Hamilton Elite Roofing handles commercial roofing in Hamilton, NJ and serves owners and managers in Burlington, Bordentown Township, Robbinsville and Hopewell Township. Our 20+ years in roofing include flat and low-slope work on storefronts, small offices, mixed-use buildings with apartments above and multifamily properties.
Commercial roofs fail differently from house roofs. Water ponds, seams open, drains clog and rooftop equipment punctures membranes. A small leak over a shop floor or a tenant’s kitchen becomes an urgent problem quickly, so we diagnose carefully and schedule around the people using the building.
We size each job honestly. For large warehouse and big-box roofs, owners usually need a specialist bidding a full membrane system, and we will say so rather than stretching a repair beyond what it can do.
Low-Slope Roof Systems We Work With
TPO Single-Ply Membranes
TPO is a heat-welded single-ply membrane, usually white, that reflects summer heat and keeps rooftop temperatures down. Its seams are welded with hot air rather than glued, which makes them strong when done well. We install and repair TPO and check welds carefully, since a cold weld is a common source of leaks.
TPO is often installed over new insulation boards fastened to the deck, which adds thermal value to the building at the same time. Where an old roof has wet insulation, that insulation has to come out, and we probe the existing roof before quoting so the scope reflects what is actually under the membrane.
EPDM Rubber Roofing
EPDM is a durable synthetic rubber membrane, typically black, that has been used on low-slope roofs for decades. It is forgiving and straightforward to repair: a split or puncture is cleaned, primed and covered with a patch. Older EPDM roofs often leak at seams where the original adhesive has given up, and we re-seam with modern tape systems.
Modified Bitumen
Torch-down SBS and APP modified bitumen are built-up sheets with a granular or smooth surface. They handle foot traffic well, which suits roofs with frequent equipment service, and they are common on row buildings and older commercial blocks. We patch, re-flash and replace modified bitumen, using torch, cold-applied or self-adhered methods to suit the building.
PVC Membranes
PVC single-ply membranes resist grease and chemicals better than many alternatives, which makes them a sensible choice on roofs above restaurants with kitchen exhaust. Like TPO, the seams are heat-welded. We discuss PVC where the building’s use calls for it.
Where Commercial Roofs Leak
Drains, Scuppers and Ponding
Standing water on a flat roof works its way into every weak seam and adds weight to the deck. Clogged internal drains and blocked scuppers are the usual cause, followed by a deck that has sagged over time. We clear and reseal drains, rebuild scupper connections and, where needed, add tapered insulation to move water off low spots.
Parapet Walls and Coping
Parapets surround many commercial roofs, and water gets in through cracked coping joints, open mortar and membrane flashing that has pulled away from the wall. A leak there can show up inside far from the roof edge. We repair the coping, re-terminate the membrane flashing and seal the wall cap so water stays out.
Rooftop Units and Penetrations
HVAC units, exhaust fans, vent stacks and conduit all pass through the membrane. Each needs a proper curb or boot, and each gets walked around by service technicians who may not watch where they step. We repair curb flashing, replace pitch pans with modern boots where we can, and add walkway pads around equipment.
New equipment is a frequent source of leaks. When a contractor sets a new unit or cuts a new duct opening, the membrane flashing around it is sometimes left to someone else or skipped entirely. We encourage owners to have the roofer flash any new penetration, and we document each one so later leaks can be traced to the right place.
Skylights and Roof Hatches
Commercial skylights and roof access hatches sit on curbs that need the same membrane flashing as mechanical units. Old curbs often have cracked sealant and rusted counter flashing. We rebuild the curb flashing, check the hatch gasket and latch, and replace skylight domes that have yellowed or cracked.
Mixed-Use and Multifamily Buildings
Roofs Over Occupied Apartments
On buildings with shops below and apartments above, the roof sits directly over people’s homes. We schedule tear-off in sections, keep each one watertight before the crew leaves, and coordinate with property managers so tenants know when noise and activity are planned.
Roofs on these buildings are often a mix: a flat main roof, a pitched front facade with shingles or slate, and small rear additions with their own low-slope sections. We inspect every part, because a leak in an apartment may start at a facade flashing rather than the main membrane, and the repair plan should cover the whole building.
Low-Slope Commercial Buildings Along Route 130
Hamilton’s larger commercial roofs cluster around the I-195 and Route 130 interchange, including the Hamilton Marketplace power center and newer warehouses nearby. Owners of smaller buildings in the same corridors face the same drainage and equipment issues on a smaller scale, and that is the work we are set up for.
Attached and Multifamily Permit Rules
The New Jersey ordinary-maintenance exemption for roof covering applies to detached one- and two-family dwellings. Apartment buildings, townhouse rows and commercial properties are outside it, so we confirm permits and inspections with the township construction office before scheduling a replacement.
Planning and Maintaining a Commercial Roof
Inspections and Records
Regular inspections, typically each spring and fall and after major storms, catch clogged drains and open seams before they reach the interior. We provide photographs and a roof plan showing where each issue sits, so owners and boards can separate urgent repairs from items to budget.
Repair, Coat or Replace
A sound membrane with minor wear can often be repaired and, in some cases, coated to extend its life. A roof with wet insulation, widespread blistering or failed seams across the field needs replacement. We tell you which category the roof is in, with the evidence, so the capital decision is based on the roof rather than a sales pitch.
- 20+ Years on the Roof
- Free Written Estimates
- NJ and PA Contracts