Commercial Roofing in Colorado Springs, CO
Does your commercial property need a roofing contractor who actually knows commercial systems?
What Goes Wrong When the Wrong Contractor Takes on a Commercial Roof
Commercial roofing is not residential roofing at a larger scale. The systems are different, the installation requirements are different, and the consequences of getting it wrong are different. A failed residential roof costs a homeowner. A failed commercial roof costs a property owner, their tenants, and in some cases their liability coverage. The wrong contractor on a commercial project creates problems that don't show up until long after they have been paid.
A contractor with residential habits applying them to flat and low-slope systems
The most common commercial roofing failures we are called in to assess are not caused by bad materials. They are caused by installation methods that work fine on a pitched residential roof and fail completely on a flat or low-slope commercial system. Membrane termination, edge detail, parapet wall flashing, drain placement, and field seam technique are all different disciplines from residential shingle work. A contractor who does not perform commercial roofing regularly does not have the crew habits to do it correctly.
Drainage failures and ponding water — the slow damage no one notices until it is too late
On a flat or low-slope commercial roof, drainage is not a feature — it is the system. When drains are undersized, improperly placed, or not sloped correctly during installation, water ponds after every rain event. Ponding water adds structural load, accelerates membrane degradation, and creates interior leak pathways that can take months to trace. By the time the damage is visible on the ceiling inside, the roof deck and insulation may already require full replacement. Proper commercial drainage design is not optional.Out-of-state storm chasers flood the Colorado Springs market after every major hail event. They take the job, take the payment, and move on to the next storm city. When a problem surfaces six months later, there's no one left to call.
Improper penetration sealing around HVAC units, pipes, and curbs
Commercial roofs have far more penetrations than residential roofs. Every HVAC curb, plumbing stack, conduit, and roof hatch is a potential leak point. Penetration sealing on a commercial roof requires the right flashing system for each type of penetration, properly integrated with the membrane system, and inspected before close-out. Residential contractors working commercial jobs often underestimate the number of penetrations on a commercial roof — and the precision required to seal each one correctly for Colorado's climate.
Business disruption and tenant liability from a project managed without a commercial plan
A residential roofing crew is accustomed to working on an occupied home with one family managing their schedule around the project. A commercial roofing project on an occupied building requires coordination with building management, tenant notification protocols, protection of tenant property and operations, phased scheduling where applicable, and a project manager who knows the difference. An unmanaged commercial roofing project creates liability exposure that outlasts the job.
What a Commercial Roofing Project Should Actually Look Like
When a Colorado Springs property owner or manager calls Old World Roofing for a commercial project, they get a roofing contractor with 49 years of commercial experience in this market, genuine knowledge of commercial systems, and the documentation and project management discipline that commercial work requires.
Genuine commercial systems experience — TPO, modified bitumen, flat and low-slope
Old World Roofing has been installing and repairing commercial roofing systems in Colorado Springs and Southern Colorado since 1977. We work with TPO membranes, modified bitumen systems, flat and low-slope applications, and commercial metal roofing — not as an occasional upsell from our residential business, but as a core service line with dedicated experience. We know which systems perform in Colorado's hail exposure and UV intensity at elevation, and we specify accordingly.
A documented scope before any work begins — no surprises for owners or tenants
Every Old World Roofing commercial project begins with a thorough site assessment and a detailed written scope covering system specification, square footage, penetration count, drainage plan, material selection, and project timeline. You see the full scope before a single crew member sets foot on your building. Property owners and managers deal with enough variables in commercial building operations. Your roofing contractor should not be one of them.
Owens Corning Platinum Preferred installation on every eligible system
As an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor — the highest certification tier OC offers, held by fewer than 1% of contractors nationally — Old World Roofing delivers Platinum-level installation standards and warranty coverage on commercial applications where Owens Corning products apply. For commercial property owners, this means the workmanship warranty is backed by both the contractor and the manufacturer. And the contractor has been at the same Colorado Springs address since 1977.
