The world is changing exponentially each year – and the technologies for commercial roofs are no exceptions!
Sometimes change can be overwhelming because you must adapt as technology develops, but sometimes changes are welcome and long anticipated.
For roofing, the new developments benefit you, the Midwest building owner or the head of maintenance, because they are eco-friendly, quick and simple, easy to maintain, and cost-effective.
Energy-Efficient Roofing: Cool Roofs and Green Solutions
One of the major shifts in commercial roofing (and in the world at large) is energy efficiency. And we use a lot of energy here in Wisconsin to keep the buildings temperate with our humid summers and our harsh, cold winters.
On average, electricity energy prices have increased 6.8% annually since 2020 [1]. In terms of expenditure, if you spent $100,000 on energy bills in 2020 then your bills in 2025 will be $166,740 if you use the same amount of energy.
Sadly, not all the increase in energy bills is inflation either because inflation only rose 4.9% on average over the same period. Which means, if you want your business to maintain profitability, you must grow 1.9% annually – just to keep profits the same.
That was depressing, now that we’ve talked about paying bills and inflation – all that is left is death and taxes, right?
Well, while the cost of energy is out of our control, one solution to controlling energy bills is to use less energy. You can turn down the air conditioning and mop up sweat all summer, and you can turn down the heat in the winter and shiver under your winter coat too.
But if you’re not interested in those two options (or need the building to stay within a controlled temperature range), then another option is to prevent energy from being lost.
So, where is most of your energy being used?
The largest energy sink in most businesses is space heating. Controlling the temperature of the building accounts for 32% of all the energy used in your building [2].
And spaces are continuously heated or cooled because the temperate air is escaping, and the roof often accounts for a quarter of the escape [3]. Roofs account for 25% of the energy loss when they are not well insulated (or the insulation is wet), protrusions are not sealed and protected, and inefficient skylights exist in the roof. So, in that nice Wisconsin winter, you’re heating up the air outside your building too! (Very generous of you, but also expensive).
Two helpful solutions to stop losing money through your roof are reflective roof coatings and insulating spray foam on the exterior of the roof.
Reflective “cool roof” technologies, also called spray-on roofing systems, are typically finished with a white top coat that is designed to reflect sunlight away and absorb less heat which keeps your building cooler, reduces A/C strain, and thus slashes those utility bills. Roofs with a reflective white topcoat reduce your roof’s surface temperature by more than 50 degrees! [4]
Temperature difference caused by a roof’s reflectivity.
Reflecting the sun’s heat off the roof is an easy way to drop energy bills on those muggy July afternoons (and waterproof your roof to boot!).
For keeping heat in (and air conditioning too), spray foam is another excellent option. It is sprayed on the top of your roof and acts as a strong insulator that saves you money by reducing your energy bills while also increasing structural integrity, extending the lifespan of your roof, and protecting your roof against weather damage.
At SR Commercial Roofing, after we spray foam, we spray our reflective, white topcoat to keep Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa roofs waterproof and protected against the sun’s destructive UV rays and heat.
Sustainability and Responsible Materials
In addition to energy efficiency, sustainability has become a popular talking point for businesses and has even begun to affect decision-making. A major incentive for creating a more sustainable building is local rebates and tax deductions that save you money.
Recycling
Rubber and metal roofs, the most common roofing systems, now offer recycled options for roofs which are being embraced for their green credentials. However, while recycled materials are installed, tearing off the old roof still creates a lot of waste.
Spray-on roofing systems (which includes the coatings, a reinforcing fabric, and spray foam) offer the advantage of renewability. When the warranty of a spray-on roof expires, the entire roof does not have to be torn off, recycled, and reinstalled. Instead, the roof can be re-coated and re-warrantied quickly and easily – no tear-off or waste!
Installing Solar Panels
Along with recycled materials, many businesses are also taking steps to become more energy efficient, responsible, and sustainable by installing solar panels on their roofs – even in the Midwest.
While solar panels can be installed onto metal and rubber roofs, drilling into a metal or rubber roof breaks the roof’s structural integrity and adds additional weak points where water can leak into the building.
Alternatively, a spray-on roof system is seamlessly applied and offers a flexible but durable system that when drilled into will not falter. Even if water from a rainstorm or melting snow were to leak into the building after screwing down solar panels, it is easy to caulk and spray coatings around the screws to renew the roof’s integrity.
Restoration Over New Installs
Full tear-offs and new installations are falling out of favor because of the alternative financial and operational upsides of roof restoration.
Modern spray-on roofing systems extend lifespans, stop leaks, and can be applied to the roof either for a full restoration or in patches to repair leaks and renew structural integrity.
Our spray-on roofing systems in Wisconsin are 30-50% cheaper than a rubber or metal roof installation and are quicker to apply since we can often spray over the existing roof with minimal tear-off.
Why Spray-On Systems Are the Future
Spray-on roofing systems provide a seamless, highly durable membrane that stands up to extreme weather, hail, and UV radiation. They are easy to apply and often have little waste.
An example of SR Commercial Roofing’s spray-on system fully installed.
Each innovation is about maximizing roof service life and value for the business. Spray-on coatings accomplish this by eliminating weak points that let in water and weather, making the roof easy to maintain, reducing repair expenses, and directing the flow of water into drains or off the roof.
Exciting Tech on the Rooftop: Drones, Sensors, and BIM
Finally, some exciting developments that have made their way to Wisconsin!
Cutting-edge roofing companies are using drones for drone-based inspections—delivering fast, safe, data-rich assessments of roof health. At SR Commercial Roofing, we offer drone inspections which can clearly show areas of concern on the roof – either a leak or where heat is escaping.
Drone inspection footage showing roof saturation (wet insulation) which indicates a leak, roof damage, or poor drainage.
Drones can also be employed by maintenance crews to inspect the roof and monitor leaks or any areas where heat is escaping.
Additionally, maintenance crews can use handheld sensors to track other areas where energy may be escaping such as from windows, doors, and cracks. Using sensors saves them time (a huge blessing when the temperatures are below zero in the winter!) and improves accuracy as they look for weak points.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is another technology that has been developed to help you better maintain your roof and plan for repairs.
As these tools become more common in the roofing industry, forward-thinking facility teams can get detailed reporting without ever needing to climb a ladder – especially in the middle of winter.
The Bottom Line: Why SR Commercial Roofing is Ahead of the Curve
SR Commercial Roofing specializes in spray-on restoration and cool roof coatings in Sparta, WI, and the surrounding area! Our systems offer:
- Energy savings and cost-effective insulation
- Minimal operational disruption during install
- Sustainable, long-lifespan results with competitive, thorough warranty
- Top tier drone inspections for optimal project planning and execution
And our business offers the benefit of a small crew of 4-5 people which makes communication smooth, quick, and effective both with you and within our team.
If you’re ready for an inspection for your business in the Midwest or want to learn how your roof can work harder for your business, fill out our contact form with any questions—or call us directly at 608-844-4933.
Stay ahead of the curve—book your roof inspection with SR Commercial Roofing and future-proof your building today!
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Citations
[1] https://www.energyprofessionals.com/how-have-electricity-price-trends-changed-since-2020/
[2] https://www.ladwp.com/newsletters/articles/commercial-buildings-biggest-energy-users
[3] https://www.phpsd.com/blog/the-two-part-secret-to-minimizing-energy-loss-on-your-commercial-rooftop
[4] https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/cool-roofs
