When we look at the roofing of our homes and businesses, we know it’s functional, but many of us have no idea what it’s made of. Let’s take a look at five of the most common roofing materials and what advantages they can offer.
Shingles
This type of roofing is the most common on residential homes as shingles are cost-efficient and durable. Shingles consist of a base mat of paper, cellulose, wood fiber or other materials that is covered with asphalt, which makes it waterproof. Once that’s done, a coating of adhesive asphalt is put on and embedded with ceramic granules.
TPO
Also known as thermoplastic polyolefins, this type of roofing consists of blends of either polypropylene plastic or polypropylene and ethylene propylene rubber or ethylene propylene diene terpolymer rubber. These plastic-rubber blends create a durable layer of roofing material that comes in many different thicknesses, making them a very affordable and attractive option for business roofs.
Metal
Metal roofing tends to command a more premium price, but makes up for it in durability. Generally constructed from steel or aluminum, metal roofing can also be made from copper, zinc or even titanium, as well. Metal roofs are popular for being very low maintenance while offering a greater lifespan than many traditional roofing materials, and they can be found on residential and commercial buildings alike.
PVC
PVC roofing consists of a thick and pliable UV-resistant thermoplastic that is also very durable. This material is also known to contain polyester, resins, plasticizers or fiberglass, as well, and various pigments can be added to add coloration to match any structure. It is most commonly seen on commercial buildings as a long-term roofing solution.
Modified Bitumen
Bitumen roofs are generally installed by unfurling the material from a roll, which makes this roofing material ideal for flat-roofed industrial buildings. Installed using a variety of methods – asphalt, cold adhesive or the torch method – a standard modified bitumen roof is two ply, with each new layer overlapping the edge of the previous roll, making them more waterproof and able to withstand the elements.
No matter what kind of building you have, R.G. Smith Company offers a wide variety of roofing services for commercial and industrial buildings throughout the greater Ohio region. Whether your roof needs a repair or you need an entirely brand new roof installed, we can handle the job for you. To learn more about our commercial roofing services, call either our Canton office at 330-456-3415 or our Mansfield office at 419-524-4778 today!
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