Commercial roofing has come a long way in the last few years. In the past, price and ease of installation were the main priorities when choosing roofing systems for industrial buildings, retail spaces, and office towers. Today, commercial building owners, engineers, and roofing companies are trending towards using materials like metal roofing that are made with recyclable materials, can be custom-colored, and deliver a great return on their investment.
Here are a few trends in new commercial roofing.
Cool Roofs
As energy costs continue to rise throughout the country, there’s been a strong trend towards using building materials that work to reduce the need for extra heating and cooling, especially in large commercial spaces.
Researchers have discovered that using materials that reflect sunlight in roof applications can make a big impact on the amount of heat gain inside a building, leading to significant savings on HVAC expenses. Commonly known as a “cool roof,” this approach to energy conservation can involve installing new metal roofing that’s been finished with a reflective coating, replacing the gravel on a tar roof with reflective marble chips, or by applying a special paint to existing metal roofs.
Solar Roofing Shingles
While roof-mounted solar panels have become relatively common, a few companies are taking this concept one step further by integrating solar cells right into their roofing products.
There are currently a number of companies working to develop solar roof shingles for both residential and commercial applications including the electric carmaker Tesla, Dow Chemical, and CertainTeed. Although some of these products are still in the testing stage, it won’t be long before solar roofing products become available for the commercial roofing market.
All-Metal Roofing
Metal roofing is quickly becoming the material of choice for both new and replacement commercial roofs simply because it delivers an exceptional return on investment. Unlike traditional tar and gravel roofs that have been used in schools, factories, workshops, and industrial buildings for over a century, metal roofs aren’t vulnerable to mold and they are virtually maintenance-free.
Metal is also highly resistant to fire, which can help cut insurance costs for the commercial building owner. Add to that the fact that metal roofing is widely considered to be the most eco-friendly roofing material since it’s recyclable and it’s available in a huge range of colors, and it’s easy to understand why metal roofs are widely used on everything from churches to hospitals, restaurants, and retail spaces.
Living Roofs
Also known as “green roofs,” living roofs are one of those building trends that’s pushing the limits of traditional building design. It involves creating a roof that supports vegetation like slow-growing grass, edible herbs, and other ground cover vegetation in space that would otherwise be left unused.
Although the added costs and maintenance issues mean that green roofs aren’t likely to be widely adopted, living roofs are becoming more common at colleges, multi-tenant buildings, and high-end restaurants.
To learn more about what’s new in commercial roofing, contact Schmidt Roofing. We’ve been providing high-quality roofing solutions for more than 25 years, and we are the experts when it comes to metal roofing installation.
