3 Roofing Types for Low-Slope or Flat Commercial Roofs

Commercial roofing in St. Louis, MO, is completely different from residential roofing. Sloped roofing is impractical on commercial buildings because of the massive roof areas, taking typical roofing materials out of the equation. There are also various business and building requirements that are for strict compliance. If you’re in the process of getting new roofing for your commercial building, it helps to know the benefits unique to different commercial roofing types.

  1. Built-Up Roofing —BURs have been in use as early as the 1840s. This is the material of choice for roofs with constant foot traffic, thanks to its durable multi-layered structure. It features alternating layers of bitumen (liquid or semi-liquid roofing made from asphalt or coal tar) and reinforcing fabrics under a layer of gravel or other hard surface material. This creates a water and impact-resistant barrier that provides years of protection. It also has excellent insulation properties and meets most city requirements for fire and uplift resistance.
  2. Modified Bitumen — This is a modern take on BURs, and is a type of multi-ply membrane commercial roofing in St. Louis, MO, layered with asphalt. It affords the same levels of protection offered by BUR, but the top layer can be treated to add cool roofing features. These include solar reflectance and thermal emission, the ability to reflect solar heat and release absorbed heat, respectively.
  3. EPDM and TPO Roofing — Ethylene propylene diene terpolymer and Thermoplastic olefin are single-ply roofing systems that are becoming popular due to their comparable durability and ease of installation. EPDM is typically referred to as “rubber roofing” because of its main component, recycled rubber tires. Its installation involves a single layer of EPDM, with the seams attached using specialized adhesives. TPO, on the other hand, is made from plastic-based compounds, and is installed using a combination of applied heat and adhesives. Both have superior cool roofing properties and are chosen by building owners whose buildings are located in known heat islands.

Howard Roofing offers an array of roofing systems that will meet your business needs. If you would like to know more about our options for commercial and residential roofing in St. Louis, MO, call us today at (636) 296-1057. You may also fill out our contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation in-home consultation.