49 years of Colorado Springs commercial roofing — not residential overflow
No commercial roofing contractor in Colorado Springs has been doing this longer than Old World Roofing. We have completed commercial and industrial projects throughout El Paso County and Southern Colorado across nearly five decades — through every building code update, every material evolution, and every hail season the Front Range has produced. When you hire Old World Roofing for a commercial project, you are hiring a company for whom commercial roofing is not a sideline.
We Know What a Commercial Roof Failure Costs a Business. We Have Been Preventing Them Since 1977.
We understand what is at stake when a commercial roof fails. It is not just a repair expense — it is interrupted operations, displaced tenants, insurance claims, and the liability exposure that comes with water intrusion into a commercial space. Property managers get calls from tenants. Building owners get calls from property managers. And everyone is trying to trace the failure back to a contractor who may or may not be reachable. We have been called in to assess the aftermath of those failures. We know exactly what they cost, and we know exactly how most of them could have been prevented.
Old World Roofing has served commercial and industrial clients in Colorado Springs and Southern Colorado since 1977 — nearly five decades of commercial systems experience in a single market. Founded by retired U.S. Army Officer John Whitley and led today by son Rolf and grandson Marshall, we are an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, and BBB A+ accredited company since 1991 — a combination no other roofing contractor in Colorado Springs can claim. Our commercial work is backed by the same credentials, the same crew standards, and the same local accountability as our residential work. Because it is the same company, and we have been here since 1977.
Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor
Founded in 1977 by the Whitley family. Still the Whitley family today.
BBB A+ Since 1991 and BBB Excellence in Customer Service Award: 2007, 2015, 2017
From Site Assessment to Final Inspection — 3 Steps
Commercial roofing projects require more upfront coordination than residential work. Our process is designed to give property owners and managers a clear picture of scope, cost, and timeline before any commitment is made — and to run the project with the coordination that commercial buildings require.
Step 1: Commercial Site Assessment
We conduct a thorough on-site assessment of your commercial roof: system type, current condition, drainage configuration, penetration inventory, problem areas, and any immediate concerns requiring attention before full project scheduling. You receive a written assessment summary with our findings and recommendations. No obligation to proceed, and no residential-crew assumptions applied to a commercial building.
Step 2: Detailed Scope and Proposal
Based on the site assessment, we produce a detailed written scope covering system specification, materials, penetration detailing, drainage plan, project phasing if required, timeline, and pricing. We review the scope with you before work begins — so building management, ownership, and tenants can plan accordingly. We do not start until the scope is agreed and the schedule is set.
Step 3: Installation with Commercial Project Management
Our commercial installations are managed as commercial projects — with crew coordination, tenant accommodation where required, daily progress communication, penetration inspection before close-out, and a final walkthrough before we consider the job complete. The roof is signed off. The warranty documentation is delivered. And our phone number is the same one that has been at the same Colorado Springs address since 1977.
Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Roofing in Colorado Springs
What types of commercial roofing systems does Old World Roofing install?
Old World Roofing installs and repairs a range of commercial roofing systems for Colorado Springs and Southern Colorado properties, including TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) membranes, modified bitumen systems, flat and low-slope applications, and commercial metal roofing. System selection depends on your building type, roof slope, existing system, budget, and performance requirements for Colorado's climate. We assess each project individually and recommend the system that is the right fit for the building — not the easiest to install. Contact us to discuss your specific commercial property and we will tell you what we recommend and why.
How is commercial roofing different from residential roofing?
Commercial roofing differs from residential roofing in systems, installation methods, project management requirements, and consequences of failure. Most commercial roofs are flat or low-slope, requiring membrane systems (TPO, modified bitumen, EPDM) rather than shingles. Drainage must be actively engineered into the installation — water does not run off a flat roof by gravity the way it does on a pitched residential roof. Commercial roofs also have significantly more penetrations (HVAC curbs, plumbing stacks, conduit, skylights, roof hatches), each requiring precise flashing integration. And commercial projects require coordination with building management and tenants that residential work does not. Hiring a primarily residential contractor for a commercial job introduces risk at every one of these points.
