Commercial Roofing
Commercial Roofing for Property Owners and Managers
Commercial roofs carry higher stakes: larger surfaces, complex drainage, and lease obligations. The Roof Shepherd documents the roof, explains the options, and manages the repair or replacement you choose.
Updated November 1, 2026
Read This First
The short version
- The Roof Shepherd documents your commercial roof, explains your options, and manages the repair or new roof you choose.
- Flat and low-slope problems are drainage problems more often than material problems, so the assessment starts with ponding.
- The review covers TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen, built up, and coated roofs. It includes seams, flashings, and penetrations.
- The result is a written condition record you can put in front of a contractor, an insurer or a budget meeting.
- We advise and educate you on your options and rights, document the roof, and submit documented supplements. We are not a public adjuster and never negotiate or settle a claim for you.
For a commercial roof review, call or text 512-575-5052 or use Get Help.
Short version: 2 min. Full page: 7 min. Want the detail? Each section below opens with a tap, or switch to Full at the top to open them all.
Commercial Scope
What commercial guidance covers
The review covers membrane seams, flashings, drains and ponding by zone, and ends in a written record for bidders.
Flat & Low-Slope Roof Review
TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen, built-up roofing, and coated systems. Condition review covers membrane seams, penetration flashings, drain sumps, roof-to-wall terminations, and surface condition documentation by zone.
Drainage & Ponding Documentation
Standing water, blocked interior drains, compromised scuppers, and improper slope documented with photo evidence. Ponding water accelerates membrane degradation and is a primary maintenance concern on flat commercial roofs. The hail damage atlas has a section on what hail does to flat and low-slope membranes, and what is mistaken for it.
Written Scope Reference
Pre-bid documentation to help property owners understand what a roofing contractor’s proposal should include. Organized condition records shared across multiple bidding contractors produce more consistent, comparable proposals.
Access & Safety Context
Access limitations, parapet conditions, HVAC equipment placement conflicts, and anchor point concerns documented before any work begins.
Commercial Systems
TPO roof systems
TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen, and built up roofs each fail differently, so we document each type its own way.
TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen and built-up
TPO roofing, EPDM, modified bitumen roofing, and built-up roofing each fail differently, which is why flat and low-slope roofing documentation is system-specific here. TPO roof systems serve commercial and low-slope buildings with a lightweight, reflective membrane that resists leaks, ponding, and UV exposure. We handle install, repair, and replacement questions the same way: document the conditions, explain the options, and our crew does the work from start to finish.
Commercial Systems
Flat and low-slope roofing
Flat roof trouble is usually drainage, so ponding, seams and drains are documented before a system is chosen.
Flat roof trouble is usually drainage
Flat and low-slope roofing problems are drainage problems more often than material problems. We diagnose ponding, seam, and drainage issues, document conditions clearly, and match the right system to your building. Facts first, no pressure.
Commercial Systems
Modified bitumen roof systems
Modified bitumen is a multi layer heat resistant membrane for flat roofs, and The Roof Shepherd documents it.
Built for low-slope and flat roofs
Modified bitumen roof systems suit low-slope and flat roofs that need a durable, multi-layer membrane built for heat. Install, repair, and replacement are all on the table: we document the conditions, explain your options honestly, and our crew does the work from start to finish.
Commercial Roofing in Texas
What makes Texas commercial roofing different
Texas heat stresses seams and roof openings, so get a written condition record before you choose a contractor.
What Texas heat does to a flat roof
Texas heat creates specific performance demands for commercial flat and low-slope systems. TPO and EPDM membranes expand and contract under 100°+ summer temperatures, so seam integrity and penetration details are where failures start. A documented baseline before storm season or before any repair decision gives property managers leverage in both insurance and bid conversations.
Texas has no state roofing contractor licensing requirement. In the commercial market, where storm-driven demand brings out-of-state contractors with no local accountability, written condition documentation before agreeing to any work is the most reliable protection available under current Texas law.
How An Assessment Runs
How a commercial roof assessment works
The assessment photographs and maps ponding first, then seams, flashings, penetrations and mounts, and ends in a record.
