The roofing system on a new commercial building sets the performance baseline for everything that follows. Get the specification right from the start and the building owner gets decades of reliable protection. Get it wrong and the problems show up before the first lease renewal. Choosing the right system for new construction roofing in Livonia, MI, is not a decision to leave entirely to the general contractor or defer to whoever submits the lowest roofing sub bid.
At Core Values Construction, we work with developers, GCs, and building owners across Livonia and southeast Michigan on new commercial buildings where the roofing specification is matched to the building from day one. Call us at 517-260-3957 to discuss your project.
This article covers why membrane selection on a new commercial build needs to happen before the building is fully designed, what decisions get made by default when the roofing contractor is brought in too late, and how early roofing input produces a better building at lower long-term cost.
Choosing Your New Construction Roofing System
Roofing is almost always one of the last subcontracts to be awarded on a new commercial build, but it is one of the first systems that should be specified. The membrane type selected for a new commercial roof in Michigan determines the insulation assembly required to meet energy code, which affects the structural loading on the roof deck, which affects the framing specification that gets drawn before the first permit is pulled. TPO over polyisocyanurate insulation at R-25 puts a different structural demand on the deck than a ballasted EPDM system at the same R-value.
A roofing contractor who is not consulted until the deck is already framed and the insulation requirement is already locked into the construction documents is a contractor who can only work within the constraints that were set without them. Those constraints sometimes result in a compromised roofing assembly that would have been specified differently if the conversation happened earlier.
Energy Code Requirements
Michigan commercial buildings fall under energy code requirements that specify minimum continuous insulation R-values for roof assemblies, and those requirements have increased significantly over recent code cycles.
Livonia commercial buildings permitted under the current Michigan Energy Code must meet continuous insulation requirements that, depending on roof type and assembly, typically require polyisocyanurate or similar high-performance board insulation to achieve compliance. The roofing membrane selected affects how that insulation is installed and attached, which in turn affects the overall assembly R-value after thermal bridging through fasteners is accounted for. A mechanically fastened TPO system with closely spaced screws through the insulation delivers a lower effective R-value than a fully adhered system over the same insulation thickness. These are decisions that belong in the design phase, not corrections made after the building envelope is already committed.
Drainage Design
Drainage is the detail that new construction roofing gets wrong most often when the roofing contractor is not at the design table. A flat or low-slope commercial roof in Michigan needs to drain completely and quickly. Ponding water that sits on the membrane for more than 48 hours after a rain event is a code compliance issue and a warranty concern on most membrane systems. Drain placement, number of drains relative to roof area, slope from tapered insulation or structural framing, and scupper design must all be coordinated between the architect, structural engineer, and roofing contractor. A roof that drains poorly on day one will drain poorly for its entire service life, and chronic ponding shortens membrane life and creates the leak events that produce interior water damage during Michigan’s heavy spring and summer rains.
Documentation
A new commercial roof in Livonia is only as protected as the documentation that supports its warranty. At project closeout, the building owner should receive a complete package that includes:
- The executed manufacturer warranty naming the building, address, installation date, coverage period, and the specific terms of what is and is not covered.
- The product data sheets for every material installed, including membrane, insulation, fasteners, and flashing components.
- A roof diagram documenting drain location, penetration positions, and any areas of tapered insulation that are relevant to future maintenance and repair decisions.
Start Your New Construction Roofing
New construction roofing in Livonia, MI performs best when the roofing contractor is part of the design conversation, not just an installer who shows up at the end of the project. At Core Values Construction, we work with developers and general contractors across southeast Michigan from preconstruction through warranty closeout to make sure new commercial roofs are specified, installed, and documented correctly from the first day. Call us at 517-260-3957 to bring us into your project early.
FAQ
What roofing systems are most commonly specified on new commercial construction in Michigan?
TPO over polyisocyanurate insulation is the most widely specified assembly for new flat and low-slope commercial construction in Michigan due to its energy performance and installation efficiency.
When should a roofing contractor be brought into a new commercial construction project in Livonia?
Ideally during the design development phase, structural framing and insulation requirements are finalized in the construction documents.
Does a new construction roofing warranty start on the installation date or the certificate of occupancy date?
Most manufacturer warranties begin on the date of installation completion and warranty issuance, not the certificate of occupancy date, so the closeout documentation process matters.
Can a new construction roofing system be specified to accommodate future rooftop solar in Livonia?
Yes, specifying a thicker membrane and confirming the roof structure is engineered for the additional load is far easier during design than retrofitting later.