Are you a business owner who wants to construct a new building? Or are you a business manager who is planning to renovate the commercial building? What you need to make sure your employees feel safe, in addition to saving lots of expensive headaches, is the right roofing material for your commercial building. If you’re confused about how to choose the right roofing material, read on to find out what you need to know.
Your ‘Type’ Of Business
The type of business in your building is one of the most important factors to take into consideration. You might need the energy-efficient Flexion or TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) for a retail store that requires a comfortable feel with a moderate temperature. But remember it is also very costly. So, if you can afford it, go for it.
If you have a warehouse that does not need a temperature-controlled environment, you can go for EPDM, which is quite affordable and honestly, is the most used for such warehouses. However, if you need a great ventilation and exhaust system for a facility that uses harsh chemicals, you may want to go with PVC, as EPDM or even TPO is not the best choice for a commercial building.
What You Already Have
The existing roof is the key to selecting the new material. Many commercial roofing systems may be applied directly to the existing roof. This saves a lot of cost and time. But this may not be the best method for other materials like PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). PVC cannot be put on an existing roof made of asphalt. Another important thing to consider in this situation is the vents, the air conditioning units, and any skylights that may affect while application and maintenance of roofing material. According to the team at tpopros.com, the best choice is coatings if all you need is a cost-effective solution instead of a whole roof replacement. The coatings may be silicone, acrylic, or polyurethane. Architectural shingles are an excellent choice for their durability if what you need is a roof replacement.
Foot traffic is something to be considered seriously for a commercial building. For safety purposes, the integrity of the roof is a major concern. Due to this, EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer), which is a single-ply system, may be susceptible to puncture and may start to leak soon due to damage. Metal roofing systems do not lack in strength, but it is quite slippery.
Environment: Everything Around Your Building
The environment here includes not only the weather and atmosphere, it means all the surrounding buildings, location, and climate. You may have many buildings nearby or none at all, with wildlife surrounding you. You may work at a place with constant sandstorms or regular rains or even snowfalls. For such harsh weather, the right roofing material would be metal. If you are located in a harsh climate, whether cold or hot, EPDM should be your go-to because it easily adapts to temperature fluctuations. If you have forests around you (or some strong trees with low-hanging branches), TPO can come to your rescue, as it is puncture-resistant and strong.
It is always better to go with energy efficiency so that your commercial roofing does not harm the environment. Going green does not only help fight the climate change but also save you lots of cost with energy efficiency.
Licensed Roofers
Many states require only licensed operators to put a roof over your building. This is because the construction requires skill and knowledge, as it can hurt people and also ruin the rest of your building if some amateur handles it. So, ensure that you can find yourself a licensed contractor for roofing. A licensed roofer will not only guide you properly on the right roofing material but also ensure a great roof in the end.
Longevity
Do you plan to sell the building and have a constrained budget? You might want to consider a recoating only or any material as durability is not your priority.
Do you plan to take your business to the sky? You may want to consider a roofing material that is easily recoated and maintained, regardless of the costs. With proper maintenance, your roof may take 10 to almost 50 years.
There you go! These are all the things you need to consider while replacing or constructing the roof. Since safety is a huge concern in commercial buildings, follow the steps given above, and you are sure to have a great roof over your and your employees’ head (pun intended).