Establish whether the existing roof is a candidate
Ask how the contractor evaluated the existing covering, concealed moisture, adhesion and drainage. GAF’s liquid-applied roofing manual calls for repairing deficiencies and removing wet insulation before coating. A surface treatment does not repair a deficient deck or remove water trapped below the covering.
Identify any previous coating and the underlying roof material. Product compatibility and preparation depend on that history; a description such as “flat roof” is not enough to select a restoration system.
Demand a product-specific preparation scope
A complete proposal should distinguish substrate repairs from coating application. It should identify the cleaning method, test areas, primer if needed, detail treatment and required application thickness for the chosen system.
GAF’s acrylic-over-TPO specification illustrates why details matter: it requires moisture review, adhesion testing and acceptable substrate preparation. Those instructions apply to that system and should not be copied indiscriminately to other coatings.
Compare restoration with the alternatives
Ask what will remain under the restoration, which defects are corrected, and what inspection evidence supports leaving the assembly in place. Compare that scope with targeted repair, recover or replacement only where each option is suitable.
- What moisture investigation was completed and where were repairs identified?
- How were adhesion and compatibility checked?
- Which seams, flashings and drainage issues are addressed?
- What controls the finished application thickness?
- What maintenance and future repair methods will this coating require?
Verify the result and the promised coverage
Collect the completed repair record, product and batch information, application records and inspection results specified for the system. Review the actual warranty before purchase, including eligibility, exclusions and owner duties. A coating proposal should not imply that a manufacturer has approved a roof it has not evaluated.