Essex Commercial Roofing Contractor
Roof Systems for Village Shops, Offices, and Rear Additions
As an Essex commercial roofing contractor, we replace small low-slope and metal roofs on village shops, offices, and rear additions, flashing every skylight and vent stack by hand.
Essex Commercial Roofing on Small Detail-Heavy Roofs
A lot of Essex commercial roofing work happens on roofs you could walk across in a minute. What makes them slow is the detail: a skylight, three vent stacks, a kitchen fan, a chimney, and a wall where the addition meets the original building, all inside a few hundred square feet.
On roofs like these, the flashing is the job. Each penetration gets its own boot, curb, or pitch pocket tied into the new membrane, and the wall where an addition meets an older building gets new base flashing and counterflashing set into the siding or masonry.
- Skylight curbs rebuilt to sit high enough above the new insulation
- Pre-formed boots or field-wrapped flashing at every vent stack
- Step and counterflashing where a low roof meets a taller wall
- Scuppers and short gutters sized for small roofs that drain fast
Commercial Roofing Leaks at Essex Skylights and Vents
Small roofs rarely fail in the open field. Leaks almost always start at one of the many openings, so that is where inspections focus.
Drips Under A Skylight Well
Water on the sill or a stain around the skylight shaft often gets blamed on the glass, yet the leak usually starts at the curb flashing below the frame.
Short Curbs And Cracked Skylight Flashing
Older skylights often sit on curbs too low for today's insulation. Raising the curb and wrapping it in new membrane keeps water below the frame line.
Stains Around Bathroom And Kitchen Vents
Spots on the ceiling near a restroom or kitchen line point to the vent pipe, where an old boot has split or the sealant collar has pulled away.
Split Boots At Vent Stacks
Rubber boots harden and crack after years of sun. New boots or field-wrapped membrane flashings go on every stack during replacement, including ones nobody uses anymore.
Wet Plaster Where Two Buildings Join
Damp walls inside at the seam between an original building and its rear addition usually trace to the roof edge right where the lower roof butts the taller wall.
Missing Counterflashing At The Wall Joint
Base flashing alone lets water run behind it. Counterflashing cut into the masonry or lapped under siding covers the top edge so rain sheds over the joint.
What New Commercial Roofing Does for Essex Village Buildings
Replacing a small roof gives every opening a fresh start at once, rather than chasing one boot or seam each season.
Every Opening Flashed At The Same Time
On a small roof, a handful of tired flashings cause nearly every leak. Replacement means each skylight, stack, fan, and wall joint gets new flashing tied into one new membrane, so the roof works as a single assembly and stops sending you up a ladder after every heavy storm.
Dead Penetrations Closed Off
Abandoned vent pipes and old fan openings are cut down and decked over during the work, which removes holes that serve no purpose but still leak.
Proper Curb Height For Skylights
Raised curbs lift skylight frames above the new insulation and membrane, keeping meltwater and wind-driven rain from reaching the glass seal. Glass seals stay dry longer.
Cleaner Drainage Off Tight Roofs
Tapered crickets behind chimneys and curbs push water around obstacles and toward scuppers instead of letting it pool against the upslope side.
Commercial Roofing Systems for Essex Shops and Offices
Small roofs still need the right system. These four fit most of the commercial buildings we see in town.
TPO Roofing
Shops and offices with a condenser or two on the roof suit white TPO, since welded curb flashings hold up well around equipment and service foot traffic.
TPO Roofing in Groton
EPDM Roofing
Rear additions crowded with vent pipes and odd-shaped openings often get EPDM, because rubber flashing wraps irregular stacks and patches easily later.
EPDM Roofing in Groton
Industrial Roofing
Boat shops, workshops, and service buildings with exhaust fans and heavier units get raised curbs, walkway pads, and thicker membrane at the busy spots. Grease guards go on kitchen fans.
Industrial Roofing in Groton
Commercial Metal Roofing
Sloped roofs on village storefronts and outbuildings can take standing-seam metal, with flashing kits made for chimneys and skylights on panel roofs.
Commercial Metal Roofing in GrotonLeak Around an Essex Skylight or Vent?
Planning A New Roof
Thinking about replacing a small roof? Send the address and photos and we will book a roof walk.
Get A Free EstimateHow Essex Commercial Roofing Jobs Get Done
Small, busy roofs follow the same order as large ones, with more time spent at each opening.
- COUNT
Inspect Your Roof And List Each Opening
Every skylight, stack, fan, chimney, and wall joint is photographed and listed, along with whether it is still in use, so the scope names each flashing. Measurements of each curb go on the list too.
- PREP
Remove The Old Roof
Old membrane and insulation come off down to the deck, and unused pipes or fans are cut back and decked over before new layers go down.
- CURBS
Raise Curbs And Set Blocking
Skylight and fan curbs are built up to clear the new insulation, and wood blocking goes in at edges and scuppers for solid attachment.
- MEMBRANE
Lay Insulation And Membrane
Tapered insulation and crickets set the drainage, then the membrane goes down with seams welded or taped across the small field.
- FLASHING
Flash Every Penetration
Boots, curb wraps, and wall counterflashing are installed one at a time, then edge metal and scupper boxes finish the perimeter. Each boot gets a clamp ring.
Other Towns Near Essex We Serve
Building in or near Essex? We roof shops and offices across these towns too. Somewhere else? call us or send us a message.
Essex Small Commercial Roof Questions
What owners of small village roofs ask us most before replacement.
How is roofing around skylights and vent stacks handled on a new Essex roof?
Each opening gets its own flashing tied into the new membrane. Skylights sit on raised curbs wrapped in membrane, and vent stacks get new boots or field-wrapped flashings. Openings that no longer serve anything are closed off and decked over so they stop being leak points. The scope lists every one by name.
Should old skylights be replaced along with the roof?
It often makes sense to decide during the inspection. Cloudy or cracked units, or frames sitting on curbs too low for new insulation, are easier to swap while the roof is open. Sound skylights can stay and get new curbs and flashing. We note the size and condition of each unit in the photos.
What roof works on a low-slope addition behind an older building?
TPO or EPDM both fit most rear additions, chosen by how many openings the roof has and what equipment sits on it. The key detail is the joint where the addition meets the taller wall, which needs base flashing plus counterflashing set into the wall. Tapered insulation keeps water moving away from that wall.
Is a small roof priced differently than a large one?
Per square foot, small roofs usually cost more. Setup, staging, and edge metal are spread over fewer feet, and each skylight or stack adds labor. The written scope lists every opening so you can see where the cost comes from. Removing dead pipes trims labor on the new roof.
Line Up Essex Commercial Roofing Work
Send the address or call us, and we will walk the roof, list every opening, and price a new roof with each flashing spelled out.