Compare Residential Vs Commercial Roofing

Residential vs commercial roofing is not a subject given a lot of thought. But without roofing to cover the roof structure, a building is incomplete. Without a roof, there is no home to have meals with the family or a supermarket to buy groceries for that home-cooked meal. But what is the difference between residential and commercial roofing, and what elements impact it?           

Roof design 

The roof design is a substantial element in residential and commercial roofing. Most commercial buildings have flat roofs or low sloped roofs, while residential buildings generally have a pitched roof structure. Residential roofs are designed based on the homeowner’s personal preferences, but commercial roofs only serve a functional purpose with little thought given to appearance. 

Size is another factor in the discussion around residential versus commercial roofing. Commercial buildings are, by their nature, bigger than residential buildings. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS), the average fast-food restaurant is up to five thousand square feet and a superstore two hundred thousand square feet. 

The United States Census Bureau published statistics on the characteristics of new housing. It indicates that most residential property sold in 2019 and 2020 is one thousand eight hundred to two thousand four hundred square feet. That makes the average house substantially smaller than the average commercial building. 

Although the roof and roofing are only part of the commercial building square footage, it will still be substantial compared to the average residential building.   

Roofing Materials 

Roofing materials are another element in the discussion around residential vs commercial roofing. Most residential roofing materials can be used on commercial property, depending on the style of the architectural design. It includes asphalt shingles and metal roofing. Asphalt is also known as bitumen. 

According to CertainTeed, asphalt roofing shingles are the most used residential roofing product on the market. It includes the following three categories: 

• Strip/three-tab roofing shingles 
• Dimensional/architectural/laminate roofing shingles
• Premium/Luxury roofing shingles. 

Other components used in residential roofing includes underlayments serving as a water-resistant layer under the shingles and attic ventilation systems for drier attics in the winter and cooler attics in the summer. 

Commercial property, specifically those with flat or low sloped roofs, require different roofing materials. It is all about layering. The built-up roofing (BUR) system is suitable for most low slope roofs. 

It consists of multiple layers of asphalt alternated with ply sheets (felts) applied over the roof deck, vapor retarder and insulation. The multiple layers of asphalt and asphalt-soaked ply sheets create a highly water-resistant barrier. The final layer in the BUR system is a cap sheet or other surfacings such as gravel or a liquid coating. 

Certified by manufacturers such as CertainTeed, Duro-Last, and Johns Manville to sell and install their products, Bob Harvey Roofing works with asphalt shingles and metal roofing for residential property. For commercial property, the services include asphalt shingles, metal roofing, Duro-Last roofing and TPO membrane for flat roofing. 

Roof Installation and Repair 

Expertise is the third and most important element in residential vs commercial roofing. Whether you want roof installation or repair done, appoint experts such as Bob Harvey Roofing to do this specialized work.

Both residential and commercial roofing requires specialized experts. Residential roofing that includes high pitched roofing has a slightly higher safety risk factor simply due to the steep structural design of the roof. Commercial roof installation has stricter occupational health and safety guidelines to follow because of the extensive number of people that use commercial buildings every day.         

Bob Harvey Roofing is a professional roofing contractor in Northern Utah and has been in business for more than thirty years. Licensed and fully insured, Bob Harvey and his team promises fair pricing and organized, courteous contractors. Need to know more about residential vs commercial roofing? Contact Bob Harvey Roofing today.