Commercial & industrial flat roofing
Commercial flat roofing is the design, installation and maintenance of waterproof membrane systems, single-ply, EPDM and liquid-applied, on the low-pitch roofs of business premises, factories, warehouses and other commercial buildings.
Flat roof systems for commercial buildings
A commercial flat roof is only as good as the system specified for it, and there is no single right answer. We install single-ply membranes including Bauder and IKO for large commercial and industrial roofs, EPDM rubber where a single-piece, long-life cover suits a smaller or simpler roof, and liquid-applied systems for complex, heavily detailed roofs or for over-coating an existing roof without a full strip. The choice comes down to the roof's size, falls, foot traffic, the building's use and budget, so we survey first and recommend the system that fits the building rather than fitting one product to everything.
A well-installed single-ply or EPDM roof typically lasts 30 to 50 years, and most flat-roof failures have nothing to do with the membrane itself. They start at the upstands, outlets and junctions, the detailing, so that is where we put the care: correct falls, properly formed upstands, sound edge trims and drainage that keeps water moving off the roof.
Re-roofs, cladding and the wider envelope
We deliver full flat-roof renewals and re-roofs, profiled metal and composite wall cladding, gutter-lining to seal leaking valley and box gutters without ripping them out, and liquid waterproofing over awkward existing roofs. Where an older roof carries asbestos cement, we handle the licensed removal and replacement as part of the same programme. The point is that the roof, gutters and cladding work as one envelope, and we treat them that way.
What's included
- Single-ply membrane systems (Bauder, IKO) for large flat roofs
- EPDM rubber for smaller and simpler commercial roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing and over-coating
- Full flat-roof renewals and re-roofs
- Profiled metal and composite wall cladding
- Gutter-lining for leaking valley and box gutters
- Asbestos cement removal and replacement
- Planned maintenance contracts and scheduled inspections
- Programme planned around your operations to minimise downtime
Planned maintenance and minimal disruption
The cheapest insurance a commercial roof can have is a scheduled annual inspection: clearing gutters and outlets, checking the detailing and fixing small problems before they become expensive failures or business interruption. We offer planned maintenance contracts to landlords, managing agents and businesses, and on every project we plan the works around your operations, phasing the job and keeping the building watertight so as much of it as possible stays in use. Read our guide to single-ply roofing or the benefits of a modern flat roof, or book a free survey. We are Edinburgh-based and work UK-wide, with offices in Aberdeen and London.
Common questions
What's the best flat roof system for a commercial building?
It depends on the roof's size, the falls, foot traffic, the building's use and budget, which is why we specify rather than sell one product. Single-ply membranes (such as Bauder and IKO) suit large commercial and industrial flat roofs; EPDM rubber gives a single-piece, long-life cover on smaller and simpler roofs; and liquid-applied systems are ideal for complex, heavily detailed roofs or for over-coating an existing one without a full strip. We survey the roof and recommend the system that fits the building, not the other way round.
How long does a commercial flat roof last?
A well-installed single-ply or EPDM roof typically lasts 30 to 50 years, and a quality liquid-applied system gives a comparable life with the advantage of a seamless finish around complex details. Lifespan depends heavily on the detailing at upstands, outlets and junctions and on whether the roof is maintained, which is why we put particular care into the falls, edge trims and drainage and offer planned maintenance to protect the investment.
Can you re-roof without shutting the building down?
Usually yes. For occupied commercial and industrial premises we plan the programme around your operations, phasing the work and keeping the building watertight as we go so that as much of it as possible stays in use. We agree access, working hours and any shutdown windows up front so the re-roof causes the least possible disruption and downtime.
Do you only over-coat, or do full re-roofs?
Both. Where an existing roof is sound but tired, a liquid-applied over-coat can extend its life for a fraction of the cost and mess of a strip. Where the deck, insulation or membrane has failed, a full re-roof is the right call and the only honest one. We tell you plainly which situation you are in after the survey, rather than defaulting to the bigger job.
What is a planned maintenance contract and is it worth it?
It is a scheduled programme, usually annual, where we inspect the roof, clear gutters and outlets, check the detailing and fix small problems before they become expensive failures or business interruption. For a commercial roof it is the cheapest insurance there is: most major flat-roof failures begin as a blocked outlet or a lifted detail that a routine visit would have caught. We offer maintenance contracts to landlords, managing agents and businesses across the UK.
Do you work outside Edinburgh?
Yes. Our HQ is in Leith and we cover Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Scotland for all roofing, but we take on commercial and industrial contracts UK-wide, supported by our offices in Aberdeen and London. We are an NFRC UK Roofing Award winner and a SELECT, ISOQAR and UKAS accredited family firm, so the same standards travel with the job wherever it is.
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