Residential Vs Commercial Flat Roof - Tuflite Polymers

Both commercial and residential flat roofing belong to the low slope roofing category, but they both are very different from each other.

Design

Commercial flat roofing is entirely flat with slight pitches for draining water. Flat roofs in such applications are required for routine inspections and maintenance. Residential flat roofing on the other hand can be experimented with different designs. There are no rules here as they can carry the structural weight.

Size

Commercial roofing has a wider space as compared to residential roofs, because of the functionality it has to offer. Commercial flat roofs need to be highly functional and practical, which is why size matters more than the appearance here. They don’t have to appear extravagant or elaborated; instead they need to be able to follow the minimum structural requirements required. On the other hand, residential roofing could be sized as per the owner’s preference. It doesn’t need to be wide enough for other heavy equipment. It should just be proportional to the area of the house.

Materials

The roofs vary a lot in cost, performance, qualities, and longevity based on the materials they are made of.

Metal – This is a lightweight material that is very easy to install. It also comes in a wide range of colors to suit your design preferences. However, one drawback here is that it is comparatively expensive. The metal category could include a variety of materials like steel, aluminum, zinc, tin, and copper. All these metals can generally last up to 50 years, and are known to be fire-resistant. Due to all these reasons, metal roofing sheets are preferred for both residential and commercial applications.

Built-up roofing – This material is made from tar and gravel stacked together one over another. This is one of the most affordable options, making it highly preferred in the commercial applications. This material is also very superior in strength, and can last for anywhere between 25-40 long years.

Bitumen – This roofing system is made from asphalt, fiberglass, and other synthetic polyester materials. It has amazing waterproofing and insulating capabilities. It is also tear-resistant, and can withstand heavy foot traffic. But, in spite of these qualities, it is a very cheap roofing system that can last for 20-30 long years.

EPDM – The cheapest option, EPDM is an effective waterproofing providing commercial roofing material. It is also very lightweight and flexible, meaning being easy to use and install. However, it is available in only a limited color selection like black and white.

Polycarbonate – Polycarbonate is the latest material used for both residential and commercial applications, where transparency or semi-transparency is required. Available in a wide range of color and texture options, polycarbonate can be used to match or strikingly contrast the rest of the building. It is a flexible, lightweight, extremely durable material that is resistant to breakage, fire, impact, corrosion, and solvents. Thus, it is the perfect material that you can use for almost any kind of roofing application. You can get the best quality polycarbonate roofing sheets at Tuflite Polymers, where you can choose from a wide range of colors, textures, and types.

Why Are Polycarbonate Roofing Systems From Tuflite Polymers The Best Choice?

Natural light is important for every being on earth. May it be animals, trees, or humans, we all need adequate amount of light for our body to function effectively. Put your plants in a dark space for a few days, devoid of sunlight, and see how they droop, or even die. Similarly, put yourself into the dark for a few days and see how your body reacts to it. Thus, it clearly proves that we all need sunlight to live. But again, focus on the word “adequate” that we have mentioned above. Just as much as no sunlight can harm us, over exposure to sunlight can also cause harm. Over exposure of the plants to sun can cause leaves to burn, while overexposure of humans to the sun can cause skin burn, skin cancer, sunstroke, and many other problems. Thus, we need just enough amount of sunlight. And, while constructing transparent roofs or buildings, this is just what we need to remember.

Which Material Should You Use For A Flat Roof?

The most common types of roofs are flat roofs and sloped roofs. While sloped roofs don’t require much consideration, flat roofs do because they have a level surface, which is why all kinds of elements need to be considered like rainwater collection, damage from moisture, effect of direct sunlight, maintenance, etc. A sloped roof mostly lets off all kinds of dirt and water that falls over it, thus leaving very less room for worrying about maintenance and cleanliness. So, let us look at the possible materials that you can use while building a flat roof.