Types of Commercial and Residential Roofs

As you look out over the Denver landscape, you will immediately recognize significant roof diversity in both commercial and residential areas. There isn’t a single community in which you won’t see at least three or four different types of roofs and roofing within a tiny area.

At 303 Roofer, we offer a full range of roof services for both commercial and residential structures. Our services are available for any kind of roof that your commercial building or home might have. Our services cover consultations, roof installation, and repairs.

As a business owner/manager or homeowner, you’ll want to make sure your structure’s roof adequately addresses the needs of your business or family. When deciding what kind of roof to have installed by a top roofing company like 303 Roofer, you should consider the following roof factors:

• Weather condition to which the structure will be exposed
• Type and size of the structure
• Budget
• Aesthetics
• Occupancy considerations

If you need assistance selecting the proper roof for your commercial building or residence, you can ask for a consultation with a 303 Roofer representative.

Any discussion about commercial roofs should start by identifying the various types of businesses that comprise a major city business community. At 303 Roofer, we provide commercial roofing services for the following types of commercial business structures:

• Business parks
• Strip malls and major shopping centers
• Schools
• Churches
• Small business retail stores/shops
• Grocery stores
• Hotels and Motels
• Medicals centers and hospitals
• Multi-story corporate buildings
• Restaurants
• Warehouses/storage buildings

A big part of making the right roof decision is educating yourself about the option that is available. At 303 Roofer, we can install and repair a wide range of commercial roof types.

Here are some in-depth descriptions of each option.

This is a solid option for low-slope or flat commercial roofs. The product comes in sheets or shingles that are manufactured in alternating layers with the following materials: bitumen (asphalt), tar, reinforcing fabric, and a finishing layer of gravel or stone to hold everything together.

Foam or coated roofs are made from synthetic materials such as isocyanate and polyol. The products are installed through the use of a spray gun or machine that spreads the product evenly over the structure. These products come out in liquid form, only to expand and harden as a chemical reaction with air and heat. These products provide a great seal and are easy to install.

If you looking for an option that offers longevity, durability, and minimal maintenance, metal roofing would be a viable option. This option works well for almost any kind of commercial building. The most common materials used to manufacture metal roofing panels include Stainless steel, Galvalume (steel), Aluminum, Galvanized (steel), Zinc, and Copper.

While more commonly used for residential structures, asphalt shingle roofing works quite well on some types of commercial buildings. The roofing is typically manufactured in precut shingles. The material used to make this kind of roofing includes a combination of a base mat and fiberglass mat that are layered together and covered with a waterproofing asphalt layer. Coloring can be added as a finishing layer in the form of a fire-resistant coating made from ceramic-coated granules.

EPDM roofing is commonly referred to as rubber roofing. It is manufactured with a durable synthetic rubber material made of ethylene and propylene. It comes in the form of a membrane, which can be cut into a variety of shapes and sizes. Color options are limited to either white or black. EPDM is commonly used on low-slope/flat-roof commercial structures.

This is another viable option for low-slope/flat-roof commercial structures. It comes in the form of tiles or single-ply sheets. The materials used in the manufacturing process include a combination of asphalt and polymerized rubber or plastic. A fiberglass coating is then applied on top as a flexible and waterproofing membrane.

Single tiles (shingles) are manufactured with clay or concrete. They come in a variety of colors available, which makes this one of the most popular decorative options. Tile roofing is very common in the western United States because of the heat-resistence, strength, and durability of the tiles themselves. This option is commonly used for small strip malls, churches, schools, and small medical centers.

If you have ever seen the signature “white roofs” in the Denver area, you were looking at single-ply TPO roofing. In recent years, this has been a popular choice for large corporate buildings, malls, and industrial complexes. The product is made from a thermoplastic membrane, which is created from a combination of synthesized polypropylene and ethylene-propylene rubber. The product gets its strength and durability from the reinforcement provided by a fabric scrim.

There are a lot of beautiful residential neighborhoods in Denver. Setting aside the sterile one-size-fits-all condo/townhouse communities, there are neighborhoods in which multiple types of roofs will be on full display. At 303 Roofer, we offer our services related to almost any type of residential roof.

As the term suggests, flat roofs are roofs with little to no slope. Flat roofs offer a lot of flexibility in terms of the materials that can be used to cover them. Depending on the desire for temperature control, low maintenance, or strength and durability, the best material for flat roofs would be thermo-polyolefin (TPO), foam, PVC, and EPDM/rubber roofing.

Form-fitting metal panels will work well on a variety of residential roof styles. The material comes in precut sheets that can be customized for any job. The metal materials that can be used to manufacture metal roof panels include stainless steel, Aluminum, copper, and zinc.

Shake roofs are made from beautiful cedar wood materials from split logs. They come in a variety of precut sizes and are commonly used on ranch houses or houses close to the great outdoors. Using this option requires a bit of a trade-off: the homeowner gets an elegant and beautiful roof in exchange for high maintenance requirements.

While wood shake shingles are made from split wood (rough texture), wood shingles are manufactured with sawed cedar wood products that provide a smoother surface and look. Again, this is a high-maintenance and expensive option but offers a very elegant and decorative option.

This is an affordable low maintenance roof option, making it one of the more popular types of roofs. The asphalt shingles are manufactured with an asphalt material with a fiberglass mat embedded to ensure stability, strength, and durability. Asphalt shingles come in a variety of colors, making them a suitable decorative option.

Clay and concrete tiles are manufactured from a variety of masonry materials. The tiles are made with interlocking grooves, which make for easy installation and roof stability. These types of roofs are intended for hot climates and are not considered suitable for climates with a lot of rainfall.

Slate stone roofs have been around for well over a century, standing the test of time. This is a wonderfully elegant and decorative option that is very strong and durable. Because of the heaviness of the slate tiles, the roof surface might require reinforcement.