Commercial roofs in Houston take more abuse than residential: ponding water from undersized drains, foot traffic from HVAC service, grease and chemical exposure from kitchen exhaust, and the same hail and wind events that hit homes. We install and replace commercial low-slope membranes (TPO, PVC, EPDM, modified bitumen), standing seam metal commercial systems, and full code-upgrade reroofs with new insulation, drains, and edge metal. This page covers the four membrane types, when each is the right call, and what a proper commercial install looks like.
- Cost?
- $7 to $14 per sq ft installed for most commercial low-slope membranes.
- Lifespan?
- TPO 20 to 25 years, PVC 25 to 30 years, EPDM 25 to 30 years, mod-bit 15 to 20 years.
- Speed?
- 20,000 sq ft TPO typically 7 to 14 working days.
- Insurance claims?
- Yes. From $30,000 to $1.2 million in commercial claims closed.
Four commercial membrane systems
TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin). The dominant commercial single-ply in Houston. Reflective white surface cuts AC load by 10 to 20 percent. Heat-welded seams. 20 to 25 year service life. Mid-range cost. Right for the majority of retail, office, and warehouse buildings. Brands: GAF EverGuard, Carlisle Sure-Weld, Johns Manville TPO.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). The premium single-ply. Heat-welded seams. Excellent resistance to chemicals, grease, and oils. Required for restaurants, food processing, and manufacturing with rooftop exhaust. 25 to 30 year service life. Higher cost than TPO. Brands: Sika Sarnafil, Carlisle Sure-Flex, Duro-Last.
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer). Rubber membrane. Black or white surface. Adhesive or ballasted attachment. 25 to 30 year service life. Lowest installed cost on single-ply. Brands: Carlisle Sure-Seal, Firestone RubberGard.
Modified bitumen (mod-bit). Asphalt-based 2-ply or 3-ply system. Torch-applied or cold-applied. Better impact and foot-traffic resistance than single-ply. 15 to 20 year service life. Right for high-traffic roofs and roofs prone to mechanical damage.
Houston commercial code upgrades
City of Houston commercial roof replacement triggers IECC energy code upgrades. Most existing commercial roofs in Houston have R-15 to R-20 of insulation. Code now requires R-25 minimum on most building types (R-30 for some occupancies). When we tear off the existing membrane we install new polyiso insulation to bring the assembly up to code, add tapered insulation to correct ponding water issues, and replace deteriorated drains and edge metal. The code upgrade adds 15 to 25 percent to the project cost but is non-negotiable on permitted commercial reroofs.
Commercial reroof process
Pre-construction walkthrough and structural deck inspection. Drone imagery and moisture survey. Detailed specification matched to building use, slope, and code requirements. Phased tear-off and install to keep building operational and weather-tight (we typically open and close one section per day). Tear-off to existing deck. Deck repair as needed. New polyiso insulation. New cover board. New membrane with heat-welded or adhered seams. New edge metal, drains, and parapet flashing. Manufacturer inspection and warranty registration. Final walk with property manager and turnover of warranty paperwork.
TPO, PVC, EPDM, mod-bit
Full single-ply and 2-ply commercial systems.
Standing seam metal commercial
Manufactured panel systems for large-footprint commercial.
Code-upgrade reroofs
Polyiso insulation, tapered drains, edge metal to current IECC.
Drone surveys and moisture scans
Pre-construction documentation for claims and specification.
Phased tear-off and install
Keep your building operational and weather-tight throughout.
Bonded and insured
$2 million commercial general liability, workers comp, bonded.
