Choosing the Right Commercial Roof Replacement Material

Choosing the Right Commercial Roof Replacement Material

August 23, 2021 by GLSA Mobley


Choosing the right roofing material starts with a look at your building. Of course, choose the wrong commercial roofing contractors in Knoxville, TN or Nashville and you won’t have a roof that protects your building no matter what material you decide on.

Where to Start

Choosing the Right Commercial Roof Replacement Material

Certain materials, like asphalt shingles, only belong on steep slope roofing. Metal roofing, however, can protect both steep slope and low slope buildings. Other materials, like PVC, EPDM, TPO and modified bitumen are intended for flat roofing or roofs with a very low slope. We recommend you talk with your commercial roofing contractors in Knoxville, TN about what you want out of your roof as far as expected life and durability. That can help both of you choose the right materials.

Pros and Cons of Commercial Roofing Materials

We’re going to focus on flat roofing materials in today’s blog. If you have a steep slope roof, check out our blog on why choosing metal roofing for your business is a good idea.

  • TPO – Also called single ply roofing. This is one of the top installed roofing materials today as it’s affordable, light weight and available in light colors so you may see lower energy bills. The downside of TPO is that it doesn’t have as long a life as some other commercial roofing materials.
  • EPDM – This is one of the best values in commercial roofing. It’s fairly inexpensive and has about a 30-year expected life. It’s a single ply product but you can install gravel over it.
  • PVC – More expensive than the two above options, however, it has a 20 plus year service life and is highly wind, fire and chemical resistant. It’s lightweight so you won’t need any changes to your roof’s structure.
  • Modified-bitumen – As one of the oldest roofing materials. It’s ideal for the cold winters we have in Knoxville and Nashville. It’s less expensive than TPO and quite UV resistant. However, it only has an expected lifespan of 10 – 20 years and less if it gets frequent foot traffic.

We’re One of the Top Commercial Roofing Contractors in Knoxville, TN

If you need a new roof for your commercial building, trust Mobley Brothers Roofing & Renovation. We offer many products from leading brands and always follow proper installation techniques. We’re A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau. We also have a middle Tennessee office outside of Nashville and offer commercial roofing to that area. Call (865) 248-2772 or fill out our contact form today.


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