When having improvement projects done on your commercial property, budget is typically at the top of the list of things to consider. More often than not, budget dictates how you will decide on the other aspects of the project. In terms of commercial roof replacement, you’ll have to think about two kinds of costs—initial and lifetime costs.
Initial Costs: Materials and Labor
If your commercial property is like many others, it must have a flat roof. On the average, it will cost you between $8,000 – $11,000 to install a flat roof on a 1,500 sq. ft. property. The exact cost will of course depend on a number of things, including the type and quality of material, as well as the complexity of the installation method used.
Flat roof materials are generally cheaper than those used on sloped roofs, which is one of the reasons why bigger commercial establishments often have flat roofs. To give you an idea, here are the industry averages for the most common flat roof materials:
- EPDM – $1.50 per sq. ft.
- TPO – $1.70 per sq. ft.
- PVC – $1.90 per sq. ft.
- Modified bitumen and rolled asphalt – $1.30 – $2.20 per sq. ft.
Note that these are just averages and that prices will vary from brand to brand. Keep in mind that the cheapest option usually won’t deliver on the quality you expect. High-quality materials are seldom cheap, so it makes sense to invest in top-notch materials that are likely to last longer.
Lifetime Costs: Maintenance
The roof material’s quality and durability, as well as how well it was installed, will affect how long it will last. These factors will also determine how easy it will be to maintain the roof. While it’s important to have a commercial roof inspected at least twice a year, it will cost you a lot less if the material and system you choose can resist damage better than others.
