From the top, roofing systems don’t only protect us from the rains and the many weather conditions but also identifies the building from the top. Now roofing systems are also used for extra power generation using solar panels. Currently there are five basic classifications of commercial roofing systems, either flat or slope. They are Built-Up, Metal Roofing, Modified Bitumen Roofing, Single-ply roofing and Spray polyurethane foam.

Built-up roofing

Also known as “tar and gravel” roofs, they are made up of alternating bitumen layers and reinforcing fabric layers that, together, form finished roofing membranes. These membranes are laid out in cross sections across a building top’s surface. BUR as they are known by, is fastened to roof decks and insulation for adherence. The bitumen found in BUR is typically composed of asphalt, coal tar, or cold-applied adhesive. For surface layering, this roof type can include a layer of hot asphalt applied across a building top’s whole surface, aluminum coatings, elastomeric coatings, aggregate “mixtures” (such as gravel or slag), or glass-fiber-surfaced or mineral-surfaced cap sheets.

Modified bitumen roofing

Modified bitumen roofing systems are composed of reinforced roof fabrics which function as “carriers” for bitumen, when it is being manufactured into rolls. MBR is similar to BUR membranes, except bitumen roofing membranes are installed in layers. They are usually fastened to building tops as two-ply systems that are fully adhered to the roofing deck. There are two types of bitumen roof membranes, typically: SBS polymer-modified bitumen membranes and APP polymer-modified bitumen membranes. The SBS modifier is installed in hot asphalt or cold adhesives, while the APP modifier is applied by heat welding or torch application. Of the two, the SBS modified membrane is more common. These membranes’ surfacing layers include: aggregate layers, smooth liquid-applied layers, mineral layers, or metal foil-laminate layers.

Metal roofing

The most popular choice of roofing for commercial work is the Metal Roofing system.  There are quite a number of metal materials in this space; corrugated galvanized steel, aggregates of zinc, aluminum, and silicon-coated steel, metal tile sheets, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, stone-coated steel, lead, and tin. Surface layer protection is applied to metal roofs because of their susceptibility to damage from rust because of prolonged exposure to sunlight. These surfacing layers are typically made of materials like epoxy, ceramic, or acrylic.

Single-ply roofing are membranes are factory-made membranes and they generally come in two kinds; thermoplastic membranes, which include PVC and TPO membranes, and thermoset membranes, which include EPDM membranes, a popular rubber roofing system. And the last one is the SPF roofing—SPF roofing is foam-based and created by mixing and applying a two-part liquid that serves as this roofing system’s base layer. It can easily be applied with different amounts of thickness for greater R-value, or insulation value, or sloping for drainage.

SWS Roofing out of Orland Park are certified to install and work on projects using all of the roofing types mentioned. Since 2010, they have worked on thousands of projects and have won many awards including the 2017 Angie’s List Super Service Award.