Commercial Roof Replacement

Picking the Right Roof System for Your Commercial Roof Replacement

Learn more about how to pick the right roofing system for your commercial roof replacement in the infographic below:

Picking the Right Roof System for Your Commercial Roof Replacement
Share this graphic on your website with the code below.

Thousands of commercial businesses will need a roof replacement this year — does yours?

But with so many materials and systems to choose from, how do you know if you’re making the right decision?

Request a Detailed Roof Analysis

See how much you can save on your next roofing project with a detailed roof analysis.

Request an Estimate

First, Consider What Your Facility Needs

The selection process should consist of:

1 Building Use — Retail, manufacturing, healthcare, ventilation requirements, food safety
2 Aesthetics — Slope, color, and design
3 Longevity — Most range from 15 to 60+ years
4 Climate — Weather expectations, temperature change, snow, and wind
5 Budget — Upfront cost vs. cost over the life of the roof
6 Energy Goals — Reflectivity and R-value

Then, consider your method of choice:

Remove and replace your roof Replace your existing roof with the same system

Thanks to advancements in materials, equipment, and technology, roof conversions have never been simpler. Let’s take a closer look in greater detail.

Picking the Right Roof System

For low-slope roofs, there are 5 common options:

Retrofitting Existing Roofs

Options 1–3 work with what’s already on your building.

1. Built-Up & Single Ply Conversion

What it is: heavy layers of asphalt, reinforcing fabric, and gravel to create a waterproof barrier over an existing roof

  • If insulation is in good condition: lay membrane overtop the existing roof
  • If the insulation is not in good condition: should remove entire roof and replace it with a single ply system to remove structural weight
  • Additional option: moving to new Built-Up System — could mean moving from a hot tar roof to a cold-process Modified Bitumen Roof
Average Cost
$8–$25/sq ft		 Lifespan
20–40 years

COST POSITION (of $0–$50/sq ft range)

To keep in mind:
  • Cracking from temperature swings
  • Heavyweight can stress structural supports
  • Labor-intensive and sometimes messy repairs

Ratings

Energy Efficiency Moderate

Maintenance High

Weather Defense Low

2. Ballast to Attached Conversion

What it is: upgrades a loose-stone (ballasted) single-ply roof, which makes it lighter and more weather-resistant

Average Cost
$7–$25/sq ft		 Lifespan
20–30 years

COST POSITION (of $0–$50/sq ft range)

To keep in mind:
  • High upfront costs, but lower long-term costs
  • Extreme expansion and contraction due to weather
  • Heavy maintenance required

Ratings

Energy Efficiency High

Maintenance Low

Weather Defense Moderate

3. Shingle Standing Seam Conversion

What it is: Removing any existing shingles and replacing them with interlocking metal panels

Average Cost
$25–$50/sq ft		 Lifespan
40+ years

COST POSITION (of $0–$50/sq ft range)

To keep in mind:
  • Higher up-front cost compared to other systems
  • May require full tear-off, which causes additional disruption and disposal costs

Ratings

Energy Efficiency High

Maintenance Low

Weather Defense High

New Roofing Systems

Options 4–5 are ground-up replacement systems.

4. Built-Up Modified Bitumen

What it is: Blends asphalt with rubber or plastic polymers

Can be applied in one of three ways:

Hot Tar Built Up

Hot-mopped asphalt and reinforcing felt, topped with gravel or a cap sheet

Pros: Extremely durable; proven 100+ year track record

Cons: Heavy equipment required; strong fumes; high labor cost; heavy load on structure

 Modified Bitumen Torch Down

APP-modified asphalt sheets heat-fused to the substrate with an open flame torch

Pros: Strong adhesion; durable granule surface; no adhesive equipment needed

Cons: Requires experienced installers; not suitable near flammable materials or occupied buildings

 Modified Bitumen Cold Process

SBS-modified asphalt sheets bonded with cold-applied adhesive

Pros: No open flame; safer for occupied buildings; easier installer requirements

Cons: Adhesive is weather-sensitive; longer cure time
Average Cost
$15–$35/sq ft		 Lifespan
15–25 years

COST POSITION (of $0–$50/sq ft range)

To keep in mind:
  • Extensive costs
  • Complex to install
  • Many issues from failed installation

Ratings

Energy Efficiency Low

Maintenance Moderate

Weather Defense Moderate

5. Single Ply

What it is: A single layer of synthetic membrane or metal rolled or fastened across a roof deck

TPO
$7–$25/sq ft		 PVC
$8.50–$25/sq ft		 EPDM
$5.50–$25/sq ft		 Lifespan
20–30 years
To keep in mind:
  • Lowest maintenance costs compared to other roofing systems
  • Single layer means one puncture or seam failure can cause a leak
  • Quality varies significantly by manufacturer and installer

Ratings

Energy Efficiency Moderate

Maintenance High

Weather Defense High

Is It Time For You to Replace Your Commercial Roof?

Kato Roofing installs Elevate roofing systems backed by manufacturer’s warranty and tested performance.

Request an Estimate

Sources

https://katoroofing.com/resources/
Sponsored by: https://www.elevatecommercialbp.com/us-en

Scroll to Top