Commercial Roof Installation in Virginia: What’s the Process? Read below for more.
Does your commercial building need a new roof installed? There’s a lot to consider, and it’s hard to know where you should start. If you know the process though, it’s a lot easier. Here’s what you need to know when it comes to installing a new commercial roof in Virginia.
What Is A Commercial Roof?
Firstly, you need to know what counts as a commercial roof. Typically, any roof that covers a commercial building will be a commercial roof. That includes buildings like malls, apartment buildings, big box stores, and so on.
They mostly differ from residential roofs in the materials that are used. Typically, a residential roof uses asphalt shingle material to cover it. On a commercial roof, you’ll use a range of different materials, depending on your own needs. All these different materials have different benefits and maintenance needs, so the process is a little different for all of them.
Material Types
There are lots of different materials that can be used in commercial roofing, but these are six of the most common. When you start the roofing process, you’ll find a roofer that will walk you through your options, and find one that works for you.
Metal Roofing
This is a very common commercial roofing type, and for good reason. Metal roofing comes with a lot of benefits that will be great for you. Firstly, they’re incredibly long-lasting, allowing you to keep them installed for up to 70 years. They also come in large sheets that install together, allowing for less chance of leaking. They’re also Class A fire rated, making them much safer in the event of a fire.
What you need to know is that this can be one of the more expensive options out there. For many business owners though, it’s worth the cost as it has so many benefits.
Built-Up Roofing (BUR)
This is what you’ll see on most commercial buildings, and is made of tar and gravel. There are several layers in this roofing material, which is why it has the name Built-Up Roofing. The more layers there are, the more built-up it is.
This is common because the material is highly cost-effective. The layers are durable and leak-resistant, so you’ll get the protection you need for your roof without the cost.
EPDM
EPDM, which stands for Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer, is also known as simply rubber roofing. These are becoming very popular as they’re able to deflect a lot of UV rays, making buildings cooler. In turn, that allows you to reduce energy costs in your building.
There are some limitations in how it can be used, as the nature of the rubber sheeting makes it difficult to adhere to surfaces. However, it’s still a very good roofing material, and one that many businesses are using for their commercial buildings.
PVC
You may not have known that PVC can be used for roofing, but it’s an excellent choice in a lot of situations. It’s low cost and easily available, so its very simple to have installed on your roof. Much like EPDM or BUR, it’s installed in rolls that overlap and protect against the elements.
Another benefit of PVC is that it’s resistant to high winds, so it’ll stay in place even if you have storms in the area. That will help cut down on repair and maintenance costs over time.
Single Ply Membrane (TPO)
Single Ply Membrane, or TPO, is another roofing material that’s rolled out in sheets across the roof. It’s possibly the most popular roofing option on this list, as it’s low cost and gives you a lot of the same benefits that you’ll get with the above roofing materials. It can be applied over almost any surface too, making it very flexible overall.
Green Roofs
Finally, there are green roofs. These are a little different from the others on the list, as they use living plants, such as grasses, to create the roof. They come with a lot of benefits that you’ll want to be aware of. For example, they are highly popular as they look good. They can also help with rain run-off, and offer some insulation from the sun.
They’re also highly popular as they’re offering a greener way to re-roof your building. There will be some additional maintenance needed, and that’s something your roofer will go over with you. If you’re willing to do it though, there are a lot of benefits to this roofing system.
Installing Flat Roofs
Typically, most business roofs will be flat. That does require some extra expertise on the part of your roofers, so you’ll need to talk to them about how they’ll install the best quality roof.
Usually, they will ensure that the roof has a low slope, to ensure that the rain can run off and prevent ‘ponding’. They’ll also need to install a good frame, in order to hold the weight of the new roof. Finally, a good guttering system needs to be installed, so water can run away from the roof and reduce the chances of water damage.
Installing Your New Roof
Now that you’ve found a roofing business and decided on the material that you want, they’ll get to work on installing the roof. They’ll have walked you through the whole process beforehand, so you’ll find that the process should be straightforward. It will differ a little, depending on the material used. For example, a metal roof will need a metal frame installed, which will make it airtight. BUR will need alternating layers of rubber, tar, and asphalt laid down to fully install, and TPO will need an adhesive installed first.
Once it’s done, it’ll be ready to hold off the elements for as long as possible. Keep it well maintained and it will protect your commercial building for a long time to come.
In Conclusion
Now you know the process of installing a commercial roof in Virginia. Find a reputable roofer, and get started with having a good roof installed.
