Published: 12/30/2021

Commercial Roofing Systems: Key Considerations for Building Owners

Undertaking a roofing project as a business owner can be a major headache. Your choice of installation will have an impact on your facility’s operations, maintenance needs, and lifetime expenses. Combine that with the fact that there are so many different solutions to choose from, and you can easily be overwhelmed by the complexity.

To help simplify your decision, we’ve compiled a list of the top considerations to make when planning the installation of your new commercial roofing system.

Local Climate & Insulation Needs

To maximize the durability of your commercial facility, you’ll need to choose a rooftop that is engineered to hold up in your local weather conditions. Here in South Florida, this means that you should seek a roof that can endure a significant amount of wear and tear. Our hot, humid, and stormy environment will subject your roof to strong winds, pervasive rain, and excessive moisture.

Metal roofing is a top choice for hurricane resistance. Its naturally waterproof composition helps to shield the roof deck from rain, and the strong bolt-on fastening system stands strong against wind gusts. Membrane-style roof coverings are also solid options. The best for Florida’s climate include TPO and Modified Bitumen roofing.

TPO is especially suitable for our sweltering region, since the white finish reflects UV rays and keeps buildings cooler. This quality makes it ideal for facilities that need to maintain a controlled interior temperature. Warehouses, storage spaces, and any other zones containing heat-sensitive products or materials will be better protected.

Rooftop Features

Many of Florida’s commercial rooftops are used as convenient locations for equipment such as generators, HVAC systems, water tanks, solar panels, and piping. If your roof has any of these features, this will influence which roofing material will work best.

Because such equipment often has a variety of mounting points that can create vulnerabilities, choosing a membrane-style roof can help to seal up any openings. This option will guard well against water penetration, and also protect against any moisture buildup that is created by the equipment itself.

Long-Term Maintenance & Replacement

Maintaining a commercial facility over time is a significant expense. When considering what kind of roofing system to select, you’ll need to be mindful of the replacement timeline and cost for the type you choose. Cheaper rooftop solutions may cost less upfront, but between the replacement frequency required and the resulting downtime, you may be looking at much higher expenses overall.

Some roofing types may last long past the time you plan to occupy the facility. But this doesn’t necessarily mean longevity isn’t important. If you plan on selling your facility before the rooftop’s lifespan is over, you will be able to secure greater resale value with a roof that still has many years of use left in it.

Existing Roofing

One factor that can dramatically affect your budget for a new roof is the composition of your current rooftop. The Florida building code currently allows for a new roofing layer to be applied over a single existing layer, provided that the old roof’s structure is sound.

However, if your facility already has two layers of roofing, you’ll need to remove them before you can install a new one. This will stretch your labor costs and completion timeline quite a bit, and the latter can create further costs via downtime.

Finding Commercial Roofing Experts in Sarasota, Tampa & Bradenton

Preparing for a new commercial roofing system doesn’t just require picking the right type, it also requires choosing the right contractor. To get optimal results that last, you’ll need the help of an expert crew that has extensive experience with commercial roofing applications in the uniquely challenging South Florida environment.

AKVM has built a stellar reputation outfitting the region’s businesses with top quality roofing solutions. From membrane coverings to traditional materials like shingle or metal, we can equip you with the best choice for your building type and needs.

To get a FREE inspection and estimate, please contact us right away. We’ll pencil you in for an appointment as soon as possible.