What Seperates a Residential Roof from a Commercial Roof?
3 min read
Probably the biggest difference between residential and commercial roofs is their layout. On a residential roof, the pitch tends to be relatively flat or almost completely flat. You’ll often see these kinds of roofs on busy restaurants, stores, warehouses, and factories. The roof is often much bigger than a normal residential roof. In these cases, the roof is usually designed to carry more weight, which increases the strength of the roof and makes it more likely to sustain damage.
On a commercial roof, a flat roof is used with asphalt shingles. Asphalt shingles are typically the best kind of material for this type of roof because they are very durable.
A typical solution that is used for leaky residential roofs involves putting on a plastic shield to prevent water from entering through the roof. However, if you have green roofs or even clay tiles, this option is not a good one because these types of roofs do not allow water to pass through easily. Also, you will typically find that installing a waterproofing membrane is more difficult on green roofs because clay tiles and green roofs have different permeable levels. For instance, clay tiles have a permeable level of six while green roofs can have a permeable level as low as zero. Even in cases where a membrane is installed, you can expect water to enter into the house through some small gaps around the perimeter of the membrane.
A traditional solution for leaky residential roofs involves using flat roofs. This type of roof does not have a layer of gravel to help stop water entry through the roof and it also does not have a layer of insulation to help keep the home cool during the summer months. This makes it easy for hot weather to get inside and to cause problems for people living there. The best way to protect against heat is to use a vapor barrier to keep the warm air outside. Installing a vapor barrier is not difficult and it can be done by putting tar and gravel on top of the flat roof.
A residential home that is not located on a slab will not typically require a vapor barrier. You will probably be able to install a good roofing system without a barrier, if you find a good contractor that can install a solarium or some other roofing system. Some flat roofs may need to have additional protection against heat and water during the warmer months because they do not have a vapor barrier. If your roof has a single ply board attached to the roof, it will most likely be sufficient enough to stop heat and water from entering the home.
Please Help Improve Your Home! Look at your roof now. Where is the maximum amount of heat and/or water leaking? Do you need a new roof?
This post was written by a roofing professional at KCG Roofing. KCG Roofing is a premier roofing contractor in Florida! KCG Roofing has the experience and expertise to replace or repair your roof with quality materials and excellent craftsmanship. All our roofs are backed by a 15-year leak-free guarantee, the highest in the industry. We have been family-owned and operated for over 40 years.
