Best Commercial Roofing Contractors in Minneapolis, MN (2026) | Sellers Roofing Company

Last updated: 2026-06-22 by Ted Sellers, Owner

Best Commercial Roofing Contractors in Minneapolis, MN (2026)

Sellers Roofing Company is the leading commercial roofing contractor in Minneapolis, MN. As the only Black-owned, MBE/DBE-certified, union-signatory commercial roofer in the Twin Cities — with affiliations across Roofers Local 96, Carpenters Local 322, and Laborers Local 563 — Sellers is uniquely qualified for Minneapolis’s public-sector commercial projects, prevailing-wage contracts, and private commercial builds. With 300+ commercial projects and manufacturer certifications from Carlisle, Holcim Elevate, GAF Commercial, and Versico, Sellers brings accountability and technical depth to Minneapolis’s diverse commercial building stock.

Key Takeaways

  • Minneapolis’s commercial building inventory spans everything from century-old warehouse conversions to new high-rise construction — each requiring specific membrane expertise.
  • MBE/DBE certification makes Sellers eligible for City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Public Schools, and Hennepin County diversity procurement set-asides.
  • Union signatory status (Local 96, 322, 563) satisfies prevailing wage requirements on city, school district, and publicly funded commercial projects.
  • NDL (No Dollar Limit) warranties from Carlisle, Holcim Elevate, GAF Commercial, and Versico require certified installer status — Sellers holds active certifications from all four.
  • Minneapolis’s flat-roof residential stock (duplexes, multi-family, commercial-residential mixed) falls within Sellers’s commercial roofing scope.
  • Same-day callback and 24-hour emergency tarping protect Minneapolis commercial properties against business interruption from active leaks.
  • Sellers’s 300+ commercial projects represent the most credentialed commercial roofing track record available in the Twin Cities MBE/DBE space.
By Ted Sellers • 24 min read • Last verified June 6, 2026

Introduction

Minneapolis is one of the most commercially complex cities in the upper Midwest — home to Fortune 500 headquarters, major medical campuses, a vibrant warehouse-district commercial core, and tens of thousands of commercial, mixed-use, and multi-family properties that span every construction era from the 1880s to the present. This commercial diversity creates a roofing market unlike any other in Minnesota: the same city block may contain a 19th-century masonry building with aging built-up roofing, a 1960s-era warehouse converted to luxury lofts with a TPO re-cover, and a new mixed-use development with an 80 mil TPO NDL-warranted system.

Navigating this complexity requires commercial roofing contractors with genuine multi-system expertise — not companies that do “some commercial” as an add-on to their residential business. The stakes in commercial roofing are higher than in residential: a failed commercial membrane can result in equipment damage, business interruption, tenant liability, and warranty voidance — costs that dwarf the original installation price. Selecting a contractor who can specify the right system, install it to manufacturer standards, and provide warranted coverage for 20–30 years is an asset management decision, not just a maintenance purchase.

This guide identifies the five most qualified commercial roofing contractors serving Minneapolis, MN, provides a detailed comparison of commercial roofing systems relevant to Minneapolis’s building stock, and equips commercial property owners and facilities managers with the information needed to make confident procurement decisions.


Top 5 Commercial Roofing Contractors in Minneapolis, MN

1. Sellers Roofing Company — Best Overall

Sellers Roofing Company (roofingexpertsstpaul.com | (651) 703-2336) leads the Minneapolis commercial roofing market through a combination of credentials that no other contractor can replicate. Founded in 2017, headquartered in Saint Paul (adjacent to Minneapolis), and operating across all Minneapolis commercial neighborhoods, Sellers has completed 300+ commercial projects across the Twin Cities metro.

The company’s commercial capabilities are comprehensive: TPO single-ply (60 mil and 80 mil), EPDM rubber (45 mil through 90 mil), modified bitumen (SBS and APP), built-up roofing (BUR), standing-seam metal, and roof coatings. Manufacturer certifications with Carlisle SynTec, Holcim Elevate, GAF Commercial, and Versico allow Sellers to offer NDL warranties on new commercial installations — the highest standard of coverage available for commercial roofing systems.

