Commercial Roofing serves a variety of functions from protecting the customers of big-box stores to keeping churches and community centers dry. However, there are several types of commercial roofs such as the flat roof common on many large buildings and the pitched roof, which may be covered with asphalt, metal or other products. Technically, there is no such thing as a flat roof. If the roof were flat, then it could not drain water correctly. Instead, this kind of Commercial Roofing in Rochester MN is a low-sloped covering that people often refer to as flat because that is how it appears. Most low-sloped roofs have a very limited pitch, typically between two and ten degrees. Unfortunately, a low pitch is one reason the roof eventually fails because pooling water gets heavy and the liquid slowly damages many materials.
There are several types of Commercial Roofing in Rochester MN. The most frequently used of these is an asphalt roofing system commonly known as built-up roofing or BUR. This type of roof uses multiple layers made of a water resistant membrane and asphalt. Membranes like roofing felt or tar-paper work well because they are already coated with a moisture resistance chemical. This prevents problems with asphalt because minerals in asphalt can affect various materials. The initial layer is placed over decking. Decking is required to support the weight of the roofing. Finally, the BUR system is covered with an aggregate such as gravel to hold everything in place. BUR is often the roofing solution of choice because repairs tend to be easy. In fact, most severe issues can be fixed by placing an additional layer of BUR over the existing roof.
Alternative coverings for low-sloped roofs include TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) and EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer). TPO is a resilient polymer that provides excellent protection from the elements. The seams are welded in place with robotic tools while items such as vents will be sealed by hand. Sealing leaks in a damaged TPO roof may require hand welding or the use of patches. EPDM is a synthetic rubber that has been around for a while. It offers the perfect solution for specific roofing tasks but has been known to have issues with shrinkage. This is one reason that commercial roofers recommend an alternative such as modified bitumen. Contact Steve Gentry Construction for more information about commercial roofing.
