Commercial Roofing for the Triad.

Commercial roofing, done by people who actually do commercial roofing

Commercial roofs are not residential roofs with bigger square footage. They’re a different building type with different failure modes, different code requirements, and different installation skills. A residential roofer working on a low-slope TPO system for the first time is going to make expensive mistakes. We’ve been installing commercial roofs in the Triad long enough that our commercial crew is a dedicated team, not someone we pulled off a shingle job for the week.

The systems we install

TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin)

The most common commercial roofing system installed today, and what we put on the majority of new commercial roofs in the Triad. TPO is a single-ply membrane heat-welded at the seams, which produces a continuous waterproof surface across the entire roof.

• Lifespan: 20-25 years
• Color: white (highly reflective, reduces cooling costs)
• Best for: warehouses, retail, office buildings, schools, manufacturing
• System warranty: up to 30 years through Carlisle SynTec when installed as a complete system

We’re an authorized Carlisle SynTec applicator — Carlisle is the industry leader in commercial single-ply systems, and the authorization means our installers have completed Carlisle’s training program and our work is inspected for warranty purposes.

EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)

Black rubber single-ply, one of the oldest and most proven commercial systems. We still install EPDM regularly, especially for re-roofs over existing EPDM systems and for buildings where the dark color is preferred (older industrial buildings, certain HVAC equipment configurations).

• Lifespan: 25-30+ years (some original EPDM roofs from the 1980s are still in service)
• Installation: fully adhered, ballasted, or mechanically fastened depending on substrate and code
• Best for: industrial, warehouses, schools, multi-family

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

Premium single-ply membrane with the highest chemical resistance. We specify PVC for restaurants, food processing facilities, anywhere with grease exhaust hitting the roof, and for buildings near industrial chemical exposure.

• Lifespan: 25-30 years
• Chemical resistant: the right call wherever oils, fats, or solvents are vented onto the roof
• Highest cost of the three single-ply options, but appropriate for specific applications

Silicone restoration coatings

For roofs that are aging but not yet failing, a silicone restoration coating can extend service life by 10-15 years at a fraction of the cost of a replacement. We assess whether your existing membrane is a candidate (it needs to be structurally sound — coatings don’t fix a failing substrate).

• Cost: typically 40-60% of full replacement
• Renewable — can be recoated indefinitely
• Manufacturer warranty: up to 20 years for a fully restored and inspected system

When to replace versus restore versus repair

This is the single most important decision a commercial property owner makes about a roof, and it’s the one where unscrupulous contractors lie the most. The honest answer depends on:

• Age of existing membrane (TPO is at 18+ years, EPDM at 25+ years → start planning replacement; coatings only work on younger systems)
• Square footage of active leaks (scattered, isolated leaks → repairs make sense; pervasive, growing leaks → it’s time)
• Substrate condition (wet insulation is a red flag; we’ll do core samples to find out)
• Building owner’s hold period (planning to sell in 2 years vs. hold for 15 changes the calculus)

We come out, do a real assessment, and tell you what we’d do if it were our building. Sometimes that’s “replace now,” sometimes that’s “coat it and revisit in 8 years,” sometimes that’s “you’ve got another 5-7 years of life, just repair as needed.”

What’s included in a full commercial roof install

• Tear-off of existing system to deck (or installation over existing if substrate is sound and code allows)
• Insulation upgrade to current energy code (often a significant operational cost savings)
• New cover board (Dens-Deck or equivalent) under the membrane
• Membrane installation — fully adhered, mechanically fastened, or ballasted as appropriate
• All penetration boots, walkway pads, and pitch pockets detailed properly
• Edge metal and coping rebuilt or replaced
• Roof drain repair or replacement where needed
• Manufacturer system inspection for warranty registration
• NDL (No Dollar Limit) warranty options up to 30 years

Why owners and property managers pick Mid Atlantic

• Dedicated commercial crew. Not residential roofers learning on your building.
• Carlisle SynTec authorized. Manufacturer-trained, inspected, and warrantied.
• Local and accountable. We’re not a national chain mobilizing a project team from out of state — our crews are based in Winston-Salem.
• Honest assessments. We don’t sell replacements that aren’t needed.
• Coordination with property managers. We work around tenant operations, restricted access windows, and weather risk windows.
• Documentation for ownership and lenders. Full project files, photo documentation, warranty registration.

Get a commercial roofing assessment

For a free commercial roof assessment, call (336) 671-5208 or request an estimate online. For larger properties or portfolios, we can schedule a site walk with your property manager and provide a written condition report.