Do you want to become a commercial roofer? If so, you must be asking yourself many questions, including whether it is a good career. We all have preferences in life, and they differ from one person to another. For example, some people do not like studying, while others continue to rack diplomas or degrees. College education comes at a hefty price, and some people prefer to venture into careers like becoming commercial roofers.

Be that as it may, to qualify as a reputable commercial roofer, you must acquire certain skills. Motor City Roofers are among the leading roofers in Detroit, Michigan. They stand out from the rest because their commercial roofers are highly trained and experienced in handling different projects. If you want to become a roofer, you need to be creative and hardworking.

What Do You Need to Become a Commercial Roofer?
Typically, apprentice roofers are inexperienced. Therefore, they acquire the necessary skills and knowledge on the job. It is easier for an apprentice roofer to learn about the construction industry on-site. With that in mind, an apprentice roofer should learn invaluable roofing skills from an experienced commercial roofer to understand the roofing process, tools, and materials used. It is important to understand that commercial roofing is physically demanding because roofers work at higher elevations and lift heavy materials. A roofer should be resilient because he can work in vast weather conditions, including snowy, sunny, and windy.

Reasons Why You Should Consider a Career in Commercial Roofing
Variety
While some people repeat the same thing repeatedly for years, roofers enjoy changes. Commercial roofers work on numerous projects, each with its own challenges. That’s a good thing because it means you will not get bored. One of the benefits of completing numerous projects is gaining crucial knowledge and experience in the construction industry. Remember, you will deal with different customers, roofing materials, and locations, improving your learning curve. As you complete different projects, you will always stay ahead of the construction industry because you will learn firsthand about modern technology, tools, machinery, and roofing materials. It is an excellent way of constantly learning and gaining experience.

Commercial roofing is a growing industry
Commercial roofing is constantly growing as people invest in real estate. In fact, the industry is expected to grow by at least 10% in the next decade. Whether it is roof installation or replacement, there is always a demand for commercial roofing services. Therefore, if you are a reputable roofing company, you will always find work.

Working outdoors
If you don’t like working indoors, consider pursuing commercial roofing. Working outdoors might be challenging depending on the prevailing weather conditions, but it offers numerous benefits. Besides benefiting from fresh air, beautiful views, and interacting with others, working outdoors improves your mental health. Not everyone likes to work indoors all year long. If you are one of those people, you might consider pursuing a commercial roofing career.

Seasonal work
If you are a roofer, spring, and summer are the busiest seasons because of the prevailing weather conditions. This does not mean you will not get any roofing projects in winter and fall! Some might see this as a downside, but that’s not true. Roofers earn a good wage, and they can manage to take a break for a few months. Since you will not get numerous projects in winter and fall, you can spend quality time with your friends and family, travel or pick a hobby. Some start a side hassle business to supplement their income. It all comes down to your preference and choice.

Earn good money
Although you will learn crucial skills on the job, you will earn good money if you become a seasoned commercial roofer. Typically, commercial roofers earn a living wage, unlike some jobs offering minimum wage. According to recent statistics, the median income for a commercial roofer is approximately $46 240. Commercial roofers can be paid hourly or per project depending on the Terms and Conditions of the contract. Regardless of the payment agreement, commercial roofing is a good career. Remember, hourly wages are mainly determined by your location.

Growth opportunities
As a commercial roofer, you will work on projects of different sizes, thus offering you an opportunity to advance your career. Depending on your experience level, you might get paid well and get numerous referrals. Some people start their commercial roofing career only to specialize in other areas. Highly experienced roofers can pursue other careers because they can employ their acquired skills. Other long-term careers in line with commercial roofing include estimators, building contractors, or project managers. Don’t forget that there is also an added benefit of seeing your workmanship, i.e., looking at previous projects you completed and taking pride.

Commercial Roofing Services in Detroit, Michigan
A roofing career is a great and perfect career for the right person. To become a successful roofer, you must be passionate, hardworking, and have a great attitude. People with great organizational skills and attention to detail are best suited for this profession.

Repairing your roof can be expensive and time-consuming, depending on the work that needs to be done. Therefore, finding a reputable commercial roofing company in your area is essential. Motor City Roofers has been offering commercial roofing services to the residents of Detroit, Michigan, for many years.
Motor City Roofers is the ideal choice if you need building and roofing services. Serving Detroit, Michigan, and nearby areas, we provide high-quality roofing services that meet your requirements at a pocket-friendly cost. Whether we are installing a new roof, repairing or renovating an old roof, our highly experienced roofing contractors got you covered. By now, you must have realized that hiring a reputable professional roofing company is prudent for inspections, repairs, and installation. Professional roofing companies have the right tools, equipment, expertise, and materials to complete the task.  

