Commercial and Residential Roofing in Toronto

With the seasonal temperatures plummets and dumping of snow, not to mention the scorching heat of the summer time, the Toronto climate takes a toll on your house’s roof. Having a well maintained roof keeps your home warm and cozy, saving heating and cooling bills, while also preventing unwanted leaks. But when should you start considering replacing your roof? Here are five signs that you may need a new roof.

#1 The slope of the roof

Roofs are built with a slope to avoid snow and water from collecting on top of the building. Residential properties are built with a relatively steep sloping roof compared to commercial buildings, which have a less steep slope or sometimes are completely flat. Other than having a different surface area, during the winter months, more snow can accumulate on top of commercial buildings. Your roof’s structure must be able to deal with this greater weight, otherwise it is at risk for collapsing. 

#2 The materials used for roofing

Different materials work better with different slopes. Asphalt shingles are great for the steeper slopes of residential roofs, along with fibreglass shingles. The flat and slightly sloped roofs of commercial buildings are more likely to collect water, and so they cannot use shingles which have gaps in them. Instead, sheets made up of membranes, such as TPO and EPDM, are used. Traditional commercial roofs are made with  built-up roofing (BUR), which contains a gravel-like layer on the top, giving protection from foot traffic and wind damage.  

#3 The demands of each roof

Steeper slopes allow more insulation to be packed under them, and from the ground view, make the building more visually appealing. They also effectively shed rainwater and reduce the weight of snow of the roof. However, they are more susceptible to wind damage in comparison to the flatter roofs of commercial buildings. With less space under them, the flatter roofs do not offer much insulation, but this may not always be needed in warehouse settings. Commercial buildings are much larger in size than residential buildings, and so a flatter roof is a much more cost-effective and practical approach for larger sized buildings. 

Overall, there are many more differences between commercial and residential roofing when it comes to the installation process, maintenance requirements, and performing repairs. A better understanding of the different needs of your building’s roofs can help you to deal with future issues in the appropriate manner. Contact Great Work Roofing for further detail of which type of roofs you have and answer your concerns. We primarily service in GTA, Oakville, Mississauga, Oshawa, Ajax area.