Roofing is one of the most important investments related to your home, be its a residential or commercial property. However, there is a significant difference between residential roofing Vs commercial roofing based on their unique requirements. The two different services can vary on various parameters, such as material, design, maintenance, and installation cost. You can avail of both the services from one roofing company; however, the procedure to install commercial roofing is entirely different from that of residential roofing. 

What Are the Main Differences Between Residential Roofing & Commercial Roofing?

When differencing the residential roof installation from commercial roofing, we will consider some of the relevant parameters that set them apart. Find below: 

1: Material Used

When it comes to residential roofing, the best materials are those which can drain the precipitation. They are installed in the conjugation with a steep slope that also serves the same purpose. The shingle options for the residential installation include asphalt shingles, tiles, slate and cedar shake shingles. 

On the other hand, the ideal roofing material for the commercial roof is the one that is durable and required the least maintenance to ensure a long lifespan. They need to cover a large surface and should favour the requirements, such as ventilation and air conditioning. Metal roofing is one of the most suitable forms of commercial roofing that can align with the specific requirements of commercial constructions. For instance, tin, galvanized steel, copper, and aluminium are some of the commonly used materials for a commercial roof system. 
Furthermore, some commercial construction utilizes composite materials, such as PVC, Thermostat roof membranes, and built-up roof membranes. 

However, the roofing materials can also vary based on the size, design, exposure to the natural elements, and several others. 

2: Maintenance 

Maintenance is one of the major aspects related to the roofing system, which also sets apart the commercial roofing from residential. Residential roofs require visual inspection by the homeowner for the apparent signs of damage caused due to the natural elements and the other detrimental factors. Some of these indicators may include missing shingles, detached gutters and several other issues. Being smaller in size, maintenance of the residential roofs is easier as compared to the large commercial roofs. 

Contrarily, commercial constructions have larger roofs and therefore, their maintenance is more demanding. Expert inspection is required for the commercial roofing to determine if they need maintenance or not. The apparent signs of damage may include leakage and disintegrated shingles or metal roofing. Furthermore, you need to clean the gutters all the time mainly in the fall to remove debris blockage. 

However, both commercial and residential roofing must be inspected periodically to identify the potential damages so that they can be repaired on time. If not, you may need to replace the entire roofing system. 

3: Installation 

The installation and its cost can be the major differentiation between commercial and residential roofing. Commercial roofing installation is more expensive due to the larger area, extensive labour, materials and protection equipment. Multiple layers of metal and insulation are deployed during the commercial roofing installation. Besides, the amount of time is also greater. Moreover, specialized tools and safety equipment to carry out the task. 

Residential structures are often smaller when compared to commercial constructions; therefore, the cost of installation is also lesser. The time taken for the completion of the roofing is also less. This type of roofing is carried out by attaching a wood board to trusses, applying underlayment and installing the outer materials. It can be accomplished within a few days. 

4: Design 

The design of the commercial roofing also varies from the residential roofing. Commercial properties are larger than residential properties. Besides, the roofing system is designed to support the extra weight and size of the building. Besides, they have flat surfaces except for a slight percentage of the slope to enable water drainage and avoid precipitation.  

On the other hand, the residential building is smaller in size, but the designs are more aesthetic as compared to a commercial building. It should be designed in a manner so that the whole house looks more enticing to the buyers even from the ground. Besides, the residential roofs have more slope, unlike the commercial roofs. 

The design intent is also different in the two different types of roofing. For instance, the commercial roofing design tends to support the function more than the aesthetic appeal of the building. On the other hand, residential roofing design is more focused on using decorative designs, ravishing patterns and well-thought-out use of the colours.

5: Weather Conditions 

Roof installation is one of the important and expensive investments, therefore the property owners strive to ensure the durability of their roofing system, be it residential or commercial. Therefore, a professional roofing company ensure that your roofing system can withstand the harshest weather conditions. 

When it comes to the commercial roofing system, are designed to handle damage caused due to the heat, heavy rain, cold and storms. Experienced roofing contractors utilize asphalt on flat roofs in order to avoid the morphing of the roof’s internal structure. With the installation of the warranty roofing when all the required eligibility criteria are fulfilled, commercial roofing can have better protection against unfavourable weather conditions. 

Due to the smaller size of the residential roofing, they don’t require much weather protection. Properly sloped roofs can efficiently manage the damages caused due to harsh weather conditions and can withstand them with durable steel roofs. Installation of the metal roofing offers great cold and heat insulation ensuring the residents can be safe from the extreme weather conditions. 

On a Final Note! 

Regardless of the type of roofing, you want to make the most out of your new roofing installation. To get it done, you need to choose the best roofing company in your area. Choosing the right roofing installed is half the job done. When you hire a reputable roofing contractor, they will alleviate the maintenance cost and hassles in the subsequent years and let you live with the utmost peace of mind.