​Has your Detroit, Michigan, commercial property experienced any roof damage? Do not hesitate to contact Motor City Roofers. Our friendly team will assist you with all your roofing needs. We provide complete commercial roofing services in Detroit, Michigan, from repairs and maintenance to installation and replacement.    

Is commercial roofing hard to do?  The answer to this question usually varies based on a number of different factors.  In fact, whenever most people think of the job of a roofer, they may automatically envision someone who repairs a leaky roof. Yet, even though this may be true, it is important to note that some roofers are trained and skilled in a wide diversity of tasks. 
With that being said, everyone should know that there is a huge distinction between the residential roofer and the commercial roofer. 
Typically, one of the most commonly known differences is the training and experience that a commercial roofer is required to acquire over a period of time. For instance, the commercial roofer is trained to work on large buildings instead of smaller residential structures. In fact, here are some of the roofing systems that you may see a commercial roofer working on today. 

• office buildings 
• Warehouses
• Shopping malls

Therefore, the residential roofer’s training is geared more toward the smaller projects and structures, while the commercial roofer is trained to work on much larger scale projects. So,  if you want to know additional information about how hard commercial roofing is, here are few things that everyone should know. 

Projects Involve Working on Thousands of Square Feet in Size
Unlike the residential roofer's job duties and responsibilities, the commercial roofer works on projects that are a lot bigger in dimensions. The roofing sizes can range into the tens of thousands of square feet and more. Commercial roofers are also required to complete training that prepares them to work safely on buildings that are several stories high in the sky. For example, the commercial roofer must take the appropriate precautions while working on a roofing system for a small or large company.  Some of these requirements include learning how to work safely on surfaces that are 6 feet or higher. To protect commercial roofers from severe injuries and fatalities, it is important that they are skilled in one or more of the following:

•  warning line systems
•  personal fall arrest systems
• safety net systems
• guardrail systems 

Commercial Roofing Teams Need Specialized Equipment
The type of equipment used to work on commercial roofing is also specialized. Ladders and scaffolders are not sufficient enough for roofing projects that involve commercial buildings that are several stories high. Instead, the commercial roofer will need to acquire the knowledge, skills and experience to operate the following:

• cherry pickers
• Cranes
• boom lifts
• other types of construction equipment

This type of construction equipment has been designed with numerous necessities in mind.  For example,  these types of construction machines are designed to give roofers the capability to access extremely difficult-to-reach areas on their commercial roofing projects. It is also important to note that this type of equipment is not a luxury but a necessity for the commercial roofer. 
 
Time Of Project Completion
Commercial roofing jobs are usually accepted as long-term projects that may take several weeks to many months to complete. Dissimilar to the deadlines set for residential roofing repairs or replacements, completing these jobs in a few days is never enough time. This is primarily because commercial roofing building installations and repairs tend to be a lot more complicated due to the following key factors.

• multiple levels
• ventilation systems
• other features that need to be factored in

Larger Teams Required to Complete Commercial Roofing Projects
Depending on the scope of the commercial roofing project that needs to be done, a large team of commercial roofers may be hired for the work. These teams may be made-up of a diverse crew of talent, including project managers, engineers, truck drivers, and commercial roofers.

Different Types of Installation Methods
Residential roofing jobs tend to be a lot simpler than commercial roofing jobs. This is because commercial roofers are often trained in repairing and installing a wide variety of different roofing types and methods of installation. Therefore, the expertise required to do these varieties of different methods is essential to this career.  Here is a list of the different types of roofing that these professionals are trained in installing efficiently and properly.  

• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
• Liquid Applied Roofing 
• Roof Coating Systems 
• Green Roofs 
• EPDM Roofing (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)
• Modified Bitumen Roofing Systems 
• Built-Up Roofing Systems 
• Metal Roofs

Each of the above commercial roofing types is also known for having its own set of installation requirements. This means a commercial roofer job may get a little bit more difficult to do, especially if the company that is hiring for the job needs these particular skill sets right away.  For example, if the commercial roofer is installing a flat roof (i.e. modified bitumen roofing), they will need to know how to install the roofing in layers.  
Additionally, if the commercial roofer is going to use the right products and resources to do these jobs correctly, they may need to purchase cold presses or adhesive torches. And, once all of the equipment and products are available to do this job correctly, the method of installation must be completed with the greatest precision.  If not, the quality of the roofing installed may be compromised in a way that will not last as long as originally intended. 

