When it comes to Commercial Office Building Roofs, there are several different types of roofing systems to choose from. Here are the main choices a business owner would have:
One of the most well-known and widely used systems is built-up roofing, or BUR, used mostly with roofs that are flat or very minimally sloped. Its often referred to as “tar and gravel” roofing and is made of several layers of felts laminated together with bitumen.
Then, a top finish or glaze coating of asphalt, aggregate, or fibered and non-fibered material is applied to protect the finished product from the elements.
BUR systems can be simple systems that need more extensive maintenance to higher-end systems that qualify for excellent manufacturer’s warranties. Over time it gained a very good reputation with property owners, engineers, architects, and manufacturers.
Here in the southwest, due to the heavy Spanish influence in our architecture, tile roofing is very common in office buildings.
Typically made from clay or concrete, they come in a wide variety of coatings and colors which gives owners and architects a lot of choices to complete a sophisticated design and still have a thoroughly protected roof.
One of the great things about tile roofs is their life expectancy, with proper maintenance and inspections can exceed as much as 50 years. And, because of its durability and fire resistance, owners can reap the benefits of savings through their property insurance policies, so it can be an excellent way to get a nice ROI through your property.
It can reduce cooling costs also, sometimes by as much as 50% during the hot summer months, by increasing the ventilation in the roof and building and reflecting the sun’s rays.
They are also known as the greenest of the commercial roofing systems, for those owners that are environmentally conscious, due to the materials that are made from more natural resources.
They don’t have any chemicals like bitumen and foam roofs and they can be recycled when they’re removed.
Modified Bitumen Roofing is similar to BUR, asphalt-based, and used on buildings with flat or minimally sloped roofs. One advantage it has over built-up roofs is its extra elasticity by using rubber-infused polymers with the asphalt, causing increased resistance to extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold.
There are some unique options with Modified Bitumen, including one that has a “cool roof” system used in high-temperature environments that is highly refractive and can significantly reduce energy bills.
They tend to be infused with whitened granules but also have a selection of designer colors that can complement asphalt shingles and the design of the building.
This means owners and architects have a greater number of choices for their designs than they do with BURs.
It can be applied with either a torch application, hot mopped like BUR, or secured with special glues in a cold application process.
A new process uses an underside mixture that utilizes a release paper as the material is rolled out, making it stick to the substrate. utilizing this new method is much less hazardous and toxic because of the elimination of torches, asphalt, and chemicals used in the other methods.
Composition shingles are still widely used and provide all the features of other roofing systems and are very cost-effective.
There are plenty of designs, styles, and colors to choose from, even being able to emulate the look of slate or wood shakes.
Depending on the type and grade that are chosen, the life span of a commercial composition shingle roof should be between 20 to 30 years.
A waterproofing layer can also be placed underneath the shingles, reinforcing water protection in areas that could be more prone to leakage.
At Mikku and Sons Roofing, no matter what type of roofing system you have or are going to install, we use only the industry’s top-rated materials and systems on your roof to ensure the highest quality standards. Give us a call today to secure your free estimate on all your commercial office building installation or repair needs.
