No commercial roofing is the same, in fact you’d be surprised to know how many different types of commercial roofing there are and all of the different perks each one can provide.
Each roof type excels on a specific aspect such as a higher longevity, increased resistance to rains and extreme weather or energy efficiency, allowing commercial roofing owners to choose a type based on what’s better for them.
Some of the main aspects you should be looking for in a commercial roofing are overall durability, cost and energy efficiency as these 3 heavily influence the quality of the commercial roofing you are getting.
In order to let you choose what’s more important for you I’ve compiled a list of all the commercial roofing types and what each one can do for you. Here they are;
#1 Metal Roofing
One of the big favorites when it comes to commercial roofing and for a good reason, metal roofing is fire resistant, can resist impacts and has an incredibly long lifespan of 40 to 60 years before needing to be replaced.
However, metal roofings are highly susceptible to rust due to water and other factors in the environment so very often they are covered under a protective layer, not recommended for weathers with constant rains or buildings with moisture problems.
#2 BUR
Also known as Built-up roofing membrane is one of the favorite commercial roofing types it is mainly composed of gravel and tar as its principal materials. Because BUR is built around many layers it has an unique flexibility and is water protected making it a perfect candidate for low-slope rooftops.
Unlike other commercial roofing options that always are in a constant need of maintenance, BUR has incredibly low maintenance requirements as well being a very long lasting solution that is known to be capable of lasting 20 to 30 years before having to be replaced, making BUR a very cost effective alternative.
#3 Thermoset roof membrane
For short EPDM this commercial roofing is composed mainly of synthetic materials that give it the durability and versatility every good commercial roofing needs, while remaining at a reasonable cost that is still cheaper than other types of commercial roofing such as PVC, metal and PVO.
EPDM is able to get by with very little to no maintenance however doing maintenance every once in a while is not a bad idea as this will help to prolong its lifespan which is usually between 20 to 50 years. EPDM is also flexible enough to bend through pipes and endure the most hostile weathers and temperatures.
However I have to say that this roofing is not very pleasing to the eye and can be hard to build a beautiful design with it.
#4 TPO and PVC
Thermoplastic Roof Membrane & Poly Vinyl Chloride are 2 commercial roofing types which consist of plastic for the most part and have proven to be incredibly useful thanks to these plastic properties and are capable of providing incredible benefits when used for commercial roofing.
These materials are incredibly lightweight and easy to handle as well as being able to repel chemicals like oil, animal wastes, moisture and almost anything nature can throw at them, thermoplastic roof membranes usually last from 15 to 20 years.
#5 Green roofs
Green roofs installations have been rising in popularity in the past decade and for a good reason, they not only look incredibly beautiful but their purpose goes further than just that.
They can last up to 50 years and are able to minimize energy cost by heat absorption while providing oxygen and serving as a water drainage source that protects the building against heavy rains.
However, this commercial roofing tend to have a higher price tag in comparison to the other options mostly because of the increased support needed to handle the increased weight but overtime this green roofs can make up for this with the many benefits they can provide, green roofs also have an increased need of maintenance since they are very similar to a garden they will require you to treat it as one.
#6 Spray polyurethane foam
SPF is a material that shortly after being sprayed will quickly transform into a foam state which will harden as time passes resulting in a solid commercial roofing that is not harmful for the ambient. SPF has great insulation and elastic properties that can help repel water as well as move freely during storms without taking any damage, this commercial roofing is expected to last 50 years if the proper maintenance is provided at least 2 times every year.
These are the most popular commercial roofing options, try to consider which one better meets your needs/budget before making a decision.
