Top Five Commercial Roofing Mistakes We See
Maybe your roof has experienced multiple leaks that required repair, but now it’s leaking again. This means you’ve probably reached a point where a total replacement is needed.
Yes, a commercial building roof replacement is expensive, so making mistakes is not an option. In order to avoid making one, let’s discuss the mistakes we see most often when choosing a new roofing system:
Not Thinking About Lifetime Costs
By now, we’re sure you know that, oftentimes, cheaper is not better. Commercial building roofing systems are no exception. Opting for a cheaper system upfront can end up costing you big time in the long run. A single-ply roofing system is cheaper initially, but might require replacement every 10 years. Thus costing you over and over again. However, paying more for a different roofing system that could last you 25 years or more could cost you so much less over the years. Simply researching roofing systems and their lifespans can help you get the best deal
Discounting Energy Savings
When you have a “cool” roof, you could be saving anywhere from 15-30% on your building’s energy costs each month. This adds up very quickly, and saves you thousands of dollars during the life of the roof. A “cool” roof is traditionally white or gray and has more reflectivity than a black roof.
Not Considering Leak Probabilities
The most common places we see water entering a commercial building are the penetrations and seams. These areas allow water to seep into the building quickly, so choosing a system such as spray foam can protect against that with its closed-cell properties. Spray foam keeps water confined to one place when it has a crack or hole, instead of letting it into vulnerable areas.
Doing What You Know
Change is difficult for humans. We’re inherently resistant to it. Changing up a daily routine or changing your belief is hard, yes, but sometimes it’s necessary for good things to happen. This even applies to commercial building roofing systems. Many owners have their own feelings about what their roofing system should be, and tend to stick with what they know. If their building has only ever had a tar and gravel roof, the owner may feel that’s what it should always be. However, that isn’t always the case. There could be something better, including:
- EPDM
- TPO
- Metal
- Gravel Built-Up
- Spray Foam
- TPO
Not Considering the Environment
It’s well known that doing what is environmentally friendly isn’t always the most cost friendly route. However, with a spray foam roof, you’re able increase your bottom line and help the environment simultaneously!
Spray foam roofs are simply installed over the roof that’s already there, meaning there is no required tear-off. No tear-off means zero trips to the dump and zero excess waste. With other roofing systems, a total tear-off is needed and all materials go to the dump. Not only is this more labor to pay for, but it also generates much more waste.
Take all of these factors into consideration before you make any decisions about your commercial roofing system. Then give us a call to discuss your options!
