Though there are similarities between the two, commercial roofs often differ from residential roofs in a number of ways. A primary difference is that commercial roofs are often flat, or feature very slight slopes, as opposed to a sloped roof that may be seen on a residential building. This is because flat roofs provide storage for HVAC systems that are out of the way of high-traffic ground areas. When building or replacing the roof of your business, there are a number of flat roof options that can be used. One of the most popular is a modified bitumen roofing system.
What Is Modified Bitumen?
Modified bitumen is a roofing membrane that is comprised of asphalt and plastic or rubber polymers. This means that the system displays the redundancy of asphalt, in addition to UV resistance and flexibility seen in other modern roofing systems. The most common type of modified bitumen used is styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), known for its flexible membranes and strong expansion capabilities. Using these options for your flat roofing provides a balance between high-technology and prefabrication benefits seen in other roofing systems.
Benefits of Modified Bitumen
One of the major reasons to consider modified bitumen is that the roofs are highly tear-resistant due to their reinforced layers. For commercial roofs, especially in areas with high foot traffic, this can be important. These roofs are also energy-efficient, as the layers can include solar reflectance or thermal emission, which leads to less energy consumption overall. Because the material can be installed in a number of ways, most buildings can easily have modified bitumen installed, even if there are ventilation systems or other heat-sensitive appliances in the area.
Whatever type of roof you choose for your commercial space, Certified Commercial Roofing of Houston can provide the proper installation, maintenance, and upkeep needed.
