PVC roofing is a popular choice for commercial facilities of all types throughout the US, for several reasons.

Here are three:

1. Proven rooftop performance. PVC systems have been installed in the US since the 1970s, and some PVC roofs have been in place for 25 years or more. PVC roofing systems are durable and flexible and can handle a building’s normal expansion and contraction as seasons and temperatures vary. Appropriate for new and retrofit applications on all types of buildings, PVC roofing is an excellent product on roofs that are exposed to chemicals and other substances that can damage other materials. Restaurants in particular benefit from PVC because it’s highly resistant to grease that’s vented onto the rooftop. PVC membrane is also resistant to moisture, including ponding water, and doesn’t deteriorate in intense sunlight.
2. Environmentally friendly. White and light-colored (“cool”) PVC roofing systems are highly reflective, meaning that less solar energy is conducted into the building on hot sunny days than with darker systems. For non-conditioned spaces (e.g. warehouses, agricultural buildings), this means a cooler, more productive work environment. For facilities with rooftop HVAC units, those systems will use less energy (therefore be more cost-effective) on hot days because the surrounding air temperature will be significantly lower than the temperature on a dark roof surface. In addition, PVC is recyclable. At the end of its rooftop life, PVC roofing systems can be made into other products. Some manufacturers have programs in place that take old roofs and recycle them into commercial flooring and other products.
3. Flame resistant. PVC is made from two basic components: natural gas (typically) and salt. Although PVC does have a carbon content, it’s much lower than that of other types of commercial roof systems. Plus, the salt ingredient provides chlorine, which makes PVC roofing inherently flame resistant; once the source of the flame is removed, PVC membrane will not continue to burn. That means that less toxic gas is produced in a building fire than with other types of roofing. Although a commercial roof’s fire rating depends on many factors, a better fire rating may be easier to achieve with PVC roofing.

Although PVC roofing systems have many attributes that make them a great choice for virtually any commercial application, the quality of the installation comes down to the experience and ability of the roofing contractor doing the work. At Tusing Builders & Roofing Services we would welcome the opportunity to discuss our capabilities with you. Please contact us today!