Commercial Roof Types & Systems
We have decades of in-house expertise on every type of commercial and industrial roofing system, no matter how complex.
Types of Roof Systems
There are almost as many roofing system manufacturers as one can count. Single-Ply, Modified Bitumen, Built-up, Metal are all available systems, each having infinite subsets. TeamCraft does not advocate for any roof system or manufacturer. A good roofing contractor will assist in finding the right fit for your application. Strangely or not, roof systems first used in the 1800s are often the most reliable in 2021. What does that say about "new formulations" or the "latest and greatest"? Let the contractor that you diligently investigated help you untangle this.
The cheapest material installed properly will last as long as it should. The highest performance materials installed improperly will almost always fail prematurely. The difference in both cases is the quality of the contractor.
The Balance of Risk versus Reward
Here is where the rubber meets the road. No one wants to spend too much on a roof repair or buy something cheap that does not work. If you are a building owner that wants to keep your business in a building for many years, your goal will be roof longevity. If you are looking to flip a building on the market, a repair or restoration that lasts five years might be the answer. A qualified contractor can walk you through options to dial in the best value for your budget and need.
Warranties
Manufacturer’s hire lawyers to write warranties to prevent building owner’s lawyers from being able to collect. Most manufacturer’s require you to accept their warranty because it limits their liability. Further, warranties may be voided if an owner does not document routine preventive maintenance.
While a 20-Year NDL warranty may seem like solid protection, do not be misled. If you read the warranty, as you should BEFORE you buy a roof, you will find it excludes more than it covers. For instance if the warranty says it excludes “wind damage” that leaves you vulnerable even in typical summer storms. Require a minimum of 55 MPH coverage. Get more if you can negotiate it.
Rarely, will a warranty replace your roof system. A manufacturer once told me that No Dollar Limit means that “We will make every effort to find and repair a leak”. That means that they will only pay to patch a hole if it’s an issue covered by the warranty.
Not having to rely on a warranty is the best practice. One does this by choosing a contractor carefully and doing routine maintenance on your roof. Just as a car needs care to last, so does your roof. An owner can do the maintenance or have a contractor's service department do it for you.
Ask a Roofer
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Get a Quote/Bid
Have an RFP or need a quote? One of our expert estimators will give you the full breakdown.