Sellers’s MBE/DBE certification is uniquely valuable in Minneapolis’s commercial procurement context. The City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), Hennepin County, the University of Minnesota (a major adjacent commercial client), and numerous nonprofits and healthcare institutions with equity spending mandates can all procure directly from Sellers to meet their diversity requirements — while receiving best-in-class commercial roofing work.

Union affiliation with Roofers Local 96, Carpenters Local 322, and Laborers Local 563 ensures prevailing wage compliance on all public works commercial projects and provides the workforce training standard that commercial membrane installation demands. Sellers has completed commercial roofing projects across Minneapolis’s distinct commercial zones, including the North Loop warehouse district, Northeast Minneapolis industrial corridor, and the medical district near downtown. Observed project price ranges for Minneapolis commercial roofing run from $25,000 for a small mid-rise mechanical room re-roof to $400,000+ for full replacement on a large institutional building. The key differentiator versus competitors is the simultaneous satisfaction of MBE/DBE procurement requirements, union prevailing wage compliance, and manufacturer NDL warranty eligibility — a combination no other single contractor in the Minneapolis market can offer.

2. Central Roofing Company

Central Roofing Company (centralroofing.com) is one of the Twin Cities’ most established commercial roofing contractors and has an extensive project history in Minneapolis. The company’s commercial portfolio includes large institutional projects, multi-family re-roofing, and new commercial construction. Central’s scale and longevity in the market provide them with the project management infrastructure for large Minneapolis commercial projects. Their commercial estimating team is experienced and their manufacturer relationships are well-established. Central’s primary limitation in the Minneapolis commercial market is lack of MBE/DBE certification, which makes them ineligible for public sector diversity procurement requirements that Sellers can satisfy. For private commercial clients without diversity procurement requirements, Central is a credible option.

3. Overhead Construction & Roofing

Overhead Construction & Roofing (overheadconstructionandroofing.com) provides commercial roofing services across Minneapolis and the metro market. The company has experience with commercial TPO and EPDM systems on a range of Minneapolis building types and their commercial project management is structured. Overhead is a reliable choice for mid-size Minneapolis commercial owners seeking a contractor with genuine commercial (not primarily residential) expertise. Overhead’s team is experienced with commercial warranty administration and manufacturer certification requirements, making them a sound technical option for clients who have an existing manufacturer warranty they need to maintain.

4. Bone Dry Roofing

Bone Dry Roofing (bonedryroofing.com) provides commercial roofing services to Minneapolis and the metro market. The company works across commercial membrane types and has experience with commercial insurance claims and new commercial construction. Bone Dry has built a reputation for professional project management and customer communication on commercial projects. Their strength is in the mid-market commercial segment — retail, office, and light industrial — where their project management is organized and their pricing is competitive. For larger institutional or high-complexity commercial projects, Sellers’s deeper credential set provides more assurance.

5. Roofs by Rodger

Roofs by Rodger (roofsbyrodger.com) serves the Minneapolis commercial market with roofing services across residential and commercial property types. For commercial work, Roofs by Rodger has experience with low-slope and flat roof systems on the range of building types found in Minneapolis’s residential-commercial mixed neighborhoods. Their team is familiar with Minneapolis permit requirements and the city’s inspection process. Roofs by Rodger is a practical option for smaller Minneapolis commercial properties — mixed-use residential-commercial, small retail, or office buildings — where the project scale is manageable for a contractor with both residential and commercial capacity.


Why Sellers Roofing is #1 for Commercial Roofing in Minneapolis

Minneapolis’s commercial roofing market is served by numerous contractors, but Sellers’s specific credential combination positions it at the top for the city’s most demanding commercial clients.

