What is Commercial Roofing?

Commercial roofs are designed for buildings used for business purposes, such as retail stores, offices, warehouses, and factories. These roofs typically have a flat or low-pitched profile, in contrast to the steeper slopes often seen on residential roofs.

Commercial roofs are significantly larger than residential ones, often spanning millions of square feet. Their primary function is to shield the building and its contents from the elements, ensuring structural integrity, and protecting valuable assets.

What is Residential Roofing?

Residential roofing refers to the covering of structures designed for human habitation, such as houses and apartments. These roofs are generally smaller in scale and have a steeper pitch compared to commercial roofs, often contributing to the overall aesthetic appeal of the building.

Residential roofs can be constructed from a variety of materials and may feature different structural designs, such as single-pitch, double-pitch, or trussed roofs.

Where Do They Differ?

While residential and commercial roofs share some similarities, they also have distinct characteristics. Let’s delve deeper into the unique features that set residential and commercial roofs apart.

Choice of Materials

Choosing materials for both residential and commercial properties is influenced by several factors, including roof design, budget, and local weather conditions.

For residential homes, asphalt shingles remain a popular choice due to their easy installation and affordability. However, other roofing materials such as wood shakes, metal panels, slate, tile, and ceramic are also available depending on your aesthetic and budget.

Commercial roofs, particularly those with flat or low-pitched designs, require specialized materials that are different from those used on residential properties. Common choices for commercial roofing include BUR systems, Modified Bitumen, EPDM, TPO, various coatings, and other specialized roofing systems.

These systems often involve multiple layers, including insulation, decking, protective coatings, and reflective coatings, to provide the necessary durability and performance. The specific combination of layers will vary depending on the chosen roofing material and the building’s requirements.

Roof Design & Architecture

Commercial and residential roofs exhibit distinct design characteristics. Commercial roofs are often flat or very low-pitched, commonly found on buildings such as warehouses, retail outlets, restaurants, and factories. These roofs are generally larger than residential roofs and frequently feature multiple openings for ventilation systems, smokestacks, and skylights.

In contrast, residential roofs are typically pitched higher and constructed using materials like asphalt shingles, slate, or cedar shakes. While some homeowners or residential roofers opt for tile or metal roofing, these are less common than asphalt shingles.

Residential roofs are generally smaller than commercial ones and often have fewer openings, except for chimneys, vent stacks, and occasional skylights. Adding solar panels is a popular residential roofing project for homeowners to consider.

Installation & Repair

Commercial and residential roofs have very different installation processes. That’s because the materials used and the sizes are so different.

Repairing a commercial roof can be a significant financial undertaking and should be done by experienced commercial roofers. When water breaches the roof’s layers, an evaluation by roofing experts is necessary to assess the extent of the damage. While minor repairs can be relatively straightforward, larger-scale projects involving replacing large sections of the roof can be more complicated and expensive.

The cost of a roof repair is determined by the size of the affected area and the nature of the damage. Small-scale repairs, such as fixing a localized leak caused by loose shingles or flashing, can often be done on time and at a lower cost. However, more extensive damage, such as widespread leaks or structural issues from storm damage, may require more significant repairs, leading to higher expenses.

Leaks in residential roofs typically occur in specific areas, often due to loose shingles or damaged flashing. These issues can usually be addressed relatively quickly and at a lower cost compared to commercial roof repairs. While localized leaks may indicate underlying problems, they are often caused by minor faults that can be easily fixed.

Maintenance & Upkeep

Due to their smaller size, residential roofs are generally easier to inspect and maintain. Homeowners or qualified residential roofers can often assess the roof’s condition and address minor issues comfortably.

Commercial roofs, particularly flat roofs, require more frequent inspections and maintenance to prevent water pooling, which can lead to significant damage. The larger scale of commercial buildings and the potential for heavy loads make regular inspections essential.

Maintenance for commercial roofs can involve specialized techniques for commercial roofers and equipment, such as accessing hard-to-reach areas or using specific tools for sealing leaks or repairing damage.

