Things To Consider When Picking the Roof for Your Commercial New Construction

The US currently has over 5 million commercial buildings. Most are used as offices, warehousing, educational institutes, and restaurants.

What all these buildings have in common is the need for a sturdy, durable roof.

The roof is a crucial commercial new construction element. It requires careful consideration by the building owner and construction contractor.

Roofs protect the building and its contents from the elements. It also affects the structure's energy efficiency and durability.

Read on to learn what to look for when picking a commercial roof.

Installation Costs

The installation cost is one of the first things to consider when choosing a new roof. While a roof needs to provide the necessary protection, it must also fit into your commercial construction budget.

As you probably expect, different roofing materials have varying price points. For example, asphalt is a popular choice due to its low cost. Metal roofing is more expensive but often has a longer lifespan and requires less maintenance.

When deciding, weigh the upfront installation costs against the long-term cost of ownership.

Environmental Impact

Another factor to consider is the environmental impact of the material you select.

Some new commercial roof materials, such as metal, are more eco-friendly due to their long lifespan and recyclability.

PVC roofing is not as environmentally friendly. It's made from non-renewable resources. It's also challenging to recycle because it contains hazardous compounds.

Is sustainability a priority? Then, choose a roofing material that aligns with your environmental values.

Commercial Roofing Style

In addition to cost and environmental impact, it's also essential to consider the commercial roof style.

Flat roofs are popular for commercial buildings like office towers or medical facilities. Pitched roofs are better suited for businesses that need to look aesthetically pleasing. Think cafes or clothing boutiques.

Some people believe pitched roofs are better suited to snowy climates. But flat roofs can weather a dump of snow just as well.

Aesthetics

Finally, you should also consider the aesthetic appeal of the roof. It is, after all, one of the most prominent visual elements of the building.

Consider the visual impact of the roof on your business. Choosing a commercial roof material that enhances the appearance of the building is vital.

For example, shingles in most materials come in a wide range of colors and styles. Even flat roofs—made of everything from EPDM rubber to BUR—can be color-customized, though most building owners choose black.

Roofing Your Commercial New Construction

Commercial new construction is a pricey endeavor, so it's something you want to get right the first time around.

When choosing your new roof, you must consider everything from installation costs and style to environmental impact and aesthetics. Get all these elements right, and you'll have a durable and aesthetically pleasing commercial building in your portfolio or to operate your business confidently from within.

Signature Exteriors focuses on top-quality construction for commercial properties in the St. Charles area. Owner Jeramie Beechler brings 18 years of experience in construction, real estate, production management, and sales​ to every job.

Take action on your new roof today. Contact our team.

Why and How Often You Should Replace Your Roof?

While the roof is arguably the most important part of the home, it is also often the most overlooked.

Your roof keeps your home safe and dry, protects it from the elements, regulates temperatures, prevents dampness, and upholds the structural integrity of the property. This is why knowing how often to replace roof structures is so important.

With material costs currently skyrocketing, now is the time to budget when you will need a new roof. Read on to find out exactly when to replace your roof. 

How Often to Replace Roof Structures Depends on the Material

When asking, "how long does a roof last?" there is no single answer. It depends entirely on what your roof is made of and when it was built. While other factors play a role, here are the generally-accepted lifespans of different roof materials: 

• Asphalt: 10-20 years

• Wood: 25-30 years

• Slate: up to 100 years

• Cement: 50-100 years

• Wood shakes: 35-40 years

• Steel: 40-50 years

• Aluminum: 40-50 years

• Zinc: up to 100 years

• Copper: up to 100 years

As you can see, there is a huge variation in roof lifespan, depending on the materials used. You might also be able to guess that the materials that last the longest are also much, much more expensive than those that do not last as long.

However, the initial upfront investment will nearly always save you significant time, money, and stress in the long run. One of the benefits of a new roof is that you can make those smart decisions now to save money in the future. 

Other Factors Will Affect Your Roof Lifespan

Of course, it's not solely about the materials you use. There are several other factors that will play a significant role. Chief among these is climate. For example, if you live in an area that is windy or particularly wet, you can expect your roof to not last as long.

The existence of trees or animals around your roof will also play a role and potentially degrade the roofing material more quickly.

