Types of Commercial Roofing Systems

EPDM (Ethylene Diene Monomer) Also known as a rubber roof is one of the popular systems used in the Northeast part of the country. EPDM comes in either White or Black and is flexible like a rubber inner tube. EPDM roofing can be installed on flat and low-slope roofs and is resistant to fire, wind damage or harmful and harsh UV rays. Seams between adjacent EPDM sheets and flashing elements are typically fused together using system specific adhesive materials.

PVC ( Polyvinyl Chloride) PVC roofing is engineered to be supple and reflect approximately 90% of UV rays that break down some other types of flat roofing materials. PVC roofing is specially designed to withstand ponding water because it is welded together with our hot air robots to form a monolithic installation where the seams are actually the strongest part of the roof system.  Additionally, PVC roofing will lower the absorption of heat into the building and in turn reduce your cooling costs. PVC roofing sheets are available in an extensive range of sizes, thickness, colors and designs and is suitable to all flat & low slope roofs.

TPO ( Thermoplastic Polyolefin ) is the third single-ply membrane used today, and like PVC, it is also highly solar reflective. It is also extremely resistant to tears, impact, and punctures and like EPDM & PVC, installed in very large sheets - 10, 12 & 16' wide x 100' long. TPO roofs offer good flexibility which is very important to seasonal temperature changes and therefore a popular Northeastern roofing material. TPO seams and flashings are also hot-air/heat welded which essentially creates a solid, seamless and monolithic roof as the finished product. TPO, like PVC is algae-resistant and environmentally friendly.

This type of roofing has evolved from older versions of asphalt roofing. Mod Bit is made from asphalt and a variety of rubber modifiers or plasticizers and solvents. There are two common practices to connecting and attaching modified bitumen materials. In hot applications seams are heated to melt the asphalt together and create an impenetrable bond. Just as effective though is a cold-applied system, where adhesives are used to attach the sheet to the substrate as well as to subsequent plies. Manufacturer's of these systems require multiple plies of the membrane to achieve their longer warranties.

Metal Roofing consists of factory-made or site formed, most often galvalume or aluminum, metal panels and flashing profiles that are installed on low-sloped or steep-sloped roof areas. Metal roofing is often used simply as an architectural accent where another type of roof system is used for the main roof portion(s) of a building. Colors are virtually limitless and panels can even be installed on concave and convex roof radius areas. Metal roofing is 100% recyclable at the end of its life span and can last 40-70 years, depending on both the type of metal used as well as the finish chosen for the metal surface.