What You Need to Know About Commercial Flat Roof Types

Is your commercial building’s roof looking a little tattered and torn? Is a leaky roof plaguing your daily operations?

You’re not alone, judging by the rapid growth of the commercial roofing industry, which is streaking toward a value of $150 billion at a rate of 4.3% annually. 

Whether you choose to repair or replace your existing roof, there are a few things you need to know about commercial flat roof types, first.

A Breakdown of Commercial Flat Roof Types

When deciding on the best roofing for commercial buildings, you should take durability, cost, and environmental sustainability into account. Let’s look at the most popular commercial roof types bearing these factors in mind.

Metal Roofs

Metal roofs boast high durability and aesthetics, but it’s expensive to install roof sheets in the large quantities required for commercial purposes. Although they’re recyclable, metal roofs aren’t very energy efficient.

Built-Up Roofing

These tar and gravel roofs are extremely durable with a lifespan of around 20 years. The materials are affordable, but the time-consuming installation costs mean you’ll pay high labor costs when installing these roofs.

Modified Bitumen Roofing Systems

This type of roof comprises a chemical polymer mixed with asphalt to create a flexible, durable roof.  They stand up well to hail, wind, and fire, and you can convert them to green roofs by installing a roof coating. 

Single Ply Roofing Systems

These flexible, hardy roofs boast a cost-effective quick installation time and involve little more than attaching a layer of roofing material to your roof deck. 

There are three main types available:

PVC 

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is lightweight, reflective, and durable. It’s energy-efficient and resistant to chemicals, fire, wind, tears, and UV light.

PVC roofing is ideal for buildings with roof ventilation that might emit oil and fat.  It’s lightweight and highly reflective, which cuts down your energy bills.

It’s a little more expensive than other single-ply systems, but it’s easy to repair and lasts a long time. 

TPO

TPO roofing is 100% recyclable, making it supremely eco-friendly.  They’re highly durable and resistant to UV light, moisture, dirt, and bacterial buildup. 

EPDM

EPDM roofing is a popular choice among building owners thanks to its durability, versatility, and flexibility. It’s easy to fit this material to any shape roof, and its black color makes it ideal for cool environments. 

In hot areas, you can easily convert EPDM to a cool roof with a suitable roof coating. It’s an affordable choice, but you’ll have to pay extra to install insulation. 

Commercial Roofing Tips for Finding a Contractor

Asking fellow business owners or friends for a recommendation is a good way to start your search for a commercial roofing contractor. You can also browse online reviews to get an idea of what it’s like to work with various roofing companies.

One of the most important things to consider when choosing a roofing contractor is whether they’re licensed, bonded, and insured. You can check their licensing details with your state licensing board. 

Once you’ve discovered a contractor that ticks all these boxes, you must ensure this company has the experience to back up its official qualifications. 

Making the Best Decisions for Your Business

When you work with a reputable, experienced contractor, you can ask them to guide you in navigating the best commercial flat roof types. 

They’ll inspect your roof, and help you decide which option delivers the most bang for your buck, based on your circumstances. 

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