The Difference between Commercial and Residential Roofing

To a layman, a roof may just seem like a roof but there is a vast difference between a commercial roof and a residential roof. However, professional roofers in the industry know that commercial and residential roofs are not built similarly. They are different when it comes to materials, design, installation, and maintenance costs. Therefore, it is necessary to be aware of these differences as they are the key to finding a high-quality roofing system for each type of roofing.

Difference Between Commercial Roofing and Residential Roofing

The difference in Roofing Materials

While commercial roofs have a flat slope, residential roofs are steeper. The type of roofing materials for commercial and residential roofs depends on the type of roof, weather conditions, and cost. These can be provided only by a qualified and professional roofing company for both commercial and residential roofs.

And they can offer expert advice about the materials that can be ideal for each kind of roof. Reputed companies that provide quality roofing materials with skilled roofing technicians, for installation purposes, are thus in great demand. Depending on the size, exposure to natural elements, design, and other factors, commercial and residential roofs must be made of durable materials.

This would ensure the maximum lifespan of a roof, and make it adaptable and easy to maintain. For instance, commercial roofs are expansive and include systems like ventilation and air conditioning. The materials need to support this design and yet last longer.

The roofing materials required for residential and commercial roofs are durable materials like Slate, Asphalt, Wood Shakes, Solar Shingles, Metal Roofing, Built-Up Roof, Tile and Ceramic Shingles, and additional support materials. To ensure a high-quality roof for life when you hire a residential or commercial roofing company, find out their experience with each roof type, the suppliers they use, and their warranty policy. It is your opportunity to double-check everything. Ensure that your roofer has expertise in the type of roofing you need, to avoid settling for wrong or low-quality work.

Difference in Design

Commercial and residential roofs are different from one another in design. A commercial roof is entirely flat or has a low slope, and is usually much larger than a residential roof. Flat roofs need more maintenance including repairs of larger spaces, installed in sections.

While designing a commercial roof certain factors such as covering larger areas and the weight of equipment installed on the roof, need to be considered. Residential roofs on the other hand are easier to maintain, repair, and replace.

Since commercial buildings are generally larger in area than residential properties, the roof must support the extra weight and size of the building. On the contrary, residential buildings have slanting roofs with a greater slope that is easier to install.

A commercial building’s roof has a flatter roof surface because of the systems, such as HVAC, and plumbing, installed at the top of the roof. Technicians and workers have to pass through the roof access hatch to fix several systems, and a sloped roof can be very inconvenient, hence a commercial building’s roof must be flat.

Mostly a residential building doesn’t need a flat unless homeowners prefer to construct a rooftop or add another storey later. Houses having sloped roofs are at an advantage as rainwater gets directed into the house’s gutters easily. It also provides the residents with an attic to use as storage.

Difference in Installation

Residential roofing is quite easy to install and create. Some homes want solar shingles installed, the only obstacle being a chimney. Commercial roofs require expert roofing services familiar with building around air flow systems, smoke stacks, and external piping.

Competent and experienced roofing companies are able to cater to the demands of both residential and commercial roofing requirements. Since commercial buildings have expansive roofs, it takes a longer time to do the installation and even multiple roofing contractors to finish the job faster.

But installing a residential building’s roof can be finished in a few days by a single roofing contractor due to the ease of the installation process. There may be slight difficulty with the installation if the house is tall, but due to their safety equipment and years of experience, generally, no issues are encountered.

Difference in Maintenance

Another element that separates residential and commercial roofing is the amount of maintenance that each requires. Commercial buildings cover larger areas, therefore maintenance of the roofing is more challenging such as keeping the gutters clean always, especially during the fall and winter when debris may cause blockages.

Roof shingles or metal roofing start to disintegrate with time and under harsh weather requiring regular checks to ensure better maintenance. Being smaller in size, residential roofs are easier to maintain and scan for damages. Broken shingles can be replaced and the gutters unblocked when needed even without taking professional help.

In the case of commercial building maintenance, the roofing contractors need to inspect and maintain commercial building roofs every six months. They also have a dedicated roofing contractor that makes scheduled visits to the building. Any damage to the roof can potentially cause extensive damage to the commercial building, which also means expensive repairs.

On the other hand, homeowners need to hire a roofing contractor to maintain or inspect their roofs twice a year. It’s also an inexpensive service since most roofs of houses are not that wide or extensive. The inspections often last for a few minutes, and homeowners can determine the condition right away. The homeowners can also do the roofing inspections, which saves them more money.

Difference in Costs

One of the biggest differences between a commercial and residential roof is the total cost. Before starting work, it is advisable to get quotes from renowned residential or commercial roofing companies to see which one fits your budget.

Generally, commercial roofing is more expensive than residential roofing due to the number of materials, labor, size, and protection equipment required for installation. Moreover, commercial buildings need a specific type of roofing that can provide the best features. Some of the expensive roofing materials are Thermostat (EPDM) Roof Membrane and Built-Up Roofing (BUR) Membranes.

On the other hand, asphalt or wooden shingles, are inexpensive roofing materials for residential roofing having essential qualities that can achieve effective comfort inside the house. To lower the costs further, find recyclable roofing materials like recycled shingles. Manufacturers create roofing shingles from recyclable materials, including wood fiber, asphalt, and plastic.

Differences due to Weather Conditions

Since the roof is openly exposed to natural elements, the number one enemy of roofing is the weather. Also, a reason why both residential and commercial building owners look for sustainable roofing materials is to ensure it doesn’t cause damage to the environment when they are replaced in the long term.

Residential buildings use wood shingles on their roof which is easier to recycle when replacing damaged shingles. On the other hand, some commercial buildings in urban cities prefer planting a green roof, due to the lack of greenery around.

The chief purpose of a roof is to guard the insides of a building and its residents against harsh weather elements. But there are many different types and each serves a specific purpose. Moreover, there are significant differences between roofing for residential and commercial buildings.

Commercial buildings mostly need roofing materials that can protect them from harsh weather conditions, such as high heat, cold, or heavy rain. Hence, contractors use asphalt on flat roofs because they can extend or contract depending on the weather, ensuring that the roof’s internal structure never morphs.

Since residential buildings don’t need maximum weather protective features on their roof, they can function efficiently with steel roofs, which are excellent on sloped roofing. Metal roofing also provides good cold and heat insulation, ensuring that the residents do not experience extreme heat and cold.

Finally, discuss with your roofer the type of roofing that will work best for you. Knowing the difference between the two roofing types can give you knowledge on which one you will need for your residential or commercial buildings. Some people buy the wrong type of roofing, which ultimately ends up not getting used because the roofing will not fit the building’s roof.