Property owners and investors who maintain a commercial building in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area are in a constant battle against heavy rain, lighting, hail, sleet, and snow.

You probably already know that your building's largest financial drain is poor heating and cooling, a problem that starts with a compromised commercial “building envelope”.

Commercial building envelopes are the physical separation between the interior and the exterior.

When this envelope system—comprised of your roof, windows, doors, and siding—is sealed properly, it is a high-tech thermal shield. When it fails, you see rising operational costs, structural problems, and a decreased return on your investment.

Thankfully, All Around’s Commercial Division specializes in strengthening this essential commercial building envelope. Our team break down for you the four critical zones that must be addressed to achieve maximum thermal performance and minimize your utility expenses in the harsh Minnesota climate.

Multi-family residential commercial property featuring several three-story apartment buildings, with white snow covering the grounds and rooftops on a cold day.

Your Commercial Roof is the First Line of Defense

A commercial shingled roof is the most exposed component of the building envelope, making it a critical area for energy loss. A faulty commercial roof can quickly remove savings elsewhere by allowing heat to escape through the attic or ceiling and by letting moisture ruin insulation.

How to Maximize Commercial Roof Performance:

Insulation is Key: Professional commercial roofing systems utilize advanced insulation materials and methods. For flat roofs, systems like TPO and EPDM, when installed over high R-value rigid insulation, provide a robust thermal shield.
Reflectivity: Installing a light-colored, reflective TPO roofing membrane helps reflect solar heat away from your building in the summer. This significantly reduces the load on your cooling systems and lowers your operational costs.
Air Barrier: Proper sealing and flashing are essential to creating an airtight barrier, preventing the “stack effect” where warm air escapes and cold air is sucked in.

Ready to assess your shingled commercial roof’s performance? Learn more about our specialized shingled Commercial Roofing Services in the Twin Cities.

For more information on commercial FLAT roofing, please talk to our friends at Mint Roofing in Long Lake, MN.

Quality Commercial Windows Eliminate Drafts, Cut Costs and Improve Tenant Experience

Outdated or poorly sealed commercial windows are notorious for giving you high energy bills and frustrating your tenants with cold drafts. Commercial windows create "thermal bridges," allowing heat to pass through glass and frame materials easily.

How to Maximize Commercial Window Performance:

Insulated Glass Units (IGUs): Replacing single-pane glass with modern IGUs units filled with inert gas like argon) provides a large improvement due to the insulation.
Low-E Coatings: Installing Low-E (Low-Emissivity) coated glass reflects the sun’s radiant heat. In the summer, it keeps the heat out. In the winter, it reflects your furnace heat back into the building optimizing energy efficiency.
Frame Matters: Upgrading frames from standard aluminum to high-performance thermally broken aluminum or fiberglass further prevents heat transfer, ensuring a complete seal for your commercial property.

Eliminate drafts and start saving. Explore our wide range of Commercial Window Replacement and Repair services.

Sealing High-Traffic Access Areas with Commercial Doors

Commercial doors are constantly opening and closing as places of constant traffic. This makes commercial doors major weak links in your commercial building envelope. Every time a door is opened, cold air escapes, but the real loss comes from poor seals and non-insulated doors.

How to Maximize Door Performance:

Insulated Commercial Door Cores: Go with commercial doors that have insulated cores, particularly for any exterior entry area. This minimizes heat loss through the door itself. If you touch the door on the inside and it is very cold, you may have a commercial door with no insulation.
High-Quality Door Seals and Weatherstripping: Proper door installation is very important. All Around focuses on installing durable seals and weatherstripping that block air and moisture from coming in, which is required for enduring Minnesota's extreme temperatures.

Don’t let your commercial doors let the cold air inside. See our options for Commercial Door Installation.

Commercial Siding Is the Protective and Insulating Outer Shell

The siding and exterior wall system provide the largest area of your commercial building’s envelope. Its primary role is to shed water. Modern systems incorporate an air and vapor barrier to manage moisture and provide cost-saving insulation.

How to Maximize Siding Performance:

Insulation: When replacing commercial siding, the All Around Commercial Team recommends installing a continuous layer of insulation over the wall sheathing. This eliminates thermal bridging through the studs which can account for up to 30% of heat loss.
Durable Materials: Choosing low-maintenance materials such as metal siding ensures your protective barrier remains intact against impact and exposure.
Proper Flashing: Flashing around windows and doors prevents water sneaking in, safeguarding the insulation and structure from moisture damage that compromises the entire building envelope.

Ready for a comprehensive exterior upgrade? Review our full range of Commercial Siding Materials and Installation Services.

Protecting Your ROI

Investing in your commercial building envelope is not just maintenance - it is a strategic capital expenditure. By addressing the commercial roof, windows, doors, and siding you achieve compounding benefits:

Reduced Energy Costs: Lower your monthly energy bills and enjoy immediate savings.
Increased Tenant Experience: Consistent indoor temperatures will provide fewer complaints and better tenant retention, reviews, and relationships.
Higher Property Valuation: Energy-efficient buildings absolutely command higher rental rates and sale prices.

Choose All Around’s Commercial Division to conduct an assessment of your commercial property. We’ll help you develop a sound strategy to improve your commercial building envelope against the Minnesota climate,

Contact us today for a free consultation and estimate on your commercial building!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

A: We recommend starting with a comprehensive exterior inspection and energy audit consultation. Our experts will assess the current condition of your roof, siding, windows, and doors, identifying specific failure points and measuring your building's current thermal performance. This initial assessment is crucial for creating a prioritized, data-driven strategy that targets the areas with the highest potential for ROI and energy savings in your Minneapolis or St. Paul property.
A: No. While a full envelope replacement offers maximum energy efficiency and long-term value, All Around understands that capital expenditures must be strategic. We use your inspection data to prioritize improvements, allowing for phased upgrades (e.g., addressing critical roofing and window failures first). Our strategy focuses on achieving the best possible ROI by fixing the most inefficient components immediately, allowing the energy savings to help fund subsequent phases.
A: Yes. All Around's Commercial Division is specifically structured to handle multi-component exterior projects seamlessly. We act as your single point of contact, managing and coordinating the schedules of our roofing, siding, door, and window installation teams. This unified approach eliminates logistical headaches for property owners and ensures all components of your building envelope are integrated correctly and warrantied under one expert contractor.

Seal Your Commercial Property Against Minnesota’s Climate to Maximize ROI