Replacing a commercial roof is a major investment in your property. If you’re in the market for a new roof in Florida, the good news is that there are plenty of commercial flat roofing options available to you. And PITCH Roofing is here to walk you through all of the best flat roofing materials for Florida’s unpredictable climate.
Founded by veteran Florida roofers with over 60 years of local experience, PITCH was created as a solution to Florida’s roofing woes. In addition to providing world-class roof replacement and repair services, that also means keeping our community informed about their roofing options and how they’ll perform. Now, let’s talk about your options for commercial flat roofing!
Commercial Flat Roofing Options in Florida
Florida’s unique climate means that your commercial flat roof has a lot to stand up against. While most flat roofs are safe from hurricane-force winds, your roof still needs to withstand storm debris and be able to drain quickly in a downpour. And that’s without even considering the damage caused by heavy UV exposure!
As we look at your different commercial flat roofing options, we’ll be taking all these local weather events into account. This way, you’ll have a good idea of what you can expect from your new flat roof!
Modified Bitumen
In terms of affordability, nothing beats mod bit. Modified bitumen is a rubberized asphalt flat roofing system that contractors will heat-weld to your roof. This way, you get a watertight seal that prevents leaks and other roofing issues.
Made of rubberized asphalt, mod bit is a multi-layer commercial flat roofing system. Thanks to the hardiness of asphalt, modified bitumen can withstand a lot of foot traffic. Additionally, the rubber polymers in its construction increase UV resistance.
In terms of longevity, though, modified bitumen is not the best option. While it’s affordable and durable, you shouldn’t expect more than 10 to 15 years of life from a mod bit roof. And realistically, you can expect leaks to develop after 5 to 10 years in Florida. Thankfully, these issues shouldn’t be anything that qualified roofers can’t fix.
TPO
Thermoplastic polyolefin, or TPO, is a single-ply roofing system. Made of specialized rubber polymers, few roofs can compete with TPO when it comes to water resistance. Given that standing water is one of the biggest dangers to any commercial flat roofing system, you’ll definitely be glad to have this protection.
Another area where TPO stands out is in UV reflectivity. With other roofs, UV rays gradually break down your roofing material and weaken it. While nothing is immune to this process, TPO does a great job reflecting the sun’s rays away from your structure. This also means considerable savings on energy bills, especially in the summer.
TPO is a more expensive option than mod bit, although it’s certainly not the priciest material on the market. However, the extra investment pays off. TPO commercial roofs last for 20 to 30 years on average. While you can expect to need some repairs on your roof seams over time, these issues take a long time to develop and can be easily addressed through regular roof maintenance and inspections.
EPDM
Ethylene propylene diene monomer is the gold standard of rubber flat roofing. If you’ve ever heard of someone refer to a rubber roof, this is probably the material they were referring to. Similar to TPO, EPDM is a rubber, single-ply roofing system. However, EPDM roofs enjoy much more durability than TPO.
While TPO is great at reflecting UV rays, EPDM is much better at withstanding them without degrading. And as a rubber roofing system, EPDM is among the most water-resistant materials on the market. All of that translates to a lot of durability and longevity.
EPDM is a more expensive commercial flat roofing system, but it’s well worth the up-front costs. EPDM roofs can last for around 50 years, making them easily the most long-lived of the standard flat roofing materials. In fact, there is only one other material that can compete with this kind of longevity.
Metal
Metal is not one of the standard commercial flat roofing materials, but there’s no denying the benefits of a metal flat roof. Metal roofing is widely considered the perfect material for Florida roofs. It’s durable, wind-resistant, looks good, and has pretty unbeatable longevity when you pick the right metal roofing system.
The big decision to make with a metal flat roof is what kind of fasteners you want. Exposed fasteners are much more affordable to install, but that comes at the cost of longevity and aesthetics. Hidden fastener metal roofs look great and last for an extremely long time, but they’re also among some of the most expensive roofs on the market.
There is a large difference in how long these different types of metal roofs will last. Exposed fasteners last for 30 years or so, although you’ll need to replace the fasteners every 5 to 10 years. Hidden fasteners, on the other hand, last for 70 years and very rarely need roof repairs. Of all the commercial flat roofing options, there are none quite like metal roofing!
Get a Free Estimate for Commercial Flat Roofing
There is certainly no shortage of options when it comes to commercial flat roofing. And all of these materials have situations where they’re the best option. No matter what kind of commercial flat roof you’re looking for, you can count on PITCH Roofing to install it and set your roof up for long-term success.
Getting a new commercial roof starts with a free, no-obligation roofing estimate. To get your free quote, call us at 727-677-4824 or fill out our contact form. Our estimates are always tailored to your property and itemized so that you can be 100% sure that you’re getting a complete, secure roofing system.
Finding the right roofers is hard, and it’s even more tricky for commercial roofing. But PITCH has the local expertise and know-how to get the job done right. If you want to see what Roofing Done Right can do for you, reach out to our friendly customer service team and see why we’re Florida’s top commercial roofing company!
Heather Ware is an In-House Roofing Specialist at PITCH Roofing. Working daily alongside our internal roofing teams, she translates complex Florida building codes and roofing techniques into clear, actionable advice for homeowners. With 4 years of experience in the Florida roofing industry, her goal is to ensure property owners have the exact facts they need to protect their investments.