Is commercial roofing hard to do?  As mentioned above, the answer to this question can differ greatly depending on a number of different essential factors.  Unlike the residential roofer, the commercial roofer must be equipped with the knowledge, skills, experience, and special expertise to do a commercial roofer’s job duties and responsibilities. 
Since the work that they do involves repairing and replacing roofing systems for buildings that are several stories tall and tens of thousands of square feet wide, a project manager may hire a team of workers to do these jobs safely. Also, these teams of professional commercial roofers must be familiar with the latest commercial roofing materials and modern technology in advance before getting started. Therefore, many of these installations can be a little more difficult than most people may think.

It's a debate among a lot of people when it comes to what's best for your home or business. What kind of roofing is best? In terms of a commercial building, it's typically something that can last, is durable, and is cost-effective. One thing to remember is that a commercial roof is often flat, has a low surface, or has a lower slope than the typical residence. Also, the roofing materials used for a commercial site are usually quite durable and are designed to cover a large area, unlike the typical residence. But what material is best? That brings up a whole new list of variables since as many roofers would let a person know, many different factors play into what type of roof is best for a commercial site. Below are a few that a lot of people have sworn by over the years. There isn't one roofing material that works for every building, but there is a perfect material for each roof, and at Motor City Roofers we're ready to recommend what you need. 


Ethylene propylene diene monomer, or EPDM, is pretty common and is used for commercial buildings that have a low slope. This type of roof is usually fairly lightweight and very durable. An EPDM roof can also improve the energy efficiency in a building, which is something that is highly prized these days. The life expectancy of this type of roof ranges from 20 to a little over 30 years in ideal conditions. 


Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) is a highly-reflective type of roofing. It can last up to 20 to 30 years with proper maintenance and is composed of a few different layers. The roofing material ranges in color, and it's designed to resist UV rays, which leads to greater energy efficiency. It also helps to reduce the wear and tear that constant exposure to the sun can cause. 


Polyiso Single-Ply Roofing is cost-effective, energy efficient, and insulated, and can work with other TPO and EPDM roofs. This is another material that can last for decades with proper maintenance and can save on energy costs in the long run. 


A liquid-applied membrane roof can last for upward of 50 years and might only need a light recoating now and then. There are different components in this type of roofing that include mesh and liquid-applied coatings. But what's great about these roofs, in some ways, is that they're seamless, and are therefore not as susceptible to leaks and water damage as traditional roofs usually are. 


Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) roofing is the use of a single-ply membrane that is used in commercial and residential roofing. The installation process is fairly simple, and the durability of this type of roofing material allows it to last for 25 years or more, so long as proper maintenance is used when necessary. 


Standing seam metal roofing sounds like something that might not be considered the norm. But it is a popular choice for many commercial sites. This is just what it sounds like, a series of metal panels that are locked together. The construction of this type of roof allows the panels to react to thermal expansion and thereby offer maximum efficiency. The cost might be a little greater depending on the area that needs to be covered, but at the same time, this is an extravagance that some businesses choose to take advantage of. In fact, many commercial buildings find that metal roofs are highly attractive in terms of durability and longevity. 


Selecting the 'perfect' commercial roofing material is simple after every possible factor is taken into account. The environment in which the business is located, the cost, and the upkeep that will be required are a few factors that need to be taken into account. Knowing what kind of weather your roof will be taking on, what kind of abuse it will endure throughout the years, and how cost-effective it will be, need to be questions that are asked before picking your roofing material. Finding out how much a roof will cost when using one material or another is important since your roof shouldn't break you financially, and should be able to endure the coming years without needing more than routine maintenance. In that regard, knowing what type of environment the business exists in is vital, since it will reveal what kind of material is best. 
Believe it or not, the type of business will determine the type of materials that are best to use. When thinking about commercial sites, many would think of metal roofing. It's durable, utilitarian, and doesn't require nearly as much maintenance as shingles, tiles, and a few other materials. PVC and liquid-applied roofs are other popular options thanks to the fact that they're fairly low-maintenance if they're constructed properly. Picking one material that's best out of all of them is kind of tough since each material has its own pros and cons. In terms of a commercial business, it has more to do with what will work for decades at a time rather than what will be aesthetically pleasing.
At Motor City Roofers we're dedicated to giving you the kind of service and options that you want, and when it comes to keeping a roof over your business, we want to be certain that you know what's out there and what will work best for your location. The upside of having so many options is that when picking out the 'best' material for your roof, you'll get the pros and cons of whatever materials you're interested in, and what we can do to keep your business secure and your roof in good shape for next few decades. There is no one, universal material that's best for all roofs, even when it comes to commercial buildings. But the great thing about this is that Motor City Roofers knows what's best for YOUR roof, and will work with you to ensure that you get what you want, what you need, and what will work in the years to come.