Commercial roofs can have the industrial white membranes and sloped with tile.
Commercial roofs are a part of the building we usually forget about until a leak springs in the winter rains. Yet, a roof on a warehouse, apartment, retail store or church is protecting an investment ranging from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars.
Commercial roofs are everywhere—from the restaurants of downtown Monrovia to the businesses along Foothill Boulevard in Azusa. Every small downtown area like Temple City or the busier Lake Avenue in Pasadena has a variety of commercial roofs.
And that’s what makes these roofs challenging for local roofing contractors. The pitch is different, the roofing materials will vary greatly and there are flat roofs (or low slope) that have internal drains. Sealing around those drains requires serious attention to detail.
Roofers aren’t just a commodity, even though every building needs a roof. It helps to understand building science, a discipline that Thomas Garvey of Garvey Roofing has learned.
A repair
Building science includes knowing the principles of heat transference but also ventilation and why it’s important in controlling moisture.
Commercial roof repairs and installation need attention to building science
An example of a simple repair to a commercial roof happened when Thomas was called to a business and the owner showed Thomas how there was a leak in the overhang above the entrance.
Thomas looked and saw how moisture was trapped inside so he did the needed roofing repair so the decking and materials beneath the outer roof could breathe.
Commercial roofing materials
Many of our commercial roofs are considered “flat” or low slope and many have interior drains, that means the water moves gradually to a drain flowing inside the building instead of it running out the exterior.
The risk is that it’s easier for leaks to occur with an internal drain than an external one.
Commercial roofing materials are made to last for decades, so think of the cost as being amortized over thirty years to fifty years.
Also, reflective underlayments are available to reflect a significant percentage of the sun’s rays so the building’s HVAC system can operate as efficiently as possible.
Commercial roofing solutions include:
TPO roofing—as manufacturer GAF notes, it’s one of the most popular commercial roofing solutions on the market
Liquid membrane—a system that eliminates failure points on older low slope roofs with benefits that include a seamless application and highly reflective material
Roof coating—Thomas Garvey recommends Henry’s White Roofing coating for its reflective properties
Therma Sheet—a unique material that reflects the sun’s damaging rays and reduces attic temperatures while being an excellent moisture barrier. It’s estimated to reflect up to 97% of the sun’s energy that hits a roof.
Roofing as a craft
Thomas Garvey is a roofer with experience and is often used to provide expert testimony in civil cases in Los Angeles County. He’s passionate that roofing is a trade that’s learned and studied with a commitment to stay up to date with the latest technology.
Garvey Roofing holds four licenses in roofing to serve commercial building owners and homeowners.
Thomas Garvey also makes a claim that’s unique for roofers:
Estimates are free while all materials and labor on a repair or commercial roof installation are guaranteed.
Contact Garvey Roofing at (626) 358-9208.
Learn more with these Garvey Roofing blog posts:
Choosing a Roofing Contractor in the San Gabriel Valley
Commercial Roofs in the San Gabriel Valley Test a Roofing Contractor’s Skill
