This commercial metal roofing project replaced every roof system on Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria in San Antonio: Worthouse metal tile on the sloped roofs, a Versico PVC membrane over a full re-deck on the flat center roof, new underlayment, metal coping, and custom 6-inch gutters. We coordinated the work with the rooftop HVAC replacement, and the restaurant stayed open the entire time.
Project Snapshot
Location
San Antonio, TX
Property
Restaurant (commercial)
Sloped Roofs
Worthouse Mediterranean metal tile, 50-year warranty
Flat Roof
Versico PVC over a full re-deck, 20-year NDL warranty
Underlayment
Worn underlayment replaced throughout
HVAC
Coordinated with rooftop unit replacement
Edges & Drainage
Metal coping and custom 6-inch gutters
Operations
Open for business throughout
Timeline
A few weeks on site, completed in late 2025
The Starting Point
Giovanni’s has the kind of building that makes roofing complicated: a Mediterranean-style restaurant with sloped tile-look roofs that give it its character, a large flat center roof carrying the kitchen exhaust and rooftop HVAC equipment, a curved roof over the arched dining room windows, entry awnings, and a tower.
The aging roof had started to leak, and the underlayment beneath the old roofing had reached the end of its life. Replacing it meant solving three problems at once: matching the building’s look, choosing the right system for each roof type, and doing all of it without closing a busy restaurant. The project took months of planning to line up materials, phasing, and the HVAC work around Giovanni’s operations.
Our Recommendation
One building needed several roofing systems, each chosen for the job it does:
- Sloped roofs: Worthouse Supre Mediterranean metal tile panels. The profile keeps the classic terracotta look, and the system carries a 50-year warranty.
- Flat roof: Replace the existing TPO with a Versico PVC system over a full re-deck, backed by a 20-year no-dollar-limit (NDL) warranty.
- Underlayment: Strip the worn underlayment and install new high-temperature underlayment beneath the metal tile.
- Edges and drainage: New metal coping on the parapet walls and custom 6-inch commercial gutters to move water away from the building.
The recommendation also had to work as a construction plan. We phased the roofing around the rooftop HVAC replacement and the restaurant’s hours so both upgrades could move forward while Giovanni’s stayed open.
One Building, Several Roof Systems
Most commercial buildings have one roof type. Giovanni’s has several, and every place two of them meet is a spot where water wants to get in. Here’s what went on each part of the building.
Sloped Roofs: Worthouse Metal Tile
The hip and gable roofs, entry awnings, and tower roof were finished in Worthouse Supre metal tile with a Mediterranean profile. From the parking lot it reads as traditional tile. Up close, it’s formed steel panels that weigh a fraction of clay or concrete tile, won’t crack when they’re walked on, and are backed by a 50-year warranty.
Metal tile is one of the best ways to keep a Mediterranean or Spanish-style look on a commercial building without the weight and maintenance of clay. It’s one of the most popular forms of commercial metal roofing, and a big part of why metal roofing is our specialty.
Flat Roof: Versico PVC Over a Full Re-Deck
The flat center roof is the working part of the building. It carries the rooftop HVAC units and the kitchen exhaust. We removed the old TPO, re-decked the entire section, and installed a Versico PVC membrane with heat-welded seams and a 20-year no-dollar-limit warranty.
PVC is a strong fit for restaurants. It resists the grease and fats that come out of kitchen exhaust, which can break down other membranes over time, and its white surface reflects the Texas sun instead of soaking it up.
The Curved Roof Over the Dining Room
Above the arched dining room windows, a curved roof section ties the front of the building together. It was finished in white membrane so it sheds water cleanly where the curve meets the sloped metal tile roofs on either side.
Coping, Edge Metal, and 6-Inch Commercial Gutters
Where the flat roof meets the parapet walls, new metal coping caps the top of each wall and keeps water out of the stucco. Around the building’s edges, we installed custom 6-inch commercial gutters and downspouts, colored to match the roof. Oversized gutters handle the heavy downpours Central Texas gets and move water away from the foundation and entrances.
