SELECTING AN INEXPENSIVE FLAT ROOF FOR YOUR BUILDING
When choosing your next roof, plenty of factors will weigh in. One that will certainly be considered is the price of the new system. What is your budget? What are your needs? Which roofing systems fit in your budget and meet most, if not all, of your needs? That is a primary question for your new roof. Can you find an inexpensive flat roof that works for your building while still meeting your performance requirements? Let’s look at various roofs in terms of cost and see which systems might fit your budget.
Most Expensive
Roofs in this category, while carrying a higher price tag, also offer higher performance. They are expensive because they provide great benefits. Spray foam is often the most expensive roofing system, but it is also the best available roof on the market. It offers better insulation than any other system, a comparable lifespan (longer in most cases), superior wind-uplift resistance, superior leak resistance, and can be renewed for very little money every twenty years. Spray foam keeps your existing roof out of the landfill which helps the environment. For all of these reasons, spray foam is usually going to cost slightly more than other systems.
Another expensive but high performance roof is a built-up system. Made up of many layers, they are extremely tough. They also provide great insulation thanks to the layers. BUR’s rarely leak because there are so many layers of protection. However, choosing a BUR is not an inexpensive flat roof decision. Their price tag is often comparable to spray foam.
Middle of The Road Price Tag
The middle of the road roofing systems, in terms of price, are single-ply roofs, cap sheet, metal panel, and many asphalt systems. These roofs all share some commonalities: they offer little insulation by themselves but are typically coupled with insulating boards or sheets. They are lightweight, relatively quick to install, and don’t require over-the-top expertise to install. These systems all have weak points in the form of seams and fasteners. These weak points can lead to leaks and insulation problems. They are less expensive than spray foam or BUR because they don’t offer the same rigidity and lifespan as the higher-priced systems.
Lowest Priced
If you’re budget constrained, and need an inexpensive flat roof, the best option is probably not to replace your roof, but to restore it. Using a silicone roof coating costs about half as much as the moderately priced roofing systems and about a third as the most expensive. Silicone does have it’s limitations: it provides very little R-value, very little structural enhancement, and it can be damaged by foot traffic. However, silicone roof coatings are highly reflective which can reduce your energy consumption, if your roof is in good structural condition it doesn’t need to be improved, and we offer a walkway coating that is extremely rigid, resisting damage from foot traffic.
Conclusion
So, if you need a new roof but are on a shoestring budget, consider restoring your existing roof. No tear-off, no new roof installation, just apply the silicone directly to the existing roof as is. There is not a more affordable roofing system out there that still provides a 20 year leak-free warranty like silicone does. If you have a larger budget and want more benefits, a spray foam roof will outperform every other roof on the market, but it will cost you. You can’t get something for nothing and you’ll have to pay. Contact us today for more info on finding inexpensive flat roof systems for your building.
