How Roof Cladding Affects Energy Efficiency of Commercial Buildings
Businesses across the Cotswolds are concerned about how their commercial roofs can help them save money on their energy bills. Cladding is right at the centre of those conversations. Whether a business occupies a converted barn workshop, rural business unit or a modern industrial shed, the roof cladding dictates how much heat a building retains in the winter and how much solar gain is allowed to build up in the summer.
GRP roofing systems are primarily used for waterproofing flat roofs but the same attention to detail is important for the cladding and insulation of larger span commercial roofs. A GRP roof system provides a continuous and well sealed insulation layer that prevents thermal bridges seen with poorly retrofitted and older roofs around roof lights and abutments, where the most heat loss is experienced.
What to Look for in a Specification
For businesses in the Cotswolds, many of which are inside older or converted structures, a survey is necessary even before cladding begins. Older buildings have uneven decking; they can have hidden damage, or can be constrained by listed building status. For all these cases, a specification customised to these situations gives better long-term results rather than a generic, off-the-shelf option.
U-values are still the primary indicators, but rural and semi-rural properties should consider exposure to the weather. Buildings in exposed hillside locations will experience different wind and rain loading than buildings in sheltered valley locations, and therefore have differing requirements for the specification of the cladding and the fixing detail around open edges and penetrations.
Long-Term Value for Local Businesses
Investing in high-quality cladding and insulation lowers heating bills, improves comfort for employees, and puts less stress on older heating systems that are found in just about all of the older commercial buildings in the area. Once those systems are upgraded, the roofs can be more easily prepared for the installation of solar panels, which are increasingly seen on commercial buildings in the area.
Updating the cladding is one of the lowest-cost, high-reward renovations for Cotswolds businesses aiming to improve their energy performance. If you work with a roofer that specialises in fibreglass systems and the specifics of local building stock, you can ensure your investment is long-lasting.
