Commercial Roofing Installation Guide

We’re in the business of providing Denver with quality, long-lasting roofs. With over 77 years in the roofing industry, we have the knowledge, experience, and skills needed to help educate businesses about the best roofing solutions from commercial roofing installation processes to the multitude of roofing material options.

It’s not uncommon for businesses to overlook the very thing that keeps their business dry and safe: the roof. But it is your responsibility as a retail outlet, restaurant, warehouse, or manufacturing facility, among many other businesses, to ensure you are keeping your roof top-of-mind. All you have to do is reach out for help, a commercial roofing partner, like Douglass Colony Group, takes care of the rest.
In this guide, we will focus on commercial roofing, but what is the difference between commercial roofing and residential roofing?

Commercial Roofing vs. Residential Roofing

They are essentially the same. Their job? To protect property and prevent natural weather occurrences from seeping into the interior of the structure. However, there are some key differentiators, specifically two aspects of roofing businesses and residential homeowners don’t often think about:

1. The difference in materials.
2. The difference in the size/area of the roof itself.

For example, whereas residential roofs are often steep and come with various aesthetic options, commercial roofs are more often flat, nearly flat, or very steep, and they demand specific roofing materials options for functionality over beauty.

At Douglass Colony Group, we offer both commercial and residential roofing services but are mostly known for our expertise in commercial roofing and unique structural solutions for local businesses and municipalities.

When to Know It’s Time to Replace or Repair Your Commercial Roof?

Our clients include museums, industrial buildings, University campus buildings, apartment complexes, municipal buildings, and many more. Often, they come to us looking for commercial roof installation, commercial roof replacement, repairs, or even extensions of their existing campuses. All of them share something very important in common: they understand their buildings are their most valuable asset and it is essential they preserve them. Below are common reasons why you may need to look into commercial roof replacement, repair, or installation:

1. Your Roof is Getting Old (Most Commercial Roofs Last 20-30 Years)
2. You Are Extending An Existing Building
3. You Notice Damage: Pooled Water/Leaking, Bubbling, Storm Damage, Roof Membrane Holes or Tears, Wind Damage, Cracks
4. You Experience Too Often Rooftop Repairs & Maintenance (Signaling Time For Replacement)

Our Commercial Roofing Systems Process

Complicated or unique roofs are not something we shy away from, and we can help you with everything from design, to cost estimate, to full commercial roof installation. In other words, as a premier commercial roofing contractor, we are there every step of the way.

Step 1: Analysis

Our expert inspectors will do a full sweep of your location to ensure they know all the facts before planning the work. We need to understand the condition of your commercial roof, so we’ll send one of our experts to identify any signs of compromise in the integrity of your roof. This includes examining the surface, flashing, seams, and other key areas. This stage will also help determine if your roof is in need of roofing repairs or full commercial roof replacement. For some clients, this analysis process is used to determine the land you are building on if it is a new commercial roof installation project.

Step 2: Design & Planning

We plan every step before ever getting started, avoiding costly surprises and unforeseen delays for your roofing project. We want to be absolutely sure our cost estimates are accurate so you can plan accordingly. We’ll help you fit any design to the specifications of your commercial building while ensuring you are considering the right materials and are building in observance and compliance with the city requirements and building codes.

Step 3: Budgeting

This is where we’ll work with you to ensure an accurate cost estimate and make sure we are honoring your budgets and requirements before we get started on installation.

Step 4: Contracting and Installation

From step one to the final stage, we have the right experts for the job and always deliver the highest quality no matter what type of slope roofing, or any other unique aspect of your roofing project.

In this step, we’ve combined many other processes and steps within the installation process. For example: removal of old roofing materials, repair or replacement of roof substrate, and of course, installation of new roofing materials.

Step 5: Final Inspection and Cleanup

We’ll perform a thorough inspection to ensure we’ve met all required specifications, codes, and standards. After inspection, we will clean up the job site, by removing all debris, tools, and equipment. It is our responsibility to leave your building or facility better than we found it, and hopefully newly improved.

