Replacing a commercial roof has long been considered the default solution when problems arise. But for today’s contractors facing tighter margins, labor shortages, and increasing project demands, that default is being challenged—and for good reason.
New research from APOC is helping to quantify what many contractors have suspected for years: when conditions allow, roof restoration isn’t just a viable alternative to reroofing—it’s often the smarter business decision.
Backed by real-world data, the findings paint a clear picture of how restoration can improve profitability, efficiency, and overall project performance. Here’s what contractors need to know—and why restoration deserves a closer look.
The Data Behind Restoration
To better understand how restoration compares to traditional reroofing, APOC partnered with Cotney Consulting Group to analyze 118 commercial roofing projects across key performance metrics.
The findings point to a consistent trend: when restoration is a viable option, it can outperform reroofing in several key areas.
Higher Profit Potential
Restoration projects showed significantly higher profit per crew day compared to reroofing—driven by smaller crews and shorter timelines.
Faster Project Timelines
In many cases, restoration projects can be completed in a fraction of the time required for tear-offs, helping contractors turn jobs faster and increase overall capacity.
Greater Labor Efficiency
With fewer crew members required and less labor intensity overall, restoration allows contractors to do more work with fewer resources, an important advantage in today’s labor market.
Stronger Margin Performance
Even at lower cost per square foot, restoration demonstrated strong and consistent margins, supporting more predictable profitability.
A Strategic Opportunity for Contractors
The roofing industry is evolving. Contractors are being asked to do more with less—less labor, tighter timelines, and increased pressure on margins.
Roof restoration offers a way to meet those challenges head-on with the ability to nearly double the profit per crew day, complete projects faster and improve margin consistency, among other things. It’s no longer just an alternative; it’s a strategic advantage.
And now, with data-backed insights from APOC’s benchmark research, contractors have the evidence to support what many have long believed: when the roof is a good candidate, restoration simply makes better business sense.
Interested in learning more?
Explore APOC’s full Roof Restoration Benchmark Report to see how you can start delivering more efficient, profitable projects today.
*Modeled benchmark based on anonymized contractor performance data and measured crew-day benchmarks; applies when the roof is a valid restoration candidate and is not a guarantee of results.