The construction methods and materials used on a roof often depend on the type of building or its purpose. For instance, many residential buildings have a steeply pitched or sloped roof covered in asphalt shingles. The larger buildings used for commercial purposes require a different roofing method and one reason for this is the amount of space that must be covered. A pitched roof would have to be fairly tall to be large enough to cover big buildings. Commercial Roofing in Rochester MN can make use of sloped roofs, but the typical business uses what is commonly known as a flat roof. Of course, the roof is not actually flat or it would hold water. Instead, the roof has a low pitch that simply gives the appearance of being flat. The minimum pitch is two percent or one-quarter inch per foot.
Low-sloped roofs are typically covered using the BUR (built-up roofing) system. This is actually various layers of roofing felt, or a similar membrane, that is covered with an asphalt coating. New Commercial Roofing in Rochester MN made from BUR is usually three layers and covered with an aggregate such as gravel. There are a few benefits to using BUR one of which is low cost versus the alternatives. Another benefit is easy repairs. Small issues can be fixed with simple patches and larger problems are eliminated with additional layers of membrane and asphalt. Plus, BUR makes it is easy to seal around edges and roofing details.
Alternatives for flat roofs include EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer), PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin). EPDM is a synthetic rubber material that typically comes in black or white on black colors. PVC tends to be a translucent sheet that works well for specific tasks. The best choice for many commercial roofs is TPO because it has multiple color choices and several thicknesses. Color can be important because white roofs provide some reflective ability, which can reduce heat buildup. Some manufacturers even produce TPO products that provide improved resistance to hail. This can be extremely useful in the Rochester area where winter storms are rather unpredictable. Get more details about commercial roofing from the experts at Steve Gentry Construction.
