6 Different Types of Commercial Roofing Systems

What are the most popular types of commercial roofing? Which is better? Which is more reasonably priced? In this article, we will cover 6 types of commercial roofing:

Spray Foam Roofing
Single-Ply Membrane Roofing
Silicone Roof Coating Systems
Metal Roofing
Shingle Roofing
Built-Up Roofing

1. Spray Foam Roofing

Spray Foam is an eco-friendly roofing option for commercial, industrial, and manufacturing facilities. Spray Polyurethane Foam, more commonly referred to as SPF, is a material that is sprayed as a liquid so it can expand into a foam, creating a solid layer across an existing roof.

While spray foam roofing is not the most known type of roofing material, the technology has been around since the early 1960s for industrial, commercial, and residential facilities. A spray foam roofing system can be used in any climate and when correctly installed and maintained, can last over 50 years.

For an average 20,000 sq. foot commercial roof, it will usually cost between $5.00 and $10.00 per square foot* in materials and labor to install a typical SPF roofing system. This price range covers a spray foam roof of average thickness and building structure.

NOTE: There are hundreds of variables in the cost of spray foam roofing. One of them is manufacturer prices, which are higher than ever. If the price for materials comes down, so will the price range.

Spray Polyurethane Roofing Advantages

There are quite a few benefits of SPF roofing systems:

Energy Efficient – Spray foam delivers thermal, air, and moisture barriers to provide the highest R-value per inch.
Durable – The foam material can expand and contract with the building, decreasing the likelihood of cracks and splitting.
Seamless and Waterproof – The continuous solid surface does not require joints or seams, removing the most vulnerable area for leaking.
Avoids the costly tear-off – In most cases, there is minimal stripping of the original roof – eliminating the need for costly roof tear-offs and waste.
Renewable – After a spray foam roof’s warranty expires, it can be recoated/renewed for 33% – 50% of the original installation. Any other roofing system will need to be torn off when its warranty expires, which costs 100% of the original installation.

2. Single-Ply Membrane Roofing

Single-Ply Membrane is a time-tested roofing option for commercial, industrial, and manufacturing facilities. Single-Ply Membranes are sheets of rubber and other synthetics that can be ballasted, mechanically fastened, or chemically adhered to insulation creating a layer of protection on your commercial facility.

While Single-Ply Membrane Roofing is one of the most well-known types of commercial roofing material, there are several types to fit your budget and facility needs.

For an average 20,000 sq. foot commercial roof, it will usually cost between $6 to $10 per square foot for EPDM and $8 to $10 per square foot for TPO*, including materials and labor warranty.

Single-Ply Membrane Advantages

If properly installed and maintained, a commercial single-ply membrane roof can last 30 years. There are quite a few other benefits of single-ply membrane roofing systems:

Proven Track Record – EPDM roofing has been used for commercial flat roofing for over years. This amount of time on the market has allowed various laboratory and field studies to be performed and tracked.
Customer Choice of Insulation – Since single-ply membrane roofing does not include the insulation factor, as a customer you have more options to choose from to insulate your facility’s roof.
Class A Fire-Rated – TPO membranes and EPDM can achieve Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Class A fire resistance listings by adding fire retardant chemicals during the manufacturing process.
Reflective or Retentive – TPO is generally white and highly reflective. On the other side of the spectrum, EPDM is often described as “Black Roofs,” due to the natural dark color of the membrane.

3. Silicone Roof Coating Systems

Roof coating systems are fluid-applied material that goes over an existing roof. The existing roof needs to be in decent shape, such as:

The seams have good adhesion
Less than 25% of the insulation is wet
There’s been at least annual maintenance on the roof

The silicone is installed through a spray gun or is rolled. How it’s applied depends on the wind and surrounding assets.

The average roof coating system costs $4 – $8 per square foot. These costs are very volatile and can change daily.

Silicone Roof Coating Advantages

Does not count as another roofing system per building code. This is a huge advantage for roofs with two roofing systems installed. With a coating system, you might be able to avoid a complete tear-off.
Creates a seamless roofing system.
Can customize the color. If you turn a darker roof into a lighter color, you can reduce roof temperature and lower energy costs.
They are renewable.
They can come with manufacturer or contractor warranties.

4. Metal Roofing

Metal Roofing is one of the oldest commercial roofing systems on the market. Most metal roofing systems use corrugated galvanized steel, although other materials such as aluminum or tin can also be used.

Since metal roofing material is rather light in weight, it can be installed right on top of the existing roof. After a metal roofing system is installed, a coating can be added for waterproofing, rust protection, and UV protection.

For an average commercial roof, it will usually cost between $10.00 and $15.00 per square foot* in materials and labor to install a typical metal roofing system. This price range can change depending on the type and style of the metal panels you choose.

Metal Roofing Advantages

If properly installed and maintained, a commercial metal roof can last 40 years. There are quite a few other benefits of metal roofing systems:

Design – Variety of material and color choices.
Stability – Ability to hold up to high winds and snow.
Energy Efficient – Sheet metal can be made from recycled material.
Fire Resistance – Metal panels are less prone to fire damage and do not promulgate fire events.

5. Shingle Roofing

Shingle roofing is mostly known for homes and residential roofing, but shingles are very often used for steep slope commercial roofing applications. Shingles can be made out of a few different materials, including wood, slate, metal, plastic, ceramic and composite material such as asphalt. There are two main types of shingles: Asphalt and Architectural.

Asphalt Shingles: most common, cost-effective shingle on the market used for applications. These roof systems often come with 15 – 30-year warranties on average.

Architectural Shingles: multi-layered and heavier to add durability and weatherproofing to the building. Often comes with “lifetime” warranties.

For an average commercial roof, it will usually cost between $2.50 and $5.00 per square foot* in materials and labor to install a typical shingle roofing system. This price range can change depending on the type and style of the shingles you choose.

Shingle Roofing Advantages

Some benefits of commercial shingle roofing include:

Design – Wide variety of colors and designs
Durable – Some types of shingles are class IV hail rated
Easy Repair – Easy to spot and repair small areas of damage

6. Built-Up Roofing

Built-Up Roofing Systems have been used in the U.S. for over 100 years. These roof systems are commonly referred to as “tar and gravel” roofs. Built-up systems are installed by alternating layers of asphalt or tar and supporting fabrics directly onto the roof. You can choose the number of layers (or plies) that are installed. The final layer of a built-up roofing system consists of stone or gravel.

Because of new technologies, no one is really installing these systems anymore.

Built-Up Roofing Advantages

If properly installed and maintained, a commercial built-up roof can last 40 years. There are a few other benefits of built-up roofing systems:

Seamless and Waterproof – The continuous solid surface does not require joints or seams, removing the most vulnerable area for leaking.
UV Rays – provides ultraviolet protection.
Low- maintenance – Minimal upkeep is needed after installation.

As you can see, there are a lot of choices when looking into a new commercial roof. Each of the 6 types of commercial roofing has its benefits and drawbacks; choosing which one is best varies customer by customer.