FAQs About Lifting A Roof
Answers to your questions about raising the existing roof of a building.
The cost to lift a roof varies. It is dependent on the specifications of each project. In most cases, a budgetary number can be calculated based on the number of square feet to be lifted. Specifications such as the height and the number of existing columns are additional factors.
The entire cost of a roof lifting project is also dependent on the end use and any necessary upgrades to the existing building. New lighting, more efficient sprinkler systems and other improvements are often part of the overall cost of raising a roof.
If you would like information on costs and a budgetary scope of work please email us. Or call 1-866-331-6150. You can also request a quote online.
Roof’s of any size can be raised. ROOFLIFTERS has lifted roofs ranging from less than 1000 SF to over 600,000 SF. In most cases the area lifted is determined by the structure itself. Many times sectioned off by the expansion joints in the roof. Typically the largest practical size is around 150,000 SF in a single lift.
Most commercial and industrial roofs do not exceed clear heights of 45 feet. That is not to say, however, that lifting is limited to that height. ROOFLIFTERS has lifted structures as high as 72 feet.
Absolutely not. The ROOFLIFTERS process is specifically designed to address this concern. Lifting can be more than double or even triple the existing height since we do not rely on column sleeves.
Roof weight is not a factor for our company. The ROOFLIFTERS system is designed so that each post has a lifting capacity of 25 tons. In cases where the weight exceeds 25 tons, the CribPosts are simply clustered to accommodate the weight. In some cases, interior columns can require two, three, or even four CribPosts which would provide up to 100 tons of lifting capacity.
Clients often ask, “does the roofing material need to be replaced?” No.
In fact, no work related to actual lifting ever takes place on the surface of the roof itself. Our process is designed so that the very little of the existing roofing, decking, and framing requires any repair. While repairs will be necessary around the perimeter of the roof where it was attached to walls or other parts of the building, the existing roofing material largely remains intact.
There is no minimum amount of square feet that you lift. However, for economic efficiency, it becomes impractical in most cases to lift a roof that is less than 2,000 SF. However, this is not to say that our company has not lifted smaller roofs. In some instances, a small section of a larger roof must have a higher clear height in order to accommodate new equipment or processes. In these instances, raising a portion of the existing roof is much faster, cleaner, and less costly than demolishing a small section and rebuilding it higher.
Through the use of a synchronization system, designed and patented by ROOFLIFTERS, the actual movement of each lifting point is monitored as opposed to the amount of hydraulic oil that is being pumped. This provides an extremely accurate measurement of each point and allows large areas of a roof to be lifted at one time.
We at Polaris were very amazed at the efficiency and dedication exhibited by your employees. This dedication contributed greatly to a successful project completed ahead of schedule. Rooflifters personnel were always concerned not only for the safety of their own employees but also were very attentive to Polaris employees who were in the area while all the preparation for the lift was taking place.
When we’re working with an incumbent building, height restrictions can sometimes prevent us from utilizing the full capabilities of our equipment. Finally there’s a way to avoid the capital costs of reconstruction or a new building.
I was speaking with a real estate agent who was bemoaning the fact that he couldn’t sell an industrial building because of its low ceiling, …and one thing led to another.
One of the reasons companies are moving is they’re looking for modern buildings elsewhere, with greater height underneath the joists. If we can persuade a company to raise the roof to allow for more warehousing space, so they don’t need to relocate outside Toronto, then we’ve saved jobs and taxes.
If we were to turn that whole building into rubble and start fresh, it would cost a whole lot more money than it’s costing to just raise the roof and fix it up. We’re just lifting the roof and adding steel.