The concept of “sustainability” in commercial construction boils down to a few basic elements. These include using renewable and recyclable building materials during construction along with reducing energy consumption and waste during the building’s life cycle. The ultimate goal is to reduce its impact on the environment. Today’s commercial roofing systems can help achieve these objectives in several ways. Here’s a brief look at a few.

Waste reduction. The manufacture of roofing materials can generate a lot of waste. However, today’s roof production processes are efficient, and recycle manufacturing scrap back into the final product. This reduces the amount of waste sent to a landfill, as well as the amount of fuel needed to transport it. In addition, some commercial roofing materials can be recycled at the end of their lifespan on the building. Some manufacturers have recycling programs in place that take old roofing systems and convert them into other building materials.

Efficient energy use. Reflectivity provided by white roofing membranes has been making a positive environmental impact for many years, by decreasing the amount of solar heat transferred into a commercial building and reducing the power load on rooftop HVAC units. In addition, because modern single-ply roofing systems are lightweight, they require less fuel to transport to the job site.

Mitigating urban heat islands (UHIs). In the summertime, cities tend to become much warmer than the surrounding countryside, creating what are known as urban heat islands. This effect helps produce smog and greenhouse gases, both of which aggravate respiratory health problems. Reflective “cool” commercial roofs help reduce the urban heat island effect.

Enabling alternative roof system installations. Vegetative and solar roofing systems are relatively new, but becoming more common in the commercial space. It’s important to realize that these technologies require a reliable commercial roofing system underneath to provide long-term, watertight protection with minimal maintenance, because access to the roof surface once the solar or veggie system is installed will be difficult. If you’re considering such a rooftop installation, it’s a good financial choice to replace an aging roof underneath now, rather than later.

When it comes to choosing your roofing contractor, look for one who follows good environmental practices. This can include using fuel-efficient vehicles, keeping the worksite free of waste, and minimizing the generation of scrap during installation.

Complete Commercial Roofing is ready to help you meet your commercial building sustainability goals.  We look forward to working with you – Call 765-457-4848.

Pulling the trigger on a commercial roofing project is a big step, not to mention an expensive proposition. major undertaking for your business. You and your contractor should be on the same team when it comes to some of the key aspects of the job.

Your contractor should provide a thorough scope of work in the contract. In addition to the specifics of the labor and materials being used, the contract should specify when work will begin and end. Because commercial roofs are complex assemblies, sometimes an installation can reveal surprises that can delay completion of the project. The contractor should keep you apprised of these events, as well as how it will affect the schedule and cost.

It’s important to note that the installation doesn’t just involve the roofer and their crew; it can also affect your building occupants. Make sure you understand the measures they have in place to ensure the safety of all those who will be in and around the building during the project.

If you’re open for business during the roofing project, you need to keep your property tidy and inviting for occupants and visitors. To that end, your contractor should specify how this will be achieved. For roof tear-offs and installation debris, you and the contractor should agree on a designated ground area for discarded roof materials, and the contractor should furnish their own dumpster; make sure you agree as to where it will be placed during the project. Obviously, sharp objects on the ground (fasteners, metal components, etc.) should be picked up and disposed of immediately.

One significant issue to agree on is roof access. How will the roofing crew access the roof and how the materials will be delivered to the rooftop? For buildings with one or two stories, a crane or scissor lift (provided by the contractor) can be used; taller structures mean that the contractor probably will need to use a freight elevator in your building. Make sure that the roofer can get to these access points without obstructions, and that both they and building occupants will respect the others’ needs for “business as usual.”

When these bases are covered, your project is more likely to go smoothly. At Complete Commercial Roofing, our priority is ensuring your satisfaction on every roofing project. We look forward to working with you.

Commercial Roof Leak Action Plans

Do you have an action plan in place should your commercial roof spring a leak…today? Puddles, the sight or sound of dripping water, and stains on ceilings and/or walls are all signs that you have a problem. The big question is: are you able to protect your building contents and keep your workers and visitors safe?

If you’re a commercial building owner or manager, you know that even a relatively small roof leak can have serious consequences. Unfortunately, the roof is often “out of sight, out of mind,” but as it’s always exposed to the elements, leaks are a constant possibility. So, it’s important to have a plan in place if water is penetrating your roof.

