Most commercial roofs are flat or low-sloping systems that consist of alternated layers of materials – here are the most common structural elements of commercial roofs:
- The weatherproofing layer – this is the layer that is responsible for preventing water from reaching into the building interior. It is the most important layer of the roof, therefore proper installation is the most important on this part of the roof; Talk to your trusted Colorado Springs commercial roofing contractors about this process.
- The reinforcement – this layer plays the role of adding resistance to impact, including punctures, stability and strength to the weatherproofing layer;
- The surfacing – the role of this layer is to protect the two deeper layers from the elements, including wind, rain, snow, sunshine and hail and to make the roof surface suitable for walking on. The surfacing material often plays the role of improving the roof’s ability to reflect solar heat and to help maintain the temperature inside the building stable without using too much energy.
The most popular systems used on commercial roofs include metal systems, built-up roofs, single-ply membranes made from PVC, modified bitumen, TPO or EPDM rubber. Each of them uses the multiple layers described above, plus some material-specific components, such as fasteners, seams or layers of adhesive.