There are a wide range of commercial roofing systems and materials to choose from. The right solution for your facility really depends on the facilities goals and your budget objectives. Because RoofSouth is certified on every major system, we can select the right system to meet your goals. We aren’t locked into any one system the way a smaller contractor might be. Built-Up Roofs Built-up roofing systems (BUR) consists of layers or plies of roofing felts, between which asphalt or bitumen is applied. Built-up roofing is one of the oldest and most durable systems available. Its multiple layers provide extra protection and perform well in extreme weather conditions.  Built-up roofs are especially resistant to damage from wind, hail and snow. They are easy to repair and ideally suited for applications requiring a high level of redundancy.

Among the advantages of Built-up Roofing Systems:

• BUR surfacing materials can be coated with paint or other reflective materials to reduce the effects of UV radiation.  These coatings provide the additional benefit of reducing cooling and heating costs.

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Modified Bitumen

Modified Bitumen systems consist of asphalt with modifiers added to give it durability.  These are either one- two- (most common), or three ply-systems.   They are factory manufactured and combine the redundancy of built up roofing with the ease of application of a single-ply system.

Modified Bitumen Systems are of two kinds:

• SBS (Styrene Butadiene Styrene) systems are  usually installed with hot asphalts or cold adhesives.
• APP (Atactic Polypropylene) systems in almost every case are installed using the torch method.

Both SBS and APP systems can be reinforced either with glass or with polyester. 

Among the advantages these systems offer:

• The rolls of these roofing materials are factory-manufactured, ensuring quality control.
• These systems are well-suited to expand or contract with the movement of the building they protect.
• The modified bitumen roof systems can be finished with a variety of surfaces that enhance their resistance to oxidation and damage from UV rays.

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Single-Ply

Single-Ply roofing systems are composed of insulation, a single ply membrane, flashings, and adhesive. TPO, EPDM, and PVC the three most common types of single-ply membrane systems. Since they consist only of a single layer of roofing over insulation, these popular systems are lightweight, making them an ideal choice for retrofits.

TPO Roofing Systems (ThermoPlastic Olefin) combine the long-term durability rubber provides with the security of hot air welded seams.

TPO’s advantages include:

• TPO roofing systems are the most environmentally friendly of the single-ply systems.
• They produce no dioxins or chlorine.
• Membranes come in varying thicknesses to meet your specific requirements and are available in varying roll widths.
  EPDM (Ethlyene Propylene Diene Terpolymer) is a stable roofing alternative that withstands extremes of temperature and expands and contracts with the building.
• EPDM systems require minimal maintenance and are resistant to UV radiation and ozone.
• EDPM technology has proven effective for more than 30 years.

PVC Roofing Systems are among the easiest single-ply roofing membranes to install and heat-weld together.

Among the advantages PVC systems provide:

• These systems are able to resist various chemical effluents.
• They provide superior resistance to punctures and tears.
• PVC systems are especially suited for roofs that are exposed to concentrations of grease, oils and many kinds of fuels.
• In areas where acid rain or other forms of acidic outflow is a problem, PVC roofs are the preferred solution.

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Metal Roofing

Metal roof systems fall into three general steep-slope roofing applications:

• Architectural metal panel roof systems shed water and are intended for use on steep-slope roofs.
• Structural metal panel roof systems are used on both low- and steep-slope roofs. They are especially appropriate for low-slope roofs because of their hydrostatic, or water barrier, characteristics.
• Metal shingle panel systems provide the same hydrostatic characteristics, and are often preferred for smaller roof areas.

Metal roofing is a preferred alternative for sloped roofs, especially when durability and weather resistance are primary concerns. The different systems are engineered not only to accommodate the slope of a structure’s roof, but to provide pleasing aesthetics, since these roofs are almost always visible to people at street level.

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Tapered Roof Insulation

The goal of tapered roof insulation systems is to reduce or eliminate the amount of ponding/standing water on the membrane when the existing roof deck does not provide adequate slope. Draining water in a timely and efficient manner minimizes the adverse effects that ponding or standing water has on completed roof membranes. A properly designed tapered roof insulation system not only provides the positive drainage needed but also helps extend the life of the roof membrane.

