Ask for a record rather than a verbal “pass”
A contractor may say a coating sticks well, but that statement leaves the owner unable to connect the result to a product, roof area or preparation method. Request a dated record with photographs and enough detail to identify what was actually tested.
This guide explains the questions a property owner can ask. Testing procedures, sample locations and acceptance requirements belong to the specified system and qualified reviewer. Do not use this page as an installation procedure or a substitute for current manufacturer guidance.
GAF’s liquid-applied roofing manual provides adhesion-testing guidance. Use the applicable manufacturer’s current instructions for your actual project, including who is responsible for interpreting results.
Connect the test to the proposed scope
Write the tested product and primer next to the corresponding items in the proposal. If the roof has more than one substrate or previous coating, ask which of those conditions were represented. A test record for one surface should not silently become an assumption about every other roof section.
Consider an illustrative property with an original roof field and a later addition. The owner’s question is whether both conditions were assessed and how any difference changes preparation. You do not need to decide the test method yourself to ask for that connection.
| Record | Why the owner needs it |
|---|---|
| Roof area and substrate | Connects the finding to the actual scope |
| Previous coating and preparation | Identifies the surface that received the test |
| Products and primer | Shows which proposed system was evaluated |
| Date and test conditions | Provides context for the reviewer |
| Method, result and acceptance criteria | Makes “pass” or “fail” reviewable |
| Reviewer and next action | Assigns responsibility for unresolved questions |
Resolve a poor or unclear result before work proceeds
Ask the contractor to explain what the result means for the proposed system. If the recommendation is different cleaning, another primer or another coating, obtain a revised specification and the evidence supporting it. Keep the original result in the record rather than replacing it with an unexplained second “pass.”
If the proposal is unchanged, ask why. A clear answer should connect the observed result, applicable requirement and planned action. Use the bid comparison worksheet to record any resulting difference between bidders.
Keep adhesion separate from other roof conditions
An adhesion assessment does not replace an investigation of recurring leaks, suspect moisture, damaged details or structural concerns. Ask how those questions are being handled and where their findings appear in the scope. The moisture-survey guide addresses a separate part of the assessment.
Likewise, a test result does not establish the issued warranty, future maintenance obligations or the performance of an entire installation. Obtain those documents and requirements separately. The warranty questions help distinguish a proposal’s headline from the actual terms.
Use the test record during closeout and later repair
File the test record with the final roof plan, product information, preparation notes and inspection records. When rooftop equipment is serviced or another contractor proposes a repair, that history can help identify the materials used on the restored roof.
Before agreeing to coating work, make a list of unanswered items: untested roof areas, unclear preparation, unexplained results or a change in the proposed product. Give the list to the qualified reviewer and request a written response.
Request a roof review with your property city, roof type if known and the decision you need to make. Avoid entering restricted roof areas to obtain a sample or photograph; roof access and field testing require site-specific arrangements.
This is planning information, not a site assessment or installation procedure. Use current product documents, qualified personnel and site-specific requirements for a project decision.