Warehouse Roofing: Benefits & Options For Businesses (2023 Update)

Your warehouse roofing serves as the first defense from bad weather conditions and is essential when it comes to protecting commercial property. Considering the many benefits involved, installing a new roofing system is one of the best choices any business owner or commercial property manager can make.

Unfortunately, many business owners delay re-roofing their warehouse, either because of cost or the fact that they’re unaware of the benefits a new roof provides. From increased property value to a higher level of protection for the laborers and products inside and more, here are a few benefits a new warehouse roof can provide your business.

Is it Time for a New Warehouse Roof?

First, if you’re experiencing some of the following problems, it may be time to consider a new warehouse roof:

• Visible leakage during rain or from melting snow/ice
• Damaged inventory
• Moldy/stained ceiling or walls
• Overflow drain running water
• Structural damage
• Shifted or mushy insulation
• Production and labor losses
• Rusted metal roof panels

Always have a thorough commercial roof inspection before you decide to replace it. Even a small crack can mean big trouble down the road, so it’s a good idea to have inspections conducted regularly to avoid any costly or dangerous problems.

Benefits of New Warehouse Roofing

If you’re ready to improve your commercial warehouse, here are a few benefits that a new roof will provide:

1) Increase Your Warehouse’s Value

Adding a new roof to your warehouse will increase its value. Not only will your warehouse look better, but you can also implement modern roofing systems that decrease building costs, reduces the risk of water infiltration, and comes with a long-term warranty. Let’s face it, there’s no point spending loads of money investing in computer-based software/ machines from http://cksglobal.net/ if the roof is leaking and could damage your investment.

Never neglect your warehouse roof, as it is an essential part of keeping your structure protected. Any damage to the roof, or subsequent damage to the structure caused by a malfunctioning roof, will cause your warehouse value to drop. Additionally, many of the problems your building will face are caused by roof issues like leaks, cracks, and bad flashing or seams. Be sure to also install energy-efficient lighting systems like Zuli Lighting to keep your warehouse looking bright at a nice price.

2) Make Your Warehouse More Attractive to Potential Buyers

If you’re thinking about selling your warehouse property in the near future, a new roof can go a long way in making the sale more attractive to potential buyers. With a long-lasting, eco-friendly roof with minimal maintenance requirements and costs, potential buyers will have another reason to choose your property over other considerations. Many commercial real estate shoppers are generally wary if a warehouse roof has been badly maintained or show signs of water damage because that’s another cost they have to incur after they invest in the property. Along with the new roof, if you’re thinking of selling your warehouse in the near future, you’ll be required to attain an ALTA survey. You can find one of these surveys at Terrane for an easy sale.

3) Improve Appearance and Professionalism

For those commercial entities that are trying to be more professional, a new roof will improve the look of your warehouse and present a better first impression of your business. Even if you don’t have many clients or customers coming in and out of your warehouse, a visually appealing building supports your neighborhood by improving the look of the area and shows commitment to the community you serve. Another thing that would instantly make your warehouse a more professional operation would be to implement a pallet racking QLD solution.

4) Decrease Operating Costs

With a new roof system, you can install modern updates that will save your budget from rising operating costs. For example, you could fit your new roof with environmentally friendly solar panels that minimize the building’s electrical usage. Or, hot and cold air regulation can be optimized with professionally installed insulation.

5) Protect Inventory

If your inventory gets ruined by sudden water penetration, how will your business recover? As a huge component of revenue, damaged inventory may be life-threatening to your operations, depending upon the extent. Re-roofing your warehouse will help keep your products protected from damaging leaks.

Types of Warehouse Roofing

The type of roof you put on your warehouse can greatly affect how long it lasts, whether or not you are susceptible to leaks, and of course, how cool it stays in the summer (which is usually not cool at all). There are several different types of commercial flat roof materials that can work wonders for your warehouse. They each have their fair share of benefits and downfalls, and we’ll give you a list of the best to choose from based on your needs.

Built-Up Roofing – Lasts 15 to 20 Years

Built-Up Roofing (BUR) has been around for over a century. As its technology has evolved over time, it remains one of the most commonly used and beneficial roofing materials for flat roofs used today. It’s one of the most affordable and most protective.

BUR gets its name from its layers being “built up” to form multi-layer protection for your flat roof. It usually consists of three main parts: bitumen, ply membrane sheets, and a surfacing material like gravel. The bitumen layer can be installed as ‘cold,’ or ‘hot.’ Meaning it either is heat applied when installed or cold-installed, which means it’s an adhesive and not heated up. For the higher performance and longer-lasting option, go with cold-applied, which is sprayed or squeegeed on the roof. Next, the ply membrane is a reinforced fabric that is laid on top of the bitumen and bonded to the roof. And lastly, the gravel surfacing material seals all of the layers and gives it a finished look while also protecting the layers beneath from UV rays and any debris or heavy rains.

Metal Roofing – Lasts 40+ Years

On the other end of the price spectrum, lies metal roofing. Although metal roofing is not the usual choice for a flat roof, it can still work quite well on low-slope pitches. If you decide to install metal roofing on your warehouse roof, stick to standing seam or corrugated metal panels for your low-slope roof.

Liquid-Applied Roofing – Lasts 10 to 20 Years

Liquid-applied roofing continues to grow in popularity as it is one of the easiest and fastest ways to re-roof your commercial flat roof. This miracle material starts as a sprayable “liquid” and easily gets into any hard-to-reach crevasses and can even spray on top of existing roofing materials: no more messy tear-offs. It then hardens into a rubber-like membrane with no seams and a completely waterproof seal. When installed over existing roofing materials, it can extend the life of your roof by up to 10 years or more.

Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) – Lasts 10 to 20 Years

TPO is one of the top choices for flat roofs today for many reasons, such as its low cost and high energy efficiency. TPO, or Thermoplastic Polyolefin, can last up to 30 years, is very easy and flexible to install. Its white coating on top reflects the sun’s rays which means it absorbs less heat and can lower cooling bills drastically in the summer months. It’s also very durable and won’t puncture or tear easily, plus it is the least likely to have mold or mildew growth, which is a huge benefit to flat roofs that can be susceptible to more standing water due to their low slope.

EPDM – Lasts 25 to 30+ Years

Installing ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) roofing will give you a highly durable, energy-efficient, and cost-effective roof for your warehouse. EPDM has been around for 60+ years and is both UV and hail resistant, and can keep your commercial roof safe from harm when severe weather strikes.

Proper installation is key to ensuring your EPDM roof upholds its integrity and lasts for its intended lifespan of 25-30 years. But, there are three ways that EPDM can be installed, each with its own upsides and downsides.

• You can adhere to the roof using a special roofing glue and slowly unrolling the material until it’s all smoothed out and glued to the surface. This process is the most time-intensive, but it is also the method for the longest-lasting roof.
• You can also ballast the roof, which means laying the material down on top of the insulation and using concrete pavers or stone to hold it securely in place.
• Lastly, mechanical installation is when the hardware (fasteners and screws) is used to attach the EPDM material.

Need a New Warehouse Roof? Get in Touch with Northface Construction Today!

Northface Construction is the leader in commercial roof replacement in Minnesota. We’re dedicated to improving the look and functionality of your commercial property with a new warehouse roof system. Whether you have visible water penetration, severe storm damage, moldy ceilings or rusted metal roof panels, North Face Construction is here to help with our premium roof services. Our small but dedicated team of experienced craftsman works with only the highest quality materials. Let us know how we can help you today.