If you are a commercial building owner, the roofing issues associated with your commercial building will be completely different than your residential building. Most individuals do not realize this vast difference between residential and commercial roofing applications. However, people need to understand the two industries are not the same because each of them must be handled differently.
Materials
A noticeable difference between commercial and residential buildings is the roofing systems available to the different owners. A residential system can utilize asphalt shingles, concrete tile, and other less-used materials. With a commercial building, the decision-maker has a broader array of options.
A commercial roof system can use sprayed polyurethane foam, single-ply (TPO, EPDM, PVC), restoration coatings, concrete, tar and gravel, built-up, and a variety of others. At first glance, it may seem the commercial owner is better off than the residential. However, in reality, with more options, the mercantile owner must do more research.
Installation
The installation process for commercial roof systems dramatically differs from the installation process of a residential roof system. The length of installation is the most significant difference between the two. With a commercial roof, it takes over a month to install, but a residential roof can typically be finished within a day or two.
Most commercial roofs are more extensive than residential roofs, which accounts for the increase in time. Another factor that increases the time is most commercial roof systems are must more challenging and complex to install. Another issue is some products used for commercial roofs require multiple days to cure, be glued or other activities that consume time.
Solutions
Another significant difference between commercial and residential roof systems is how common issues are solved. When you experience a leak on a residential roof, you generally just need to patch a particular area of the roof.
However, when a commercial roof leaks, it may just require a patch, but it may mean the entire roof needs a coating. This same leak may mean you have a more significant issue that may require a complete replacement of the roof. Sometimes, a leaky commercial roof just means you need to replace the flashings.
Commercial roofs are vulnerable to a variety of different problems than a residential roof system. So, the most essential item to remember here is that commercial roof solutions to roofing system problems tend to be different than the solutions for residential roofing problems.
If you own a commercial building and are doing research about the roofing system, the first item to do is to forget everything you know about the roof on your home. While it is true some of the knowledge about your residential roof may carry over to a commercial roof, most of this information will not.
A commercial roof requires different maintenance, repair, and service than a residential unit. The available commercial roofing systems options can also be completely different than the residential options. Even the way a commercial roof is installed dramatically differs from a commercial roof.
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