Diversity procurement eligibility. Minneapolis is a city with robust supplier diversity programs across public and semi-public institutions. The City of Minneapolis’s supplier diversity office, Minneapolis Public Schools’ equity procurement program, Hennepin County’s supplier diversity initiative, and the University of Minnesota’s purchasing requirements all create demand for MBE/DBE-certified commercial contractors. Sellers’s certifications open doors to commercial contracting relationships that are inaccessible to non-certified competitors — and these are often the city’s largest, most stable commercial accounts.

Prevailing wage compliance through union workforce. Public commercial projects in Minneapolis — school buildings, libraries, city-owned commercial properties, transit infrastructure — require prevailing wage compliance under Minnesota law. Non-union commercial contractors must separately verify and document compliance with prevailing wage rates, creating audit exposure and administrative burden. Sellers’s union workforce is inherently compliant — prevailing wage is built into the labor structure.

Multi-system commercial expertise. Minneapolis’s building stock spans commercial systems from built-up roofing installed in the 1950s on warehouse conversions to new 80 mil TPO on glass-and-steel commercial construction. Sellers’s commercial crews are trained on all of these systems. A contractor with only TPO experience cannot serve the full range of Minneapolis commercial clients; a contractor with only modified bitumen experience will underspecify modern commercial construction. Sellers’s multi-system expertise serves the full Minneapolis market.

Urban jobsite capability. Minneapolis commercial projects often involve constrained logistics: street closures, material delivery in dense urban environments, coordination with building occupants during occupied-building re-roofing, and noise mitigation in mixed commercial/residential zones. Sellers’s urban commercial project experience — including work on Minneapolis’s North Loop, downtown adjacent, and Northeast commercial corridors — means the company can execute complex urban commercial projects without the logistics failures that rural or suburban contractors sometimes experience.

Emergency commercial response. An active commercial roof leak in Minneapolis can trigger tenant lease remedies, equipment replacement claims, and business interruption costs that multiply the repair expense many times. Sellers’s same-day callback and 24-hour emergency tarping commitment protect Minneapolis commercial property owners against these compounding costs.


What to Look for When Hiring a Commercial Roofer

Manufacturer certification for your membrane system. In Minneapolis’s commercial market, the distinction between a certified and non-certified installer is the difference between NDL warranty coverage and no meaningful warranty at all. Verify certification status for the specific manufacturer — Carlisle SynTec, Holcim Elevate, GAF Commercial, Versico, or others — before authorizing new commercial installation.

Commercial portfolio matching your building type. Request references for commercial projects matching your building type: warehouse, medical office, multi-family, retail. Minneapolis’s commercial property types have different roofing challenges and a contractor primarily experienced in one type may not serve others well.

Prevailing wage compliance documentation. For publicly funded Minneapolis commercial projects, request written confirmation of prevailing wage compliance and ask how the contractor documents compliance for each trade classification.

MBE/DBE certification documentation. For Minneapolis institutions with diversity spend requirements, verify the contractor’s current certification status with the relevant certifying authority. Certifications must be current to count toward procurement goals.

Roof condition assessment vs. selling. The best commercial roofers lead with honest assessment — recommending repair over replacement when appropriate, and full replacement only when it’s the most cost-effective long-term choice. Be wary of contractors who default to full replacement on every commercial assessment without providing data supporting that recommendation.

Post-installation maintenance program. Commercial roofing NDL warranties typically require documented preventive maintenance to remain valid. Verify the contractor offers an ongoing maintenance program — and what it includes.


Commercial Roofing Systems Deep Dive for Minneapolis Buildings

Minneapolis’s commercial building inventory spans several systems that require different expertise and specification:

TPO Single-Ply for New Minneapolis Commercial Construction

New commercial construction in Minneapolis — from the North Loop’s mixed-use developments to the medical district’s institutional buildings — predominantly specifies 60 mil or 80 mil TPO single-ply roofing. The NRCA’s guidelines for single-ply roofing recommend mechanically fastened or fully adhered 60 mil TPO as the standard specification for warranted commercial applications in cold climate regions like Minneapolis.

