Determining the Right Type of Commercial Roof for Your Property
What New Commercial Property Owners Should Know About Roofing
Determining the Right Type of Commercial Roof for Your Property
PART I
Determining the Right Type of Commercial Roof for Your Property Whether you are a new business owner, property manager, or design professional, choosing the right commercial roofing system for your building or project is one of the most important decisions you will make. A good roofing system can protect your property for decades while a bad one will do otherwise and may even cause costly problems. To help you make an informed decision, here’s a three-part guide to what you should know about commercial roofing. Let us start with determining the right type of commercial roof for your property.
What New Commercial Property Owners Should Know About Roofing
Determining the Right Type of Commercial Roof for Your Property
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A COMMERCIAL ROOFING SYSTEM Without a good roofing system, you might put your business in danger. Here are the most important things to consider when looking for the right commercial roof. Durability and Resistance to Elements. Of course, you want a roof that can last a long time. You can make this happen by ensuring that you choose the right material and product right from the get-go. Appearance. Your commercial building represents your business; thus, you would want it to look presentable. Installation. No matter the quality of your chosen roof, if it is not installed properly, it might fail sooner than its average lifespan. Maintenance. Any roof needs to be maintained well for it to keep on performing as intended for years. But if you choose an easy-tomaintain material, you give yourself a valuable advantage. What New Commercial Property Owners Should Know About Roofing
Determining the Right Type of Commercial Roof for Your Property
TYPES OF COMMERCIAL ROOF
There are a number of commercial roofing options that you can choose from. Here are some of the most trusted and proven systems. Thermoplastics PVC/TPO Single-Ply. This type of flat roofing system represents the fastest growing segment of the US roofing market over the last decade. The PVC product is a reinforced membrane that has tough solventor-hot-air welded seams. It offers outstanding durability and stability. Both PVC and TPO roofs are also lightweight, weather-resistant, and aesthetically competitive. Single-Ply EPDM. A thermostat membrane, this material is compounded from rubber-polymer and is often referred to as rubber roofing. Its popularity can be attributed to its durability and excellent resistance to temperature extremes, moisture, and UV rays. It is also easy and fast to install. Self-Adhering Systems. Materials of this type provide long-lasting protection for low-slope roofs. They can be installed without the use of open flames or hot asphalt. Hybrid Systems. Specially installed for balconies and roof decks, these offer the durability, protection, and waterproofing benefits of other roof types while having a smooth, aesthetically improved finish similar to that of linoleum floors. Polyglass. This is a good coating choice for modified bitumen roofing and self-adhesive membranes. Now that you have a basic idea of the roofing types available for you to choose from, it’s time to learn how they will be installed. Keep posted for our next post as we discuss just that. What New Commercial Property Owners Should Know About Roofing
Determining the Right Type of Commercial Roof for Your Property
PART 2 Understanding the Installation Process
First things first: commercial roofing is totally different from residential roofing. They are handled quite differently, particularly when it comes to installation. In this post, we share with you some information that can help you better understand commercial roofing installation and the factors involved in it.
What New Commercial Property Owners Should Know About Roofing
Understanding the Installation Process
COMMERCIAL ROOFING VS. RESIDENTIAL ROOFING
One of the significant differences between commercial and residential roofing is the length of installation. Commercial roofs can take over a month to install while most residential systems can be completed in a day or two. This is mostly due to the size of the building and the fact that commercial roofing systems are often more complex to install. For instance, flat roof layers may require days to cure, settle, and adhere to the roof surface.
BASIC INSTALLATION PROCESSES PER ROOF TYPE
Different commercial roofing system types have different installation processes, too. Some steps may be similar, while others may vary greatly. These processes must be put into consideration as it can affect scheduling and planning. â–Źâ–Ź Single-Ply Roofs. Thermoplastic PVC/TPO and EPDM are both single-ply flat roofs. Hot air welding is one of the common techniques used in installing these types of roofs. The roofing panels have some kind of adhesive backing which joins together when exposed to hot air. Chemical adhesives are also used to hold together the roofing sheets. Several layers of the roof membranes are typically needed.
What New Commercial Property Owners Should Know About Roofing
Understanding the Installation Process
▬▬ Self-Adhering Roofs. As the name suggests, self-adhering roofing systems can attach itself to surfaces without the use of other techniques. They are basically a peel-and-stick type of roofing. They make for faster installation; however, they must be carefully applied to ensure tightness and proper adhesion. ▬▬ Liquid Roofs. This type of roofing is applied like paint. It is basically a coating that cures to form a rubber-like waterproof membrane. It can be applied over different surfaces and even other roofing types.
To better understand installation processes and techniques, make sure you consult a trusted and experienced roofing contractor. Now that you have an idea how basic commercial roof types are installed, let’s move on to the question, who will install it? Stay tuned for the next post as we give you tips in choosing a roofer. What New Commercial Property Owners Should Know About Roofing
Determining the Right Type of Commercial Roof for Your Property
PART 3
Knowing Your Contractor Indeed, choosing the right roof for your commercial property is a huge decision, and part of it is selecting a roofing contractor that you can trust to do a good job. A new, high quality roof can prove to be a good investment for your business and thus, you should be careful when hiring a commercial roofer. In this post, we share with you some tips on how to choose a commercial roofing professional.
What New Commercial Property Owners Should Know About Roofing
Knowing Your Contractor
Get referrals and choose local. There is less chance of being scammed when you choose a contractor that has an established business and operations in your community. They are also more familiar with local building codes and rules, and have business relationships with suppliers in your area. Look for manufacturer certification. Contractors must pass certain strict requirements before they can be factory-certified. Such certifications can assure you that the roofer has sufficient skills and training, as well as a commendable track record. Check for licensing and insurance. The contractor should have insurance for all employees and subcontractors to make sure that you are protected against any labor-related injuries and other issues. Ask about safety. It is best to hire a contractor with training in a safety program. This will ensure that the crew assigned to your property knows basic to advanced safety protocols.
What New Commercial Property Owners Should Know About Roofing
Knowing Your Contractor
Remember that price is not everything. Never choose a company based on price. Cheap bids are at times a sign that a contractor may be lacking some of the required qualifications, such as insurance, as these are costs that often factor into project prices. Get everything in writing. You need to have a clear, printed, and detailed copy of your contract. It is recommended that you don’t shell out any money unless the terms of payment have been thoroughly discussed and agreements are properly specified in the contract. Any reliable roofer should have no problem providing you with this.
The material and installation are two factors in commercial roofing that you should never get wrong. By hiring a reliable roofing contractor who realizes the importance of a properly performing and stable roof, you are making sure that your property and investments are protected. We hope that this basic guide helps you decide better when it’s time to choose a roofing system for your new business. What New Commercial Property Owners Should Know About Roofing
Determining the Right Type of Commercial Roof for Your Property
UP AND ABOVE CONTRACTORS, LLC 2 Lower Hill Rd Newton, NJ 07860
(973) 300-0636
www.upandabovecontractors.com
What New Commercial Property Owners Should Know About Roofing