What types of commercial roofs are common?
Most commercial roofs in Sydney fall into a few groups.
- Metal deck. Profiled steel sheeting such as Trimdek or similar, common on warehouses, factories and sheds. Light and quick to install, but fasteners, laps and rust are the weak points.
- Membrane. Single-ply or built-up membranes on flat roofs over shops, offices and apartment buildings. Seams, upstands and drainage details are where they usually fail.
- Concrete flat roofs. Typical on older buildings, often waterproofed with a membrane or coating that wears out.
- Tiled and mixed roofs. Seen on smaller commercial buildings and converted houses.
Skylights and roof ventilation
Translucent sheets and roof vents age quickly in the sun and are common leak points. They also bring extra safety issues because old sheets can be brittle and unsafe to walk on.