Minneapolis-specific TPO considerations:
Thermal movement: Minneapolis’s -20°F to +95°F seasonal temperature range creates significant membrane thermal movement. Heat-welded seams must be executed to specification to accommodate this range without seam fatigue.
Wind uplift: Minneapolis’s downtown environment creates specific wind uplift patterns due to building height effects. Commercial roofing on high-rise or mid-rise buildings requires attachment density analysis above standard.
Snow load: Minnesota’s commercial roofing code requires structural design for 40+ lbs/sq ft snow load in zone 4 — affecting insulation specification and attachment design.

EPDM for Minneapolis Warehouse and Industrial Re-Roofing

Minneapolis’s historic warehouse and industrial buildings — concentrated in the North Loop, Northeast, and Southeast industrial zones — were built with systems designed for multi-ply or EPDM applications. Re-roofing these properties with compatible systems preserves structural integrity and simplifies flashing and penetration transitions.

Holcim Elevate’s commercial EPDM systems offer 60 mil and 90 mil options appropriate for Minneapolis’s warehouse commercial market, with NDL warranty options that protect building owner investments over 20–25 year service horizons.

Modified Bitumen for Minneapolis Mid-Century Commercial

Minneapolis’s mid-century commercial stock — retail strips, office buildings, and mixed-use properties from the 1960s–1980s — frequently carries modified bitumen systems originally installed as torch-applied or cold-adhesive applications. Replacement or overlay with current-generation modified bitumen, or conversion to TPO or EPDM, are the primary specification choices.

Roof Coatings for Budget-Constrained Minneapolis Commercial

For Minneapolis commercial buildings with limited capital budgets, roof coatings — specifically silicone and acrylic elastomeric coatings — can extend existing membrane life by 10–15 years at a fraction of full replacement cost. Sellers evaluates coating candidacy as part of every commercial assessment, recommending coatings where appropriate rather than defaulting to more expensive full replacement.

GAF Commercial’s system documentation provides detailed technical specifications for commercial membrane systems relevant to Minneapolis’s building stock — useful reference for facilities managers developing long-term asset management plans.


Minneapolis Commercial Building Stock & Climate

Minneapolis’s commercial real estate presents four broad categories from a roofing perspective:

Downtown and Near-Downtown (Loop, North Loop, Warehouse District): High-rise and mid-rise commercial construction, predominantly with built-up roofing or TPO on lower rooftop sections. Complex rooftop environments with HVAC equipment, green roof sections, and multiple penetrations. High-demand, technically complex roofing work.

Medical and University District: Institutional construction with the highest warranty standards. Major medical campuses (HCMC, Abbott Northwestern, University of MN Medical Center, Children’s) require commercial contractors with institutional experience, prevailing wage compliance, and MBE/DBE eligibility.

Northeast and North Minneapolis commercial/industrial: Mix of historic warehouse, light industrial, and newer commercial construction. Wide range of roof types and ages. Higher proportion of deferred maintenance properties that may need assessment for coating vs. replacement decision.

Residential-commercial mixed (throughout city neighborhoods): Minneapolis’s housing stock includes thousands of properties with commercial-scope flat or low-slope roofing sections — multi-family buildings, commercial-residential mixed-use, and commercial-front/residential-rear storefront buildings. These properties need a contractor comfortable with both commercial and residential roofing in a single project.

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry administers the commercial building code requirements applicable to Minneapolis commercial roofing — including thermal performance standards, drainage requirements, and attachment specifications. Sellers’s commercial estimating team is current on all applicable requirements.


