Roofing Essentials: A Complete Guide for Residential and Commercial Properties
Residential roofing projects differ from commercial ones, but many property owners cannot tell these differences. With this knowledge, many can choose the right materials or hire incompetent contractors for roof projects. Therefore, those undertaking commercial or residential projects should learn the difference to avoid making costly mistakes. This article will highlight these differences to eliminate confusion and save resources.
Design
The first contrast is based on the roofing design. Commercial buildings are usually larger than residential units, influencing the overall design. Many home buyers love houses with pitched roofs, which bring out the unique design difference. Commercial structures usually have relatively flat roofs that require advanced skills to install and ensure water flows as expected. Commercials are hard to install but allow easy installation of solar panels and cooling systems. They are prone to snow damage because the snow cannot run off easily. With these notable design differences, property owners should work with Bob Harvey Roofers when they need installation or repair services. These roofers understand the dos and don’ts of each roof design and will do outstanding work.
Materials
Many homeowners choose asphalt shingles, while commercial property owners use various materials to reduce the chances of leaks since the roof is relatively flat. Therefore, the materials used on residential roofs are easy to install and usually inexpensive. However, the contractor has to be skilled and use advanced equipment to prevent accidents during installations and repair because of the pitched roofs. Roofers use EPDM, PVC, tar, bitumen, and TPO on commercial buildings, which help create an attractive roof that does not leak. Residential roofs can be made of slate, wood shakes, metal panels, or iron sheets. These materials require different installation skills, explaining why property owners should work with competent contractors.
Project Timeline
Residential roofers only take a few days to install or repair a roof because most houses are tiny and easy to work on. However, some commercial properties are large, and roofing could take weeks or months to complete. Since many commercial buildings are large, they require more materials, which need more time to transport, place on top of the property, and install them. Also, these materials require more labor and advanced technology, which increases the time needed to complete the project. Therefore, people planning a commercial roof project should be ready to spend more time and money than residential house owners.
Costs
The design of a house and the roofing material used can determine the roofing cost. However, residential roofs usually cost less than commercial roofs. This is because the surface area that needs to be covered is smaller in residential properties. Commercial roofs are usually larger and have fairly flat surfaces that require special skills to prevent water pools on the roof. The materials also drive up the installation cost. Bitumen, usually common in commercial structures, is more expensive to buy and install than asphalt shingles in residential homes. Besides, commercial roofs may require many professionals and high labor costs to complete, depending on the size of the building.
These are the primary aspects in which commercial and residential roofing projects differ. Property owners should consider these factors when planning their next roof repair or replacement project. They should also involve a reliable contractor with the appropriate skills and equipment to handle the project. This will help them save time and avoid roofing mistakes that could be expensive to solve.