In addition, you level and quality of home insulation can have an impact, since poor insulation will make it more likely that destructive moisture will build inside the roof structure. 

How to Extend Your Roof Lifespan

There are a few things you can do to add a few years or even decades to the lifespan of your roof.

All of these involve being proactive. Arranging an annual roof inspection from a professional will allow you to identify problems quickly and resolve them before they get serious.

Repairing or replacing damaged tiles as soon as you notice them will also help, as will cleaning your roof, gutters and siding at least once a year.

Meanwhile, adding high-quality sealant to the correct parts of the roof can also make a big difference. 

Be Proactive and Save Money Today

Some of these chores might seem annoying, but they are a lot less expensive and time-consuming than doing nothing and waiting for the problem to get worse. 

Knowing how often to replace roof parts will push back that full replacement by years or even decades. For this, we are here to help.

To find out how we can keep your roof in tip-top condition now and in the future, do not hesitate to give our friendly and professional team in St. Charles a call. 

Flat Roof vs Sloped Roof for Commercial Properties: The Pros and Cons

It’s no secret that flat roofs look completely different from sloped roofs. 

While roof designs come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, flat roofs are far more common for commercial property. However, sloped roofs are the more traditional, better-looking option to consider as well. 

This is why the flat roof vs sloped roof debate is so interesting to look into. The kind of roof you choose can play a major role in the design and look of the entire property, with maintenance also being a factor to keep in mind.

Trying to decide between a flat or sloped roof for your commercial property? You’re in the right place. Here are the pros and cons of each style of roof. 

Flat Roof

If you’re thinking of installing a new roof for your commercial property, flat roofs are a great option. Here are some of the pros and cons of a flat roof installation for your property. 

Flat Roof Pros

One of the most notable pros of installing a flat roof is that they require a lot less material than sloped roofs. This means that the roof is simpler to install and significantly more affordable as well. Flat roofs are also easier to maintain and can be upgraded in a very short span of time.

Flat Roof Cons

While flat roofs are more affordable, they also have a shorter lifespan than pitched roofs. They also require regular maintenance as they don’t have a slope to naturally get rid of debris. 

Sloped Roof

Sloped roofs are some of the most popular roofs around the world. While these roofs are popular for residential property, they can also be used to give your commercial property a unique look. Here are some of the pros and cons of installing a sloped roof.

Sloped Roof Pros

Sloped roofs are durable, versatile roofs that are perfect for both residential and commercial property. These roofs have a natural pitch, allowing for rain, snow, and debris to naturally fall off the roof. This makes it a lot easier to maintain throughout the year. 

Sloped Roof Cons

While sloped roofs have their advantages, they are also costly to build. These roofs take a lot longer to construct compared to flat roofs, meaning that your business will need to close its doors for a lot longer during the construction process. 

Flat Roof vs Sloped Roof

As you can see, the flat roof vs sloped roof debate is filled with pros and cons for both kinds of roofs. While sloped roofs may be more pleasing to the eye, they are also more expensive to build and maintain. Flat roofs are quick and easy to install, making them a simpler option for commercial properties.

Whether you decide to build a flat or sloped roof, we’re here to make it happen. If you have any questions or want to know more about how we can help build and maintain your roof, feel free to contact us today. 

The Pros and Cons of Drone Roof Inspections

Did you know experts recommend homeowners conduct a roof inspection at least once a year? And homes that experience extreme weather events will call for more frequent inspections.

Yet, with different roof inspection methods, which should homeowners and property managers choose?

In this article, you'll learn about the pros and cons of drone roof inspections. Let's dive in.

How Do Drones Work?

Drones use rotors to hover above the ground. The rotors consist of a propeller attached to a motor. When the rotors increase speed, they produce an upward force greater than gravity, allowing them to fly. 

Many drones come equipped with 4K resolution technology for capturing high-quality photos and videos.

How Do Drones Inspect Roofs?

Home inspectors often use binoculars to inspect a roof from the ground. They may also go into the attic to check the roof from the underside or climb a ladder to the eaves. 

This is for the safety of the roof and the inspectors. It's not smart to walk on a roof, especially if it has problems.