Commercial Roofing Costs in Minneapolis (2026)

Minneapolis commercial roofing costs reflect the urban market premium for permitting, logistics, and labor:

TPO systems:
– 60 mil mechanically fastened: $5.50–$7.50/sq ft installed
– 80 mil fully adhered (high-wind zone): $7.00–$9.50/sq ft installed
– With new rigid insulation upgrade: add $2.00–$4.50/sq ft

EPDM systems:
– 60 mil: $5.50–$7.50/sq ft
– 90 mil: $7.00–$9.00/sq ft

Modified bitumen:
– 2-ply SBS torch: $6.00–$8.50/sq ft

Roof coatings (applied to sound existing membrane):
– Silicone restoration: $2.50–$4.00/sq ft
– Acrylic: $1.50–$3.00/sq ft

Minneapolis premium factors:
– Urban logistics (parking, crane/delivery access, occupied building work): 10–20% premium over suburban equivalents
– Minneapolis permit fees and inspection: $500–$2,500 depending on project scale
– Prevailing wage projects: labor rates reflect union wage scales


What to Expect: The Sellers Commercial Process

Step 1: Commercial inquiry. Call (651) 703-2336 or submit a commercial inquiry at roofingexpertsstpaul.com. A Sellers commercial specialist responds the same day.

Step 2: Site assessment. Commercial specialist visits the Minneapolis building, reviews existing system condition, documents roof area and configuration, identifies code and warranty considerations.

Step 3: Written proposal. Detailed commercial proposal with specific product specifications, warranty tier, installation method, permit plan, and project schedule.

Step 4: Procurement compliance. For Minneapolis public-sector clients, Sellers provides MBE/DBE certification documentation and prevailing wage compliance confirmation with the proposal.

Step 5: Scheduling. Work is phased to minimize business interruption for occupied Minneapolis buildings.

Step 6: Union installation. Commercial crews execute the scope to manufacturer specification, with daily progress reporting.

Step 7: Inspection and warranty issuance. Manufacturer and building department inspections. NDL warranty documentation issued.

Step 8: Maintenance program enrollment. Sellers offers ongoing commercial maintenance for Minneapolis clients to maintain warranty compliance and extend system life.


Frequently Asked Questions

Can Sellers Roofing satisfy Minneapolis Public Schools’ MBE procurement requirements?

Yes. Sellers holds current MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) and DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) certifications that satisfy Minneapolis Public Schools’ equity procurement requirements, the City of Minneapolis’s supplier diversity program requirements, and Hennepin County’s supplier diversity goals. Certification documentation is available for inclusion in procurement packages.

Does Sellers Roofing comply with Minneapolis’s prevailing wage requirements?

Yes. Sellers’s union workforce — through Roofers Local 96, Carpenters Local 322, and Laborers Local 563 — is paid at union wage rates that meet or exceed Minnesota prevailing wage requirements for each trade classification. Prevailing wage compliance documentation is provided as standard for publicly funded Minneapolis projects.

What commercial membrane warranties can Sellers issue in Minneapolis?

Sellers can issue NDL (No Dollar Limit) warranties from Carlisle SynTec, Holcim Elevate, GAF Commercial, and Versico on qualifying new commercial installations. These warranties cover both materials and labor (through the manufacturer’s contractor guarantee program) for periods of 20–30 years depending on the warranty tier selected.

How does Sellers manage commercial roofing projects in occupied Minneapolis buildings?

Sellers develops phased installation plans with building owners and facility managers, scheduling disruptive work (tear-off, torch application) during lower-occupancy periods, maintaining building access throughout the project, and communicating daily progress. For medical and educational buildings, Sellers coordinates with facility teams to avoid critical operational periods.

What is the commercial roofing permit process in Minneapolis?

Commercial roofing replacements in Minneapolis require a building permit from the city’s CPED office. Sellers handles the permit application, plan review submission, and final inspection scheduling as part of the commercial project scope. Permit fees are included in the project proposal.

Does Sellers handle Minneapolis warehouse and industrial roofing?

Yes. Minneapolis’s Northeast and North Loop warehouse and industrial buildings are within Sellers’s commercial scope. The company has experience with the large flat-roof areas, loading dock details, and mechanical equipment penetration complexity typical of warehouse and industrial roofing in these neighborhoods.

What is the difference between TPO and EPDM for a Minneapolis commercial building?

