Whether you are taking on a new commercial build and looking for a reliable roofer or your existing industrial building needs repairs understanding the commercial reroofing process can be beneficial for all concerned. Read on to learn more about the difference between residential and commercial reroofing, whether you need roofing repairs, replacements or restorations, and how to know when it’s time to replace your roof.
What Is The Difference Between Residential And Commercial Roofing?
Aside from the obvious – that most commercial roofs are much larger than residential roofs, there are some distinctive differences between commercial and residential roofs. So how does reroofing for commercial properties differ from residential properties?
- Increased Size Of The Building. As we mentioned above, in most instances, a residential building is likely to be two stories high at most. However, commercial properties come in all shapes and sizes. Commercial properties range from expansive single-level warehousing and shopping complexes to multi-level office and apartment buildings which can be many stories high.
- Greater Variety Of Roofing Styles. Most homes are built with traditional hipped or gable style roofing, whereas commercial properties tend to have more expansive lower-sloping or flatter roofs or, the opposite, more complicated multi-style roofing designs merging together to form one.
- More Labour Intensive. Due to the increased size and more complicated design, the overall process for reroofing commercial properties takes longer and requires more care and labour than residential properties.
- Increased Stress Loads. The stress loads on commercial property roofs tend to be much higher than that of residential homes. Therefore, it is important to understand the stress load of the roofing system before attempting any repairs or replacements.
- Different Roofing Materials And Quantities. While residential roofs in New Zealand tend to stick with either metal roofing (longrun or tile) or clay tiles in relatively small amounts and a variety of colours, commercial properties are prone to more industrial roofing options such as longrun metal roofing and membrane-style roofing such as bitumen.
- Increased Occupancy Levels. When carrying out roof repairs, replacements or maintenance, it is much easier to organise to empty the occupants of a residential home, however, under most circumstances, it’s near impossible to have an office or apartment complex completely empty while the reroofing is carried out. Greater care and on-site safety measures are needed.
Commercial Roof Replacement vs Repair vs Restoration
Sometimes a full roof replacement isn’t required as the overall structural condition of the roof is still in acceptable condition or only a small section of the roof is in disrepair. Other times a full roof replacement is the only option. How do you know when you need a roof repair vs restoration vs a replacement?
What Is A Commercial Roof Replacement?
When the rooftop’s condition has deteriorated past the point of repair, a full roof replacement with brand-new materials is required. For commercial or industrial buildings, depending on the type of existing roofing, this can encompass new membranes, flashings, vents, and sealants, the replacement of decking, underlay, structural elements such as trusses or purlins or joists as well as external cladding like longrun metal roofing or concrete tiles.
4 Benefits Of Roof Replacement
- Complete roof replacements last a lot longer than repairs or a restoration.
- Roof replacements address underlying issues such as rot, mould and structural issues
- A full roof replacement makes for a sturdier and safer rooftop, long term for the next 40 to 60 years on average.
- Replacing your roof means less maintenance and repairs in the near future.
What Is Commercial Roof Restoration?
Roof restoration generally refers to providing a complete roof facelift essentially using as much of the existing roofing material as possible while focusing on improving the appearance of the roof. Restoration can include everything from localised or general repairs, cleaning, priming and/or sealing, the addition of protective roof membranes or coatings, fresh paint and chemical treatments to remove mould, moss or mildew.
A roof restoration is often sought after for damage from an event like a fire, extreme wind, hail, or flood damage. Commercial roof restoration is sometimes favoured when repairs are not going to cut it and the roof is still in good structural condition, as it usually costs less than a full replacement. Investing in a roof restoration can be worthwhile if it is likely to extend the lifetime of the roof by 10 to 15 years.
4 Benefits Of Roof Restoration
- Restoration can be a more affordable option compared to replacing the entire roof.
- Roof restoration is somewhat more environmentally friendly due to reusing as much of the existing roof as possible.
- Restoration improves the appearance and quality of your current roof without starting from scratch.
- Restoration is likely to extend the lifespan of your roof by 10 to 15 years.
What Is A Commercial Roof Repair?
Repairing a roof system involves patching up a small, isolated portion of the roof and is reserved for minor or moderate damage. Repairs generally revolve around localised leaks or cracks or deterioration in the external cladding materials of the roof in small areas. When repairing your commercial roof, it is likely roofing contractors will attempt to maintain the ascetics of the existing building by matching the exterior cladding with what is already in place.
4 Benefits Of A Roof Repair
- Repairs can temporarily extend the life of the existing roof.
- Repairs are the most affordable short-term option.
