Commercial Roofing

Businesses look to cut costs in any way they can without compromising on quality. Purchasing an EPDM roofing system is typically cheaper per square foot than most other types of roofing (like TPO) while still being a high-quality material. For those two reasons alone, purchasing EPDM roofs is one way your business could cut down on roofing costs.

You can get a good twenty years or longer out of your EPDM roof, provided you get the right roofing contractor for the installation. Since roof replacement is not only costly but also time-consuming, make sure you’re using a commercial roofing company who has the experience and manpower to complete the job quickly and correctly.In business, time is money, and you don’t want to lose any time on roof replacement that you could use to make money. 

The reason why EPDM roof installation costs remain so affordable are because the roofing systems are easy to install. EPDM is a light-weight but strong material, and EPDM rubber comes in rolls of about 10’ by 100’ (meaning that your roofing contractor can just roll the roof on the building and get to work).

Often, fires spread from one building to another through the roofing system and even a tiny wisp of a flame can ignite the neighboring building.

EPDM roofs are very easy to install, but you typically can’t install them on your own (unless you have previous commercial roofing experience). For the business that wants to try and save some money by installing the roof on their own, it just isn’t possible here.

There’s a lot of technical stuff that goes into installing an EPDM roof! If you choose to go it on your own, the probability of an EPDM system failing is very high. That’s why it’s so important to find a competent commercial roofing installer to handle your EPDM roofing.

While an EPDM roof has a clean and professional finish, it’s looks are certainly nothing to write home about. With EPDM roofing, you don’t get theglamor of wooden or asphalt shingles, and in fact, you can just think of it as a plain sheet of rubber.

For a bit of style, you can get one with a ballasted layer. However, even with an asphalt layer, it’s still very utilitarian. This is just fine for most commercial roofs, but if you’re a business that wants to use the roof as an outdoor space, you’ll likely want a different type of roofing for your building.

EPDM is a high-density rubber that is very strong. However, EPDM roofs may not hold up well to high-impact forces and cannot withstand large falling objects.

That’s why a fire-resistant roof systems are so popular. Flat roofing systems such as modified bitumen, for instance, lose their resistance after only five years.

It’s hard to use the terms “rubber” and “environmentally friendly” in the same sentence unless you’re talking about EPDM. EPDM is 100% recyclable.

TPO can be a desirable option because it has a relatively low price point. Compared to PVC, TPO offers comparable energy efficiency and ability to weld hot-air at a fraction of the cost of PVC.

TPO would be considered a strong roofing product because of its ability to resist tears, punctures and dirt and mold build-up. On top of those features,TPO has the most flexibility when it comes to single-ply roofing membranes because it is able to deal with expansion and contraction of the building more efficiently than other materials. It allows for a wide array of options when it comes to moving or settling of a building. 

As TPO membranes have hot air welded seams, its seam strength is three times stronger than conventional rubber roofs that use tape systems. It is also about six times stronger than those with glued seams. This is very beneficial when using rooftop supports that need to be fastened to the membrane.

TPO has UV resistant properties which eases cooling costs in warm months and climates. TPO not only meets, but exceeds the EPA Energy Star requirements. This means that in the Summer, TPO will help keep your energy bill low while simultaneously helping the environment and keeping your home or building cool. The energy efficiency of TPO will definitely have an impact on the overall cost of the roof once you factor in energy savings.

TPO weighs less than EPDM making it easier to maneuver and move around. TPO is synonymous with less labor time needed for an install compared to other roofing options. Less time working on a project results in significantly lower labor costs, which is just another area that TPO can save you money.

TPO comes in a variety of colors – Black, White, Grey – and with its strong level of UV-resistance, all colors of TPO can deliver energy savings for you. Having the ability to choose colors makes the membrane a little friendlier when designing a building or home. This may seem like a small detail but this gives architects the ability to still have a product that fits in both design and energy efficiency.

With TPO being the “new kid on the block” there are questions when it comes to its longevity. The chemical formula for TPO has been changed and tweaked over the past 30 years. This is typically for the better, however it is important to keep in mind that with these changes in the chemical formula, the verdict is still out for how well it hold up over the years.

TPO roofing can save you a remarkable amount of money on your energy costs and make your home or office building cooler, but when the heat gets too high, it can cause serious problems. Southern states that are generally warmer over the course of the year than northern states have shown that this could be a concern. If temperatures are pushed to a tremendously high levelon a regular basis or if solar loads are increased far beyond usual amounts, it is entirely possible TPO roofing could fail to withstand those conditions. So, if you live in a climate where those are issues you will regularly encounter, TPO roofing may not be your best option.