The Importance of Commercial Roof Maintenance

Commercial roofs need to be able to perform at the peak of their capabilities at all time and that is possible only if they are properly maintained. Here are some tips from respected commercial roof repair Kansas City pros on things that you should know about the importance of commercial roof maintenance:

• Maintained roof strength – the roof maintenance tasks that should never be neglected are roof and gutter cleaning, followed by a detailed inspection of both structures and by the timely repair of any fault detected during the inspections. Roofing maintenance sessions performed in spring and in fall are the best ways to ensure the roof is prepared for whatever weather comes along, for harsh sunshine, hail, rain and hurricanes as well as for freezing temperatures, heavy snowing and ice;
• Prolonged roof life – meticulous maintenance is also the best way to make sure that your roof is able to reach the end of its warranted lifespan without any major issues or, even better, to provide reliable protection even after reaching that age;
• Ensuring the safety of your crews and unhindered business operations – any roof fault causes disruption in your business and potential safety hazards, but you can easily prevent those disruptions and risks, with the help of professional, semi-annual roofing maintenance.

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What Is the Difference Between EPDM and TPO Roofing

Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) are two synthetic materials used for commercial roofing systems. While the two materials are very similar – they are both types of synthetic rubber and they both come in large sheets –, there are some important differences between the two that you should know about:

• Resistance – both materials are very resistant to the elements, but each of them has its own specialty. TPO is more resistant to punctures than EPDM, while EPDM takes hail better;
• Installation and repairs – both materials are quick and easy to install, but the methods required are different. TPO is welded onto the roof surface, which requires a source of electrical current, while EPDM is fastened mechanically. As a result, TPO roofs are a bit more complicated to repair than EPDM;
• Durability – An experienced EPDM roofer confirms that EPDM roofs come with a durability of 25-30 years, longer than the lifespan of TPO, warranted for 15-20 years;
• Color options – while EPDM comes only in white, TPO offers a wider color palette that includes white, tan and grey as well;
• Reflectivity – TPO reflects the sun’s rays, therefore it is more suitable for hot climate areas than EPDM, which absorbs solar radiation and heat.

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The Advantages of a PVC Roofing System

Polyvinyl chloride, commonly referred to as PVC, is a material used for making many things, including single-ply membranes for roofs. PVC is among the most common and most popular roofing materials used on commercial roofs – here are the advantages that you can benefit with the great, synthetic material:

• Resistance – PVC is among the hardiest roofing materials used today, resistant not only to water, pests and hurricane-force winds, but also to stress typical for commercial buildings, such as chemical spills and heavy foot traffic;
• Reflectivity – PVC roof Kansas City installation experts confirm that PVC reflects solar heat, rather than absorbing it, thus being a great building feature to choose if you want to achieve improved energy efficiency;
• Durability – PVC is also among the longest-lived commercial roofing materials, usually warranted for about 30-35 years;
• Easy installation – the membranes made from PVC are quick and easy to install;
• Low maintenance – the synthetic material does not need any special maintenance, other than the usual cleaning and inspection performed every six months on the roof surface as well as on the surrounding drainage system;
• Affordability – PVC roofing systems are also the preferred choice of many businesses due to the material’s low costs as well as due to the low installation costs.

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The 4 Most Common Causes of Commercial Roof Leaks

Roof leaks can be a nuisance or a disaster in any building, but in the case of commercial facilities, leaks can cause considerable financial loss as well as the loss of reputation, that is why knowing about and eliminating leak sources in a timely manner is very important. To be able to do that in your business, According to commercial roofing repair and maintenance Kansas City experts, here are the five most common causes of roof leaks in commercial building:

• Improper drainage – clogged, otherwise damaged or incorrectly designed gutters cannot direct water away from the building, potentially causing roof damage as well as damage to the building’s walls and foundation. Fortunately, the issue is easy to prevent, by regularly inspecting and cleaning the gutter pipes and by ensuring proper capacity;
• Unsealed roof penetrations – most commercial roofs accommodate HVAC components, vents, utility lines and many other systems that can let water penetrate the deeper layers of the roof. The solution is simple: you only need to seal those penetrations properly;
• Damaged flashing – the stripes of material used to seal openings and to reinforce joints can get easily damage and cause leaks, therefore they need regular inspections and repair if faults are detected;
• Old age – commercial roofs are usually warranted to last for 15-20 years. Any roof older than that is prone to leaking, the best solution for these structures being replacement.

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Questions to Ask a Commercial Roofing Contractor

Whatever you need a commercial roofer for, whether it is roof repair, maintenance or re-roofing, it is very important to work with the contractor that is suitable for the project. JR & Co. roofing professionals tell us that the process of finding the right contractor should start with assessing the roofers available locally using online or other sources, followed by personal contact with the roofer that might be suitable. These personal meetings are great opportunities to find the answer to any question that you may have – here are some of the topics to cover:

• Licensing and experience – you need a roofer who is allowed to operate legally, possesses the right licenses, is properly insured and also has experience with the type of projects that you have. During the meeting, ask to be shown copies of the credentials and also ask for references;
• How the project will be handled – ask the roofer to tell you how your project will be completed, how many people will work on your property and what to expect in terms of disruption and waste handling;
• Request a written estimate – ask the roofer to provide a written cost estimate that includes all the details of the project, including the total costs, the deadlines, an itemized list of the materials that will be used and the warranties offered.

