Commercial roofing failures don't announce themselves — they show up as a water stain on a ceiling, a failed insulation bay, or a warranty claim that gets denied because the membrane wasn't installed to spec. Forthright Construction installs commercial roofing systems correctly the first time, with the documentation to back it up.
We work directly with general contractors, property managers, and building owners across Vermont on new construction, reroofing, and emergency repairs.
Commercial Roofing Systems We Install
TPO Membrane
The most common commercial flat roofing system in Vermont. Heat-welded seams, reflective surface, compatible with rooftop mechanical equipment. Installed fully adhered, mechanically fastened, or ballasted depending on substrate and building type.
EPDM Rubber
Proven flat roof membrane with a 30+ year track record. Handles Vermont freeze-thaw cycling and thermal movement well. Available in 45 and 60 mil thickness. Fully adhered or ballasted installations.
Standing Seam Metal
For commercial buildings with steeper pitch — hospitality, retail, mixed-use. Hidden fastener panels in Kynar-coated steel or aluminum. 40-year finish warranty, natural snow shedding, minimal maintenance.
Asphalt Shingle (Commercial)
For pitched commercial roofs — motels, retail, office buildings, multi-family. Architectural shingles on properly ventilated roof assemblies with full ice-and-water shield at eaves per Vermont code.
Tear-Off & Re-Deck
Full membrane removal, decking inspection and repair, and new system installation. We document existing conditions before we start and provide a written closeout report with warranty registration.
Emergency Repairs
Roof failures don't wait for good weather. We respond to commercial leak calls across Vermont and can provide temporary weatherproofing while permanent repair is scheduled.
Why GCs and Property Managers Work with Forthright
Commercial roofing subcontractors are easy to find in Vermont. Ones who communicate clearly, show up on schedule, and deliver clean documentation are harder to find. Forthright is built around the second type.
Clean Documentation
Photos before we start. Written closeout report. Warranty registration handled for your files.
We Pick Up
Messages returned same day. No chasing your roofing sub on an active commercial job.
Business Background
Our founder came from operations — not the trades. Project management is built in, not bolted on.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most Vermont commercial buildings, TPO is the standard choice — it handles UV, thermal cycling, and rooftop equipment well, and the heat-welded seams hold up better in Vermont freeze-thaw than adhesive-bonded systems. EPDM is a strong alternative with a longer track record. We spec the right system for each building — not one product for everything.
A typical commercial re-roof on a building under 10,000 sq ft takes 3–7 working days, depending on tear-off conditions, decking repairs, and weather windows. We provide a project schedule at contract signing and communicate changes proactively.
For reroofing in-kind (same membrane type, same insulation R-value), engineer involvement is typically not required. For projects that significantly change the roof assembly, a structural review may be needed. We check permit requirements before every project and handle the filing.
Yes. We serve commercial roofing clients statewide — Burlington, South Burlington, Williston, Shelburne, Colchester, St. Albans, Montpelier, Barre, Rutland, Killington, Stowe, Morrisville, White River Junction, and surrounding areas. For projects in the Northeast Kingdom, we assess travel and staging costs at the estimate stage.