What is The Best Roofing Material for a Commercial Roof? Lets be honest, a roof is the most important aspect of a building, besides walls. Without a roof, you would be letting in all sorts of things like rain, snow and the hot sun, as well as dirt, bird droppings, and everything else in between. Because of this, choosing the best roof for commercial buildings is of the utmost importance. This isn't something you should be taking lightly. You should be doing your research when and where you can comparing different options, prices, and installation options. If you want some quick information now on roofing materials for commercial buildings read below for more information. Thermoplastic Roofing Thermoplastic Roofing or TPO for short is one of the fastest growing roof systems around and for good reason. Its made of a very durable material that is tolerable of very high temperatures - perfect for places where the sun shines year-round or has really high temperatures like Florida or California. Its also resistant to things like UV rays, ozone exposure, and chemical exposure as well. These tend to have a lifespan of about 20 years or so, and they are also fire resistant, resistant to punctures, as well as different chemicals and high winds. Overall, they are one of the best options in terms of versatility and longevity. But, if this is where it ended, this wold be a pretty short article! Other options include... EPDM Roofing Another super option, this one also has versatility and durability, but its also one of the longest lasting roofing systems out there for commercial roofing. These also tend to be easier to install, repair and maintain than other roofing systems. A little bit about EPDM
roofs: "EPDM is an extremely durable synthetic rubber roofing membrane (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer) widely used in low-slope buildings in the United States and worldwide. Its two primary ingredients, ethylene and propylene, are derived from oil and natural gas. EPDM is available in both black and white and is sold a broad variety of widths, ranging from 7.5 feet to fifty feet, and in two thicknesses, 45 and 60 mils. EPDM can be installed either fully adhered, mechanically attached or ballasted, with the seams of the roofing system sealed with liquid adhesives or specially formulated tape." Photovoltaic Solar Panels One thing that is constant in our world, is the cost of energy bills - everyone has them and they don't seem to be getting lower anytime soon, except for those of you that have done your research and have implented some sort of eco-friendly devices. Well, the Photovoltaic Solar Panels are your answer to high energy costs. These solar panels are installed on the roof and are used in conjunction with glass, roof mounted tiles or even membranes to absorb sunlight - just like any other solar panels around. The energy absorbed is then converted to powering the building. These, like most other eco-friendly products, are not super common right now, but if more people knew how advantageous they were, more people would probably use them. Green Roofs Another cool option like the one above helps you save money on both heating and cooling costs. The process is a little more detailed than the solar panels above. Sedum green roofs are flat roofs which are covered either partially or entirely with greenery and soil and they are planted over something called a waterproofing membrane. This allows you to get the benefits of the system but makes it so your roof won't leak, or worse. This is one of the best options if you want to create a really insulated layer and save on heating and cooling costs alike. Plus, lets be honest this is just really cool looking and much different from what your neighbors are probably doing.
Other options include modified roofs, regular flat roofs, etc. Each of these options above all offers different prices, but they also all offer different benefits in terms of your building, as well as heating and cooling costs in some instances. One of the best things you can do is more research, as well as contact a roofing contractor in Orange County for more information on a professional basis and get a consultation for them to come in. A commercial roofer in Orange County will be able to go over all of your roofing options
as well as the pros and cons of each.