Every business premise must appear attractive and appealing to the public. It’s understandable that updating your commercial roof may become necessary. However, unlike residential roofing projects, commercial roof replacements can present additional challenges due to specific factors. We are here to assist you in meticulously planning your upcoming commercial roof installation endeavor. Here are four key factors to contemplate before commencing the project.
Design Appropriately for an Extended Lifespan
Incorporating a well-considered design ensures compliance with local building and energy regulations. This involves preparing the structure, walls, and roof details for replacement. It addresses critical queries such as:
- Is there sufficient slope and drainage to divert water effectively?
- What specifications are necessary to satisfy wind and fire insurance criteria?
- Have energy code requirements been met, or is there a desire to surpass them for lower utility costs?
- Are there any structural issues that need attention?
- Can unused rooftop units be removed?
- How can productivity be enhanced for facility occupants?
- Is daylighting a consideration?
During the project’s design phase, resolving these and other questions will guide you towards optimal solutions catering to immediate and future needs. At times, seeking assistance from a third party may be beneficial in making these decisions and exploring various possibilities.
Select Established Materials
During the design phase, you have many materials and brands. Align your material selection with the existing conditions to ensure compatibility, durability, and meeting performance requirements are optimized.
The best commercial roof types offer a range of features and advantages. Selecting materials like TPO, EPDM, Asphalt, PVC, and Metal that suit your specific needs is essential. Leading manufacturers now offer comprehensive solutions, encompassing insulation, membranes, and accessories, enabling you to source most, if not all, products from a single provider.
Options with enhanced materials and redundancies are available to cater to diverse requirements. Some offerings even include a 30-year warranty covering materials and labor without a set dollar limit.
Utilize Professionals for Installing a New Commercial Roof
Having a well-designed plan and opting for reliable materials falls short of ensuring a successful roofing project. The crucial factor lies in engaging professional installers with the expertise to adhere to specifications, codes, and warranty stipulations.
Consider your roofing components arriving at the site akin to a complex jigsaw puzzle, encompassing membranes, insulation, fasteners, plates, adhesives, sealants, and more. Regrettably, there’s a temptation to take shortcuts or mask errors during subpar installations. For instance:
- Using incorrect or inadequate fasteners can lead to sections of the roof detaching long after the contractor has completed their work.
- Finalizing aspects with incompatible products may seem functional initially but won’t withstand the test of time.
Given the prevalent labor shortages and increasing subcontracting trends, ensuring that your installation team possesses the requisite experience and knowledge to tackle the job effectively is crucial.
Verify Your Warranty Status
The roofing materials manufacturer or contractor may bear the cost when fixing a faulty product or incorrect installation. Consulting the installation contractor can show which damages could be covered under warranty, particularly for recently installed roofs. Note that roofing warranties differ significantly across systems, manufacturers, and contractors.
Endnote
Installing a new commercial roof is a vital and intricate task for any business owner. Adhering to these steps guarantees that your new roof will be resilient, effective, and enduring.
