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Best 6 Commercial Roof Types and Materials for Your Business


A Guide to the Best Commercial Roof Types—Follow the Advice of Expert Roofers

Your business is such an essential part of your life. It is what helps you achieve most of your goals. And the last thing you want to happen is to leave your business unprotected. By knowing the different commercial roof types, you’ll count on a feature that’ll bring all sorts of pros to your firm!

Investing in the quality roof certainly means to invest in the well-being and prosperity of your business. So, to help you with this decision, we created a guide to the best types of commercial roofing systems.

The protection of your business starts from the top to bottom, and that is why installing a good roof should be on top of your priorities. After all, a high-end roof can give more than just protection. It can give you a prominent exterior feature that’ll also be energy efficient as well!

In this guide, we’ll talk about the advantages of every roof system. With our overview, you’ll be ready to make a more informed decision on the different types of roofing systems.

Without further ado, let’s start with our guide to the best commercial roof types. This will be a close examination of the benefits of the different kinds of roof materials and systems.

We invite you to read the complete article, but if you feel you don’t have enough time to read it all, you can skim through the subheadings to grasp the general idea.

These Are the Top Commercial Roof Types for Your Firm

When it comes to choosing the right roofing system for your business, you must first learn what each has to offer. By knowing the pros and cons of each, you can make a wise decision that’ll be worth your while!

Here are the most common types of roofs businesses use today:

Thermoplastic Olefin Roofing (TPO Roofing)

TPO Membrane Rolls. Installation of TPO Roof in Commercial Building

This is one of the most common roof types for commercial buildings. TPO stands for “thermoplastic polyolefin.” In simpler words, this membrane has 3 main components. The TPO roofing material consists of polyolefin (PP or PE), rubber, and some filler (talc, glass, carbon fiber, etc.).

TPO is a great commercial roof option since it offers many benefits.

TPO Roofs Offer a Great Leak and Tear Resistance

As a business owner or manager, your life is hectic since you need to provide the best services and products to your clients.

You don’t have time to be dealing with roof leakage now and then. So, when installing a TPO roof, you’ll get a highly resilient roofing membrane that resists tears, punctures, and impacts. This will keep your employees, belongings, and clients protected from rain and damages that a troubling roof leak can cause.

Also, you or your employees can do regular inspections without damaging the TPO layers.

Your Business Will Have +20 Years of Protection

TPO is tough. If installed correctly, and if it gets the right maintenance, it can last up to 20 years. One of the characteristics that make this membrane resilient is that it has excellent resistance to ultraviolet rays.

A TPO Roof Grants You a Tough Light-Weight Solution

Most commercial roofs are large in scale. In other words, a massive structure needs a light roof solution to avoid adding stress to the building structure. So, it does not matter how large the roof area you need to cover, a TPO roofing membrane is the perfect solution for two reasons. 

First, it will protect your business perfectly. Second, a TPO membrane will be a super lightweight for your building structure to hold. Lastly, this type of roofing provides you a great variety of styles and colors.

The downside of TPO roofing is the fact that it can’t handle too much heat. So if you’re in an area that’s constantly hot and sunny, then maybe this option isn’t what you should go for.

Modified Bitumen Roofing (Mod Bit Roofing Systems)

Modified Bitumen Roof

These types of commercial roof systems have their origins from asphalt roofs. You can say it’s the enhanced version since it provides a much better seal. Mod bit roofing became a favorite option among business owners because it protected their businesses against harsh cold weather.

Pros Mod Bit Roofs Bring to Businesses

As stated beforehand, this kind of roofing option is highly efficient at low temperatures. You can count that peace of mind that your roof won’t suffer from any cracks or leaks due to a cold climate.

Also, mod bit roofs do not absorb as much heat as other roofing options would. In other words, you’ll be keeping energy bills low. Not only that, but also you can be sure that no harmful gases will be involved due to it’s low in volatile organic compounds.

Lastly, modified bitumen is in itself a self-adhering material. This, therefore, means that there’s no need to use heat to seal the roof. You can bid farewell to the risks of having a heat-related accident when installing your roof.

Cons of a Modified Bitumen Roof

One of the greatest drawbacks modified bitumen roofs bring is the fact that they aren’t as durable as other roofing systems. Additionally, you can have a difficult time spotting leaks. That’s why you should always count on professionals when it comes to fixing your roof.

Tar & Gravel Roofs (Built-Up Roofing)

Tar and Gravel Roof Installation Process

When it comes to providing an excellent roof for low sloped and flat roofs, then built-up roofs may be what you’re looking for! This type of roof material is usually made up of alternating asphalt and fiberglass layers. The result grants you a sturdy, long-lasting roofing material.

This sort of roof usually is very thick and heavy, thus making it more of an ideal option for businesses instead of homes. 

Benefits of Tar and Gravel Roofing

There are many pros that this commercial roof offers to building owners. For instance, built-up roofing protects your firm against ultraviolet light (UV) rays, unpleasant weather, and water. Additionally, it resists quite well to regular foot traffic, meaning that’s a great flat roofing material you can walk on

Tar and gravel roofs are also incredibly low-maintenance. In other words, you won’t have to worry about hurting your budget when it comes to repairing your roof. Last but not least, when counting on excellent maintenance, this roof can last you up for 40 years!

