There are various commercial flat roofing materials available to commercial roofers in Salem, but one stands above the rest.
As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, it is very important to pick the right commercial roofers for your business’ roofing needs. Taking a step back, it’s important to consider the different roofing material options for your commercial flat roofing needs. If your business or home has a pitched roof, read our general post about roofing types, because that information will be more relevant to you.
Here is some information on the most popular types of commercial flat roofing materials:
- Built-Up Roof (BUR)
This is a very common type of commercial roofing in the Salem, Oregon area, because it is among the cheapest options. It has many layers of water resistant material, and it is generally topped with gravel, which makes them aesthetically pleasing. The many layers make built-up roofs great insulators, but they also contribute to one of the roof’s largest problems: it’s heavy. As such, the roof’s support and joints must often be fortified, which can be revealed as an unexpected cost down the road. These roofs also aren’t safe to install with people inside of your building, so you will lose productivity during the installation process. - Modified Bitumen
This is a single-ply roofing system, which comes in rolls and is applied to the roof either by the relatively unsafe blowtorch method, or by a strong adhesive. This type of roofing is not very scuff or tear resistant, and it has seams which tend to have a weaker bond than seams of other roofing types. The pricing on these types of roofs are generally mid-ranged. - Spray Applied Roof Coating
This method of roofing involves spraying a silicone, aluminum, or acrylic coating onto a substrate. These roofs are effective at keeping water out, but they tend to be “sticky”, and as such, they tend to get very dirty. For that reason, spray applied roofs are generally among the least attractive roofing options available, and they’re also among the most expensive. - PVC Membrane Roofing
Our personal favorite commercial flat roofing material (the only one we still install) is PVC membrane roofing. There are numerous benefits to installing a PVC membrane Roof on your business. They are environmentally friendly, they have great warranties, they come in a variety of color and thickness options, they save you money on heating and cooling costs, they are very water resistant, and they are generally easy to repair if anything goes wrong. The seams are heat welded, which creates a very strong bond (ask us to demonstrate this for you – you will be amazed). These roofs can be costlier than the “cheap” options, but they are a great investment. One thing to be cautious of with PVC membrane roofing is the contractors. This is a type of roof that takes extensive training to install correctly, and we often get called out to repair damage caused by our cheaper competitors who have made extensive mistakes in their PVC membrane roofing installations. Our PVC membrane product of choice is IB Roofing Material. We have installed about 3,000,000 square feet of IB, which is just over 52 football fields, and we’ve had nothing but positive experiences with this product. Our customers are thrilled by the reliability, warranties, and energy savings granted by their new flat roofs. We’re Salem’s top IB flat roofer for a reason. We work hard to make sure that each customer is satisfied and receives the full benefit from their new roof.
If you’re looking for one of the best commercial roofers in Salem, Oregon, look no further than Slate & Slate Roofing. We can help you to save money through your flat roof while protecting your business from the elements for years to come. Give us a call today for an estimate and consultation at (503) 585-2338.