Commercial Roof Replacement in Savannah, GA

Replacing the roof on a warehouse, retail center, restaurant, office, church or apartment building is one of the largest capital projects an owner faces. Call (912) 513-1486 and we will connect you with an independent local commercial roofing contractor who serves Savannah and Chatham County. Savannah Commercial Roofing Pros is a referral service. The contractor inspects the roof, writes the proposal and does the work.

Signs the roof needs replacing, not another repair

• Leaks in several areas. One leak at a curb is a repair. Leaks in many bays, especially during heavy summer downpours, usually mean the membrane or seams are failing across the roof.
• Wet insulation. Trapped water soaks the insulation, kills its R-value and keeps the deck damp in Savannah's humidity. An infrared or moisture survey shows how much is wet.
• Age. Many single-ply and built-up roofs reach the end of their service life somewhere around 20 to 30 years, and intense coastal sun and heat can shorten that.
• Wind damage. Lifted edge metal, loose coping, peeled corners or membrane that billows in a stiff wind after a tropical storm.
• Corrosion. Rusting steel deck, fasteners or edge metal, common on buildings close to the river, the marsh or the beach.
• Ponding water. Water that stands for more than a couple of days points to sagging deck, crushed insulation or poor drainage.
• Repair costs keep rising. When yearly repair bills approach a meaningful share of the replacement cost, a new roof often makes more financial sense.

Tear-off or recover?

A tear-off removes the old roof down to the deck. It lets the crew inspect and repair the deck, replace wet insulation, fix corroded fasteners and reset drainage. A recover installs a new roof over the existing one, which saves tear-off and disposal cost. Building codes generally limit how many roof layers are allowed, and a recover only makes sense if the existing insulation is dry and the deck is sound. In a humid coastal climate, trapping damp insulation under a new membrane is a real risk, so ask for core cuts or a moisture survey before choosing.

How a commercial roof replacement is done

1. Inspection and core cuts. The contractor measures the roof, takes core samples to see the layers, and checks the deck, drains, scuppers, curbs and parapet walls.
2. Proposal. A written scope naming the system, membrane thickness, insulation type and R-value, attachment method (mechanically fastened, fully adhered or induction welded), the wind uplift rating, flashing details and warranty.
3. Permit and scheduling. The contractor pulls the city or county permit, checks whether historic review applies, and plans staging, dumpsters, crane lifts and work around business hours.
4. Tear-off in sections. Good crews remove only what they can dry-in the same day. Afternoon thunderstorms in Savannah can build fast in summer, so that discipline matters.
5. Deck repair, insulation and cover board. Damaged or rusted deck is replaced, tapered insulation is added where drainage needs help, and a cover board is set down.
6. Membrane, flashing and edge metal. The membrane is installed with extra fastening at the perimeter and corners, seams are welded or taped, and curbs, walls, drains and penetrations are flashed. Edge metal and coping are secured to resist uplift.
7. Final inspection and closeout. Permit inspection, a punch list walk with the owner, and warranty paperwork.

What commercial roof replacement costs

These are rough national-guide ranges for installed cost, including typical tear-off. Your building may land above or below them. Always get a written quote.

What drives the price

• Size and access. Larger roofs cost less per square foot; tall buildings, tight downtown lots and crane lifts add cost.
• Number of layers to remove. Two or three old layers mean more labor and more disposal.
• Wet insulation and deck damage. Often the biggest surprise on older buildings, and rusted steel deck is common near salt water.
• Wind design. Higher wind uplift requirements can mean more fasteners, adhered systems or heavier edge metal.
• Penetrations and rooftop units. Every HVAC curb, exhaust fan, vent, skylight and drain needs flashing.
• Historic review. Visible materials on historic buildings may need to match approved details, which can limit choices.
• Warranty length. Longer manufacturer warranties usually require thicker membranes and more inspection.

How long it takes

A small retail or office roof can often be replaced in a few days to a week of good weather. A large warehouse may take several weeks. In Savannah, summer afternoon storms and the hurricane season from June through November both affect scheduling, and crews secure open work when a tropical system is in the forecast. See our replacement process and timeline guide for more detail.

Why Savannah roofs wear out

Intense sun and heat break down membranes and sealants. Humidity and heavy rain keep any weak spot wet. Salt air corrodes steel deck, fasteners and metal flashing. Tropical storms test edge metal and membrane attachment. From brick buildings downtown to steel warehouses along the port corridor, local roofs need to be built for those conditions.

Hiring checklist for Savannah commercial roofing

• Georgia contractor license. Georgia requires a state contractor license for many commercial construction jobs, and what applies depends on the type and size of the work. Ask for the license number and verify it with the Georgia Secretary of State's online license lookup before you sign.
• Permits. The City of Savannah, Chatham County and the surrounding cities usually require a permit for commercial reroofing. Ask the contractor to confirm what applies and to pull any permit in their own name.
• Historic district review. If the building is in downtown Savannah's National Historic Landmark District or another local historic district, roof changes visible from the street may need review. Check with the City of Savannah's historic preservation staff before materials are ordered.
• Insurance. Ask for certificates of general liability and workers' compensation insurance, sent directly from the insurance agent.
• Wind rating. Ask what wind uplift rating the roof system carries and how the attachment plan handles the corners and edges, where coastal wind pulls hardest.
• Written scope. The proposal should name the system, thickness, insulation, attachment method, flashing details, tear-off or recover, warranty terms and cleanup.

Ready to get a proposal? Call (912) 513-1486.

Frequently asked questions

Areas we serve

We connect callers across Savannah, Pooler, Garden City, Richmond Hill and all of Chatham County, Georgia, including:

• Savannah
• Pooler
• Garden City
• Port Wentworth
• Richmond Hill
• Bloomingdale
• Thunderbolt
• Tybee Island
• Wilmington Island
• Isle of Hope
• Skidaway Island
• Georgetown
• Rincon
• Chatham County
• Bryan County

Local pages: Pooler, Richmond Hill, Garden City.

Related services

• TPO & Single-Ply Roofing
• Commercial Metal Roofing
• Roof Coatings & Restoration
• Commercial Roof Repair
• Hurricane & Storm Damage Inspection