Everything You Need To Know About Commercial Roofing

Commercial roofs can fall victim to a variety of problems. Generally speaking, commercial roofing repairs are some of the most costly and complicated jobs that a commercial roofer will encounter throughout his career. For a business owner to make the best investment possible on their commercial building, they need to understand how to select a reputable contractor and what factors will drive up their costs. With this said, if you’re a prospective client or a current client with a large project on your plate, it is prudent that you take time out of your day to read over this article and gain insight into what it takes to maintain and repair your commercial roof properly.

In this article, we’re going to discuss all of the significant components that you need to be aware of for your commercial roofing maintenance and repair costs to stay at a minimum. In addition, we’ll talk about some common scams that are used by less than reputable contractors and how to avoid them.

The Components That Make Up Your Commercial Roof System

When it comes down to commercial roofing repair systems, there are only three main components: the membrane, insulation, and substrate (which is typically either plywood or steel deck). As far as the membrane goes, you have two options for making your selections here; you can choose between metal or asphalt shingle depending on what your budget looks like and what your taste in design is. Generally speaking, metal roofing systems are more expensive than asphalt shingle roofing systems; however, they provide a nice aesthetic benefit by adding an industrial touch to your building. With all of that said, though, no matter which one you choose to go with, it’s important to remember that the membrane itself should permanently be installed over either plywood or steel deck for it to perform up to par.

Membranes And The Problems That Arise From Them

To put it simply, there isn’t much room for error when it comes down to membranes. Since this is generally considered one of the most critical components within your commercial roof system, failure here could lead to catastrophic consequences such as leaks, flat roof failures as well as consistent damage to the interior of your commercial building as a result. For this reason, you must take time out of your day to do some research into who you’re going to hire and what their specific installation process looks like. Because if there is one thing we can learn from Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters such as these, roofs play a significant role in keeping people safe and secure during harsh weather conditions.

Insulation - A Necessity For All Commercial Roofs

Another component that should not be overlooked when choosing a commercial roofing contractor to help with your commercial roofing needs is insulation. There are many companies out there today who will try and convince you that insulation isn’t necessary because it won’t stop your roof from leaking. On the contrary, this is an awful justification for not insulating because insulation plays a tremendous role in preventing surface heat loss, reducing your cooling costs throughout the summer months, and preventing ice dams and icicles during the winter months.

Substrates - The Foundation Of A Quality Commercial Roof System

The last thing to consider for any commercial roof system is the substrate. Generally speaking, most commercial roofs will typically use plywood or steel decks as their base of support; however, some companies out there will prefer to use concrete decks due to cost-effectiveness or other factors that fall outside the scope of this article. With that said, though, if you’re interested in having concrete decks installed on top of your roof, make sure to keep the following things in mind.

Concrete Decks - The Foundation Of A Quality Commercial Roof System

Since the primary purpose of the substrate is to provide a foundation for your membrane, you must take steps to ensure that both of these components are compatible with one another. Before any concrete deck gets installed over top of your membrane, it will be essential for you to have this material tested by a reputable and experienced commercial roofing contractor to check into whether or not it will support all designated loads as well as what kind of impact it may have on the integrity and overall performance your membrane itself.