Most Common Differences Between
Commercial and Residential Roofing

Roofs are an integral part of the construction process. A roofing sheet supplier can help you with the kind of roof that you’re looking for, but it is important to know how roofing sheets can vary depending on the application. Here we will discuss the most common differences between commercial and residential roofing.

The Purpose of Roofing:

Whatever application the roof is being used for, it has one primary purpose that is protecting the space under it from various environmental effects such as rain, wind, sunlight, storm etc. But there are still significant differences in commercial and residential roofing in terms of material used and construction style.

Also Read: How To Install Roofing Sheets

The Difference In The Construction Of Commercial and Residential Roofing:

The overall size of a residential roof is quite small as the area required for the roof to cover is not much. Residential roofing mainly comprises houses, small buildings, garages etc. So, in terms of ground area, these are significantly low. However, on the other hand, commercial roofs used in malls, multiplexes etc. need to be large enough as the area used by these structures are significantly large. Additionally, in the case of industries, the structure can span huge areas. In such cases, enormous roofs are required. Due to these reasons, commercial roofs also need to have a higher load-bearing capacity when compared with residential roofing.

Residential areas can be air-conditioned, so the roof doesn’t have to play a major role in venting out hot gases or regulating the inside temperature. Commercial areas can also include central air-conditioning for keeping insides cool. Large industrial areas, however, cannot have central air-conditioning which means the roof has to have enough provisions to regulate the internal temperature by proving vents for smooth airflow. This is achieved by installing turbo ventilators and other accessories on the roof. Industrial roofs also need gutters for channelling rainwater to a safe location.

Also Read: How Important Is The Shape Of Your Roof Depending On The Application?

The Difference In The Material Of Commercial and Residential Roofing:

Depending on the type of industry, the wear and tear on the roof may differ. Chemical industries, for example, may have fumes interacting with the roof regularly which can degrade the life of the roof in a very short time. So, the roofing material, in this case, needs to be chosen wisely. Aluminium roofs are a good choice in such applications as they don’t react with chemicals and can last longer. 

Some industries operate heavy machinery which generates an enormous amount of heat so the roof needs to be able to withstand the heat discharge. Hence, industrial roofs are generally made of metal so that they can last for a longer period and can withstand adverse climatic as well as environmental conditions. 

Commercial spaces sometimes use transparent roofs to create a feeling of being spacious. Structures like malls and airports had been using glass as a transparent roofing material but these are soon being replaced by polycarbonate roofing sheets. Polycarbonate roofing sheets have found widespread usage in construction in recent times due to their excellent properties like strength, durability, fire resistance etc. They can withstand higher impact loads than glass and are much more weather-resistant than other roofing materials.

Residential roofs use concrete, asphalt, clay etc. as the primary material in roofing construction. These have been used for a long time and serve their purpose effectively.

So there are some major differences when you compare residential roofing with commercial/industrial roofing. It is necessary to know the applications and choose the right roofing material and construction style for your structure.

It is always best to get a professional and qualified roofing expert to meet all your roofing requirements. Bansal Roofing Products Ltd. is one of the best roofing sheet manufacturers and an expert in the field for several years. Bansal Roofing has an outstanding reputation in roofing construction and is a market leader in roofing sheets.