- Roof repairs don’t take very long to complete.
- Further damage is prevented as the roofing systems integrity is maintained, preventing infestations of rodents, insects and birds as well as preventing water damage.
How Do You Know When A Commercial Roof Needs Attention?
For most commercial property owners, your roof tends to fall into the out of sight out of mind category – that is, until it doesn’t! As long as you organise general maintenance and regular roofing inspections, any issues should come as no surprise. But there are a few common signs that your roofing system may need some attention from a roofing professional immediately or in the near future.
- Age Of The Roof. The age of your roof is the most straightforward indicator your roof may need repairs or replacement. The average lifespan of a commercial roof is around 20 to 40 years, so in general, most roofs will need some attention somewhere between the 30 to 40 year mark. The lifespan of most commercial roofing, however will depend on the materials used, for example, Colorsteel longrun roofing has a life expectancy of 15 to 30 years dependant on the environmental conditions and individual products used, however, this can be affected by lack of maintenance and extreme weather conditions.
- Visible Holes, Rust, Cracks Or Splitting. If you notice any cracks, splits, holes or rust in your roof – it is time to call in the roofing professionals. The older your commercial roofing system is, the more susceptible it is to this kind of damage, so it pays to keep on top of any immediately apparent deterioration in the roof’s surface.
- Strange Odours Or Discolouration. If occupants or building inspections result in noticing an odd or musty smell that isn’t resolved by an alternate explanation or there is strange discolouration in places, there may be trapped moisture and unseen mould or mildew. This can lead to the compromised respiratory health of the building’s occupants but also points to water seepage and leaks – get your roof checked out immediately!
- Pooling Water. Since, generally speaking, commercial roofs don’t have as steep a gradient as residential homes, drainage can be more of an issue. Water is more likely to pool across the surface of the roof and problems can occur if the drainage system fails. Checking the roof shortly after heavy rainfall is the best way to assess drainage issues and avoid water damage.
- High Energy Bills. Fluctuating energy bills are fairly standard from season to season, but if you suddenly see significant changes in your energy bill, it is worth investigating the roofing system. This is because the roof helps to increase the energy efficiency of a building, trapping heat more efficiently and keeping out the cold when it is in its best condition. Unprecedented changes to energy bills could indicate the roofing system is failing.
What About Asbestos In The Roof?
For older commercial buildings (built before the year 2000) there is a possibility asbestos may have been used in its construction. In NZ, asbestos was used extensively in a variety of construction-related industries but particularly in the manufacture of commercial roofing during the 1950s to 1980s, but also right up to the year 2000 in some cases. Whether a roof includes asbestos or not is an individual situation that should be investigated before replacing or repairing a commercial roof.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a dangerous building material found in buildings across the country. Its small fibres are incredibly resistant to chemicals, heat, fire, and water which is why they were favoured for use in the building industry. According to the WorkSafe NZ, over “170 New Zealanders die each year from diseases related to past asbestos exposure”.
What To Do If You Think Your Roof May Contain Asbestos
Asbestos can be tricky to recognise when it is built into other elements found in the roofing system, such as tiles, roofing iron, guttering, vents and more. If you are considering a roof replacement or having extensive repairs and are unsure if the roof contains asbestos, obtaining an approved asbestos test is advisable. Failure to have your roof tested before any work is undertaken can have disastrous and costly consequences.
Finding A Commercial Roofing Contractor
A full roof replacement doesn’t have to be a hassle when you have the right people on the job. Because there is a big difference between commercial and residential reroofing, hiring the right roofing contractor is an important part of the process. Some roofing contractors will specialise in residential reroofing only – usually because they only have the tools, equipment and skills for these kinds of smaller roofing jobs. Commercial roofing contractors, on the other hand, will have experience with larger, more complex roofing systems and have the ability to manage these larger jobs.
Enlisting the expertise of a commercial roofing company also means they fully comprehend the different elements of commercial roofing, including stress loads, ventilation systems, drainage, and the sheer scale of the job, plus understanding the health and safety requirements associated with increased occupancy levels in commercial environments.
As a rough guide when talking to a commercial roofing contractor, they should engage in a way that covers the following aspects:
- A thorough and complete inspection and evaluation of the existing roof
- Professional advice on repairs vs restoration vs replacement before assembling the quote.
- Comprehensive information on health and safety measures.
- The creation of a detailed plan, including which materials and structures can remain and which materials need to be replaced.
Action ReRoofing has got you covered! The team at Action ReRoofing are experts in residential and light commercial roof replacements and repairs. Give us a call today to discuss your roofing project.