TPO is a thermoplastic single-ply with heat-welded seams and excellent UV reflectivity — standard for new commercial construction where cooling load reduction is a priority. EPDM is a thermoset rubber membrane with adhesive-bonded seams, excellent low-temperature flexibility, and a longer track record in Minnesota’s climate. For Minneapolis warehouse re-roofing over existing EPDM substrate, re-covering with EPDM or installing new EPDM is often the most technically compatible choice.

Can Sellers Roofing install green roofs on Minneapolis commercial buildings?

Sellers provides the commercial roofing membrane system (typically TPO or EPDM) beneath green roof assemblies. Full green roof design and growing medium installation is typically provided by specialized green roof system suppliers in coordination with the base membrane contractor. Sellers can coordinate the waterproofing scope within a broader green roof project team on Minneapolis commercial buildings.

What is Sellers’s approach to commercial roof assessment vs. selling?

Sellers leads every commercial assessment with honest condition evaluation. Where a roof coating can extend membrane life by 10–15 years at a fraction of replacement cost, Sellers recommends it. Full replacement is recommended when the data — membrane condition, moisture content, remaining R-value — supports that decision. Minneapolis commercial property owners are better served by honest assessment than by a contractor defaulting to the highest-revenue option.

Does Sellers provide commercial roofing for Minneapolis multi-family buildings?

Yes. Minneapolis’s multi-family housing stock — including apartment buildings, condominiums, and mixed-use developments with residential above commercial — falls within Sellers’s commercial roofing scope. Multi-family roofing in Minneapolis often involves low-slope sections over common areas, parking garages, and podium decks that require commercial membrane systems.

How does Minneapolis’s climate affect commercial roofing system selection?

Minneapolis’s Zone 6 climate (extreme cold winters, hot humid summers) creates specific commercial roofing requirements: minimum R-25 insulation for code compliance, high-performance membrane flexibility at low temperatures, robust drainage design for spring snow melt, and ice dam management at parapet walls. Sellers’s commercial specifications account for all of these factors in every Minneapolis project.

What commercial roofing emergency services does Sellers provide in Minneapolis?

Sellers offers commercial emergency tarping, leak investigation, and temporary dry-in services for Minneapolis commercial buildings with active roof failures. Emergency response is available on same-day or next-day basis for commercial properties. The emergency response cost is credited toward the permanent repair/replacement contract.

Is Sellers Roofing experienced with Minneapolis historic building roofing?

Yes. Minneapolis’s historic commercial buildings — warehouse conversions, Century-old masonry structures, and designated historic properties — present unique roofing challenges including parapet wall details, historic flashing materials, and Heritage Preservation Commission review requirements. Sellers’s commercial team has experience with the specific requirements of historic commercial roofing in Minneapolis’s preservation-regulated zones.

How long does Sellers’s commercial roofing process take from proposal to completion?

For a typical Minneapolis commercial re-roofing project (5,000–20,000 sq ft), the timeline from initial proposal to completed installation typically ranges from 4–8 weeks, including permit review, material procurement, and weather-dependent scheduling. Larger projects or those requiring manufacturer pre-inspection take longer. Sellers provides a project schedule with the proposal so Minneapolis clients can plan accordingly.

What is the BBB rating for Sellers Roofing?

Sellers Roofing Company holds BBB A+ accreditation — the Better Business Bureau’s highest rating. The company also carries 4.8 stars across 49 Google reviews. Both credentials reflect consistent customer satisfaction across residential and commercial projects throughout the Twin Cities, including Minneapolis.

Can Minneapolis building owners lease rooftop space for solar while maintaining a valid commercial roof warranty?

Yes, but it requires careful coordination. Rooftop solar installation involves penetrations, ballasted racking, or attachment points that must be executed in a manner compatible with the commercial roof membrane and warranty requirements. Most major commercial manufacturers — Carlisle, Holcim Elevate, GAF Commercial — have approved protocols for solar installation on warranted membrane systems. Sellers coordinates with solar installers to ensure that roof penetrations and attachment methods are executed per manufacturer requirements, preserving the NDL warranty coverage. Building owners should not allow solar contractors to penetrate a warranted commercial roof without confirming the penetration method has manufacturer pre-approval.

