The roof on your building has been patched for years, and the last contractor finally said it plainly: it’s time for a new one. Now you’re facing a big number, tenants who can’t have water coming through during the work, and three bids that don’t look like they’re quoting the same job. Commercial roofing installation in Denver is a project where the details in the scope matter more than the total at the bottom.
It’s normal to feel exposed on a job this size. You’re trusting someone with a building you can’t see from the parking lot. You deserve to understand what’s being built and why before anything gets torn off.
APC Roofing is a GAF Certified contractor, licensed and insured, and in business since 2017. We install and re-roof low-slope and metal roofs on small commercial buildings across the Denver metro. The inspection and estimate are free. Call 720-902-6940 to get started.
Before anything comes off: scoping the new roof
A good install starts with finding out what’s really under the old one. Two buildings with the same size roof can need very different work.
How many roofs are up there. Codes generally allow one new roof over one existing roof. If there are already two layers, everything comes off. A small core cut answers this in minutes.
Whether the insulation is wet. A recover over wet insulation traps the water and rots the deck from underneath. A moisture survey or a few core samples show which areas are dry and which need to come out.
The deck. Steel, wood and concrete decks each take different fasteners and adhesives. Rusted steel or soft wood gets replaced before the new roof goes on.
Where the water goes. Ponding water on the old roof means the drainage needs fixing, not just the membrane. That can mean tapered insulation to build slope toward the drains, extra drains, or crickets behind rooftop units.
If your bids differ by a lot, these four items are usually why. Ask each contractor what they found and what their price assumes.
Choosing the system
There’s no single best commercial roof for every building. The right choice depends on the deck, the drainage, how much traffic the roof gets and what sits on it.
TPO is a white single-ply membrane with heat-welded seams. It reflects much of the high-altitude sun, and its welded seams are strong. It’s a common pick for retail and office buildings. See more on TPO roofing in Denver.
EPDM is a black rubber membrane that stays flexible in cold weather and is easy to repair. It’s a long-standing choice on Colorado buildings. Our EPDM roofing in the Denver metro page covers it in depth.
Built-up and modified bitumen roofs use multiple asphalt-based layers. They’re heavier and take foot traffic well.
Metal panels suit shops, warehouses and buildings with enough slope to drain. They shed snow and hold up to hail better than many membranes, though large hail can still dent them.
How the new roof goes on
Most commercial installs follow the same order.
The old roof comes off in sections, so only as much is opened as can be closed up the same day. The deck gets repaired where needed. Then the insulation goes down, often in two layers with the joints staggered so heat can’t escape through a straight gap. Tapered boards go in where the drainage needs help.
The membrane is either mechanically fastened through the insulation into the deck or fully adhered with bonding adhesive. Wind pressure is highest at the corners and edges, so the fastening pattern gets denser there.
Then come the details, which is where most roofs either succeed or leak. Membrane runs up parapet walls and gets capped with metal coping. Edge metal clamps the roof down along the perimeter. Every pipe, vent and drain gets its own flashing, and rooftop units sit on curbs tall enough to keep water out.
Scheduling around Colorado weather
Some adhesives and sealants need minimum temperatures to cure, and Front Range weather can swing from warm to freezing in a day. Spring and summer storms build fast in the afternoon. A good crew plans each day around the forecast and only opens what it can close by evening.
Winter installs are possible on some systems, with the right materials and dry days. You’ll hear which parts of the job need warmer weather when the schedule is set.
Working around your tenants
Re-roofing an occupied building takes coordination. Noise from tear-off, the smell of some adhesives near air intakes, and crane or lift days all affect the people inside. Those days get planned with you in advance, and your HVAC contractor is looped in early for any unit that has to be disconnected or raised.
How it works
- Book your free inspection. Call 720-902-6940 or request a free estimate online.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. We check layers, moisture, the deck and the drainage, then give you photos and a written scope that spells out the system, the insulation and the details being priced. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- The roof gets installed and the site gets cleaned up. Work is sequenced around your tenants and the weather, and the crew cleans up when the job is done.
Waiting on a roof that’s already wet underneath tends to grow the job. Each season of leaks adds more insulation and decking to the tear-off list.
Commercial roofing installation in Denver: common questions
Can you put a new roof over the old one?
If there’s only one existing roof and the insulation under it is dry, a recover is often allowed and saves money. If either isn’t true, a full tear-off is the right call.
How long does a commercial re-roof take?
Most small commercial jobs are measured in days to a few weeks, not months. Roof size, the amount of tear-off and the weather set the exact number, and you’ll get a realistic schedule with your estimate.
Which membrane is best for a Denver building?
For most small commercial roofs, TPO or EPDM. TPO reflects more sun and has welded seams. EPDM handles cold well and is easy to patch. The deck, traffic and drainage usually tip the choice one way.
Should I replace my rooftop units at the same time?
If a unit is near the end of its life, it’s worth timing the two together, since the curb and flashing get redone during the re-roof anyway. Talk to your HVAC contractor before the roof is scheduled.
Plan your new commercial roof
Call 720-902-6940 or book your free inspection online. If you’re not sure yet whether you need a new roof, start with our Denver metro commercial roofing page.
The goal is a roof that drains, a scope you understood before you signed and a building that stays open while the work gets done.
