Commercial Roofing Materials

It’s understandable that people would think that commercial and residential roofs must use the same materials and be built pretty much the same way. Their job, after all, is to keep out the weather, and keep the people inside the building comfortable. But the fact is that commercial and residential roofs can be quite different. Commercial roofs are often flat or have low slopes. They are usually much bigger than residential roofs, and they may need to bear the weight of heavy equipment such as chillers. The following are some materials our company, Roof Top Services, uses for commercial roofs:

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer, or EPDM

Despite the fancy name, EPDM roofs are basically made out of rubber. They are also inexpensive, scratch-resistant, lightweight and easy to install. EPDM is also long-lived and can last for up to half a century. These roofs are almost always black and absorb the heat of the sun while being resistant to degradation by ultraviolet light. A business owner who is not overly interested in good looks but wants a roof that does what a commercial roof is supposed to do will find a good choice in an EPDM roof.

Thermoplastic Polyolefin, or TPO

TPO costs even less than EPDM, a consideration when a large amount of square footage needs to be covered. In contrast to EPDM, TPO is most often white. Because of this, it reflects as opposed to absorbs the sun’s heat which cuts down greatly on air conditioning bills. It shares EPDM’s benefit of being light weight and tough, as it resists mold, mildew, algae and corrosion. It has an advantage over EPDM because the seams literally melt together, which makes this roof almost but not completely leak proof. The one caveat with a TPO roof is that the material needs to come from a reputable manufacturer who is dedicated to making a high quality product. Roof Top Services uses only the highest quality TPO for our customers’ roofs.

Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC

This is the same material that plumbing pipes are made of, though in the case of roofing there are two sheets of lightweight PVC reinforced by polyester. PVC roofing is also strengthened by chemicals that make it supple, cure-proof and resistant to UV damage. It resists fire, water and corrosion by chemicals. The seams of a PVC roof are fairly leakproof because they’re welded together. PVC is especially good for flat roofs or roofs with a low slope, even as it is admittedly pricey.

Spray Polyurethane Foam, or SPF

This type of roofing is sprayed on. It resembles a type of insulation that is sprayed between wall studs, solidifies within seconds and expands exponentially to fill in gaps. But instead of soybeans, SPF is a type of plastic. Still, it is environmentally friendly, air and watertight and very energy efficient. Using it with other roof coatings can make it even more so, and it saves money in both the heating and the cooling season. SPF is very durable and can last for as long as 40 years with the right care. SPF requires some skill and experience apply, and our roofers at Roof Top Services have both.

Acrylic Coating

An acrylic coating placed on top of an SPF roof makes it that much more energy efficient. Though it is a bit involved to install, when it is installed properly acrylic coating is quite weather resistant and can last as long as a PVC roof. This roof has no seems so is water tight. It also resists UV damage, reflects the sun’s heat and is very easy repair. Even replacing an acrylic coat is easy: all our professionals need to do is add another coat.

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Call Roof Top Services to Install Your Commercial Roof

If you own a brick and mortar business in central Florida and are wondering what sort of material to use for your roof, don’t hesitate to call us at Roof Top Services. Our professionals are licensed, bonded, insured and have decades of experience installing commercial roofs. Give us a call at 407-476-0260.