Commercial roofing by building type
A warehouse roof, a cold storage envelope, a multi-family property, and a church sanctuary each fail for different reasons and call for different systems. Below is how we approach roofing for each building type - the code minimums, the systems that fit, and what tends to go wrong. Not sure where yours lands? Request an inspection and we’ll tell you.
Warehouse and distribution
Large low-slope roofs carrying HVAC and service traffic. TPO, PVC, metal, and spray foam over R-25 ci, detailed to ASCE 7 zones.
Retail and shopping centers
Multi-tenant roofs with restaurant grease exhaust. PVC where food-service vents grease, TPO elsewhere.
Manufacturing and industrial
Chemical, grease, heat, and traffic exposure. PVC for chemical resistance, modified bitumen for impact, metal for a long horizon.
Cold storage and refrigerated
Vapor drive and thermal bridging controls. Sealed continuous envelope with spray foam, EPDM, or TPO, often above the R-25 minimum.
Multifamily and apartments
Low-slope over occupied units with parapets and tenant penetrations. TPO, modified bitumen, and EPDM, flashed at the parapet.
Self-storage
Wide low-slope metal or masonry decks, often unconditioned. Standing seam metal, TPO, and silicone coatings, with the IECC envelope applying only when conditioned.
School and education
Low-slope classroom and gym wings on the academic calendar. TPO and PVC over R-25 ci, scheduled to summer and break windows.
Church and worship
Mixed pitch, standing seam metal on the sanctuary and single-ply on low-slope wings. Hail-rated metal and R-25 ci where conditioned.
Restaurant
Grease and hood exhaust over occupied dining. PVC over R-25 ci, flashed tight at the hood stack.
Hospital and healthcare
Low-slope over occupied critical space with medical exhaust. Fully adhered TPO or PVC over R-25 ci, installed under containment.
For the full comparison of every commercial roof system, see the systems hub and the cost guide.