Your plan should include a list of action items to manage if you see evidence of a leak in your building. These should be clear and concise steps that can be understood by all employees in your organization and that will help mitigate any problems that could negatively affect your operation. Here are a few things to include:

• Safety comes first, so place bright cones and/or signs around the affected area to keep foot traffic away.
• Clean up the water from the floor. You should have the tools you’ll need (mop, squeegee, wet/dry vac, etc.) easily accessible.
• Obviously, if water is visibly dripping, move affected furniture and equipment out of the way; pieces that can’t be moved should be covered with water repellent tarps.
• If practical, place buckets or trash cans under the leak.
• You’ll need to document the damage for insurance claims, so take photos and make a detailed list of areas and building contents that have been affected.
• If there’s one leak in your building, there may be others, so inspect your entire facility, including storage areas and other little-used rooms.
• Once the wet area is safe and secure, you’ll obviously need to contact a commercial roofing professional, who has the tools and equipment to find the source of and repair the leak.

Of course, we at Complete Commercial Roofing hope you never experience leak problems. But if you do, call on us to take care of it. And if you’re in the market for a new or replacement commercial roofing system, we would love to discuss options with you.

Variables That Affect Commercial Roof Cost

A new commercial roof is a big capital investment for almost every company. There are many factors that come into play when it comes to determining the total cost of a new roof for your facility. If you are considering a new roof, keep these cost-affecting variables in mind.

 

Project Complexity

Lots of commercial roofs are open expanses that can be recovered without tearing off the old roofing system. Thermoplastic (mostly PVC and TPO) systems are lightweight and, depending on local codes, able to be installed over an existing system. An uncomplicated installation like this will cost much less than a complex project with numerous penetrations, curbs, new insulation (perhaps due to water damage), replacement edge details, and/or a tear-off.

 

Contractor Expertise

The expression, “you get what you pay for” certainly holds true in the commercial roofing marketplace. When you invest in a roof, you’re also investing in what it takes to install it. The contractor you choose should be experienced and qualified to work on your type of building (warehouse roofs are different from restaurant roofs, for example). Otherwise, you could be in for unexpected costs down the road when maintenance and repair issues come up.

 

Roofing Material

If you’re planning to own your facility for the foreseeable future, then it makes sense to invest in a roof that’s more expensive at the outset but provides better long-term value. A new single-ply commercial roofing system should last 15 years or more. Some manufacturers offer warranties of 20 years but require that a thicker, more expensive material be installed. Roof coatings are less expensive and can save you money in the short term, but they will typically only provide a few years of service before your roof issues reappear. Some inexpensive single-ply membranes don’t handle intense sunlight well and degrade relatively quickly.

These are just a few of the many factors that will ultimately determine the initial cost – and long-term value – of your roofing investment. If you’re in the market for a new roof, the team at Complete Commercial Roofing would welcome the opportunity to discuss all the options available to you.

 

Most single-ply roofing systems are delivered to the job site as roll goods that have to be positioned carefully on the rooftop to ensure a proper fit. They also require lots of manual labor to seam membrane sections together. For example, on a 50,000 square-foot roof, a typical roll-goods roofing system could require as much as 13,000 linear feet of seaming by hand – that’s about 2-1/2 miles.

On the same roof, the Duro-Last roofing system would require only 1300 linear feet of rooftop seaming. That’s because Duro-Last roofs are prefabricated under controlled factory conditions in a manufacturing facility. This approach to roof production greatly reduces the likelihood of rooftop installation errors and future leak problems.

Studies of roof failures show that most problems occur because of installation errors – much of which can be attributed to manual rooftop seaming. Duro-Last prefabrication eliminates most of this, greatly reducing the likelihood of installation errors and leak problems in the future.

Also important is that a prefabricated Duro-Last roof can be installed by Complete Commercial Roofing without disrupting your day-to-day operation. And, because less rooftop labor is installed, we can be off your roof more quickly than with other systems.

In addition to being custom prefabricated, the Duro-Last roofing system is durable, energy-efficient, code compliant and backed by the industry’s best warranties. Contact Complete Commercial Roofing today about a new roof for your facility.