Roof Construction Done Right

Roofs are essential no matter if you need a roof for your business or your home. Using the correct materials for the job is where J&L Building Materials comes in. We work with the top manufacturers and vendors in the industry to bring you the best roofing materials available. Our team can help you get the right materials for your residential and commercial roofing projects and have your roof done right the first time.

Looking for the best materials to solve your residential vs commercial roofing problem? Contact our sales team to get answers and recommendations. 

After an intense storm, it’s a good idea to conduct a quick inspection of your home’s exterior surfaces to check for any damage. This blog will explore how to inspect your roof for storm damage and important next steps, should you find any major damage.

Different Types of Roof Storm Damage

When creating a roof storm damage checklist, it’s important to understand the effects of different types of weather on your property and how to spot the telltale signs of damage that often accompany them. Below is a list of the most common elements that often cause damage to your home’s roof.

Wind

Signs of wind damage to a roof can take the form of loose or missing shingles, chimney issues, curling or peeling shingles, granule loss, damaged soffit or fascia, and indoor leaks. How wind speeds interact with a given structure will vary, but you’ll find general rules of thumb below:

• 25-30 mph: Large branches may move, but little to no damage is likely to occur to your roof.
• 30-40 mph: Whole trees can sway back and forth, though it’s unlikely this will cause any major debris to circulate in the air.
• 40-45 mph: Twigs and small branches may break, increasing the likelihood of small debris making its way onto your rooftop.
• 45-55 mph: Larger branches and weak limbs may break, and slight structural damage may occur if your home is around a lot of trees.
• 55-65 mph: Moderate structural and tree damage may occur.
• 65+ mph: Heavy to severe structural and tree damage may occur.

Hail

While hail the size of tennis balls is rare in much of the United States, hail storms are responsible for property damage to crops and homes every year. In the case of your roof, the impact of a hailstorm can crack shingles and lead to water damage in your home.

After a hailstorm, if you notice dents on your vehicles that are parked outdoors, plants stripped of their leaves, or damage to your home’s siding, you’ll want to inspect your roof for possible damage as well.

Water

The most common sign your roof has sustained water damage may actually come from looking at your home’s ceiling. If you notice leaks, spots on the wall, or wet stains, you’ll want to contact a roofing contractor ASAP. Excess water often makes it into the interior of your home’s structure due to loose or cracked shingles and damaged rafters.

Ice Dams

After a heavy snowfall, ice dams are caused by warm air in a home’s attic causing the snow to melt on the roof above it. When this happens, water runs down the roof and refreezes once it reaches the colder end of the roof, forming a mount (or dam) of ice at the edge. At first, ice dams are no more trouble than icicles are hanging off the edge of your roof.

However, during the warmer parts of the winter day, water melting off the roof behind the ice can get blocked up and seep under the shingles and into your home’s exteriors. The best time to stop ice dams is before winter comes. Start by inspecting your roof for damaged shingles (more on that below) and plugged gutters, as they’ll make it easier for water to sneak into your roof. 

Shingle manufacturers’ warranties will often require the use of protective equipment called ice and water shields (sometimes called ice and water protectors) during the roof installation process. This is a waterproof membrane developed to protect vulnerable areas on a roof from ice and water damage. Ice and water shields are made with polymer-modified bitumen. Another option is to lay down heat cables to help water flow off your roof instead of under it. Heat cables attach to your roof and melt channels of snow and can help provide a path for snowmelt to drain off your roof instead of pooling behind an ice dam.

Debris

Debris – such as falling trees, branches, or even building components like shutters, vents, satellite dishes, and nails from other people’s properties – can cause damage to your roof when blown around by heavy winds.

How to Inspect Your Roof for Storm Damage

Did a storm blow shingles off your roof? Are you noticing gutters filled with debris? If you’ve just experienced a rough storm and think your home will benefit from a quick inspection, you’ll find a list of the major items to inspect and how to spot potential damage to them below.