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5 Most Common Commercial and Industrial Roofing Materials

Many of the roofs used on commercial and industrial facilities need to meet very similar requirements, therefore many of the materials successfully used on commercial roofs are suitable for building industrial buildings as well. Here are some of the most common options:

• Metal – metal roofing Kansas City contractors affirm that the large sheets made from strong, corrosion-resistant alloys, such as steel or aluminum, are the most common roofing solutions used on both types of facilities, preferred for their durability of up to 50 years, their affordable and easy ownership. The solution is available in variants that resist chemical spills as well;
• Built-up membrane – this is practically the good old tar and gravel roof, built from alternated layers of tar paper and aggregate. The solution is cheap, tough and easy to maintain;
• EPDM – also known as thermoset membrane, EPDM is a material appreciated for its flexibility at low temperatures as well as for its resistance to chemical spills, including acids and solvents;
• TPO – another synthetic roofing material, TPO is lightweight, it has high reflective qualities and it is resistant to chemicals, UV radiation as well as impact that could cause tears and punctures;
• Modified bitumen – the solution is a more modern version of the built-up roof, made using reinforced fabrics and bitumen. These roofs are very stable and resistant, being suitable for heavy foot traffic.

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The Benefits of Wind-Vented Roofing Systems

A wind-vented roof is a low-sloping system that use special vents to hold the roof tightly in place among high-wind conditions. The principle behind the solution is the Bernoulli principle – initially a principle of fluid dynamics, the effect is defined as the reduction in the pressure of a fluid when it passes through a constricted section. In the case of roofs, the structures that use special vents become more firmly attached whenever high winds pass through the vents.

According to accomplished commercial roofers in Kansas City, the simple concept comes with many benefits – here are some:

• Help with moisture issues – the special wind vents not only secure the roof in harsh weather, they also pull any potentially harmful excess moisture from underneath the roof membrane, thus helping with water damage prevention. The vents are also efficient in drying the roofs that are already affected by moisture;
• Prolonged roof life – being unaffected by the risk of wind damage as well as of some forms of water damage, wind-vented systems can stay safe and healthy longer than unvented structures;
• Preserved integrity – the installation of wind vents does not require the use of fasteners, which also means that no holes need to be drilled into the roof and the vent installation process will not compromise the integrity of the roof in any way.

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What is a Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) Roof System

Thermoplastic polyolefin is among the most popular materials used on flat roofs, appreciated for its resistance and durability. TPO roofs consist of a single layer of strong and durable synthetic material, made from sheets that can be 10, 12 or 20 feet wide to facilitate installation, but easy mounting is not the only benefit of the solutions – here are some others:

• TPO costs – the size of the roof, the installation method chosen and the costs related to the roof’s support structure and  insulation will be important factors in determining the final amount that you will need to pay for your TPO roof, but the TPO material itself is very affordable; You will want to talk to reputable TPO roofing Kansas City contractors for a more exact TPO roof installation estimate.
• High fire rating – TPO is a Class A fire resistant material, suitable for applications that are fire-sensitive;
• Superior reflectivity – TPO sheets are usually white, which makes them reflective. By reflecting solar heat, your TPO roof will prevent the entire roof structure from absorbing heat and from transferring heat toward the building interior. The quality will contribute to your efforts of reducing your energy bills considerably;
• Durability – TPO roofs usually last for 15-20 years, but regular cleaning, inspections and timely repairs can efficiently prolong that lifespan by years.

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The Advantages of Hiring a Reliable Local Roofing Company

When hiring a roofing company, you’ll hear a lot of experts advising you to select a local one. Even though not all companies are made equal, you’ll find that choosing a local roofer will offer you a lot more benefits than their big city counterparts:

1. Local companies can get to your location faster and respond more promptly in the event of an emergency. That’s a real advantage when it comes to fighting storms, hail and sudden leaks that would normally lead to a lot of property damage, if not addressed immediately.
2. Local roofers are far more knowledgeable than most roofers, when it comes to the specific hazards and the types of damage that might threaten your roof over time – as well as how to address them. They’ll know immediately whether to advise you on choosing a metal roof for better energy efficiency, or choosing a heavier concrete roof to prevent wind damage. A knowledgeable Kansas City commercial roofer knows what will work best for the climate and storm potential in the Kansas City area far better than a roofer based out of California.
3. Finally, local roofing companies are often cheaper, friendlier and more resourceful when it comes to handling hands on, practical issues. You’ll be better off hiring one of them, rather than choosing a big city contractor that will barely help you with any information, and might not even know enough about how the area’s climate and weather conditions might impact your roof.

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What Are the Main Reasons You Should Invest in a Metal Roofing System?

Metal is great to invest in, and you’ll find that a metal roofing system is not only reliable, but will also withstand the test of time and resist the harshest elements that threaten your home every year. In the case of residential metal roofs, this is a remarkable advantage, as many homeowners and business owners can only dream about a type of roofing that is both lower in cost and better at protecting their home without the trade-off of expensive repairs and maintenance.

Yet metal roofing can provide all that and so much more! If you opt for a metal roofing system, you can be sure your roof will last for more than 50 years, and that it’ll also help your home save a lot of energy. This will happen both in the summer, when harsh temperatures normally require you to run your AC until it breaks down, and in the winter and in colder climates, when you’d have to invest a lot in attic insulation and a better heating system just to keep your home marginally warm.

A metal roof will supplement your insulation, prevent fires from causing excessive damage, and withstand strong winds and hail better than most other types of roofing materials. Under these circumstances, it’s highly recommended that you contact a local commercial metal roofing contractor and ask for a quote on their metal roofing systems, as soon as you decide to get a brand new roof for your home or business.

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