The last thing a business wants to mess with is replacing its roof. Unlike replacing a roof on a house, commercial buildings take special materials as most commercial buildings have flat roofs. This may seem like a daunting and pricey task so the thought of doing it yourself may enter your mind. Before you take that step, you need to consider what goes into a commercial flat roof and make an informed decision. The best way to begin is to set up a consultation with a roofer that specializes in commercial flat roofs. There are several points that will be brought to your attention that you will need to consider.
First, the size and condition of your commercial building roof. The size will play a role in time, materials and cost. What is the condition of the existing roof? You may have a leak somewhere, but all in all it may not need total replacement. Having an expert on hand to evaluate the roofs condition is imperative. It may need to be patched or to have it re-coated rather than completely replaced.
Second, you will be presented with three different ways to go about replacing your commercial roof. Each of these methods and materials are specific to commercial building roofing and the cost and materials vary. First, the B.U.R. or Built Up Roofing method. This is the oldest method and considered a bit outdated, but can still be done. The roofer will roll out asphalt and tar paper. They will make several layers of this with the final layer having a pebbled top to cut down on the heat that will be drawn into the black asphalt. Second, the EPDM Rubber roof is an option. This is a single ply, extremely tough rubber material that is rolled out. It is very widely used as it is almost guaranteed to give you at least 15 years of wear. Third, the PVC and TPO (thermoplastic Polyoletin) option. These are a woven, no seamed roof lining that reflects heat, out does the other two methods in years of wear and is presently the most widely used roofing. Reputable roofing companies will use one of these three methods to replace a commercial flat roof. A company that is not reputable will tell you there is a much cheaper way using spray on foam. The concept is nice but the durability is not. The foam is sprayed on, sealed with an acrylic material and covered with crushed stones or sand. The reason this is a bad idea is that animals, especially birds and rodents, will pick at and chew away the foam. This leaves the roof exposed and prone to water and weather damage.
The cost for your commercial flat roof to be replaced will not be cheap but when done correctly, using high-quality materials, it is a solid investment for your commercial property. Patching over a damaged flat roof can ultimately cause more damage and higher costs than replacing it in full with quality material. Your commercial flat roof covers your investment and replacing it should be done with quality and durability in mind.