When assessing damage, try using a pair of binoculars instead of climbing on the roof yourself, as this can be very dangerous. As best you can, try to estimate the general square footage of damage and note any specific areas that have been damaged. This will help you communicate the situation to a roofing contractor and your insurance company.

Commonly Damaged Areas

To help you make a roof storm damage inspection checklist, we’ll review the major parts of a home’s roof that often experience damage during severe weather.

Exterior Shingles

Shingles are your home’s first line of defense against heavy wind, rain, and debris. When examining your roof’s shingles for damage, pay close attention to curling or cracking shingles, as well as any missing ones! If you decide to do a preliminary inspection of your roof yourself, be careful not to step on the roof, as the structure may be weak depending on how much damage was inflicted during the storm.

Roof Vents

You may be wondering what your roof vents are and where they’re located. Roof vents are systems that allow air to circulate through the attic and extend the life of the roof while regulating indoor temperatures. 

After a storm, roof vents may be blocked by debris, have loose vent caps/covers, or suffer from diminished water sealant due to damaged flashing. Chances are, you’ll know if your home has them or not, but here is a picture of a standard roof vent:

Gutters

After a storm, your gutters may be clogged with leaves, twigs, and other debris. When gutters get backed up, water can get under the shingles and start to leak into the interior of your home. A storm with heavy winds may even cause a gutter to become detached from your roof. Along with clearing your gutters of any post-storm debris, we recommend pressing on and shaking your gutters a bit to see if they feel loose.

Ceilings

Has a rainstorm caused a leak in your roof? If so, you’ll want to head inside and see if any water spots or leakage have formed on your ceiling, as water can become trapped in a house’s siding and make its way into the structure of a home if allowed to persist. If you have an attic, you’ll want to pay careful attention, as this is one of the first places water damage will typically form.

How to Get Emergency Roof Repair After a Storm

If your home’s roof has been seriously damaged by a storm, you should contact a roofing contractor ASAP. You should also inform your insurance company, as they’ll likely send out an adjuster to survey the damage and provide a roofing insurance claim for any storm damage your home has suffered.

If you’re not able to get a contractor or adjuster out to assess your roof’s storm damage immediately, here are some ways you can temporarily repair a storm damaged roof and help mitigate further damage in the meantime:

• Cover holes with a plastic tarp. If the damage to your roof is able to be reached and covered without endangering yourself, try covering cracked shingles or holes in your roof with a plastic tarp to prevent water damage inside of your home.

• Place buckets inside as needed. If you can’t access the area of your roof that’s allowing the water inside, placing a bucket under the hole – while not ideal – is still better than nothing. The last thing you want to deal with is having to pay for a new floor in addition to your roof.

• Don’t climb on the roof. While it’s tempting to climb on your roof to conduct minor repairs, doing so can be extremely dangerous. A roof that’s suffered damage because of heavy wind and rain may be weakened by moisture and loose shingles, and it may not support you if you try to climb on it.

Should Your Roofing Contractor and Adjuster Assess the Damage Together?

When possible, we recommend having an experienced roofing contractor and adjuster assess the roof storm damage together to determine the cost of a roof repair to fix storm damage. If a major storm has recently rolled through your area, some insurance companies may bring in out-of-state adjusters due to the influx in property assessments. 

While this is not done with ill-intent, these professionals may not be aware of zoning rules and local building codes specific to your state or county. A roofing contractor familiar with your area can help guide the process to ensure the roof is repaired and replaced to code.

Roofing Contractors for Storm Damage

Excessive damage to a roof isn’t something to repair by yourself, as it can prove extremely dangerous, especially in unsafe conditions. Working with a roofing contractor experienced in working with homeowners and storm damage is essential. A trusted contractor has the knowledge, tools, and safety equipment needed to accurately assess storm damage to your roof and repair it as needed.

Wondering how to get an emergency roof repair after storm damage? At J&L, we partner with top contractors who specialize in roofing. To learn more, visit our homeowners page and reach out to us for help.