Had a couple commercial roofing companies come by to check out our building, and man, the price differences were wild. Like, one quote was literally double the other. Same materials, same basic job description, but totally different numbers. I asked around a bit and apparently this is pretty common—roofing quotes can vary a ton depending on the company, their overhead, and even how busy they are at the moment.
Also learned something kinda interesting: one of the roofers mentioned that commercial roofs usually have shorter lifespans than residential ones because they're flat and collect water easier, so maintenance is a bigger deal. Never really thought about that before, but makes sense I guess.
Anyway, curious if anyone else has run into this kind of thing with roofing or other contractor jobs. Seems like there's a lot of wiggle room in pricing, you know?
Yeah, I've definitely seen this before with roofing quotes. When we were getting our flat roof redone, the estimates were all over the place—one was almost triple another! Turns out some companies factor in extra overhead or warranties differently, and some just charge more when they're slammed with work.
"commercial roofs usually have shorter lifespans than residential ones because they're flat and collect water easier"
It's true, flat roofs need more regular maintenance. I found that investing in better drainage and even considering green roofing (plants on the roof) helped extend the lifespan quite a bit...plus it looks great.
Yeah, green roofs can definitely help with drainage and lifespan, but they're not always practical for everyone. I looked into it myself a while back, but the extra weight meant reinforcing the roof structure, which bumped the cost way up. Ended up just improving the slope slightly and adding better drainage channels instead—made a noticeable difference without breaking the bank.
Speaking of maintenance, have you (or anyone else here) tried any of those newer silicone-based coatings for flat roofs? I've heard mixed things about their durability and ease of application, but some folks swear by them for extending roof life. Curious if they're worth considering or just another roofing gimmick...
I've thought about those silicone coatings too, but honestly, the mixed reviews made me pause. One friend swears by it—said it cut down leaks dramatically—but another mentioned it started peeling after just a couple years. Makes me wonder if it's more about how it's applied or maybe the climate plays a big role? I'm curious if anyone's had experience with how these coatings hold up in colder climates with heavy snow and ice...
I've seen silicone coatings hold up pretty well in colder climates, but it really comes down to prep and application. If the roof isn't cleaned thoroughly or the coating is applied too thin, peeling and cracking can happen pretty fast, especially with freeze-thaw cycles. Also, proper drainage matters a lot—standing water under ice buildup can cause issues no matter what coating you use. Definitely worth asking contractors about their prep process before committing.
