Need a Roofer?

Commercial Roof Types [and Cost-effective Roof Systems]

Common commercial roofing types include tar and gravel (built-up roofing), PVC and TPO (thermoplastic), EPDM or thermoset roofing, metal roofing, modified bitumen roofing, green roofing systems.

Most commercial roofs are low-slope or flat.

When commercial roofs start to age or damage occurs that threatens their ability to protect the people and contents of your warehouse or other commercial property, roof membrane coatings may be your best option for repair and restoration.

Low-Slope and Flat Commercial Roofing

Low-slope and flat roofs are less expensive to install than pitched roofs. The lack of slope also makes maintenance easier since repairmen can safely walk around on them. Basically, low-slope and flat roofs cost less to build and maintain than pitched roofs.

So, what happens when they do start to leak or age?

Single-ply membrane services are ideal for low-slope and flat commercial roofs. They create a watertight covering that’s securely adhered to the roof.

Membrane coatings for roof repair and restoration are an economical choice because installation costs less than that of replacing a roof.

The materials used for membrane roof coatings are lightweight. Their ability to reflect UV rays can potentially result in energy-efficient benefits, saving you money on your cooling and heating bills.

Flexion single-ply membrane is especially ideal for flat roofs because it offers protection from the elements and a Class A fire rating. Flexion stays flexible for decades.

BUR Commercial Roofing

BUR (built-up roofing) systems are a common commercial roofing type. They usually consist of tar and gravel and are found on many low-slope roofs. Built-up roofing includes alternating layers of fabric, asphalt (also called bitumen), and stone or gravel.

Keystone Commercial Roofing’s membrane coating can be applied over BUR roofing and can be a cost-effective alternative to replacing your facility’s built-up roof.

EPDM Commercial Roofing

EPDM stands for ethylene propylene diene monomer and is also referred to as thermoset roofing. EPDM is a flexible, synthetic rubber that’s commonly used in roofing systems to protect commercial buildings. It does not, however, reflect UV rays, which can degrade the adhesives used in the seams and flashing.

Commercial membrane roof coating systems can address the weaknesses of EPDM and restore protective properties to the roof of a commercial building without the need for an entire roof replacement.

Thermoplastic Commercial Roofing

PVC and TPO roofing systems are thermoplastic membranes.

PVC in commercial roofing stands for polyvinyl chloride and it’s a single-ply roofing solution. PVC is said to be more flexible than TPO.

TPO stands for thermoplastic polyolefin. TPO is known to have better tear and break resistance than PVC.

As thermoplastic commercial roofs age, it can weaken and cause leaks. Our commercial membrane roof restoration services can protect your PCV or TPO roof without the need for completely overhauling the roof and replacing it.

Metal Commercial Roofing

Metal roofs are often used in commercial roofing because they are durable, can be installed quickly, and have strong fire resistance ratings.

Metal roofing issues usually occur near the fasteners used to affix the roof to the structure. Because metal is installed in panels, there are seams in the commercial roof system. Seams in a roofing system increase the risk of leaks. Rust can also compromise the integrity of a metal commercial roof.

A roof membrane coating is an ideal solution for metal roof restoration because the roof membrane leaves no seams. No seams mean less chance for future leaks.

Keystone’s spray foam polyurethane is a money-saving option for metal commercial roof replacement. Our SPF roofing system is waterproof and guaranteed for 18 years. A spray foam polyurethane also reduces energy costs as the white coating reflects more than 80% of the sun’s heat.

Flexion single-ply membrane is occasionally used on metal commercial roofs and is another money-saving alternative to metal roof replacement.

Modified Bitumen Roofing

Similar to a BUR commercial roof, modified bitumen roofing systems consist of an asphalt and fabric reinforcement that use polymers. This creates a single waterproofing sheet that can be installed as a single-ply, flexible membrane. Modified bitumen roofs better handle extremes in temperature than BUR.

Modified bitumen roofing systems are applied using high heat, typically from open-flame sources.

Keystone Commercial Roofing systems can apply a roof membrane coating over modified BUR to restore it to leak-proof status and efficiently remediate other damages to old BUR. There is no need to use open-lame heat sources to adhere to our membrane coatings.

Green Commercial Roofing Systems

Green roofs can lower heating and cooling bills and provide small ecosystems for wildlife.

Green roofs for commercial buildings or industry roofing typically are made up of a drainage layer, a filtration layer, a substrate layer, and the plant/vegetation layer. The drainage layer is the most crucial as it enables rain and melting snow to drain away from the roof and into the gutter system, ideally protecting the building from any water damage.

Although green roofs seem like an attractive, energy-efficient solution, there are some drawbacks. Plants can sometimes break through the substrate layer, which causes leaks. They are often more expensive to install than other commercial roof systems. A sloped roof of more than 25-degrees has too much of an incline to sustain a green roof.

Keystone Commercial Roofing does not service nor install green roofing systems.

What is Best for Your Commercial Roofing System?

Our roofing consultants can inspect your commercial roof for free and determine which restoration technique will be the best for your roof.

WANT TO LEARN MORE? OUR EXPERTS ARE HERE TO HELP!

CONTACT INFO

Address

114 W Poplar Street, Suite 102, Meadville, PA 16335
}

Open Hours

Monday to Friday 8:00AM – 5:00PM

AREAS SERVICED

Northwestern PA, Northeastern OH, Southwestern NY and the surrounding areas

Start with A Free Quote For Your Project

or call Now: (814) 200-9269

Schedule Your Commercial Roof Inspection

  • No Solicitation and No Job Applications accepted here.

Instant Quote