Well, welcome to Part Two and the final blog of our two-part series about all the things you should know about commercial roofing. In our previous blog, we learned about who can complete a commercial roofing project as well as the different types of materials used for commercial roofing. We also established that a roof is more than just a roof, and there are different specialists for residential and commercial roofing.
We have more than 30 years of experience in commercial roofing at S&S Roofing in New Jersey. We serve many different cities along the East Coast, including New Brunswick, Newark and Edison, N.J. Give us a call today and let us help you with your next commercial roofing project!
Here is Part Two of our series, which will finish explaining the basic information (who, what, when, where, why and how) of what you should know about commercial roofing. The “who” and “what” parts can be found in our earlier blog.
When do you need a commercial roofer?
Fairly simple answer here: A commercial roofer is needed when your commercial building needs work done on its roof, or when you’re building a new roof on a commercial building. For example, if there’s a significant hail storm, or a lighting bolt does some damage to your office’s property, you’ll want to call your local commercial roofer to handle the repairs. Or, on the other hand, if you’re planning a new shopping center in town and need some professional advice and help on the roofs for the buildings, a commercial roofer should be your go-to person.
Where can you find a highly qualified, trained commercial roofer?
Usually, right in your hometown or in your general geographical location. You’ll want to make sure the roofer you choose specializes in commercial buildings before you give them a call. You’ll also want to verify the company has its roofer’s certificate of insurance and general liability and worker’s compensation insurance — this confirms the business’ legitimacy.
Why is commercial roofing important?
Think about it: A roof is your building’s first line of defense against any extreme weather and other natural hazards. If this roofing is done in an improper manner, chances are, it’ll affect the rest of your building — interior and exterior.
The roof is also the part of your building that is most vulnerable and exposed, which may contribute to increased damage and deterioration. Finding a commercial roofer you trust will save you a lot of headaches, time and money in the long run.
How is commercial roofing different from residential roofing?
We’ve been exploring and explaining this question throughout this blog series: Finding an expert who specializes in commercial roofing isn’t the same as finding one who specializes in residential roofing. Each are a trade of their own, and if you’re trying to find a commercial roofer at a residential roofing company, you’re going to have a bad time.
Here are the main differences and similarities between the two roofing specialties:
Primary differences
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Design. Commercial roofs tend to be flatter and larger than a residential roof, inevitably meaning more maintenance and future repairs. Sometimes they have a low slope, but it’s nowhere near as steep as some residential roofing slopes can be. Most low-slope commercial systems have three components:
- A waterproof layer, which keeps all water from entering the building.
- A reinforcement layer, which adds strength and is resistant to unexpected punctures.
- A surfacing layer, which protects the other layers from UV-light and extreme weather.
- Materials. These materials tend to be more durable than materials used on a residential roof, as commercial roofing designs are more susceptible to degradation, due to their size.
- Maintenance. Conducting maintenance services and repair on a commercial roof is much different than doing the same tasks on your home. They require more frequent inspections to avoid issues such as water puddles or clogged drains.
- Installation. Commercial roofs have specific elements that makes installing them a bit more tedious than installing a residential roof. They need to have adequate drainage so water puddles don’t appear, which isn’t as necessary in a steeper sloped home roof.
Ultimately, commercial roofers should have the knowledge of these four differences to make their skill sets different than their residential roofing counterparts.
Similarities
A few of the roofing materials used in residential and commercial roofing are the same, including asphalt, tile, ceramic, solar shingles, and built-up and metal roofing materials. But other than that, there’s not too much — that’s why there’s specialists in both.
Choose S&S Roofing
At S&S Roofing, commercial roofing projects are our specialty — we have more than 30 years under our belt doing it. We offer a variety of services, ranging from repairs and maintenance to inspections and roof scans. Our team of highly experienced and trained roofing experts have tackled many different projects, including the following:
- Warehouses
- Schools
- Churches and synagogues
- Auto dealerships
- Libraries
- Retail stores and shopping centers
- Offices
- Grocery stores
We’ll make sure your next commercial roofing project goes smoothly and is done properly. To get a speedy fast quote or to schedule an appointment with our team, call us at (732) 983-5476 or fill out our online form.
To view Part One of this two-part explainer blog series, click here!