Where the Roofs Meet
The transitions are where commercial roofs most often fail: metal tile meeting a parapet wall, the flat roof meeting the curved section, flashing around every rooftop unit. Each one was flashed and sealed as its own detail, so the systems work together as one watertight roof.
Replacing the Failing Underlayment
Once the old roofing came off the sloped sections, the underlayment beneath it showed its age. Underlayment is the waterproof layer between the roof deck and the finished roof. When it fails, every gap in the roofing above becomes a potential leak.
We stripped it and installed new high-temperature underlayment, rated to handle the heat that builds up under metal roofing in a Texas summer. On the flat roof, the old deck was replaced entirely before the PVC went down.
Why Commercial Metal Roofing: Metal Tile vs. Clay or Concrete
Many Mediterranean-style buildings were designed for clay or concrete tile. Metal tile keeps that look and avoids most of the drawbacks:
- Weight: a fraction of the load of clay or concrete tile, which matters on commercial framing.
- Durability: steel panels won’t crack underfoot, which matters when technicians cross the roof to reach equipment.
- Longevity: a 50-year manufacturer warranty on this system.
- Appearance: the Mediterranean profile and terracotta color keep the building’s character.
Keeping Giovanni’s Open During the Project
Giovanni’s stayed open throughout the project. We made that possible by:
- Phasing the work so only one section of the building was active at a time.
- Containing the job site to one side of the parking lot, with materials staged on pallets, a telehandler for lifting, and cones and fencing to keep customers clear.
- Keeping entrances safe and open while crews worked overhead.
- Working with full fall protection, with harnesses and hard hats on every crew member.
- Cleaning up daily so customers never walked through debris.
Coordinating the Rooftop HVAC Replacement
New rooftop HVAC units were part of Giovanni’s upgrade. We coordinated with Capitol Air Conditioning Services, who handled the units, so the new equipment sits on a new, properly flashed roof instead of being set onto an old one and disturbed later.
Timing these two projects together saves building owners money. Setting new units means cutting and flashing new roof penetrations, and doing that on a new roof avoids paying to remove and reset equipment later. The technicians worked from protective pads so the new membrane stayed undamaged.
The Result
With this commercial metal roofing project complete, every roof on Giovanni’s has been replaced, the rooftop HVAC is new, and the restaurant kept serving customers throughout. The sloped roofs keep the terracotta look that defines the building, and the flat roof is now built for the kitchen and equipment it carries.
For Property Managers and Business Owners
- Fully insured. Certificates of insurance are available on request.
- Phased scheduling around your hours and tenants
- One point of contact from planning to final walkthrough
- Coordination with HVAC and other trades
- Manufacturer-backed warranties, including no-dollar-limit options
- Photo documentation of every phase
Commercial Roofing FAQ
Usually, yes. We phase the work so only one section of the building is active at a time, contain the staging area, keep entrances safe, and clean up daily. Giovanni’s stayed open throughout its project.
PVC membranes resist the grease and fats that come out of kitchen exhaust, which can break down some other membranes over time. PVC seams are heat-welded, and a white membrane reflects heat, which helps with cooling costs.
Metal tile is formed steel shaped to look like traditional tile. It weighs a fraction of clay or concrete tile, won’t crack when walked on, and often carries a longer warranty. Clay is heavier and more brittle, but it is a traditional material with a long history.
An NDL warranty is a manufacturer warranty that covers qualifying repairs to the roof system without a cap on the dollar amount. It’s issued only when the roof is installed to the manufacturer’s standards and passes inspection.
If both are near the end of their life, coordinating them is usually smart. New units need new roof penetrations and flashing, and setting them on a new roof avoids paying to remove and reset equipment later.
It depends on the size of the building and how many roof systems it has. Giovanni’s, with metal tile, a flat PVC roof, coping, and gutters, took a few weeks of on-site work after months of planning.
Yes. Metal roofing is our specialty, and we install metal tile, standing seam, and other metal systems on both homes and commercial buildings.
Planning work on a business property? Learn more about our commercial roofing services, or explore metal roofing options, including metal tile.
Planning a Commercial Roofing Project?
From a single flat roof to a building with several roof systems, we’ll assess your property, plan the work around your operations, and give you a clear, detailed proposal.