Month: October 2022

Top Trends in Eco-Friendly Commercial Roofing!

Gone are the days when the only option for commercial roofing was the traditional built-up roof.

As useful as that system still is, commercial roofing contractors have newer and better systems to offer their building owner customers today.

With environmental friendliness and energy efficiency now a prime concern, commercial roofers can install these great new systems that provide excellent protection while saving building owners money, too!

Solar Roofing

Solar panels have been around for a long time, but the ones now available for installation by commercial roofing contractors are more advanced and more efficient.

They can generate more power, resulting in a power savings to the building owner and in some cases, even allowing them to sell generated energy back to the utility company.

Higher-performing solar panels are becoming more affordable than ever, making them a great money-saving option for the owners of commercial buildings with large flat rooftops.

White Reflective Roofs

Also known as cool roofs, white reflective roofs installed by commercial roof services reflect a much higher amount of UV rays than traditional black built-up installations.

Whether installed by commercial roofing contractors using a white or light membrane system or a white asphalt system, white and light reflective materials reduce heat absorption into the building, making them ideal energy savers, especially when paired with high-performance insulation.

Green Roofs

Another environmentally friendly roof that is gaining in popularity on commercial buildings like office buildings and apartment buildings are green or vegetative roofs.

These roofs involve covering the top of a building first with a waterproof membrane, then covering it all with grasses, planter boxes, and other features to create a beautiful living roof.

These roofing systems are also cooling, make efficient use of rainwater, and improve air quality through the CO2 to oxygen transfer that plants utilize.

When properly set up by commercial roof services experienced in these installations, green living roofs in appropriate environments can be beautiful, healthy, and help the environment all at the same time. 

In Summary

The takeaway from this piece is that today’s commercial building owners have numerous options for having an energy-efficient roof and making good use of all of that space.

Whether commercial roofers install productive solar panels, create a reflective white roof, or turn that open space into a lush green garden, these high-tech roofing systems are great options for eco-friendly owners to consider.

Just be sure to hire experienced commercial roofing contractors who can do a proper installation for long-lasting, efficient results!

Repair or Replace – How Is This Roofing Decision Made?

When a roof sustains damage, roofers may suggest replacing it, as opposed to just doing repairs.

While it is normal that a homeowner might want to pay roof companies only to make repairs, there are many instances when the cost of those repairs just does not make sense.

Where is the magic line between roofing companies recommending a replacement over doing repairs?

It depends on a few important factors when assessing the amount of damage present.

  • What Type of Damage Is Present? - First, roof companies will assess the type of damage, as some problems are definitely worse than others in terms of making repairs or having to do an entire replacement. A few leaks here or there could be repaired, but something like protrusion through the roof or shingles blown off or damaged by hail represent something else entirely. Structural damage present almost always means a replacement is necessary, as the roof has to be removed to repair the support structure.    
  • How Widespread Is The Damage? - Next, roofers will assess whether the problem is located in only a few small areas or if it encompasses most of the roof. A few random missing shingles after a storm can easily be replaced. If shingles are missing all over the roofing system, the time it would take to replace them individually could be much longer than simply tearing off the old roof and doing a new installation. Widespread damage like hail damage, curling and blistering from heat damage, and cracked and broken shingles due to dry rot would also require a replacement, as opposed to just being repaired.  
  • What Is The Age of the Roofing System? - The older a roof is, the more likely it is that roofing companies will recommend replacing it versus doing repairs. Older roofs are more likely to develop problems as time goes on, so if replacement time is already close, skipping the repairs and opting for a new roofing system makes more sense. 
  • Which Option Is More Cost-Effective? - After considering the previous three points, roofers will then assess which opinion is more cost-effective and therefore makes more sense.

Since no roofing system is the same and there are countless ways in which roofing damage can be assessed, roof companies should always be called in to do an in-person inspection before any decisions on replacement or repairs should be made.

When roofers can make repairs, they will.

If the damage is such that the scope or cost of repairs would be better handled with a new roof system, most roofing companies will make that suggestion as well.

Sometimes, even if the cost is more than expected, spending a little more on a new roof is more cost-effective than paying only for repairs.