Getting a new roof on your commercial building can be a big undertaking if you have a large building or if the work will disrupt your employees, tenants, or customers. It's important to talk things over with your roofing contractor so you know what to expect with the process of a commercial roof installation. The exact steps depend on the type of roofing you have installed and if you need to tear off the old roof first. Here are three things to know.

1. The Work Could Take Weeks

It often takes longer to put on a new commercial roof than it does a residential roof. Part of the reason is that a commercial roof is usually bigger. However, contending with equipment on the roof can also slow work down. Weather delays might play a more prominent role in how fast a commercial roof installation goes since the roofer can only work in dry weather and when the surface of the roof is dry.

When you get your roofing estimate, the roofer will provide a time frame for when you can expect the work to be completed. You might need to start work at a certain time of the year since some roofing materials don't go on well if the outdoor temperature is too cold.

2. You Usually Have Options For New Roofing

A commercial roof installation might include putting on new shingles, but if the roof is flat, the contractor might put on a rubber or plastic single-ply membrane. Metal roofing is another option to consider. Metal and membrane roofing is lightweight, so it can often be put over other types of roofing if you want to switch the type of roofing materials on your building.

Putting a new roof on top of an old one saves you from the time needed for labor and the added expense of tearing off the old roof. However, the roofer has to inspect your roof first to make sure there is no water damage present. If water damage has occurred, the rotted area has to be replaced. If the damage is bad enough, you may not be able to cover up the old roofing.

3. Plan To Work With Other Contractors

Commercial buildings often have HVAC equipment on the roof. Your building might have solar panels, a solar water heater, satellite dish, or other equipment installed on the roof. Your roofer might be able to remove some of the equipment to apply new roofing, but you'll probably want other contractors to reinstall the equipment properly. This entails coordinating the work between the contractors and the roofer so your tenants are not without air-conditioning or other important services for too long.

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