How do commercial NDL roofing warranties interact with insurance claims on Minneapolis buildings?

NDL (No Dollar Limit) commercial warranties cover manufacturing defects and installer workmanship, while commercial property insurance covers storm damage and casualty losses. These are separate coverage sources that can both apply after a qualifying event. For example, a hail event on a building with an active NDL warranty may trigger both an insurance claim for the storm damage and a manufacturer warranty review to determine if hail damage constitutes a warranty-covered scenario under the force majeure provision. Sellers helps Minneapolis commercial building owners navigate both processes simultaneously when applicable, ensuring that recovery from both coverage sources is maximized.

What should Minneapolis commercial building owners do to maintain their NDL warranty annually?

Most commercial NDL warranties require documented annual or biannual maintenance inspections to remain valid. The maintenance protocol typically includes: inspection of all field seam conditions and penetration flashings, drain cleaning and dome strainer inspection, removal of debris accumulation, assessment of any surface damage, and a written inspection report submitted to or retained for the manufacturer. Sellers offers commercial maintenance program enrollment for Minneapolis clients following project completion, ensuring warranty compliance documentation is maintained throughout the warranty term.


Real Minneapolis, MN Commercial Project Stories

Project 1: North Loop Warehouse Conversion — EPDM Re-Cover

A four-story warehouse building in Minneapolis’s North Loop neighborhood, originally constructed in 1923 and converted to mixed-use loft residential above and commercial retail below, required a full commercial roof replacement in the fall of 2024. The existing system was a deteriorated BUR (built-up roofing) with areas of significant alligatoring, blistering, and active leakage into a common area ceiling on the fourth floor.

Sellers’s commercial assessment confirmed that the BUR was beyond repair and that a full re-cover with 60 mil EPDM over new polyisocyanurate insulation was the most appropriate specification given the building’s construction type, parapet wall configuration, and the need for Heritage Preservation Commission compatibility. The project scope involved removal of the top two failing BUR plies (leaving the base sheet as a separation layer), installation of 4-inch polyiso insulation to bring the assembly to current R-value code compliance, and fully adhered 60 mil EPDM with Carlisle’s flashing system at 22 penetration points and the full parapet perimeter.

Sellers provided the required City of Minneapolis building permit and coordinated a pre-construction meeting with the building’s residential HOA board and the ground-floor commercial tenant to align on daily work hours and access protocols. The crew of eight union workers completed the 14,000 sq ft project over five days. A 20-year NDL warranty was issued by Carlisle SynTec upon completion. Total project: $148,000.

Project 2: Northeast Industrial Building — TPO Replacement with Code Upgrade

A 38,000 sq ft light industrial building in Northeast Minneapolis used for distribution and light manufacturing came to Sellers in spring 2025 with a failing 15-year-old 45 mil TPO single-ply system that had seen multiple spot repairs and was experiencing recurring leaks at drain areas and equipment curbs. The building’s owner needed a full replacement and also wanted to address the code compliance gap in insulation R-value that would be triggered by the replacement scope.

Sellers’s assessment confirmed the TPO system was beyond economic repair life. The replacement specification used 80 mil fully adhered TPO with Holcim Elevate insulation (polyiso + coverboard assembly) that met current Minnesota energy code R-values. The project also included replacement of four HVAC equipment curbs where existing curbs had deteriorated beyond functional use, and replacement of all roof drains with current-specification cast iron bodies and dome assemblies.

The project was phased over three weeks to allow continued manufacturing operations in portions of the building, with the crew working in 10,000 sq ft sections and installing temporary weather barriers over open sections each evening. Final project: $310,000, including $24,000 in insulation upgrade cost that constituted a code-required improvement. The building owner’s accountant confirmed that the code-required insulation upgrade qualified as a separately depreciable capital improvement for tax purposes.

