Commercial Roofing: Unboxing its Types and Installation Methods

Starting up your commercial space can be daunting as it’s to-do list never ends! Well, you might as well be frightened by the horror of installing commercial roofing on the list, too! Don’t worry; this comprehensive blog will help remove this task from your to-do list.

Commercial roofing is the sure-shot way of protecting commercial infrastructures such as malls, big box stores, and apartment buildings from harsh weather conditions and other extremities. Its basic functionality remains the same as a house’s roof, but the materials used differ as the maintenance requirement is entirely different in both cases.

Unlike residential roofing, roofing in commercial spaces is constructed out of single-ply membrane, built-up roofing, concrete, bitumen, rubber, gravel, and tar, to name a few. Each roofing system made of different materials possesses uniquely set pros, purposes, and maintenance needs. Established brands such as Advance Roofing LLC recommend building a robust water drainage system to increase longevity and minimize the maintenance of roofs. Read ahead to learn more about its types and installation tricks!

Understanding the types and their installation

There are a myriad of materials used for building commercial roof systems. However, not all are as efficient as the top six extensively used materials. The main idea behind classifying these materials depends on their upkeeping, maintenance requirements, and suitability to the commercial space.

Metal roofing

This roofing system is the most commonly used for residential and commercial spaces. This is because of its obnoxiously longer lifespan and excellent durability. It can be available in various formats, sizes, shapes, and metal types. For instance, commercial spaces use aluminum, galvanized steel, copper, coated stainless steel, and metal tiles. All these materials are solid and prevent damage and water leakage. In addition, this kind of roofing is resistant to fire, aids in reflecting sun rays, and prevents rusting or fading. This roofing type gives an immaculate, modern, recyclable, and sustainable look.

Metal roofing is installed using fasteners to secure the metal frame to the building. It includes ensuring the steel sheet’s type and thickness on the top and sealing with bolts and screws.

BUR

Also known as Built-Up Roofing, it is built out of tar and gravel covering most commercial infrastructures. As the name suggests, it is a compilation of multiple layers that offer strength, durability, and protection. The higher the number of layers, the higher the level of security. The alternating layers are made of bitumen, cold adhesives, or tar. Its installation requires layering various materials (asphalt, bitumen, tar) over each other. The final layer is then covered with tar and gravel.

EPDM

Also known as Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer, it is made out of rubber and makes the surface highly resistant to UV rays. This roofing material saves heavy expenditure energy and waterproofs the space. The fabric comes in rolls and is installed by laying over the building’s frame and using adhesive to create a watertight seal.

PVC

Also known as Polyvinyl Chloride, it has become a rapidly growing choice due to its lower cost and a more comprehensive range of availability. Moreover, it is highly resistant to high wind speed, which makes it ideal for various climates and regions. Its installation requires laying felt paper over the building’s surface as a base. The felt is then attached with nails and a layout sheet to protect it from UV rays.

TPO

Also known as Single-Ply membrane, it is one of the most common roofing systems used for commercial spaces. Such material has low installation cost and possesses flexible membranes. The adhesive is used to spread over the surface, followed by the waterproof sheet and the TPO material over it.

Green roof

This roofing material has become popular due to its versatility and insulation features from the sun. Moreover, it minimizes the HVAC costs and rain runoff downstream. They can vary broadly in size depending on the building’s type. Its installation requires no additional frame setup and is more complicated than the rest.

Conclusion

Commercial roofing is an integral step in setting up any commercial space. It consists of various types based on the materials used. Out of the hundreds of materials used, metal, PVC, BUR, EPDM, TPO, and green roofs are the six best used widely everywhere.