Commercial and flat roofing in Asheville & Western North Carolina

The commercial systems we install

A commercial roof has a harder job than a house roof: a large surface, constant sun and rain, mountain wind across the parapets, and a field of penetrations around HVAC units and vents. The right system depends on the slope, the building and how it is used. These are the systems we install and maintain, with the service life each typically delivers when it is detailed and maintained properly.

• TPO. A white single-ply membrane with heat-welded seams and high reflectivity that cuts summer cooling loads. Typically 15–30 years. Best on flat and low-slope retail, office, light industrial and school roofs.
• EPDM. A black single-ply rubber membrane with decades of track record. It handles freeze-thaw swings well and can be fully adhered, mechanically fastened or ballasted. Typically 20–30 years.
• Standing seam metal. Hidden fasteners and interlocking seams for sloped commercial roofs, churches and long eaves. Typically 30 years to well beyond 50.
• Modified bitumen. Asphalt with polymers for flexibility, installed in multiple plies. Good puncture resistance where roofs see foot traffic. Typically 15–30 years.
• Built-up roofing (BUR). Layered asphalt and reinforcing felts under gravel or a reflective cap sheet, for heavy-duty roofs where multi-ply redundancy matters. Typically 15–30 years.
• Coatings. Elastomeric or silicone coatings over a roof that is still sound, to seal small defects, raise reflectivity and add roughly 5–10 years before replacement.

Flat and low-slope roof repair

Most flat-roof leaks start in the same few places: open seams, flashing that has pulled away at curbs and parapet walls, clogged drains and scuppers, and ponding water that sits for days after a storm and finds every weakness. A patch over the wet spot rarely holds, because the water usually entered somewhere else and traveled under the membrane.

We trace the leak to where it enters, check the insulation underneath for saturation, and photograph what we find. Then we tell you whether a targeted repair will hold, whether a coating makes sense, or whether the roof has reached the point where a recover or replacement is the cheaper path over the next ten years.

What drives the cost of a commercial roof

Commercial pricing depends far more on the building than on the square footage alone. Your proposal is line-itemed so you can see where the money goes and where a value-engineered change makes sense.

• Insulation package: the R-value requirement drives a large share of material and labor.
• Attachment method: fully adhered, mechanically fastened and ballasted systems each change the scope.
• Details and penetrations: curbs, skylights, parapets and walls need careful flashing and often custom metal.
• Access and staging: downtown sites, limited laydown space and crane or lift needs affect schedule and cost.
• Tear-off and disposal: removing wet insulation or multiple layers adds cost but protects the new system.
• Warranty: manufacturer system warranties can require specific assemblies, inspections and maintenance commitments.

Maintenance that protects the warranty

A well-built commercial roof still needs routine attention to reach its full service life. We recommend inspections every spring and fall and after any major storm: clearing drains and debris, checking seams and curbs, resealing minor cracks, tightening loose fasteners and reinforcing high-wear areas around rooftop equipment.

You get a photo report after every visit and a condition forecast you can budget against, which is also the record many manufacturer warranties require.