If your commercial roof is near the end of its lifespan, it's time to talk to a commercial roofing contractor about your options. If you have single-ply roofing now, you can sometimes have new roofing put on without tearing the old roofing off. The contractor might even suggest a roof coating to extend the life of your current roof. Here are some things to discuss with your roofing contractor to help you make the right decision.

Whether A Coating Is Suitable For Your Roof

The commercial roofing contractor needs to inspect your roof to determine if it's a good candidate for a roof coating. While your roof may be old, it still needs to be in fairly good shape. If you kept up with roof maintenance over the years, a coating might be a good option. However, if your roof has leaks and a large percentage of the roof is water damaged, it may be better to tear off and replace the roof.

If Spray Foam Roofing Is An Option

If you haven't been happy with your single-ply membrane roof, you might want to switch to a spray foam roof. If so, discuss the pros and cons with your roofing contractor. Spray foam can go over an existing roof, and when it's installed, the foam is topped with a protective coating so the foam lasts a long time.

Whether A Living Roof Might Work

If your commercial building is small and the roof is visible from the street or from taller buildings nearby, you might want a living roof to give your building personality. Depending on the nature of your company, such as if you own a restaurant, you may even want to grow vegetables and fruit on your flat roof. The commercial roofing contractor needs to verify your building can handle the weight of the growing medium, plants, and standing plant beds to determine if a living roof is practical for your building.

Which Membrane Roof Is Best

Membrane roofing is made from plastic, rubber, or synthetic materials. The three basic choices are TPO, PVC, and EPDM membranes. Each has its good points, so having a discussion with your contractor is the best way to match the membrane to your building. For instance, if your current roof had problems with punctures due to foot traffic, you might want a tougher membrane when you get a new roof. You might also want a light-colored membrane to help with cooling costs in the summer or a dark membrane to help your building stay warmer in the winter.

Whether your commercial building has a flat roof or a roof with a slope, you'll want roofing materials that are tough and that have a long life expectancy. Then with regular maintenance, you can help your new roof have the longest life possible.

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