Maybe you haven’t given it much thought before, but now you need to replace a roof and are overwhelmed by all the options. Or, maybe you are familiar with the variations among residential roofs, but now you are in charge of replacing a roof at your business. Could you just put a residential roof on a commercial building? Is there a difference between the two? Of course, some businesses are in re-purposed homes or small, stand-alone buildings where a residential roof would work just fine. But for the average business, a commercial roof is necessary.
Here is a breakdown of the features of each kind of roof:
Pitch Roof
The main difference between these two kinds of roofs is that commercial roofs are typically much flatter. On a large commercial structure like a strip mall, warehouse, or factory, a pitched roof would be impractical and difficult to construct. But, on houses, pitched roofs give the structure style and visual appeal.
Roof Materials
Residential roofs generally use shingles made from asphalt, metal, or tile. These give the homeowner several aesthetic options to choose from with a variety of colors, styles, and textures. By contrast, commercial roofs have very little visual appeal to them; they are purely functional structures. They typically use layered sheets of EPDM or TPO which are durable, resistant to the elements, and able to support frequent foot traffic.
Roof Installation
Residential roofing re-installation is pretty straightforward. The base layer of roof is usually wooden, and covered with a layer of waterproof material. Shingle or tiles are affixed on top of this layer. Commercial roofing is a little more complicated and requires more knowledge. Since the roof is flat, roofers need to know how to build in a slight slope so that water does not pool.
Roof Maintenance
Because both commercial and residential roofs are exposed to the same environmental conditions, you can expect similar sorts of repairs. But, while replacing a few shingles on a home might solve a leak, it can be trickier for a business. Depending on the material and technique used, roofers might need to replace the whole roof if one part is badly damaged.
Orlando Roofing Company
With Florida’s extreme heat and serious storms, roofs in Orlando take a beating. There are many roofers who know enough to replace residential roofs, but Batterbee Roofing can do it all. If the time comes when you need a roof replaced at your home or commercial building, our experienced team can get the job done reliably. To get a quote today, please give us a call at 352-748-6300.