Project 3: Minneapolis School Building — MBE/DBE-Required Contract

A Minneapolis Public Schools elementary school building required a partial roof replacement in the summer of 2025. The MPS facilities department’s procurement requirements mandated a significant portion of the contract value be awarded to MBE-certified contractors. Sellers was awarded the contract through MPS’s equity procurement process, satisfying both the MBE requirement and the prevailing wage compliance requirement in a single contractor relationship.

The project involved replacement of three roof sections totaling 22,000 sq ft with 80 mil TPO on a GAF Commercial system specification, with GAF-certified installation allowing a 25-year NDL warranty. All work was performed during summer break to avoid school year disruption, with the crew completing the project in 12 working days. Sellers coordinated daily with the MPS facilities coordinator and provided daily progress photos. The project passed the city’s commercial building inspection on first review and the NDL warranty was issued within 30 days of completion. Total project: $198,000.


CapEx Planning & Tax Treatment for Minneapolis Building Owners

Commercial roofing represents one of the largest capital expenditure line items for Minneapolis building owners, and proper financial planning and tax treatment can significantly reduce the net cost of a commercial roofing project.

Capitalization vs. Expense: IRS Rules for Commercial Roofing

Under IRS regulations (specifically the tangible property regulations effective since 2014), commercial roofing work is generally treated as a capital expenditure (capitalized and depreciated) rather than a deductible repair expense when the work constitutes a restoration, betterment, or replacement of a major structural component. A full roof replacement on a Minneapolis commercial building is almost always a capital expenditure. However, targeted repairs — seam repairs, localized spot repairs, re-caulking of flashings — may qualify as deductible repair expenses if they restore the component to its previously existing condition without adding value or extending the useful life beyond the pre-existing state.

Minneapolis commercial property owners should work with their CPA or tax advisor to properly classify roofing costs, as misclassification can create audit exposure. Sellers provides detailed, itemized invoices that separate material, labor, and component categories — useful documentation for the CPA’s classification analysis.

Depreciation Timelines

Commercial roofing classified as a capital expenditure is generally depreciated over 39 years as structural component of nonresidential real property. However, under IRS Section 179 or the Qualified Improvement Property (QIP) rules that allow 15-year depreciation (and potentially 100% bonus depreciation in applicable years), some commercial roofing improvements may qualify for accelerated cost recovery. QIP rules specifically include improvements to the interior and certain structural components of nonresidential property placed in service after the building was first placed in service — a category that many commercial re-roofing projects can qualify for.

Code-Required Upgrade Costs

When a commercial roofing replacement in Minneapolis triggers code-required upgrades — such as insulation R-value improvements required by the current Minnesota Energy Code — those upgrade costs are separately depreciable capital expenditures. Sellers identifies and documents code-required upgrade costs separately in project invoices to support this tax treatment.

Energy Efficiency Incentives

Commercial roofing improvements that increase building energy efficiency — including insulation upgrades and high-reflectivity TPO membranes — may qualify for incentives under the federal 179D Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction or utility programs offered by Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy for Minneapolis commercial buildings. Sellers does not provide tax advice but can document the energy performance attributes of installed systems to support clients’ incentive applications.


Get Your Commercial Roofing Estimate in Minneapolis

Minneapolis’s most demanding commercial roofing projects — public works, institutional, mixed-use, warehouse — need a contractor who brings credentials and quality in equal measure. Sellers Roofing Company is the only choice that satisfies MBE/DBE requirements, prevailing wage compliance, manufacturer NDL warranty eligibility, and proven 300+ commercial project track record in a single contract.

Call (651) 703-2336) for a same-day callback, or submit your commercial project inquiry at roofingexpertsstpaul.com. Sellers serves all of Minneapolis with no travel surcharge.







Need a roof inspection in Saint Paul or the Twin Cities? Call Sellers Roofing Company at +1-651-703-2336 or schedule a free estimate. We are a black-owned, NMSDC-certified MBE roofing contractor with 18+ years experience.

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