By Dani Sheehan.
When a commercial roof hits the end of its service life, building owners are faced with two options: tear it off and start fresh — or get smart and restore it. More and more, contractors are turning to spray foam and liquid-applied membrane systems as the go-to solution for roof restoration, and for good reason.
“We’re seeing a real reemergence of interest in sustainable roofing systems,” said Will Lorenz, president of General Coatings Manufacturing Corp., when we caught up with him during a live interview at the International Roofing Expo (IRE) 2025. “Building owners want roofs that save energy, keep the water out, and avoid a complete tear-off if possible.”
Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) and liquid-applied membranes check a lot of boxes for customers:
One trend Will has noticed is a move toward whole building solutions. It’s not just about the roof anymore – it's walls, subfloors, insulation and windows all working together to create tighter, more efficient building envelopes.
“Energy efficiency isn’t one-dimensional,” Will said. “You can’t fix the windows and neglect the roof. Everything has to work together.”
SPF offers flexibility to address roofs and walls alike — especially in temperature-sensitive environments like data centers and food storage facilities.
Today’s contractors are offering smart, sustainable solutions, and if you’re just patching leaks, you’re getting left behind. Restoration systems like spray foam and liquid-applied membranes are leading the charge.
“A lot of owners are thinking about how they can extend the life of their existing buildings without creating massive waste streams,” Will said. “Spray foam and coatings offer a way to that – and do it better than we have in the past.”
It’s a win-win: Contractors get to offer a high-value service, building owners save money and energy and everybody keeps a little more material out of the dump.
Learn more about General Coatings in their Coffee Shop Directory or visit www.generalcoatings.net.
About Dani
Dani is a writer for The Coffee Shops and AskARoofer™. When she's not writing or researching, she's teaching yoga classes or exploring new hiking trails.
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