Commercial TPO Roof Replacement in Blaine, MN: Smart Savings by Reusing Insulation
When it comes to commercial roofing in Minnesota, business owners need solutions that are highly durable, energy-efficient, and cost-effective. At Englund Roofing, we recently partnered with a commercial client right here in Blaine, MN to replace their aging flat roof. The project involved a complete removal of their old ballast roof system and an upgrade to a modern TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) roof. But the best part of this project? We were able to save the business owner a significant amount of money by safely reusing their existing roof insulation. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at how we executed this commercial roofing upgrade in the North Metro.
Out with the Old: Removing the Ballast Roof
Ballast roofs—which use heavy river rock or gravel to hold the roofing membrane in place—were incredibly popular decades ago. However, as these roofs age, the rocks can make it incredibly difficult to find and patch leaks.
For this Blaine property, the first step was the heavy lifting: safely vacuuming and removing tons of existing rock ballast to expose the old rubber membrane underneath. Removing a ballast system requires heavy equipment and a skilled crew to ensure the commercial building remains safe and undisturbed during the process.
The Englund Roofing Advantage: Reusing Existing Insulation
A common misconception in the commercial roofing industry is that a full roof replacement requires you to throw everything away and start from scratch. That isn’t always true!
Once we removed the ballast and the old membrane, we carefully inspected the rigid foam insulation underneath. Because the previous roof hadn’t suffered from severe, widespread water damage, the vast majority of the existing insulation was completely dry, structurally sound, and still providing a fantastic R-value.
Instead of forcing the customer to pay for brand-new insulation materials and the labor to install them, we salvaged and reused the existing insulation. This requires a contractor who operates with honesty and integrity, and we were thrilled to pass those massive material savings directly back to our client.
New Commercial Flat Roof Solution: Energy-Efficient TPO Roofing
With the insulation secured, we installed a state-of-the-art white TPO roofing membrane. Why is TPO the top choice for commercial flat roofs in Minnesota?
- Energy Savings: The bright white surface reflects UV rays during hot Twin Cities summers, drastically lowering indoor cooling costs.
- Durability: TPO seams are hot-air welded, creating a watertight, monolithic shield that easily handles ice, snow, and heavy rain.
- Lightweight: Compared to the thousands of pounds of rock we removed, TPO is incredibly lightweight, relieving unnecessary structural stress on the building.
Your Trusted Commercial TPO Roofing Experts in Blaine & the Twin Cities
At Englund Roofing, we treat your commercial property (and your budget) like it’s our own. By pairing expert installation with honest recommendations—like reusing dry insulation—we deliver premium results without the premium price tag. Does your commercial building in Blaine, Coon Rapids, or the greater Twin Cities area need a roof inspection or replacement? Contact Englund Roofing today for an honest assessment and a free estimate! Check out our Videos on Google Business and Facebook!