Drawbacks Tar and Gravel Roofing Brings

One of the major disadvantages of built-in roofing is the fact that it’s labor-intensive. This also means that the overall installation process is time-consuming as well. 

Additionally, you need to be careful during the installation since it emits vapors and fumes that are potentially dangerous. Lastly, this kind of roofing doesn’t work as well in cold climates.

EPDM Rubber Roofing 

EPDM Rubber Roofing

There are many single-ply membrane roof types. One of the most common options out there is EPDM roofing. Being popular among low-slope roofs, it consists of a pond liner made of a synthetic rubber sheet. Their reliability and resistance grants trust among business owners.

Rubber roofing comes in black and white colors. Also, it comes in different widths and sizes, giving you the option of choosing the best for your business. 

Advantages of Rubber Roofing

When it comes to the many pros this roof offers, one of them is that its installation process is fast. In other words, you won’t have to be out of business for a long time. 

EPDM roofs also are very lightweight. Many people get the wrong idea that lightweight roofs mean weak roofs. However, rubber roofs are incredibly sturdy and durable. Not only that, but also they can resist intense UV rays as well!

Besides, rubber roofs are among the options that are less susceptible to leaks and cracks. 

Disadvantages of Rubber Roofing

Sadly, just like the other types of industrial roofs, EPDM roofing has its drawbacks. For instance, this type of roofing is known for its unappealing look. Additionally, it has a reputation for being easily puncturable. Lastly, this type of roofing is best for colder climates since it attracts heat. 

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Roofing

PVC Commercial Roof Types

Continuing with the various flat roof systems, we have polyvinyl chloride. Just like EPDM rubber roofs, PVC can be used for both low sloped or flat roofs. You can apply this type of roofing in different ways, including mechanical, ballasted, and single-ply fully adhering applications. 

PVC roofs are the third most-produced plastic polymer. Additionally, it can be used for both commercial and industrial purposes.

The Pros of PVC Roofing Include:

First and foremost, one of the major pros this type of roofing brings is its fire resistance features. This is what grants it its Class-A qualification. Not only can it resist fire well, but it also counts with excellent resistance against chemicals, acids, oils, and other harmful substances!

Additionally, it’s a durable roof that’s lightweight, not to mention that it’s made with a strong material that resists punctures. Last but not least, PVC roofs count on green roofing membranes. This helps keep low energy costs as well as mitigating the UHI effect! 

The Drawbacks PVC Roofs Bring Are:

PVC roofs are among the roofing options that count on a few drawbacks. One of them is that it’s one of the most expensive options out there. Depending on the thickness and quality, a PVC roof can cost you up between $6.5 to $8 per square feet! Because of this, both installation and repair can turn out to be high-priced!

Metal Roofing (Aluminum, Copper, Etc)

Metal Roofing on Commercial Construction

Last but certainly not least, we have metal roofs. This kind of roofing is quite popular among homeowners and business owners, and for a good reason! Whether you’re opting for R-panels or standing-seam roofs, your business will always be protected with metal roofs.

There are many materials for metal roofs. Some of the most common of these include:

  • Aluminum
  • Copper
  • Stainless Steel
  • Copper
  • Galvalume

Metal Roof Benefits: 

You can say that metal roofs are the good-old option among business owners due to the many benefits they bring to their building. For example, one of the major advantages these roofs bring is a life expectancy from 40 to 70 years! Of course, this depends on the roof’s material. 

Not only do they last a lot, but they can withstand high winds as well as fierce storms without suffering any damage. Also, metal roofs are among the easiest and fastest roof installations.

Other benefits include:

  • It’s incredibly low-maintenance.
  • Metal roofs are eco-friendly roofs.
  • It’s a fire-resistant roof.
  • You can reduce up to 25% of your energy bills with a metal roof.

Disadvantages of Metal Roofs:

One of the drawbacks metal roofs bring, just like PVC roofs, is its price tag. Although there are options that may vary depending on the kind of metal you’re using, the average cost of installing a metal roof may be up to $16,500!

Also, metal roofs tend to be quite noisy, especially during rain and hailstorms. Lastly, it’s very susceptible to dents and scratches.

Grant Your Building the Roof It Deserves!

By choosing the ideal commercial roof, you will protect your personnel and stakeholders, protect your merchandise, and protect your customer relations.

Forget about leaking, forget about damaged merchandise, and forget about losing business. You only need to install the proper commercial roof type.

So, what are you waiting to install the right roofing style for your business? Now that you know what each roof type has to offer, you can now make an informed decision that’ll benefit you and your company!

Need a quote for your commercial roof installation and repair? Check out our commercial roof services in Tyler TX! With our team beside, you’ll count on a high-end roof that’ll bring protection and safety to your business.

Areas We Cover

We cover 70 miles around Tyler. We also cover LongView, Mineola, Jacksonville, Henderson, Rush and Marshall.


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