How to Select the Design of Your Commercial Roofing Replacement

Commercial facility managers are often tasked with becoming overnight experts in several areas – including roofing. Thus, it is essential that both new managers and industry veterans become familiar with the roof of the buildings they manage.

The health of the roof influences the working and storage condition inside the building, so it deserves your attention.

Two types of roofs: steep slope and low slope

When it comes to the design of a commercial roof, you can choose steep slope or low slope.

Roofs with steep slopes are designed to drain water away from the building through gutters and downspouts. Pitched roofs can have intricate shapes, with many slopes, but they can be very expensive, so you will have to discuss your preferences with a roofing specialist and hear a professional advice. Although steep sloped roofs are much more popular for residential applications, you can also find them on some commercial or institutional buildings.

They can be covered with various materials, each one contributing differently to the overall design of the roof:

  • Asphalt shingles
  • Concrete slabs
  • Ceramic tiles
  • Slate
  • Wood shakes and shingles
  • Metal panels etc.

As for low-pitched roofs, they are the most common for commercial buildings, mainly due to their cost-effectiveness – which becomes very important in the case of large buildings. Besides, installing a pitched roof on a large hospital or a tall office building would be difficult and impractical.

Low-pitched roofs are also very useful for storing equipment, such as solar panels and HVAC systems. Any roof with a slope lower than 3/12 qualifies as low-sloped. These are sometimes called flat roofs, although they may not really be flat because a small slope is necessary for drainage.

Another important aspect is that in recent years, with the expansion of the concept of eco-friendliness, we are witnessing the apparition of more and more green roofs on hypermarkets and shopping centers. The result is green roofs with important surfaces, both in size and ecological function.

Once you have made up your mind about your preferences on the roof design and materials that are best suited for your commercial building, it is recommended that you contact an impartial consultant who is also an expert in commercial roofing. A consultant can look at the existing roof and help you determine if it was the right choice when it was installed. Commercial roofing Dallas TX consultants are skilled in roofing designs, water drainage, thermal insulating, resistance to wind and other technical aspects that matter the most.

commercial roofing Dallas TX

The next step is to choose an installation company that can meet the following conditions:

  • Experience in installing the type of roof you want
  • Certification from the roof system manufacturer
  • License and very good reputation

The commercial roofing Dallas TX contractor should also be willing to undergo a third-party inspection during and after installation. The inspection serves as an additional check of the contractor, to ensure a proper installation. Some manufacturers have internal inspection programs and will send a technician to look at the roof; you can also hire an independent consultant.