The roof on your commercial facility is among your most important corporate assets – without a good roof, your building and other valuables might sustain extensive damage and your operations might also be disrupted. If the decision has been made to replace the existing roof on your building, one of the most important aspects to have in mind while browsing material options is durability. To make the final choice easier for you, commercial roofing Aurora CO specialists confirm that these are some of the most durable commercial roofing materials.
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride is a synthetic material used for many purposes and in many ways in construction. When used on roofs, PVC panels offer longevity in excess of 25 years. The material is impervious to water, resistant to fire and pests and can withstand many forms of extreme weather as well. If the solution seems attractive to you, be aware that all these great features come for a price – PVC is currently considered to be among the more expensive materials.
Metal
Metal panels and sheets have long been the most popular options for commercial roofs. Made from strong and resistant alloys, such as stainless steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, copper and zinc, metal roofs can last for up to 50 years (if maintained properly, even longer) and can provide dependable protection from rain, snow, wind, UV rays and wide temperature variations.
Besides durability, metal roofing comes with another great feature: if the roof’s support structure is strong enough, the new panels can be installed on top of the existing roof, without requiring removal.
Modified Bitumen
The material is practically a more modern version of the traditional built-up roof. Modified bitumen roofs are built using sheets made from asphalt and they offer all the benefits of the building material, from superior strength, resistance to water, flexibility to resist temperature-related shifting and energy-efficiency. All these qualities make modified bitumen roofs very durable, too – you can expect your bitumen roof to last for at least 30 years without requiring you do perform any special maintenance (other than the usual, regular cleaning and inspection).
EPDM
Ethylene propylene diene methylene is a synthetic rubber compound, preferred for its superior resistance to wide temperature variations as well as to the prolonged exposure to water. The material is most commonly available in two thicknesses, thinner varieties offering a lifespan of around 15 years and thicker products coming with a lifespan of up to 30 years.
TPO
Thermoplastic polyolefin is a relative newcomer on the market of roofing materials, but it is already among the most popular options due to the affordability, easy installation, efficiency and low maintenance needs of the material. TPO comes in the form of a membrane that is spread on the roof and fastened through welding or with other methods to form an extremely resistant surface that can last for about 15-20 years. TPO roofs come with very low maintenance needs as well, but like any other roof type, these roofs also need to be cleaned and inspected regularly. The most sensitive part of a TPO roof is the seams, so pay special attention to these areas when performing a roof check-up.