The roof covering your business is one of the most important parts of your business, even if it is rarely noticed. A leaky or damaged roof can force your business to shut down for days on end until repairs have finished. Needless to say, you want your roof to last you as long as possible, both to avoid having to pay for an expensive repair, and to avoid having to work around a leaking roof. The material your roof restoration company uses for your roof is very important – aside from the quality of the workmanship, it is what decides how long your roof will last.

There are many materials used for commercial roofing. In this article, we will discuss a few of the most common ones. These include:

• PVC (polyvinyl chloride), EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer)
• SPF (spray polyurethane foam)
• TFO (thermoplastic polyolefin).

Polyvinyl chloride roofing is built with a “sandwich” model. Your roof restoration company starts with a layer of PVC roof material, then adds a reinforcement of polyester on top and another layer of PVC roof material on top of that. Also included in the layers are additives that make this roofing flexible. PVC roofing is also UV and fire-resistant, as well as able to stand up to strong winds and even corrosive chemicals. However, PVC roofing is quite expensive.

And although PVC is durable, over time, it tends to shrink, which will pull it away from corners and seams and result in leaks.

Ethylene propylene diene monomer roofing is often referred to as rubber roofing. Unlike PVC roofing, EPDM roofing is quite a cheap roofing option. It is also quite lightweight and easy for your roof restoration company to install, further making this a good budget option. EPDM is commonly black, which means it absorbs the heat from the sun very easily.

This means that it will heat your building greatly, which will increase your AC bill in the summer. Also, EPDM roofing has a good chance of puncturing due to hail or other objects (such as a tree branch) on your roof. This is not a big problem if patched quickly, but can lead to serious water damage if unnoticed.

Thermoplastic Polyolefin roofing is popular for commercial roofs. It is often even cheaper than EPDM roofing. It is also white, which means it reflects most of the sun’s rays and causes your building to absorb less heat. TPO is also more durable than EPDM, and, like EPDM, it is fairly easy for your roof restoration company to install (so it is cheap).

On the other hand, there are some downsides to TPO roofing. One major problem is that TPO is flammable. This means that it is necessary to include a fire retardant into your roofing system.

Another problem is that TPO comes in fairly narrow rolls. That means there are a lot of seams between each length of roofing, and each seam is a potential weakness.

Did this article spark any roof-related questions? At BML Roofing, we have the know-how to answer any question you might have. Our roof restoration company has been in the business for 47 years and counting. We provide the best workmanship on the market for a reasonable price, as well as solutions, which are fully insured, for your roofing needs.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you are interested in our maintenance and restoration services. We service Toronto, Hamilton, Brantford, Mississauga, and most of the GTA.

• There are many great options for you to choose from when it comes to your commercial roof.
• Before deciding on your next roof, take the time to understand what each material is best at.
• Trust BML Roofing, a company with 45 years of commercial roofing experience.