Commercial Roofing in Connecticut

What we work on

• Low-slope membrane roofs — EPDM rubber and TPO, the systems on most flat commercial roofs. See flat roofing for how the two compare.
• Pitched commercial roofs in asphalt shingle and metal — mixed-use buildings, offices in converted houses, multi-family buildings. See metal roofing and asphalt shingles.
• Repairs — seams, flashing at walls and curbs, penetrations, drains and edges.
• Replacement, including the insulation and drainage underneath.

We work with building owners, property managers and condominium and homeowners’ associations.

A different building code

Houses are built to the residential code. Commercial buildings in Connecticut fall under the International Building Code, adopted as part of the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code, which covers roof assemblies in its own chapter and has its own reroofing rules. Some things carry over — EPDM and TPO membranes still need at least 1/4 inch of slope per foot — and some do not. A commercial reroof also needs a building permit, and when a roof with its insulation above the deck is replaced, the energy code can require that insulation to be brought up to current levels. That can change the cost of a job substantially, so it belongs in the proposal from the start, not in a change order.

Drainage is the whole game

A flat roof is never really flat; it is built to drain. Water that sits for days — ponding — ages a membrane faster, works at its seams and adds weight the structure was not designed for. The fixes are tapered insulation that builds slope into the roof, crickets that steer water around obstacles toward drains, and drains and scuppers kept clear and sized for the roof. Most commercial roof leaks we find trace back to drainage that was never right, or drains that stopped working.

Snow on commercial roofs

Connecticut’s ground snow loads run from 30 to 40 pounds per square foot depending on the town. On a commercial roof the problem is less the even layer than the drifts: snow blown against a parapet, piled where a lower roof meets a taller wall, or banked up behind rooftop units can weigh far more than the roof around it. Keeping roof drains clear and having snow removed from drift areas by people who will not cut the membrane are part of owning a flat roof here.

Repair, restore or replace

Not every tired commercial roof needs tearing off. A membrane with sound insulation underneath and leaks at a few seams and flashings is a repair. Some roofs can be extended with a coating when the membrane is still sound; the coating industry says a properly applied coating can add years. Replacement is the answer when the insulation underneath is wet, the membrane is failing across the roof, or the drainage has to be rebuilt. Wet insulation cannot simply be covered over: it keeps the deck wet and loses its insulating value. We use moisture readings and test cuts to find out, and you get the results with the proposal.

Working on an occupied building

• Scheduling around the business — noisy work, deliveries and dumpsters planned around tenants and customers.
• Protecting the inside — only as much roof opened as can be closed the same day.
• Rooftop equipment — HVAC units, exhaust fans and curbs disconnected, lifted or reflashed with the mechanical contractor.
• Paperwork — certificates of insurance to the owner and manager before work starts, the permit, and the inspections.

Inspections

NRCA recommends inspecting a roof twice a year, spring and fall, and after any major storm. On a commercial roof that means drains and scuppers, seams, flashings at walls and curbs, penetrations, and anything left on the roof by other trades. Problems caught on a routine inspection are almost always cheaper than the leak that finds them first. Our inspections are free. See roof inspection.

Warranty

Commercial membrane systems carry the manufacturer’s own warranty on the materials. Ask us at the inspection which warranties apply to the system we propose, and see our warranty.

Common questions about commercial roofing