How Durable Is Your Commercial Roofing System?
Types Of Commercial Roofing Systems
Why wait till your roofing systems becomes so damaged that it starts leaking profusely before taking measures to patch it? Consult a professional roofing company for a quick and affordable roofing repair service. Some of the most commonly used roofing systems for commercial application are listed below.
Metal Roofing System
The use of commercial metal roofing applications has become increasingly popular in recent years thanks to its many benefits. Commercial metal roofs are high quality, versatile, lightweight, and offer long-lasting performance. They also require little to no maintenance for several years after installation. For those looking for a durable, energy-efficient roofing system, consider buying a metal roof. These long-lasting roofs come with at least a 10-year warranty on any metal roof repair service. Material types for metal roofs for commercial purposes include zinc, pre-finished steel, and copper — all come with a watertight warranty for a period of 30 years.
Solar Roofing System
As a business owner looking to go green, spend less, and save more in the long run, installing a commercial solar roofing system is the ideal solution. There are a good number of commercial solar roofing applications available on the market today, each offering great benefits while ensuring long-lasting performance. A solar roofing system is one of the most durable products that’s highly resistant to extreme weather conditions, including snow, wind, heavy rainfall, hurricanes, and other storms.
Steep Roofing System
Another product to look out for is the commercial steep roofing system. This product adds more charm and attractiveness to any commercial building. Some of the most durable commercial steep roofing materials include shingles, slates, and tiles. They can last for several years.
Flat Roofing System
Recognized as one of the most popular roofing types available today, the commercial flat roofing system is durable, cost effective, and can last a long time if properly maintained. It is one of the most widely used commercial roofing systems in the world today.
FACTORS DETERMINING LONGEVITY
There are many factors that determine how long a commercial building’s flat roof will last. In general, a flat roof membrane will last anywhere from 10-50 years depending on these factors. All three of these flat roof membranes have their benefits and drawbacks but are all commonly used today on commercial flat roofs.
Each year new technological innovations are making all these flat roof membranes more durable, easier to apply, and are improving their longevity. For instance, the new improved TPO membranes have great promise, but not enough time has passed to tell just how long they’ll last. EPDM is considered a “base” system but is constantly improving.
The longevity of a flat roof membrane is dependent upon:
- Climate
- Installation
- System Type
- Roof penetration
- Proper Maintenance
What this means is choosing the right installer is just as important as choosing the right flat roof membrane. Consult with a roofing professional with expertise and experience in applying all three types of membranes. This ensures you’ll not only make the right choice in a system type but also have the best chance of a quality installation.
Maintaining a flat roof is an important factor in determining how long the membrane will last. Making sure there’s proper draining is the most important thing you can do. If flat roof slop ponding occurs, eventually this will seep through and cause costly damage to the surface underneath. Often this damage isn’t detected until rot and mold are present.
Checking the seams, flashings, and all around the rooftop penetrations, periodically and after rainstorms should be done. Detecting any damage or worn areas before there’s water leakage will increase the longevity of the membrane and save any costly damage to the foundation of the building underneath.
Commercial Flat Roofs: Pros & Cons
Flat roofs are one of the most common types of roof for commercial buildings.
Advantages
Commercial flat roofs can be significantly more cost effective to build than pitched roofs or steep slope roofs because they require less material due to the fewer square feet to be covered.They are easier and quicker to install, which can translate to a significant savings for the building owner. This also effects the ease and potential price of your next commercial roof repair.
Owners have many types of flat roofing materials and membranes to choose from – rubber rolled roofing, EPDM, PVC, TPO, bitumen, modified bitumen and built-up roofing. While there are many different color choices to choose from with roofing membranes, however many building owners choose to stick with white.
This can help reduce energy waste from cooling costs due to it’s reflective properties.
Air conditioners can be moved from the ground to the roof. Solar panels and satellite dishes are easier to install on flat roofs than on pitched ones. These items are then less obvious from the curb or parking lot. Maintenance and drain cleaning is easier on flat roofs since workmen can walk easily and safely, regardless of weather conditions.
Disadvantages
The most important issue is poor drainage.
Standing water can degrade the roofing materials long before they normally would. One of the advantages of pitched roof styled buildings is not having to worry as much about drainage issues. Materials breakdown leads to leaking and water damage inside the building.
It is imperative that an experienced commercial roofing contractor with a good reputation for professional work do the installation or repairs in order to avoid problems with the roof.The experienced team at Sentry Roofing understands where the drains must be located and the proper height to avoid puddling.
6 Most Common Commercial Roofs and Roofing Materials
Commercial roofs come in many forms, with each one built according to the needs of the building and the budget of the owner. The kind of roof your commercial property has plays an integral role in the overall health of the building, and the longevity of the roof itself. The surrounding environment, typical weather, and any extraneous variables such as animals, foliage, etc. will also have an impact on the integrity of the roof over time.
It’s important to note that most commercial roofs are either flat or low slope, which narrows down the available roofing materials. The six most common roof classifications include:
- Built-Up Roofing (BUR) Membrane
- Metal Roofing
- Modified Bitumen Roofing
- Thermoset (EPDM) Roof Membrane
- Thermoplastic (PVC & TPO) Roof Membrane
- Garden “Green” Roofing System
How to Choose a Commercial Roofing Contractor
Once you know how to choose a commercial roof, it’s time to find a roofing contractor to work with. This choice is just as important as the roofing materials you choose. You need to make sure that
Hiring a bad roofer to install the roof will result in an unstable roof. It’s also likely to have a negative impact on your work as a civil engineer. Here’s what you need to keep in mind.
Licensed and Insured
In most states, roofing contractors are required to have a license to operate. They should also carry insurance. Yet, for one reason or another, there are roofing contractors who don’t carry insurance.
This can put everyone on the job at risk if there’s an injury. If a worker gets injured on the job and the roofing contractor doesn’t have insurance, the property owner could be held liable. They would then have to pay the injured worker’s medical bills.
That would turn the entire project into one major mess. You can avoid this nightmare situation by asking to see the contractor’s insurance policy.
You also want to make sure that they’re licensed to operate in your area. This is easy to do. You can just look up their license number and check with your state’s roofing board. This will ensure that they’re licensed, and that license is in good standing.
Warranty of Work
A number of commercial roofing contractors have some kind of roofing warranty. Most of the time, this warranty is on the actual roof itself, which can be for about 10 years or more.
You want to make sure if there’s an installation issue after the fact, you have some method to get it fixed without spending more money on the project.
Be sure that you understand exactly what is covered and not covered in the warranty.
Protection of Property
Replacing a commercial roof is a dangerous and sometimes messy job. In the replacement process, roofers can throw old parts of the roof onto the ground or in the surrounding parking lot.
You’ll need to make sure that the roofing contractor has some kind of system in place to protect the property during the installation. That could result in a bigger mess that you might have to remedy after the installation.
