The winter season can be quite brutal for commercial buildings. Ice and snow can cause plenty of damage to your roof which could pose a risk to the occupants of the building and your business.
A roof that is not designed for snow can lead to roof collapse. It can also lead to a slip and fall accident for a customer, visitor, or employee which can be costly or lead to a lawsuit.
It’s important to choose the best commercial roofing materials that could withstand the harsh winter weather.
Metal Roofs
Metal roofs are an excellent option for people who live in areas prone to harsh winter weather because of the benefits they can provide during the winter season. For starters, metal roofs tend to shed snow and ice before it can harm anyone down below. Since this material have a fairly smooth top surface, when the sun does appear on winter days, the melted snow and ice have a hard time sticking and easily slides off.
The downside to having a metal roof is that the snow and ice could slide off the roof in large sheets without proper precautions taken such as installing snow shields. Snow shields or guards and heat guards can be used to help snow safely slide off in small amounts, preventing it from falling off all at once. This reduces the risk of injuring anyone below.
A metal roof system can stop the rise and fall in temperature between the top floor and the outdoor air when properly designed and installed. Its impenetrability leads to fewer air leaks and gaps which causes heat loss, making it more efficient than a regular non-metal material.
Concrete Tile Roof
Another great option for commercial buildings in areas prone to heavy snowfall is concrete tiles.
Non-metal roofing materials often have to overcome the challenge of withstanding days, weeks, or even months of being covered in snow and ice where water can slowly erode and eat away the roofing material.
This is where an erosion-resistant material such as cement tiles would be beneficial. Due to the composition of the concrete, pigments for coloring, and the specialized sand, it’s extremely water-resistant. It would take years before any sort of cracks or leaks caused by snow or ice damage to appear on the tiles.
Concrete also naturally insulate, compared to other materials concrete tiles would keep your roof free from ice and snow during the cold season. This would also minimize ice-damming as well as tile expansion and contraction that commonly happens with the high freeze-thaw cycle.
On the downside, the process required to make them causes these tiles to be more expensive than others.
Asphalt Shingle Roofs
It’s not uncommon to see asphalt shingle roofs in areas with a colder climate. Asphalt roofs are the best roofing material to have when you want a roof that could hold up well in during the winter season without needing to pay for much. Asphalt shingle roofs might be cheaper to install, but it isn’t likely for them to receive damage from ice or hail.
These roofing materials are designed to withstand the high winds, snow, and freezing climate, but it may need some help retaining their waterproof protection on your roof after a few years. Asphalt shingles aren’t designed to last as long as a metal or concrete tile roof with its average lifespan being between 20 and 40 years.
Fahey Roofing Contractors can help you with necessary roof repairs and roof replacement. Check out our residential roof replacement services, residential roof repair services, or contact us at (304) 826-1333 to learn more.