As a business owner, your commercial roof is essential to your infrastructure. A commercial roof protects not only your structure but also your employees and other assets. However, a commercial roof replacement might be necessary as roofs deteriorate over the years. Even the sturdiest roofs are not excluded. Hence, investing in a sturdy and reliable commercial roof is essential.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the process of replacing your commercial roof and how to detect when it is due for one.
What Is Commercial Roofing?
Commercial roofing includes installing, maintaining, repairing, and replacing roofs on commercial buildings. A commercial roof is essential for safeguarding your property and business.
Commercial roofing involves inspecting the roof to know its condition, choosing the most suitable roofing material, and ensuring adequate installation. When you install yours and maintain it adequately, you won’t have to deal with leaks and high utility bills, among other things. In addition to protecting your property, commercial roofs also elevate your building’s appearance.
3 Signs That Show That Your Commercial Roof Needs Replacement
- Visible damage: Observable damage to your roof is a sign as clear as daylight that your commercial roof needs replacement. They exist in different forms, including curling, cracked or missing shingles, and damaged or loose flashings. When such damage occurs, it exposes your roof to elements, compromising its integrity.
- Leaks: When you notice leaks in your roof, you know it’s time for a replacement. Observable signs like peeling paint, ceiling stains, and mold growth are indicators of a leak in your commercial roof. You shouldn’t sweep signs like this under the carpet. You should immediately address them by calling an expert roofing contractor who will assess the situation, determine the degree of damage, and determine whether you need a repair or replacement.
- Reoccurring repairs: Recurrent repairing of your roof can be exhausting and is another sign to wrap things up and get a new roof to replace the old one. As roofs age, they become weaker and more susceptible to damage. Hence, when you have to fix your roof constantly, it might mean it is nearing or has reached the end of its lifespan. In the long run, replacing your commercial roof is more cost-effective than continually fixing it now and then.
Step-to-Step Guide on Commercial Roof Replacement

Initial Assessment and Inspection
A commercial roofing process first starts with a thorough assessment and inspection. You don’t necessarily need an expert to note visible signs like water stains, leaks, and cracks. However, we recommend getting professionals on board. A skilled roofing contractor will do a better job at thoroughly assessing your roof’s state and offering a solution. Due to years of experience and training, their eyes won’t miss details that you might miss.
Choosing a Suitable Roofing Contractor
How do you find a roofing contractor who has a good track record and can do a thorough and reliable job? Doing your assignment is how: search and ask questions. If you find any commercial roofing job impressive, you could ask questions and find a means to get the necessary contacts. Do an online search, and look out for reviews. Reviews give hints on whether to proceed with working with a roofing contractor or run.
When you get a list of the contractors you could work with, you start to examine them to ensure that they are licensed, bonded, and insured. Additionally, go through their portfolio to see what they’ve done in the past and determine if they can handle your project. Then, finally, get quotes from the roofing contractors who made your list, compare the quotes, and go for the most suitable one.
Detailed Planning
Before you proceed with your commercial roof replacement, you should have a budget and know the cost of materials, labor, and contingencies for the project. A budget helps you stay on track and not overspend. As part of your planning, we recommend having a timeline for your project. Set a start and finish date for it, and don’t forget to factor in delays that may occur due to surprises from nature. Additionally, take the time to select a roofing material that is suitable for you.
Removal of Roof
Before removing your old roof and installing a new one, you have to put safety measures in place for the workers and anyone in the work surroundings. Remember, safety should always come first as things could go south and lives endangered without observing the necessary safety steps.
After putting the safety measures in place, tearing off the old roof comes next. This opens a window for a more thorough inspection to detect underlying problems that could affect the functionality of the new roof you are installing. If you detect any issues, fixing them before installing the new roof is crucial.
Installation of Roof
- Underlayment installation: Install the roofing underlayment of your choice correctly to provide additional protection for your roof from water penetration, which could cause further problems.
- Roofing material installation: Whatever your choice of roofing material, be it TPO, asphalt shingles, or single-ply roofing, ensure you adhere to the manufacturer’s guide. Proper installation is necessary to prevent roof issues and to get the best value for your investment- the roof.
- Flashing installation: Installing your roof flashing properly is essential. Flashing is usually made of materials that are weather-resistant. You need to install them around roof penetrations like vents, chimneys, and edges to prevent water from gaining access to your roofing system and causing havoc.
Quality Control
During installation, ensure you are observant to avoid any critical detail passing your eyes without notice. It will help you detect problems or possible problems early and address them before they become bigger issues and more complicated to correct. Imagine discovering a problem you could have easily averted early at the end of the project. Not a pleasant picture, right? Right! That’s why you must be attentive throughout the process and carry out some quality control measures.
Sealing All Necessary Points and Ensuring a Proper Drainage System
Ensure that every roof penetration, seam, and joint is tightly sealed. Tightly sealing such sensitive areas is critical, as they prevent water penetration and improve your roof’s water resistance. When your roof is water resistant, it helps keep your home safe and dry and also extends your roof’s lifespan.
Good water drainage is also good for your roof’s functionality and health. Hence, a dependable water drainage system is essential for preventing stagnant water and water damage due to pooling.
Cleanup and Removal of Debris
The process of replacement doesn’t end at installation. After a successful commercial roof replacement, cleaning has to be done. Clean your surroundings thoroughly and ensure no waste is left behind, especially one that might threaten people’s safety.
So, clean up, restore, and enjoy your newly installed roof and the refreshed surroundings!
Final Inspection and Documentation
Now, to the step that wraps up the commercial roof replacement process: final inspection and documentation. We believe there’s no such thing as too much inspection. Hence, after cleanup, you must conduct one last inspection to ensure the roof is functional and has no challenges. Doing this is essential to get the best outcome.
Additionally, you should have the whole replacement process documented, including warranties, inspection reports, and permits. These documents are more important than you might know and will save you a lot of stress someday, including when you need to reference them for insurance claims or maintenance.
Conclusion
We can all agree that replacing your commercial roof is a significant investment and should be done thoroughly to enjoy it for a long time. Having a professional inspect your roof and pinpoint the signs of damage will help you determine when to replace your commercial roof. Understanding the process of replacement is also essential.
Finding the right contractor, regular inspection, and proper maintenance also play key roles in the success of your roof replacement. A successful replacement process also influences business and should be your goal whenever you are ready to get a new roof for your commercial structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a commercial roof replacement cost?
The cost of a commercial roof replacement is not fixed because it depends on various factors, including the roof size, location, the project’s complexity, and the materials used. However, the cost usually varies between thousands and tens of thousands of dollars.
How long does a commercial roof replacement typically take?
It typically takes several days to weeks to complete a commercial roof replacement project due to factors like the roof size, complexity, and weather conditions.
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