Protecting a business requires a lot of attention to detail including the need to maintain the structures that house the business. A crucial aspect of these buildings is the roof and in many cases, it could be the most important. After all, the roof of a building prevents rain from entering the structure and damaging valuable merchandise or aggravating the employees. There are several kinds of commercial roofing in Canton, MI, but one of the most common is the low sloped covering that many people refer to as a flat roof. Flat roofs can be covered in various materials, however, the roofing solution of choice tends to be BUR (built up roofing) because it is extremely budget friendly.
BUR is a combination of several materials. The base of the roof is the decking and there are several options that can be used. One possibility is steel, but sheets of steel need to be galvanized to reduce the chance of corrosion. A more common solution is wood and there are two popular types of wood decking. Both of them are engineered products. That is, the sheets of decking are made using multiple pieces of wood and a very strong resin. The first of these products is plywood. This decking is made by placing multiple veneers together with the grain of the next veneer at a ninety degree angle from the prior one. This design increases the strength of the wood. Some commercial roofing in Canton, MI may use OSB (oriented strand board), the other type of engineered wood. OSB is a mix of resin and wood chips that is cured under extreme pressure.
The next layer of BUR is a waterproof membrane, typically roofing felt. The membrane needs to cover the roof completely and is placed so that overlapping areas prevent water from seeping under them. Over this membrane is a layer of asphalt and these two materials will be repeated multiple times. BUR can have three or more layers based on roofing requirements. Larger structures may use a thicker roof to reduce the chance of cracks or tears. Finally, the roof will have a ballast of gravel or similar aggregate to hold things in place. One of the benefits of this kind of roof is quick repairs. Minor damages are often eliminated using asphalt patches. Learn more about commercial roofing solutions from the experts at New Roof Inc.
