Hiring a commercial roofer can be a hefty investment, one that costs you thousands of dollars. Financial considerations aside, your choice is also likely to have an impact on your business in the long term. While a professional, high-rated, and reputable commercial roofer can install for you a roof that lasts decades and sustains your business, a low-quality roofer can easily get you tangled up in roofing problems that know no end, costing you not only repair money but also your reputation – roofing problems scare away customers.
In other words, before you hire a commercial roofer for your business, you want to make sure you choose the right one for you. Here are 7 key questions that will help you screen out bad commercial roofers.
How long have you been in business?
Experience is one of the key requirements for a commercial roofer. You want to learn when their company has been founded, as well as how many years of combined experience their installation team has. While you shouldn’t disregard fresh commercial roofing companies with positive ratings simply because they are new, it’s safer to choose an experienced provider, especially if you have a large or complex roofing project that needs to be completed before a deadline.
Have you completed similar projects before?
Yes is not enough. They have to show you their portfolio and any case studies they may have, whether they are available online as YouTube videos, downloadable e-books, or are featured on their website. Think twice before working with a commercial roofer without a portfolio.
What roofing solutions can you offer me?
Independent commercial roofers can usually work with any roofing materials provided by any roofing company. Other commercial roofers may work only with certain materials from certain manufacturers, which can restrict your choice in terms of roofing styles, colors, or geometry. You also want to find out whether your chosen roofer can provide long-term maintenance and repair services, should the need for them arise.
How long does the installation take?
Whether you want to add a roof to a new building or replace an old roof, it’s going to be a labor-intensive process whose duration will depend not only on the skill of the commercial roofers you work with but also on the weather. Still, you want to know whether it will take a few days or a few weeks.
Are you a certified roofing company?
In the commercial roofing industry, certification proves that a roofing company is both experienced and knowledgeable and that its employees are specialists at what they do. While there are no national certification programs for roofing contractors, there are state organizations offering certification. Make sure the roofing company you work with has it.
Do you offer a roofing warranty?
Professional commercial roofing companies always offer you a roofing warranty. It is important to understand the difference between a manufacturer’s warranty, which covers the materials that make up the roof, and the workmanship warranty offered by the roofing installer. Often, roofing problems arise because of a poor or imperfect installation rather than because of the roofing materials themselves, which is why you want to aim for a commercial roofer that offers you a warranty for their work.
The website of the commercial roofer you are considering hiring should answer some of these questions. For the rest, you can ask their representatives or sales team.
Get The Roof Maintenance Checklist
Whether you have a 10,000 or 100,000-square-foot facility, it’s important to perform regular maintenance and checkups to ensure everything is safe and stable.
Enter your information to get a checklist that can help any facility manager keep their roof in good order between professional inspections and maintenance:
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