Built-Up
As a business owner, your business feels like your second home. Professional commercial roofing services are essential to care for your property and everything inside it.
For the untrained eye, a roof is a roof. But professional roofers know that commercial roofing has different needs, styles and materials than its residential counterpart.
Commercial roofing has several issues to consider, such as the weight of the equipment that might be housed on the roof and the need to cover a bigger surface. As professional residential and commercial roofers here at Refined Home Services we understand that what you need at your house might not be the same as what you need at your business.
And whether it’s a roof coating or a metal retrofitting, knowing the ins and outs of commercial roofing will help you make better-informed decisions. So let’s review these handy tips to answer your burning questions!
Know the distinction between residential and commercial roofing.
Not all roofs are created equal. Each of them has its own function, style and maintenance needs.
Residential roofing is arguably easier to install and create. Most of the decision-making involves choosing the right roofing material, color and design.
Conversely, commercial roofing needs significant planning to accommodate smoke stacks, air flow or HVAC systems, external piping, and skylights among other equipment. As your business has different needs, so does your commercial roof.
A well-planned and designed roofing system above it will protect your investment, equipment, and livelihood.
Experienced commercial roofing companies like Refined Roofing know their way around any type of roof, and are able to provide intelligent solutions for any kind of issue that might arise.
Choose the right type of roof for your business.
Based on the type of roof on your building, your roofing needs can be vastly different. Let’s take a look at the most common commercial roofing types.
Flat roofs have been a staple of commercial roofing since the 1920s, where they become synonymous with the industrial boom of the yet emerging “modern” America.
They are easy to install and maintain and arguably more cost-effective to build than other types of roofs because they require less material, which can translate to significant savings for the building owner.
You can put air conditioners, solar panels or satellite dishes on them; maintenance work is easier on flat roofs as the commercial roofers can safely walk around on them, regardless of the weather conditions.
However, heavy snows that take a lot of time to melt can add weight to the roof, therefore it’s important to have your roof inspected annually to check for water or weight damage caused by the winter snowfall.
Low-sloped roofs is the type of commercial roofing you might see more often on factories, warehouses, apartment buildings and other industrial buildings.
Their slight slant allows for better water runoff towards alleys and drains, so as a business owner you’ll probably have fewer water-related issues.
Air conditioning and solar panels can also be installed on them.
And finally, pitched roofs, which are not as common in commercial roofing anymore, as they fit residential roofing better, but often converted New England homes and businesses will still have a pitched roof.
A more considerable slope is an excellent ally to water and snow runoff; the steeper the roof structure is, the easier it will be for liquid and debris to roll off.
This can actually prevent leaks and mold damage, which is excellent news, as maintenance work tends to be a little bit harder for this type of roof compared to the other two.
Get to know the available commercial roofing materials
As we’ve seen, flat or sloped roofs are the most common type of commercial roofing that you’ll find out there.
As they greatly differ from the usual pitched roofs of residential roofing, the materials used on them will be different, too. Let’s take a brief look at five of the most common commercial roofing materials!
Built Up Roofing Membrane (BUR)
One of the oldest and toughest materials available, BUR is basically a tar-and-gravel roof, built on by multiple layers. It’s quite a flexible commercial roofing material, as the number of layers can be adjusted to control costs or meet the durability requirements your business might need.
Metal Roofing
This is one of the most popular materials for commercial roofing, due to its versatility, design option and the variety of materials available (like galvanized steel, zinc, aluminum, copper, tin, silicon, or stone-coated steel).
They have an attractive finished look, but most importantly, they’re quite fire resistant and more durable than most of the other roofing materials.
Thermoset Roof Membrane (EPMD)
EPDM is a long-lasting and durable option, constructed from a single-ply rubber material, easy to maintain and repair, and has great resistance to ultraviolet light and ozone, which will surely lower your energy bills.
Thermoplastic Roof Membrane (TPO or PVC)
Going with either Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) or Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is arguably one of the best decisions regarding your commercial roofing, as they are lightweight, highly reflective, and provide excellent weathering.
They also resist UV light, punctures, tears, and most importantly, chemicals such as oils or fats- thus making them an ideal choice for restaurants or businesses that emit them from their ventilation systems.
Always call the professionals.
When dealing with commercial roofing, nothing compares to the expertise and knowledge of trained professionals. At Refined Roofing, we have more than 30 years of unparalleled experience working with the best manufacturers to provide the service your business deserves.
If you require maintenance, repairs or replacement for your commercial roofing, don’t hesitate to contact us for a fast, trustworthy and professional solution.