Insights

Commercial roofing insights

Technical articles on roofing systems, materials, and field decisions for commercial building owners and facility managers.

Storms & insurance

What Hail Actually Does to a Spray Foam Roof, and Why FM's Very Severe Hail Zone Now Reaches All Five of Our States

FM Global's hail map now reaches into South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Wyoming with its Very Severe Hail zone, where stones over two inches are expected within 15 years. Here is what a hailstone does to a coated foam roof, where the industry line that foam does not leak is true and where it stops being true, and what golf-ball hail did to a school roof A-1 had restored.

A-1 Roofing
13 min
Storms & insurance

Commercial Roof Hail Claims in Five States: The Rules That Differ in SD, NE, IA, MN and WY

Hail season in South Dakota now runs 173 days, Nebraska leads the nation in hail losses, and the rules for a commercial roof claim change at every state line. Here is what a building owner in South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota or Wyoming should know about deadlines, deductibles, and the clocks their insurer has to meet, with every rule tied to the statute or bulletin that sets it.

A-1 Roofing
9 min
Weather & climate

Roof Coating and Spray Foam in Cold Weather: When the Upper Midwest Season Actually Closes

The coating season does not close on one number. A-1 shuts roof work down when temperatures fall below 55 degrees, stops spraying 5 degrees short of the dew point, and does not start a large foam and coating job after October 15. Here is what the manufacturers publish, why their numbers disagree, and how A-1 decides whether a late-season job goes ahead in South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Wyoming.

A-1 Roofing
11 min
Comparisons

10-Year vs. 20-Year SPF Roofing Warranty: What Actually Changes

The difference between a 10-year and 20-year SPF roofing warranty is 10 mils of topcoat, one fewer recoat cycle, and twice as long an inspection obligation. The exclusions are the same at both tiers. Here is when the 20-year system is worth it and when it is not.

A-1 Roofing
7 min
Roof systems

Signs a Commercial Roof Needs Replacement vs. Restoration: Upper Midwest Guide

The restore-vs-replace decision on a commercial roof comes down to two measurements: how much insulation is wet and whether the structural deck is sound. Below 25% wet insulation with a sound deck, restoration is almost always viable. Above it, replacement economics take over. Freeze-thaw cycling, hail, and thermal swings specific to the Upper Midwest compress that timeline.

A-1 Roofing
9 min
Inspection & maintenance

Commercial SPF Roof Inspection Checklist: The 7-Area Sequence

SPF roofs require documented semi-annual inspections to hold manufacturer warranty coverage. Most surface walkthroughs miss at least two of the seven required areas. Here is the complete inspection sequence, what each failure condition means, and what your contractor's written report must include to count for warranty documentation purposes.

A-1 Roofing
9 min
Roof systems

Why Ponding Water Destroys Single-Ply Roofs

Water that sits on a flat roof for more than 48 hours after rain stops is not a nuisance. It is a slow mechanism of failure. Here is what happens at the membrane level and why silicone coatings respond differently than acrylic ones.

A-1 Roofing
6 min
Comparisons

Spray Polyurethane Foam vs. TPO: A Commercial Roofing Comparison

SPF and TPO are both proven commercial systems, but they manage insulation, seams, and renewal differently. Here is the honest comparison, and why we lead with spray foam on most low-slope buildings while TPO still earns the job in specific cases.

A-1 Roofing
7 min