I'm thinking about going with a built-up roofing system for a commercial building project. I've heard they're pretty durable, but I'm curious how long they actually hold up in real-world conditions. Weather around here can be kinda unpredictable (you know, hot summers, rainy seasons, occasional hailstorms). Just wondering if anyone has experience with these roofs and could share roughly how many years you got out of yours before needing repairs or replacement?
We worked on a building downtown a few years back that had one of those built-up roofs. Honestly, I was skeptical at first because the weather here is pretty harsh too—lots of heat waves and random hailstorms. Surprisingly though, it held up pretty well for about 15 years before needing any real attention.
"Weather around here can be kinda unpredictable (you know, hot summers, rainy seasons, occasional hailstorms)."
Yeah...we did have to patch a couple spots after some nasty hail, but nothing major. Just keep an eye on it after storms and you should be good for a decent stretch.
That's actually pretty reassuring to hear. I've been looking into built-up roofing myself, mostly because the price point seems reasonable compared to some of the newer systems out there. But honestly, I was worried about durability—especially with our crazy weather swings.
"Just keep an eye on it after storms and you should be good for a decent stretch."
This makes sense. I guess no roof is totally maintenance-free, right? If all it takes is checking it out after a storm and patching up minor damage here and there, that's manageable. I mean, 15 years before needing serious attention sounds pretty solid to me. My neighbor has a metal roof and even he had to fix some dents after last year's hailstorm...so maybe there's no perfect solution anyway.
Thanks for sharing your experience—it definitely helps ease some of my doubts about going this route.
Built-up roofs can definitely hold their own, but honestly, I'd be cautious about assuming minor patch-ups after storms will always be enough. Had a client once who thought the same—until a sneaky leak went unnoticed and turned into a full-blown ceiling disaster. Not saying it'll happen to you, but just keep in mind that sometimes damage isn't obvious right away. Regular inspections are key, even if things look fine at first glance...
Good point about hidden leaks... I've seen a couple roofs that seemed totally fine until we got up close. How often would you suggest inspections, though? Like after every major storm, or just once a year?