split open from natural contraction and expansion cycles. These, along with other forces, cause roofs to become increasingly susceptible to moisture entry as they age.

Example of a severely dried out roof with extensive deterioration caused by excess moisture damage & improper maintenance.

Once moisture enters the system, the roof insulation quickly deteriorates to a point where the roofing and insulation must be completely removed before the roof can be replaced.

With timely intervention, however, it is possible to avoid the necessity of costly and disruptive roof removal.

Liquid Roof Coatings vs. Liquid Roof Membranes?

When it comes to maintaining the roof of your home or commercial business, cold-applied coatings can be fundamental for performance and lifespan.

Unfortunately, when speaking about roofing, the terms liquid membranes and liquid coatings are often used interchangeably. While there are some similarities between the two products, there are a few key distinctions.


Liquid Roof Coatings

Liquid Roof Coatings are typically applied to the roofing surface to form a moderate protective layer against environmental conditions, namely U.V. protection/reflectivity. These coatings have no waterproofing properties, are applied at a much thinner application rate than liquid membranes, and often do not have any type of manufacturer’s warranty against water intrusion. If water ponding occurs, many coatings typically flake up and expose the underlying waterproofing.


Liquid Roof Membranes

Liquid Roof Membranes are essentially a single-component waterproofing system that is applied at a much thicker application rate than roof coatings. These materials form a durable, more reliable protective barrier that can be covered by a long-term manufacturer’s warranty against water intrusion.


While the distinction between the two is incredibly prevalent for understanding their uses, it certainly does not mean the two are mutually exclusive. In fact, when combined with the right roof restoration membrane, these roof coatings can restore an aged roof to a more maintainable waterproof condition while also adding a layer of UV and environmental protection.

For many home and business owners, that is reason enough to invest in a complete roof recover & rehabilitation.

An Efficient & Economical Alternative

Technological advances and labor shortages have led to the development of fluid-applied materials that can effectively extend the service life of the existing roof system at economical rate. 

Barrett’s Ram Cold Tar® Plus roofing-grade ply adhesive & waterproofing coating is a coal tar pitch-fortified, thermoplastic SEBS polymerized surfacing compound that is specially formulated to adhere to asphalt, modified bitumen, gravel surfaced, and coal tar roofing systems. The asphaltic rubber material combines the elastic properties of rubber with the waterproof/weatherproof characteristics of a highly refined emulsified asphalt. 

Using the existing bituminous roof mat as a substrate, Barrett’s Ram Cold Tar® Plus fuses a new, high-strength, fluid-applied rubbery membrane to the mass of the old roof mat, creating a new, double thick, elastomeric waterproof membrane. A surface coat of Ram Cold Tar® Plus not only offers a superior flexible weathering surface, but the resistance to ponding water, a well know characteristic of coal tar.

An efficient and economical alternative to re-roofing, Barrett’s Ram Cold Tar® Plus can save 40-60% of full roof replacement costs by extending the service life of an existing bituminous roof for years, reducing both the life cycle cost of the original roof and the energy usage of the building as a whole.


While classified as a “repair,” the result is a new, fully detailed, watertight roofing system that is guaranteed to perform.


Wall & Curb Flashing Restoration

Flashings at walls and curbs are recognized for their vulnerability to physical abuse, weather exposure and extreme movement. In other words, it’s no place to settle for second best. For guaranteed long-term performance and watertightness without all the hassle of a complete replacement, the solution is Ram Cold Tar® Plus.

Is Your Roof a Candidate?

Candidate roofs must be surveyed to determine their suitability for a recover-rehabilitation process. Insulated roofs are surveyed with a non-destructive moisture survey, either infrared or nuclear, with the results confirmed by core analysis. A review of the roof’s construction history, as well as any special conditions or considerations specific to the project are evaluated, and a project specification is generated. Before the membrane work starts, isolated wet insulation, if any, is removed and replaced with new insulation. All flashings and perimeters are fully rehabilitated.

Knowing a Roof’s Limits

Candidate roofs must be surveyed to determine their suitability for a recover-rehabilitation process. Insulated roofs are surveyed with a non-destructive moisture survey, either infrared or nuclear, with the results confirmed by core analysis. A review of the roof’s construction history, as well as any special conditions or considerations specific to the project are evaluated, and a project specification is generated. Before the membrane work starts, isolated wet insulation, if any, is removed and replaced with new insulation. All flashings and perimeters are fully rehabilitated.


**If you can do this on your roof, it is probably not eligible…


When the existing roof must be removed, The Barrett Company offers a number of high-performance roofing options, including hot or cold elastomeric BUR systems, the environmentally friendly Greenroof-Roofscapes® program, and the time-proven RamTough 250 & Black Pearl® Protected Membrane Roofing Systems.

Looking to hire one of our various Approved Applicators for your next project? Interested in applying to become a Barrett Approved Applicator? Click Here to learn more!



NOTE: All product literature (i.e. technical & safety data sheets, specifications, application instructions, etc.) is currently available to download from the “Resource Library” on our website. 

**All data/information used in this blog courtesy of “Construction Waterproofing Handbook | Second Edition” by Michael T. Kubal


For questions regarding detailed specifications, application information, or any other general inquiries, please reach out to your local Barrett Technical Representative.

You can also call us directly at (800) 647-0100 or email us at info@barrettroofs.com

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