Step by step
Commercial roofs fail quietly, then expensively. The assessment starts with the drainage story: ponding areas get photographed and mapped, because standing water is the leading indicator on flat and low-slope systems. Seams, flashings, penetrations, and terminations get documented next, since that is where membranes actually leak. Curbs, HVAC penetrations, and rooftop equipment mounts get their own photos. The result is a written condition record a property manager, owner, or HOA board can put in front of anyone (a contractor, an insurer, or a budget meeting) without needing anyone in the room to explain it. Repair and replacement scopes, when needed, are built from that record and done by our crew.
Where We Work
Commercial roofing in Round Rock and nearby towns
The Roof Shepherd is based in Round Rock and works anywhere in Texas. These are the towns closest to home.
Field Videos
From the field
Real jobs, filmed and explained.
Field videos from real roofs, each with a short note on what the inspection or the work showed.
Roofing Precision Near The Alamo, TPO System
Precision TPO roofing work near the historic Alamo in San Antonio, commercial flat roof techniques that require zero margin for error.
Watch on YouTubePiss Poor ModBit Install in Austin
Ponding water on a modified bitumen roof in Austin, standing long after rain because of the install and the drainage.
Watch on YouTubeCommon Questions
What property owners ask about commercial roofing
What are the most common commercial roofing failures in Texas?
Drainage failure from ponding water on low-slope roofs is the most common and most damaging. Seam separation on membrane systems (TPO, EPDM) from UV degradation and thermal cycling is the second most common. Penetration flashing failures around HVAC curbs and roof drains are the third. All three are documentable before they cause interior damage.
Does commercial property insurance handle roofing claims differently than residential?
Commercial policies are typically more complex. Replacement cost and actual cash value provisions vary by carrier and policy. Business interruption coverage may be involved if roof failure causes operational disruption. Condition documentation before filing is more important on commercial claims because the stakes are higher and adjusters are more experienced.
Is documentation useful for a commercial property during a sale or lease?
Yes. A current condition inspection creates a documented baseline for both buyer due diligence and seller disclosure. Roof condition is consistently one of the largest concerns in commercial property transactions. A written record produced before the transaction replaces speculation with documented facts.
What types of commercial roofing does The Roof Shepherd cover?
Commercial condition documentation covers low-slope membrane systems (TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen), metal roofing, built-up roofing, and commercial shingle applications on mixed-use or office structures. Every system type is documented differently: drainage patterns, penetration details, seam conditions, and membrane adhesion are all system-specific.
How is commercial roofing documentation different from residential?
Commercial systems are larger, often low-slope, and carry different failure modes than residential shingle roofs. Drainage is critical: ponding water on a commercial roof is a serious condition. Penetrations are more numerous. The documentation process is the same in principle: observe, photograph, and describe visible conditions by zone.
Can The Roof Shepherd help with commercial property storm claims?
The Roof Shepherd documents visible conditions on commercial roofs after storm events, providing a written record you have in hand when an adjuster visits or a repair is proposed. We do not act as public adjusters, negotiate or settle claims on your behalf, or guarantee coverage outcomes; Texas Insurance Code Section 4102.163 bars a contractor from negotiating a claim for a property owner. We do advocate for your rights as a policyholder, from re-inspection requests to supplemental reviews, with evidence built to carry them. Documentation produced prior to adjuster inspection is the most useful to commercial property owners.
Does Texas require a specific license for commercial roofing contractors?
Texas does not require a state roofing license for commercial or residential contractors. Commercial roofing contractors should carry general liability insurance with appropriate coverage limits, workers’ compensation, and manufacturer certifications for the specific membrane systems they install. Always verify current insurance and manufacturer certifications directly.
Are spray-on roof coatings worth it in Texas?
Spray-on roof coatings (elastomeric, silicone, or acrylic systems applied directly to existing roofing surfaces) can extend roof life and improve reflectivity on low-slope and flat roofs. They are not a substitute for structural repair or shingle replacement on pitched residential roofs. In Texas, the primary value is UV reflectivity on commercial flat roofs or metal roofing systems where heat load is the primary degradation factor. For residential pitched asphalt shingle roofs, coating over damaged shingles delays necessary repair and can void manufacturer warranties. Condition documentation before any coating application establishes the baseline and protects the homeowner’s position if a warranty claim arises later.
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