For almost all businesses, a Houston commercial roofing project is often a complex process encountered by new businesses. Most business owners would agree that they approach the process like most vendor related work, bids. While each Houston roofing contractor uses the same material, it is how the roof system is designed and installed that makes the difference in the amount of money spent over time. As businesses enter a growth phase, the biggest concern is ongoing costs and how they syphon money away from the organization. To make the best decision on your Houston commercial roofing project, discuss the installation process in detail with your potential contractor. Professional Houston roofing contractors will follow a similar installation process, outlined below.
Remove the Existing Roof
Using manual tools and a soft touch, we remove all of the pre-existing layers of the original roof. These materials, depending on the roof type, tend to be asphalt composition. All layers should be completely removed down to the original deck layer.
Deck Layer Inspection
Inspecting your deck layer can really only be done once the roof is removed. A quick visual inspection will provide you clues as to how much of the deck should be replaced. It is important to note that roofs rely heavily on this base layer and if it is degraded or corroded too much, a replacement should be done.
Insulation Materials
The next step of the process is the installation of the insulation materials. There are a lot of choices regarding the type of installation you can choose. However, your Houston roofing contractor should be able to narrow down your choices quite a bit. Most municipalities actually have ordinances and laws governing the type of insulation that can be used. More specifically, they maintain a minimum standard level in which insulation material meets energy efficiency requirements. A very common insulation material is called “IsoBoard”, in the industry.
Single Ply Membranes
Single ply membranes have grown massively over the last 30 years because of its energy efficiency, flexibility, quick installation, and competitive pricing. Single ply membranes are highly controlled by manufacturers, increasing reliability and quality of Houston roofs. Additionally, single ply membranes must have a “reflectivity rate” which reflects most of the sun’s UV rays away from the inside of the building. Only a small percentage of heat will be transferred to the interior of a building, reducing cooling costs up to 35%.
Sealing
In an effort to seal the project off, a rubber based sealant is used to seal away any existing cracks to prevent water flow. The use of sealant is dependent on the project requirements. Often the sealant is covered by a protective primer layer and another layer of an epoxy based solution that increases and adds to the reflectivity of the roof system.
It is important to note that each product and material used on your Houston commercial roofing project has manufacturer warranties already built into their products. However, different materials have different warranty lengths and if your roof system is not installed properly, the manufacturer warranties will not cover your roof, even though you hired a Houston roofing contractor. Houston commercial roofing projects should be built to exceed the manufacturer’s warranty, like the Bulletproof Roof Guarantee by Schulte Roofing. That way the roof is properly maintained and backed up by the industry’s best warranty for the life of the Houston roof.