Commonly Asked Questions About Commercial Roofing Systems

Unless you spend a lot of time on the roof of your commercial building (which is actually a good practice – more about that below), there may be some important aspects of it that you haven’t thought about. Here are some questions and answers about commercial roofing systems.

Water isn’t draining off my rooftop. What’s going on?

Even though you might have a “flat” commercial roof, it wasn’t designed to be or built as completely level. All flat roofs should have some slope to them to enable water to run off, either into gutters around the perimeter of the building or into drains that channel water through the interior. If you have lingering ponding water, that’s a sign that the roof is sagging, and you may have structural problems caused by the water weight. A roofing contractor can possibly address the water flow problem with rooftop accessories called crickets, but structural problems would need to be corrected by an engineer.

Can a new roofing system actually save me money?

The short answer is yes. The commercial roofing trend in recent years is toward highly reflective thermoplastic systems that can reflect up to 85% of the sun’s energy. This translates into a reduction in summertime cooling costs by as much as 40%. Cool roofs reduce the strain on rooftop HVAC systems and have been shown to extend the life of both the roof system itself and the underlying insulation. All of these benefits improve your bottom line.

Don’t all commercial roofing systems do the same thing?

At the most basic level – yes. Roofing systems have the fundamental job of protecting your building from the elements, in all seasons. Much of their ability to do this depends on the quality of the actual installation performed by the contractor; most commercial roofing problems that develop over time are traced to human error at the time of installation. Some systems offer advantages in certain circumstances. Lightweight thermoplastic systems can often be installed over an existing roof without an expensive tear-off and building disruptions. PVC systems are resistant to greasy exhaust that’s common on restaurant roofs.

As a building owner, what’s my roofing responsibility?

Spend some time on your rooftop. Periodic visual inspections of your roof should be part of your maintenance routine and it’s a good idea to have a formal, professional inspection at least twice a year that can uncover and address potential problems before they become major headaches.

Who should I call for all my commercial roofing needs?

The answer to that is simple: Tusing Builders and Roofing Services. We’re experienced in all facets of commercial roofing, from simple repairs to inspections to completely new roofing systems. We invite you to contact us at your earliest convenience.