Commercial Roofing Materials: Types and Installation
As a busy business owner you would obviously want a flawless roofing solution so that you do not have to worry about construction hassle. To ensure proper functioning of roofing choosing robust commercial roofing material that is element resistant and energy efficient is extremely important.
There is a basic difference between residential and commercial roofing. The residential roofs are slanting for facilitating water draining. On the other hand, commercial roofs are mostly flat or are slightly sloped to enable water drainage. Due to this basic difference the roofing materials of residential and commercial buildings vary greatly. The following blog would explore the different types of commercial roofing and their installation process in detail.
Types of Industrial Roofing Materials
There are a number of different roofing materials that perform different functions. Let’s check out the different types of commercial roofing materials and their functions.
1. Built-up Roofing
Built-up roofing, known by its acronym BUR, has been a popular choice for industrial roofing for a long time in the US. This material consists of multiple layers of ply sheets and asphalt making it an excellent protective material. After installation a coat of cap sheet or a flood coat of asphalt and granules are applied to enhance the performance of the material. These multiple plies provide heavy-duty protection and resistance against weather.
Additionally, BUR material is a continuous solid sheet without any disjointed parts or seams. This makes there is almost no hassle of leakages. Along with these, BUR materials are highly durable and can last for more than 20 years and have excellent water and fireproof qualities.
2. Modified Bitumen Roofing
Modified bitumen roofing or mod bit is a recent cost-effective alternative to the BUR system. It stands out as an efficient and sturdy for commercial flat or low-sloped roofs. This material comes in layers with petroleum-based substance applied between the piles providing an appearance and properties of a rubber.
Mod bit is long-lasting and can withstand heavy foot fall in comparison to single ply membrane like the BUR system. It protects the building from the harmful UV rays due to its energy-efficient property. The two installation techniques of mod bit are peel-and stick and torch-down.
The peel and stick is a cost-saving procedure but not as efficient as the torch-down techniques. The torch-down technique involves heating of the roofing layers to make it stick to the roof more directly. This method provides a consistent sealed defense against water penetration and UV rays.
3. Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) Roofing
The thermoplastic polyolefin roofing is the fastest growing commercial roofing material due to its naturally UV rays reflective property. It is a single membrane system consisting of synthetics and reinforced scrim that is commonly used to cover flat roofs.
TPO membranes are formed into sheets with a width of 10, 12 or 20 feet that can be mechanically fastened to the roof. The sheets are rolled up and carried to the commercial facility TPO are extremely durable and versatile as it can perform in any type of weather conditions saving energy cost.
4. Metal Roofing
Metal roofing is popular for its recycling facility and aesthetically pleasing appearance. It is manufactured from recycled metals like aluminum or steel and can be used once its life-span as roofing gets over.
Furthermore, metal roofing tends to last longer and does not become less reflective or lose energy savings with time unlike single-ply roofing. However, one of the major concerns with metal roofing is the possibility of leakages. Thus, if you have an industrial facility in a rain prone region you should avoid metal roofing. For further expert consultation, reach out to commercial roofers in Oxford Ohio.
5. Green Roofing
Green roofs are an eco-friendly roofing solution incorporating living vegetation. Planting trees in planters improves air quality making it suitable for an industrial building in the busy city. However, one of the demerits of green roofs is the setting is expensive to install and you would require a person for maintenance like daily watering, weeding, and other chores required for growing vegetables, fruits and flowers.
Conclusion
Commercial roofing materials must be installed keeping in mind the location of the office, weather condition of the place, budgets, feasibility of installation and many other factors. To ensure that you get the best material and installation done, it is important to contact professional roofing services.