Step 6: Repairs and Maintenance

When we are done with your project, we aren’t done with you. We offer rooftop repairs and maintenance services for new and existing projects to ensure your roof lasts for as long as possible and continues to function like it’s supposed to.

Commercial Roof Shapes: Slope Roofing

Most commercial buildings don’t have ‘average’ roof slopes like you would think of when you think of a residential roof. Most commercial roofs are either low or steep slopes. Low-slope and steep-slope roofs have unique benefits, depending on the project. Our team helps you plan, and install, no matter what your needs are.

Steep Slope Roofing

A steep slope roof system is a roof with a slope ratio of 3:12 or greater. The system typically includes a roof deck, underlayment, and a roof covering such as asphalt shingles, clay tiles, metal roof systems, slate, etc. Because of the way these roofs are built and their geometric properties, this construction requires extra safety knowledge and requires the work of a contracting partner, like Douglass Colony, who knows how to navigate these types of roofs.

Low Slope Roofing

This type of roofing is common for big warehouses, big box stores, and shopping centers. Despite using the term low slope, most of these roofs are actually completely flat with no slope at all. Our experts are trained on exactly how to assess and assist with low slope projects, despite how unique they are in nature.
Low slope roofs typically have more consistent temperatures, provide opportunities for untapped real estate, like green space, and allow for more access which makes inspections, maintenance, and repairs that much easier.

Take a look at our work on the Denver Art Museum to see how we tackled a low slope project.

Types of Commercial Roofing Systems

Douglass Colony will help you decide what type of commercial roofing system works best for you, or if you know what you’re looking for, come chat with us and we’ll get started on the plans. There are many different types of roofing systems, including TPO, PVC, EPDM, Built-Up Roofing, Liquid Applied, etc. Below are just a few of the many types of commercial roof installations we offer.

Metal Roofing & Metal Wall Panels

We’re highlighting metal roofing first because it tends to be the material of choice for most commercial roofing projects. It offers a lifespan of up to 50 years, and more, and is one of the most long-lasting and reliable roofing options. We maintain a 70,000-square-foot fabrication facility where we fully customize and fabricate commercial metal roofing products. With access to this facility, we are able to customize and create the metal roofing you need to your exact specifications.

Here are just a few of our metal roofing services: exposed fastener, standing seam, metal shingles, and variety.

Green Roof Systems

Green roof building and LEED construction are design and construction practices that are driving our industry. They promote the economic health and well-being of your building and promote sustainability and environmental consciousness within your facilities. We’ll work with you to create planing modules, waterproof membranes, and even solar roofing if that’s how you want to build your green roof. All our expert green and LEED services are for low slope and flat roofing, but whether it’s a small or extensive green roof you have in mind, we’ll make sure it lives up to your standards.

Commercial Solar Roofing

Fitting your commercial building with solar panels brings with it a range of benefits beyond simple renewability:

1. Low Risk, High ROI
2. Distinction and Differentiation
3. Financial Perks
4. Year-Round Value

We’ll conduct an on-site survey of your building, measure patterns of sunlit and shaded areas, analyze the building’s current energy consumption, and determine the best approach to integrating the solar energy system with your existing electrical infrastructure. Our solar energy division will provide comprehensive support and service, including green roof building and waterproofing.

Some of our solar PV applications: Roof Mounted PV, Carport/Canopy PV, Ground Mount PV, and Custom PV Awnings.

Choosing Douglass Colony Group

We are an industry-leading commercial roofing contractor because we offer innovative and effective solutions for all roofing and metal types, regardless of size or intricacy. We love to take on the challenges and give our clients roofs that will do their job and protect a business’s biggest asset: their building.
To learn more about our roofing capabilities, as well as our FRAMECAD, Solar, Waterproofing, and Maintenance services, visit our website or call today.