Commercial roofs have varying lifespans. TPO roofs have the shortest life, with a maximum of 20–30 years. Meanwhile, asphalt roofs can last up to 40 years, and metal roofs can last up to 45. These are simply the documented life spans as they exist on paper, however. Under real-world conditions, most commercial roofs never last as long as their projected life.
Replacing a roof is expensive in terms of materials, cost of labor, and lost productivity. There’s also a loss of investment to think about. If you invest in a commercial roof with a lifespan of 40 years and it only lasts for three decades, then your roof is suddenly amortized over a much shorter amount of time. In other words, if you can extend the lifespan of your commercial roof, then your initial investment becomes much more bearable over time.
Lastly, there’s not just the roof itself to consider. The pipe supports on your roof hold gas pipes, refrigerants, electrical and internet cables, HVAC, and more. If and when these supports break down, the equipment upon them could break, exposing your roof to a variety of hazards that range from chemical spills to fires—all of which would cause the roof to fail to meet its expected lifespan without the help of an experienced commercial roofing company.
When it comes to installing a roof membrane, many architects and facility managers specify the following properties—lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to install. This means that they often choose materials such as TPO, PVC, or EPDM. These materials trade off a longer lifespan for less initial upfront expense, but here’s the catch—if a roof that’s designed to last 15 years only lasts 10 years, or if a roof that’s designed to last 30 years only lasts 20 years, then the cost of replacing the roof before its time will eat up any cost savings from the less expensive material.
For any kind of roof, a thorough maintenance program advised by a top-notch commercial roofing company is critical to save time and money. Here’s what that program needs to account for:
It’s best to encourage contractors to avoid direct contact with your substrate as much as possible while allowing them safe passage near edges and over pipes and cable runs. PHP Systems/Design offers durable, non-penetrating roof access walkways that help keep your workers safe while contributing to the overall lifespan of your roof. Contact us today for more information!