Commercial Roof Replacement in Wichita, KS

Replacing the roof on a warehouse, retail center, office, church or apartment building is one of the largest capital projects an owner faces. Call (316) 218-1812 and we will connect you with an independent local commercial roofing contractor who serves Wichita and Sedgwick County. Wichita 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 usually mean the membrane or seams are failing across the roof.
• Wet insulation. Water trapped under the membrane soaks the insulation, adds weight, kills its R-value and keeps leaking long after the rain stops. 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, depending on the system, the installation and how well it was maintained.
• Shrinkage and seam failure. Older EPDM can shrink and pull away from walls and edges. Old seams open up.
• Ponding water. Water that stands for more than a couple of days after a storm points to sagging deck, crushed insulation or poor drainage.
• Hail damage. Bruised, cracked or punctured membrane and dented metal after a central Kansas hailstorm.
• Repair costs keep rising. When yearly repair bills start to 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 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. Ask the contractor for a core cut or 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, 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 ballasted), flashing details and warranty.
3. Permit and scheduling. The contractor pulls the Wichita or county permit and plans staging, dumpsters, crane lifts and any work around business hours.
4. Tear-off in sections. Good crews remove only what they can dry-in the same day, so the building is never left open overnight.
5. Deck repair, insulation and cover board. Damaged 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, seams are welded or taped, and curbs, walls, drains and penetrations are flashed.
7. Final inspection and closeout. City 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 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.
• Insulation upgrades. Current energy code may require more insulation than the old roof had.
• Penetrations and rooftop units. Every HVAC curb, vent, skylight and drain needs flashing.
• 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 or school may take several weeks. Wichita's spring storm season and summer heat both affect scheduling, and adhesives and some membranes have temperature limits, so winter work may be slower. See our replacement process and timeline guide for more detail.

Why Wichita roofs wear out

Wichita sits in hail-prone central Kansas. Spring and early summer storms bring large hail and straight-line winds. Big temperature swings, sometimes forty degrees or more in a day, make membranes and metal expand and contract, which works seams and fasteners loose. Freeze-thaw cycles in winter open up any crack that lets water in. Much of the city's commercial stock, from older brick buildings in Old Town and Delano to the steel warehouses and manufacturing plants in north and south Wichita, was built decades ago and is on its second or third roof.

Hiring checklist for Kansas commercial roofing

• Kansas roofing registration. Under the Kansas Roofing Registration Act, roofing contractors working in Kansas must register with the Kansas Attorney General's office. Ask for the registration number and look it up before you sign.
• Permits. The City of Wichita and Sedgwick County generally require a building permit for reroofing. Ask the contractor to pull the permit in their name and to schedule the required inspections.
• Insurance. Ask for certificates of general liability and workers' compensation insurance, sent directly from the insurance agent.
• Manufacturer warranty. If you want a manufacturer's system warranty, ask whether the contractor is approved by that manufacturer to install it, and get the warranty terms in writing.
• Written scope. The proposal should name the system, thickness, insulation, attachment method, flashing details, tear-off or recover, and cleanup.

Ready to get a proposal? Call (316) 218-1812.

Frequently asked questions

Areas we serve

We connect callers across Wichita, Derby, Andover, Park City and all of Sedgwick County, Kansas, including:

• Wichita
• Derby
• Andover
• Park City
• Bel Aire
• Maize
• Haysville
• Valley Center
• Goddard
• Mulvane
• Rose Hill
• Kechi
• Augusta
• Sedgwick County
• Butler County

Local pages: Derby, Andover, Park City.

Related services

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