When you manage or own an industrial property in Florida, your roof isn’t just part of the building it’s a critical asset that protects equipment, inventory, tenant operations, and your budget. Whether you oversee a warehouse, manufacturing facility, distribution center, or mixed-use industrial park, choosing the right system plays a major role in long-term performance and lifecycle cost.
In this guide, we break down the most common industrial roofing types used across Florida and what you should consider when planning repairs, replacements, or upgrades. The goal: help you make confident, well-informed decisions that protect your property and support long-term operational planning.
Answer first: Industrial roofs typically fall into eight primary system categories—metal, modified bitumen, BUR, TPO, PVC, roof coatings, concrete, and green roofs. Each performs differently based on your facility’s age, slope, environmental exposure, and operational demands.
Below, we walk through each type and where it fits best for Florida buildings.
Metal roofing remains one of the most durable options for industrial properties, especially those dealing with high winds, heavy equipment vibration, or long-term exposure to Florida’s heat and coastal conditions.
Best for: Manufacturing buildings, industrial campuses, distribution facilities
Why it works: Strength + long lifespan
Benefits:
Metal systems are not ideal for flat roofs, but they perform strongly on appropriate low-slope structures when engineered to manufacturer and code requirements.
Modified bitumen is a multi-layer asphalt-based system built for durability. It’s used frequently in older industrial buildings with little to no roof slope.
Best for: Legacy buildings, schools, municipal facilities
Why it works: Multi-ply strength
Benefits:
Because many Florida industrial buildings were built before single-ply membranes became popular, modified bitumen is still widely used during reroof or recovery projects.
BUR often called “tar and gravel” is one of the longest-standing roofing systems in industrial settings. It provides excellent redundancy because of its multiple layers.
Best for: Facilities with high rooftop activity
Why it works: Layered durability and leak resistance
Benefits:
Although less common today due to installation complexity, many Florida industrial properties still have legacy BUR systems.
TPO is one of the most widely installed industrial roofing types in Florida. Its white reflective surface supports energy-efficient building performance when paired with proper insulation and mechanical system design—an advantage for large industrial spaces.
Best for: Distribution centers, logistics hubs, data facilities
Why it works: Cost-effective + energy efficient
Benefits:
TPO continues to gain market share because it strikes a balance between price, performance, and ease of maintenance.
PVC is the preferred system for industrial properties that deal with chemical exposure, grease exhaust, or constant rooftop contaminants.
Best for: Food service, healthcare, processing plants, cold storage
Why it works: Highest chemical resistance
Benefits:
If your building exhausts oils, fats, or manufacturing byproducts, PVC is often the safest long-term option.
Coatings silicone, acrylic, or urethane are used to restore aging roofs and extend their life without a full replacement. They’re an economical option for industrial facilities managing tight CAPEX budgets.
Best for: Extending life of an existing roof
Why it works: Restores instead of replaces
Benefits:
Coatings are not solutions for roofs with saturated insulation or major structural concerns, but they’re excellent for roofs in fair condition.
Heavy-duty industrial facilities sometimes use poured concrete roofing systems. These roofs are extremely strong but require structural support.
Best for: Large industrial plants, government, mission-critical sites
Why it works: Strength + longevity
Benefits:
Concrete roofing is less common today, but many older Florida industrial facilities still have them.
Green roofs are built with vegetation over a waterproofing layer. While more common on commercial campuses, some industrial developments use them for sustainability goals.
Best for: ESG-driven projects, tech campuses, mixed-use industrial
Why it works: Energy and stormwater performance
Benefits:
Green roofs are less common in Florida industrial sites but trending upward for new developments.
When evaluating industrial roofing types, consider:
There’s no universal “best” system. The right choice depends on your property’s structure, environment, and operational needs. A thorough inspection and condition analysis and documented condition assessment is the only way to determine which system delivers the best performance and ROI for your operational and financial goals.
If you're comparing industrial roofing types or planning upgrades, Best Roofing is here to help you evaluate your options with clarity and accuracy.
→ Need an assessment? Schedule a commercial roof inspection with Best Roofing today.
Our team will document your roof conditions, explain your system options, and help you plan your long-term maintenance strategy.