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What’s the Best Commercial Roof System for Your Building?

Building owners and facility managers have many options when it comes to determining the right commercial roofing system for a project. You should be confident that your roofing investment is the best long-term decision for your facility, and to that end, here are some areas you should consider when it comes to selecting a new roofing system.

Commercial roofing systems can often appear to be pretty much the same. But there are important differences that can affect a roof’s performance and ability to deliver long-term watertight protection. Some products have been around for decades and have a proven history of long-term success; others have come on the market more recently and have less of a track record; some of these products continue to undergo chemical reformulations that can affect the compatibility of patches and additions in the future.

The roofing system should be selected and designed to meet the watertight needs of your specific facility. There clearly are differences between low-sloped and steep-sloped roofs; decks made of concrete, structural standing seam metal or another material; new construction or roof retrofits; roofs with wide expanses and roofs with lots of penetrations; and more. Trends in recent years include the addition of solar or vegetative systems, and the underlying roofing system must be able to accommodate the unique needs of these applications.

Aside from the design and construction of the building, there are factors with respect to the rooftop environment. If there are HVAC units on the roof, they will need periodic maintenance and your new roof must be able to handle technician traffic. Environmental considerations also include temperature extremes that cause roofing components to expand and contract. In these cases, the roofing system needs to be flexible and able to move as necessary without losing functionality. Reflectivity is also an environment-driven attribute. Even in northern climates, reflective roof systems have lowered energy costs significantly by keeping buildings cooler and reducing HVAC loads in the summertime.

The long-term success of any roofing system ultimately falls on the installing roofing contractor, who should be trained and authorized by the manufacturer to install the manufacturer’s products correctly and provide any needed support after the installation. At Tusing Builders & Roofing Services, we adhere to the highest standards of quality and integrity. Please contact us to learn about what we can do for you.