But with a drone, inspectors can view hard-to-see areas and inspect the roof in its entirety.

A lightweight drone can pivot quickly to see different angles and take photos or videos to review.

Drones designed for enterprise work can use an autonomous flight path to ensure inspectors don't miss any area of the roof. They can always make adjustments to the course during the inspection as needed. 

Drone Roof Inspections: Pros

There are several benefits of a roof inspection via drone. Improved accuracy is one of them.

Since drones can see more areas than a person with binoculars on the ground can, drones allow inspectors to identify problems easier. Examples include lifting shingles or bent flashing.

Automated flight paths further help improve accuracy and reduce human error. 

This allows homeowners and property managers to make more informed decisions about the roof repairs they need.

Additionally, drone inspections take far less time than manual inspections. The inspector stays in one place while the drone does all the work. They don't have to take measurements from the ground or worry about climbing up different sections to view the whole roof. 

And with less ladder climbing, there's increased safety for inspectors.

It's much safer to capture photos with a drone than to climb up to get the best view of the area in question. 

Drone Roof Inspections: Cons

Of course, drones are not magical tools and have some downsides.

It takes proper care and experience to fly a drone without crashing it. And since drones are expensive, a crash would be a costly mistake. 

It's best to hire a professional to conduct your roof drone inspection rather than attempting it yourself. A drone inspection will cost more than a physical inspection, but the cost is worth it to gain more information about the state of your roof. 

Moreover, drones aren't perfect, and it's still possible for them to miss a problem. So some manual inspection from inside the home may still be necessary. 

Schedule an Inspection

Drone roof inspections have more pros than cons, and they are becoming an industry standard for inspectors.

For more roof inspection tips, contact us at Signature Exteriors. We'd be happy to set up a roof inspection for you or assist with an ongoing project.

Do’s and Don'ts of Roof Repairs: Best Practices on How to Fix Them

Imagine for a second that you are a roof.

You sit there, day and night, getting pounded by wind, by rain, by all sorts of weather. Not to mention the birds that like to roost upon you.

Day in and day out, you are expected to stay intact. However, like everything that is left exposed to the elements, you are bound to need repairs.

Repairing a roof is tricky, and you want to make sure that you do it correctly if you are faced with the situation. Here are some do's and don'ts when it comes to roof repairs.

Roof Repair Do: Use Matching Shingles

Just like how nobody likes a patchy haircut, nobody likes a patchy roof. Mismatched shingles are an eyesore that can greatly cut into the property value and eye appeal of your property.

Even if you only have to replace a few shingles, make sure you're using the same kind that is already up there. Whether you have a regular shingle roof or something more exotic like a clay tile roof, it's important to match shade, texture, and style.

Replacing shingles is an easy fix when performing roof repair, but don't confuse an easy project with something you don't need to pay attention to.

Roof Repair Don't: Leave Exposed Nail Heads

This is basically a tip for life in general. Almost no good can come from leaving nail heads exposed unless you're trying to hang up a picture, and it's highly doubtful that you're going to want to hang a family portrait on top of your house or commercial property.

Leaving your nail heads exposed makes them more likely to rust. Not only that, but exposed nail heads are likely not totally sealed, meaning water can seep in and damage your shingles, your roof, and your house itself.

It seems simple, but it's an important roof repair tip.

Like a child during a thunderstorm, keep your head covered.

Roof Repair Do: Wear Proper Clothing

While it might be enticing to try and fix your roof while dressed in your nicest wedding clothes, that's probably not the best idea.

When it comes to roof repair best practices, this is an easy tip that you don't even need to be on the roof to do. There's a reason that professionals typically wear jeans and long sleeve shirts.

Most importantly, when performing your roof repair, wear rubber-soled shoes. Those type of shoes offer good grip, which is important on unusual surfaces. Falling off a roof can be deadly, so be sure to wear the proper attire to prevent falls.

Ready for Roof Repairs?

Follow these tips to ensure that your roof repair process is a smooth one.

Repairing a roof is a difficult process, and it's important to know what you're doing before you jump in.

Even with these tips, it's still the best practice to put your roof repair work in trusted hands. Contact us today and we'll make your roof repairs work beautifully.