It isn’t a secret that a lot of people over used the roof surface on their commercial property, believing that heir roof is stronger than it actually is. Various items are stored there, equipment not fit for a commercial roof is installed as well and a lot of people walk freely across it. To be honest, roof in most cases will hold up the additional weight but over time it will move, sag and eventually collapse.
But then again there is other side of the coin, there are people who clearly underuse their roof, even though they payed extra for additional support while installing the roof, now when they have an extra strong roofing system it is underused.
Sometimes before installing a new roofing system you have to reevaluate your roof usage and your roofing system. You need to ask yourself “how will I use this roof” and “what type of stress it will be put under” and many more.
Expected structural load
It is highly advisable to try and estimate potential structural load that is going to be put on the building, this includes foot traffic, repair equipment and natural elements like snow, rain and wind. All building are designed in mind to handle a certain amount of load, when constructed expressed in pounds per square foot (PSF) so knowing this information will help you determine the overall weight.
Which roofing material to get?
It is worth mentioning that some roofing materials are stronger and more durable than others which implies that they cost more but the again you aren’t obligated to get a more expensive option, like we said before it all depends on your needs and designated function of your building. Also keep in mind that while your roofing material is strong, your building support structure might not be.
The strongest available roofing material is sprayed polyurethane foam, if properly installed over a strong and stable support system it can support tremendous amount of weight.
Next in line is concrete, again another extremely strong material and depending on variation picked it can get even stronger. But still like any other roofing material it can sag and warp, and detoriate if exposed to excessive weight. A good replacement for concrete is metal but still it can bend under pressure and crack.
Another category worth mentioning are built up roofs, since they add extra protection thanks to their many layers but sadly have the same issues like concrete since they are extremely heavy. While they are durable, they add extra unwanted and unnecessary weight to your roof.
Every other roofing material out there are tied for last in terms of strength, a single ply roofing material which can be rolled over your foo are extremely weak and don’t add additional strength to your roof, as well restoration coatings aren’t any better either. These type of materials are usually better to prevent water leaks.
At the end
Some roofing materials are clearly better than others but still it all comes down to what is the main purpose of your commercial roof. IF you are expecting heavy traffic on it and excessive structural load then you should consider a more durable option, but if you are building a roof with an average to low weight load you will be better off with a metal or restoration coating solution. Like Vince from Choice Solutions mentioned earlier in this post, before installing a new roofing system it is crucial that you figure out the expected structural load and strength of your property before making a decision.