If your commercial business is located in a city with cold winters like Philadelphia, you need a roof that can withstand snow, freezing temperatures, and all the other harsh weather conditions the season brings. Let’s look at the best roofing materials for winter so you can determine if your roof is ready for snow.
Best Types of Roofing for Cold Climates
Mother Nature is at its harshest in the winter, especially in Philadelphia. That’s why your commercial business needs a durable surface for protection to avoid damage and potential productivity delays. Different types of commercial roofing offer distinct advantages for winter conditions. These roofing systems work well in cold, snowy climates. Commercial roof types include:
Commercial Metal Roofing
Metal roofing systems have smooth surfaces, so ice and snow slide off them instead of sticking. They also keep heat in your structure without adding extra weight to the top. Metal is one of the best-insulated roofing materials because it allows proper air circulation, which is critical for heating your building effectively. This type of roof lowers your heating bill with its insulation properties.
Heating cables can keep ice from building on the surface. Alternatively, guards create snow and ice slides, allowing buildup to fall off the roof in moderation. Metal roofs can withstand harsh winter winds and resist cold weather damage to keep your commercial business insulated effectively.
Commercial Slate Tile Roofing
Slate tile roofing is constructed from natural stone, yielding long-lasting durability. Slate roofs last for over 100 years when they’re maintained properly. Their durability allows them to withstand snow, freezing temperatures, and winter winds. Slates and tiles insulate commercial buildings well because of their high densities. These roofing systems are strong but often come at high price points. The investment is worthwhile in the winter for added protection.
Commercial property owners and facility managers in the Philadelphia area know the extent of harsh winter conditions. Slate roofs are built to withstand 160 MPH winds and prevent heat loss from your facility. Slate material maintains a consistent roof temperature throughout the winter while saving money and boosting energy efficiency.
Commercial Fiberglass Asphalt Shingle Roofing
Asphalt appears in a low-slope form for flat roofing systems in commercial buildings. Fiberglass asphalt, otherwise known as modified bitumen, is used as sheets to cover large areas across commercial facilities.
Maintenance for this type of roofing is minimal and considerably less than metal, wood, or slate roofing. Ideal for commercial properties, asphalt surfaces require seasonal inspection. Asphalt roofing material is cheap, easy to install, and widely used for various commercial and industrial buildings.
Fiberglass asphalt shingles work well in both cold and warm climates, and they’re very affordable. Asphalt roofing provides weather resistance that fits businesses’ commercial roofing budgets. With a proper installation contractor like Seal Roofing, asphalt roof shingles are waterproof
Commercial Synthetic Tile Roofing
Synthetic roofing on commercial buildings offers the appearance of stone or wood material without the added cost. Synthetic tile is cheaper in installation and material costs, providing highly durable and lightweight components.
This versatile type of roofing comes with a Class 4 impact rating, the highest-grade material available on the market. Synthetic material is resistant to hail, freezing, and wind. Facility managers and commercial property owners should consider synthetic tile if they are looking to reduce energy costs while providing quality insulation and air circulation.
Looking for the best roofing material for your commercial business? Contact our team of experts for quality roofing in Philadelphia.
How Cold Weather Conditions Affect Roofing Material
Commercial property owners and facility managers’ top concern during the harsh Philadelphia winter should be the condition of your building’s roof. Cold weather damages lead to expensive repairs and insurance claims, reduced energy efficiency, and possible productivity delays. Let’s breakdown how certain winter conditions can affect your building’s roof this winter:
Condensation and Moisture Damage
Condensation occurs and becomes a threat to commercial properties when warm interior air rises to meet the cold underside of a roof. Condensation produces moisture, leading to the development of mold and mildew. These byproducts aren’t only harmful to people’s health; mold and mildew lead to quick water leaks in roofing seams.
A simple way to ensure moisture doesn’t enter your facility is by clearing roofing drainage passages. Contacting a professional contractor like Seal Roofing is an excellent way to thoroughly ventilate your facility while providing quality air circulation and eliminating damp areas.
Roofing Deterioration
Despite modern waterproof and water-resistant technologies, no roof will ever be permanent. Materials and components degrade over time due to repeated freezing and thawing of water. That’s why choosing the best material for cold weather in your system is the best way to avoid roofing deterioration. Additionally, scheduling yearly inspections and maintenance with a professional contractor doesn’t leave the health of your roof to chance once winter rolls around.
Ice and Snow Damage
Heavy snowfall periods and high winds cause snow to pile up on top of roofs. Flat commercial surfaces are an accessible area for snow drifts to form, causing pressure and sagging on the entire system. Membranes deteriorate more quickly, allowing water leaks into the building and additional component failure. If not acted upon quickly for repair, roofing life spans decrease significantly, resulting in quicker replacement.
Wind Damage
Severe winter storms often pile snow on commercial surfaces, causing ponding, water leaks, and cracks or damages in the roofing material.
Winter Protection Strategies for Roofing in Philadelphia
Periodical inspection throughout the winter, especially in Philadelphia, is necessary to ensure your commercial roof is safe. Let’s run through actionable measures property owners and facility managers can take to reduce winter damage:
Assess Cold Weather Damage
Property owners should get in the habit of routinely checking commercial surfaces throughout the winter. After ice or snow storms, inspections should be conducted for water leaks, ponding, or drainage. Quick attention to potential damages by contacting a professional repair contractor improves the lifespan of your commercial roof.
Proper Drainage
Ponding water from storms freeze during the winter, clogging drainage systems that effectively transport water buildup off the roof. Perform routine checks to ensure your drains are free of debris.
Regular Inspection
Year-round roofing in Philadelphia is challenging. Scheduling regular inspection and maintenance with a contractor like Seal Roofing prepares your roof for success during harsh winter conditions.
Since 1986, Seal Roofing has supplied the best roofing material for the winter to the Philadelphia metro area. We install, replace, and repair metal roofs, slate tile roofs, EPDM roofs, TPO roofs, and asphalt roofs for various commercial businesses. Seal Roofing is the contractor for you if your structure is an educational facility, manufacturing plant, shopping center, or any other commercial space. Contact our team today for the best resources and knowledge for roofing in Philadelphia winters.
About Us
Seal Roofing is a roofing contractor with a reputation for outstanding service, competitive pricing, and offering a full range of roofing services and solutions.
State Licenses:
PA – #PA025662
NJ – #1835498
DE – #2009603095
Contact Us
Serving the Philadelphia Metro Area
145 Rockledge Ave, Rockledge PA 19046
F: (215) 533-7409