Commercial Single Ply Roofing Chicago & Chicagoland
Benefits and UsesWhat is Commercial Single Ply Roofing, Should I Use it for My Property’s Roof?
Gold Standard Restoration uses this technique that was developed in the 1960s and began growing rapidly because it’s usually made for flat or low slope roofs. Our single-ply roofing in Chicago comes in many different forms with even more assets with the most popular being:
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin)
Cost
Quick Installation
Durability
Roof Lifespan
All of these materials go through strict manufacturing codes, and the material is checked thoroughly before being sent out to jobs for installation. While PVC is time-tested and has been in use for decades, the main choice for many companies and contractors is EPDM because of the ease of installation and relatively cheaper cost per square foot. However, even with these attributes, TPO is considered to be one of the best materials for all the properties it excels in accomplishing, some of which being solar reflectivity, puncture resistance, and sustainability, to name a few. Though it truly outdoes many other materials for many roofing contractors, it is a bit more expensive but can be a much more efficient choice in the long run.
Single-Ply roofing not only comes with a plethora of different materials but many are installed in a multitude of distinct methods. While some are more labor-based and have a more intensive induction to the commercial application being developed, others have been made for quick and easy application. The most common being the Mechanically Attached System which is almost exactly as it sounds. Mounting plates are put into place through the insulation and the membrane is layered on top of these plates and then secured into place using fastening hardware like screws or nails depending on the application.
This method is most commonly used with a style known as EPDM or PVC simply because of the size and length of the sheets a contractor can purchase from the manufacturer (ranging from 50 feet x 200 feet amongst many other options depending on the application). It is one of the most used techniques for single-ply roofing not only because of the cost but also because of its commonality throughout beautiful Chicagoland but across the United States. However, even though this method is tried and true with the product being used in this operation, many contractors may argue against the value of this method simply because of extreme weather conditions.
Our company wants to not only give you the pros to the products and materials we use but also the cons and some may come in our very windy state. In some areas of the nation where high winds are present, long, spread-out sheets of this material may, quite literally, be lifted up and blown away. This is due to poor installation, incorrect engineering of the building and/or roof, or simply because of the roof being accessed on a more frequent basis than necessary.
Which brings us to one of the best products in the market: TPO.
Thermoplastic Polyolefin is considered by the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) as one of the top materials in this industry because of how many benefits it can bring to your new or newly remodeled building. As with the amazing traits listed above, this style of material is also very resistant to both fire and chemicals, incredibly weather-resistant and has a solar reflectivity unmatched to many other materials in the single-ply roofing industry.
Why on earth (no pun intended) is solar reflectivity important? Simply because it does exactly what is in the name: reflects solar rays. In many cases that leads to a more cost-efficient summer because the building you’re in is literally not fighting the heat coming down. While reflecting solar rays and heat away from being absorbed into the insulation, this also means the new or newly remodeled building is not running the air-conditioning all day.
In the case of many buildings producing gases or exhaust that may not be good for many other single-ply roofing elements, TPO is often suggested simply because of the resistance it has against not only said chemicals but because of the suitable fire-resistance it offers. Amongst so many different characteristics TPO offers, it is also very rigorous throughout the years and it also offers a more efficient and less costly installation method.
Thermoplastic Polyolefin is often installed with adhesives or hot-air welding. This particular method means it can be built in even the worst conditions (i.e. while it is snowing or extremely windy out). When using this method, TPO will expand and be able to be connected to other sheets using extreme heat and after these sheets are connected and set into place, the material will cool back to its original form making it nearly seamless. However, with newer production of this particular material, “peel-and-stick” methods have begun to enter the scene due to its incredibly easy installation process and the lesser amount of time spent on labor installing it. This method and material, while a bit more costly, often end up being an amazing investment for those looking to stay in the commercial building being built from the ground up, or a commercial building being renovated.
Single-Ply roofing is and has been hitting the roofing industry hard and has done nothing but rise up in the roofing industry because of the efficiency of having a flat or low sloped roof. While TPO is a fantastic choice, PVC and EPDM have both proven their own advantages because of their own assets due to the ease of installation and the costliness of their manufacturing.
The benefits of Single-Ply Roofing Systems not only apply to the building owner but other trades in the process because of the ease of accessibility when installing anything ranging from fire suppression and HVAC to electrical and data contractors simply because of the ease of their own installation. This particular style of roofing can contribute to a more economical building not only favoring the property itself, but lessening the risks of water pooling up over time, durability in even the toughest of weather conditions, and above all else, cost-efficiency. However, to achieve said valuable advantages for your newly built or remodeled building, you need an experienced and qualified company to accomplish these laborious tasks, and Gold Standard Restoration is the company you can rely on to attain this goal.