Commercial buildings come in all shapes and sizes.
It could be something small and compact such as a shop or a restaurant, or something on a much larger scale like a shopping centre, a car park, or a school.
At Roofpro, we work with both domestic and commercial roofs across London. Just as there are many different types of commercial building, there are also many different types of roofing material that can be used on them.
That’s why we’ve created this handy guide on five of our top choices to use on your commercial roof.
Let’s take a look.
The Complexities of Commercial Roofing
Commercial and domestic roofs are often very different.
All roofs are made to provide a certain function, notably to protect the inside of a property from the outside elements, but in some domestic properties, the cosmetic side is also important.
This isn’t quite as often the case with commercial roofs, where practicality (and sometimes price) is key.
Commercial roofs are also often much bigger than domestic roofs, which makes finding a solution that is quick to lay, cost-efficient, and practical (trying to fit a pitched roof across a huge roof could be troublesome for example) is tough.
All roofs have to be safe, and this is the same with commercial roofs, where many things have to be considered. If you are working on a school for example, there has to be many safety measures in place such as fire safety regulations and more.
And finally, there are much more flat roofs on the commercial side than on the domestic side, which means the options on what to use on the roof are limited.
5 Great Materials for Your Commercial Roof
Our team are trained in installing and repairing many different types of roofs and can ensure a safe and speedy installation for your commercial property.
The question now, is what material you should use.
Felt Roofing
This largely consists of modified bitumen and is a great choice for a smaller commercial building as it is quick and easy to install and won’t break the bank.
Our first common commercial roofing material is built-up felt.
A well installed felt roof should be strong enough to keep the property inside secure for around 30 years, making it a great investment.
If you have something like a coffee shop, a small bar, or a car garage and you’re looking for a roofing material that is sturdy, waterproof, and flexible enough to fit any shape, then felt is a great choice for you.
If issues do occur, felt roofing is also simple to fix, with most common issues fixable by adding a new patch.
And the final benefit of felt roofing is that it can leave a glossy finish which looks great and is sure to add a lovely finishing touch to your commercial property.
Lead Roofing
Another really versatile roofing material that is perfect for oddly shaped commercial buildings is lead.
This is a great material to use to reach the awkward spots and make sure there are no gaps in your roof that water can seep through.
While lead is not always best used for large scale roofs, it is another really handy roofing material due to it being so malleable that it can be used on valleys and flashing.
Lead is a strong substance and has been known to last 100 years which makes it a great choice for a commercial business looking for long-term protection for their property.
Many commercial buildings have skylights to let in natural light, and lead is a great substance for making sure these are always well protected and there are no ways for water to seep in.
Hot-Melt Roofing
While this isn’t a full roof covering, using a layer of hot melt is a great way of waterproofing a roof that creates a seamless membrane on top of a commercial property.
It is typically applied to concrete or timber decks and forms a fully bonded monolithic system.
This is a great choice to place on flat roofs as it is quick to install and due to its completely waterproof nature, it eradicates the danger of water damage that can be caused on flat roofs where the roof isn’t angled as much as it needs to be for proper drainage.
While this is a great material, it can’t be used alone as it struggles withstanding UV rays. Due to this, adding a protective layer such as roof protection or green roofing is a great way to protect the hot melt layer and allow you to rest assured knowing the property below is well protected from any water above.
Single Ply Roofing
As I mentioned earlier, many commercial roofs are large.
This means that they need a material that is easy to install and can cover large areas, such as single ply.
This involves synthetics (mostly rubber) that is laid directly on top of your insulation on your roof to provide a protective layer.
This is a quick, safe, and cost-efficient material to install, and can cover awkward shapes of roof, making it ideal for large-scale commercial roofs that contain unusual corners and turns.
Our single ply roofs are installed on all edges with heat, providing a cover for your commercial building that cannot be breached, no matter what the Great British weather tries to throw at it.
There are different variations of single ply roofing such as PVC and EPDM which are all commonly used on large commercial roofs to provide protection.
If you’re looking to cover your commercial property with something that is durable, lightweight, and eco-friendly, then you can’t go wrong with single ply.
Green Roofing
A stunning roof choice for a commercial building is to add a green roof.
This is ideal for cafes, bars, and restaurants who would like to extend the areas their clients can reach by adding a rooftop section. In busy areas where space is at a minimum, having somewhere your customers can eat or drink outside can be a big boost to a business.
There are two types of green roof, intensive and extensive. The former is less thick (the grass is 50-150mm long), and requires not such a strong structure, but the latter can reach heights of 500mm.
This is a great choice for an environmentally conscious businesses looking to showcase their sustainability in a big way and can add a real selling point to your commercial property.
While green roofs do need maintaining and do require extra layers of protection (such as the hot melt mentioned above), they are a great choice that can really make your establishment stand out from the crowd.
Commercial Roofing at Roofpro
At Roofpro, we work right across London and cover both domestic and commercial properties.
If you have a project in mind, then get in touch with our team today for a free, no-obligation quote.
We look forward to hearing from you.