How long does a commercial roof last in Colorado?
Commercial roof lifespan in Colorado depends heavily on the system type, installation quality, and how well the roof is maintained. A properly installed TPO or modified bitumen system typically lasts 20 to 30 years under normal conditions. Colorado's hail exposure, UV intensity at elevation, and freeze-thaw cycling can shorten that lifespan on systems that were not specified or installed for Front Range conditions. Regular inspections — particularly after hail events and at the end of each winter — are the most effective way to extend commercial roof life. Old World Roofing provides commercial roof inspections and can assess whether your current system is performing as expected for its age and type.
Does commercial roofing in Colorado Springs require special permits or inspections?
Yes. Commercial roofing in Colorado Springs requires permits from the City of Colorado Springs Building Department, and installations are subject to inspection at defined project stages. Permit requirements vary based on project scope — full replacements, significant repairs, and new installations each have different requirements. Old World Roofing manages the permitting and inspection process for all commercial projects we complete. You do not need to navigate the permit office on your own.
Can Old World Roofing work around our business operations and tenant schedules?
Yes. Commercial project scheduling is part of what makes commercial roofing different from residential work. Old World Roofing plans commercial projects with building management and tenant operations in mind — including phased scheduling where access limitations require it, morning start times where noise sensitivity matters, and advance notice protocols so tenants can prepare. These are not accommodations we make reluctantly. They are standard parts of how a commercial project is managed correctly. When we discuss scope and timeline at the proposal stage, scheduling constraints are part of that conversation.
Colorado Springs' Commercial Roofing Contractor Since 1977

Commercial roofing in Colorado Springs, CO requires a contractor who understands the systems, the code environment, and the operational realities of occupied commercial buildings. At Old World Roofing, we have been serving commercial and industrial property owners in Colorado Springs and Southern Colorado since 1977. We have completed commercial roofing projects on office buildings, retail properties, industrial facilities, and multi-use structures throughout El Paso County — not as overflow from our residential business, but as a distinct service line with nearly 50 years of dedicated experience behind it.
Colorado's climate creates specific challenges for commercial roofing. The Front Range's hail exposure is among the highest in the country, elevation-driven UV intensity accelerates membrane degradation faster than lower-altitude markets, and freeze-thaw cycles stress penetration seals and edge details through every winter. Old World Roofing specifies commercial systems for Colorado conditions — not generic regional solutions. Whether your building requires TPO, modified bitumen, a commercial metal system, or a flat roof repair to an existing system, we assess for Colorado performance first.
Old World Roofing is a three-generation family business founded in 1977 by retired U.S. Army Officer John Whitley and led today by son Rolf and grandson Marshall. As an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor and BBB A+ accredited company since 1991, we serve commercial and residential clients throughout Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Monument, Briargate, Broadmoor, Manitou Springs, Fountain, and the surrounding communities. For a complete overview of our residential and specialty roofing services, visit our full roofing services page. For commercial project inquiries, contact us directly to discuss scope, timeline, and fit.
When a commercial roof fails, the cost shows up in places far beyond the repair invoice. The right move for a Colorado Springs commercial property owner is not to find the lowest residential contractor willing to bid the job. It is to call the company that has been doing commercial roofing in this market since 1977 and will still be accountable when the warranty matters. Request your commercial roof assessment today.
What Our Colorado Springs Commercial Roofing Customers Say
49 Years of Colorado Springs Commercial Roofing. One Assessment to Get Started.
Old World Roofing has been the trusted commercial roofing contractor in Colorado Springs since 1977. Genuine commercial systems experience, detailed scope before work begins, Owens Corning Platinum Preferred installation, and the same local accountability that has kept us at the same Colorado Springs address for nearly five decades.