Such systems, properly installed, can be a major factor in extending the useful life of a roofing system and help prevent any structural damage that an insufficient roof slope can cause.

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Architectural Sheet Metal

Architectural Sheet Metal is a specialized type of metal roofing, typically involving steep slopes. These roofs feature custom fabricated sheet metal flashing and trim and generally are used for historic, retrofit projects. We work with various gauge metals and various types of metals, ranging from pre-finished galvanized steel and aluminum to copper, stainless steel, lead and coated copper.

Architectural sheet metal roofs are usually used on homes and smaller buildings, since most commercial buildings have gently-sloped or flat roofs that are better suited to other types of roofing systems.

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Steep Slope Roofing

Asphalt Roofing Systems
It's no secret asphalt looks great on your roof. But asphalt roofing looks even better when you stack it up against the competition! Metal, tile, slate, and wood. None of these materials can match the wide array of benefits only asphalt roofing provides. Whether it's superb colors and beautiful styles you're looking for, or unparalleled durability and performance, the bottom line is you simply won't find all these features in a single material... unless it's asphalt.

Shake Roofing Systems
Definition of cedar: any of a genus (Cedrus) of wide spreading coniferous trees of the pine family, having clusters of needlelike leaves, cones, and durable wood with a characteristic fragrance. The natural properties of cedar shingles and shakes make them the perfect choice for roofing material. Their resistance to decay, moisture and insects keep them vibrant for decades without needing maintenance. Other major benefits of cedar include high impact resistance, the ability to withstand 245 mph. winds, and they are a renewable resource. Over the hundreds of years that cedar shingles and shakes have been installed, the product has remained unchanged, it's still cedar.

Slate Roofing Systems
Definition of Slate: A fine-grained metamorphic rock that splits into thin, smooth-surfaced layers.?? No other roofing material can compare to the natural beauty, longevity and durability of slate. They are available in a variety of colors, sizes and textures, allowing the designers to customize virtually every installation. While slate roofs are one of the most expensive roofs up front they are arguably one of the least expensive that money can buy when taking the entire life of the roof system into account. Most slate roofs have a life span between 80 and 120 years.

Tile Roofing Systems
Clay tiles are one of the most distinctive and decorative historic roofing materials because of their great variety of shapes, colors, profiles, patterns, and textures. Traditionally, clay tiles were formed by hand, and later by machine extrusion of natural clay, textured or glazed with color, and fired in high-temperature kilns. The unique visual qualities of a clay tile roof often make it a prominent feature in defining the overall character of a historic building. The significance and inherently fragile nature of historic tile roofs dictate that special care and precaution be Clay tile has one of the longest life expectancies among historic roofing materials-generally about 100 years, and often several hundred. Yet, a regularly scheduled maintenance program is necessary to prolong the life of any roofing system. A complete internal and external inspection of the roof structure and the roof covering is recommended to determine condition, potential causes of failure, or source of leaks, and will help in developing a program for the preservation and repair of the tile roof. Before initiating any repair work on historic clay tile roofs, it is important to identify those qualities important in contributing to the historic significance and character of the building.

Metal Roofing Systems
Every single day the roof of a building receives the brunt of the elements. Every day it is subjected to one or more of the following: wind, rain, snow and a direct bombardment of UV rays. It stands to reason that the investment you make in your roof protects the entire investment of your home. A metal roof is the surest way to secure the investment you’ve made in your property because it outperforms any other roofing material. In support of this are manufacturers’ warranties that are far in excess of anything else ever offered in the industry. Many of our products have a 25 year unconditional warranty on the paint finish alone! Many of our products have a 50 year warranty against defect. In the past, with other roofing options, warranties like this were unheard of!

Copper Roofing Systems
Copper is a ductile, malleable, reddish-brown metallic element that is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity and is widely used for electrical wiring, water piping, and corrosion-resistant parts, either pure or in alloys such as brass and bronze. Copper is a popular choice in roofing because of its endurance and lasting beauty. It is famous for its patented green color. Over a process of about 25 years after installing new copper it will turn from its original shiny salmon color to bronze and eventually to its well known green color. Installing copper details to your roof is a great way to increase your buildings curb appeal and keep it water tight for decades to come.

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