Tips to Finding a Commercial Roofing Contractor
Insist on License of Registration
Before you hire any contractor, you should do some background check to find out whether they are registered by the government. If you reach a dead end in your homework, you should ask them to show you’re their license of registration. As a matter of fact, the authorities require all commercial roofers to be registered. You can therefore get yourself into hot soup by hiring a roofing expert that doesn’t have a license.
Insurance Cover is Crucial
You should protect your interests by confirming whether the commercial contractor you intend to hire is covered by insurance. If they don’t have insurance for their workers, you should not consider doing any business with them. Such roofing contractors are nothing but a looming liability. This is because you can be slapped with a heavy penalty for engaging with such contractors in case they suffer any injuries while working at your premises. You can avoid such legal suites by hiring a contractor that’s covered by insurance so that you are not held liable for their injuries by the law.
Experience
The worst mistake you can make is to hire a commercial roofing expert that doesn’t have any experience. If you hire such a professional, he will definitely do a shoddy job which will cost you more because you will still have to call in another expert to correct the mistakes of the first contractor. Before you hire a commercial contractor, you should insist on seeing the projects that he has handled in the recent past. In fact, you should insist on getting the contact details of the people that own the structures that he has listed in his portfolio so you can confirm whether they were satisfied with the quality of his work.
Warranty
A reliable commercial roofing contractor should be ready to offer a warranty for the work that he will do. If the contractor tries to avoid answering the question on warranty, you should not hire him because he may not deliver the quality of roofing that you want. Such contractors use poor quality materials that end up being costly in the long run.
Select Local Contractor
When looking for a commercial roofing contractor for your project, you should narrow down your search to those within your area. The advantage of dealing with local contractors is that they are always available when you need them. At the end of the day, you want to deal with a contractor that will be there to fulfill their promise on the warranty. Your warranty can be null and void if the contractor is out of reach. Remember, contractors operate like other businesses. They can close shop any time without a warning. And once they are nowhere to be seen, your warranty becomes useless.
The Greatest Tips on How to Find and Hire a Commercial Roofing Contractor
Check Your Local Roofing Laws
There is no statewide licensing regulation for roofing contractors. Instead, licenses and permits are required by the building departments and vary depending on location. For instance, the City of Akron requires all contractors to have a tax account number. They need to obtain this from the Income Tax Division before starting a project and only then will the department issue them a Certificate of Registration.
Choose a Commercial Roofing Company that Offers 24-Hour Service
A leaky roof requires immediate repair, because when left untreated, it can cause severe interior damage (especially in commercial properties with a lot of assets, such as expensive equipment). For example, water can drip into electronic devices and fry up their internal components.
Team Up with a Contractor Specializing in Commercial Roofing Services
Even if you’re in the market for a new commercial roof, it’s best to hire a contractor offering roof repairs, as well. In fact, you should choose a company offering roof maintenance and restoration
Hire an NRCA Member
The NRCA, or National Roofing Contractors Association, is a US trade association. It’s an exclusive group of roofing experts committed to informing and assisting the roofing industry while acting as its principal advocate and help members in serving their customers
Check the Contractor’s Project Estimating Process
Once you find a roofer offering free estimates, ask about their valuing process. (If they provide a quote without ever receiving any details from you, that’s not a good sign.) It’s imperative that they know the scope of work needed
Tips For Choosing Commercial Roofing Contractors
Do your homework
Checking out your options before hiring a roofing contractor to service your company building is important. Inquire about a perspective roofer’s background, whether or not they are licensed and insured, how long they have been in business,
Ask around
Many businesses obtain a majority of their work through word-of-mouth, which can be a great way for you to find a reliable roofing company. Ask other businesses in the area to recommend a good Atlanta roofer, which will make your search easier.
Ask for references
Asking for references is a good idea and if a commercial roofing company hesitates to provide you with references upon request, then you should steer clear. A reputable roofing company will not hesitate and will be proud to provide you with former customers who can vouch for the quality of their work.
Check with the BBB
Although not all businesses are members with the Better Business Bureau, it’s a good idea to check with this agency before hiring a company. Even if a company isn’t listed, there could still be complaints that have been filed with the BBB, which could be helpful when it comes to ruling out perspective commercial roofers.
Choose a company that offers free consultations
Many roofing companies charge a fee to come out and assess your roof in order to provide you with an estimate. If you pay several companies to give you estimates, this could quickly add up. There are a few companies that will provide you with a free roof analysis and you should opt for these companies.
Things to Look for When Choosing a Commercial Roofing Company
Look locally
The best contractor will not only have a local location, but also an established reputation within your community. Unfortunately, some fly-by-night businesses will be out of sight long before your roof’s standard five-year warranty period comes to an end. The warranty is only good if the company will honor it, which is why it’s so important that you choose someone you know will be there when you need them.
Consider experience
Roofing is hard work. A high quality roofer will have years of training and on-the-job experience. This knowledge prepares them to deal with any situation that could arise during commercial roof repairs.
Always ask for recommendations
Ask your friends and family for recommendations. They will be able to provide you with honest insight into any companies they have used in the past and whether their work has stood up to the test of time. This will provide you with the best picture of a company’s customer service and workmanship.
Insurance isn’t debatable
Never consider a roofing company that doesn’t carry worker’s compensation and liability insurance. Always ask to see the certificate, and call their insurance carrier to confirm it is still valid. Without this, you could find yourself facing thousands of dollars in unexpected costs if something were to go wrong.
Price should not be the sole deciding factor
Just because it’s the lowest price doesn’t mean it’s the best. A ridiculously low price is often a red flag of other issues. Oftentimes, the low bidding companies use low quality materials or shoddy installation techniques to keep costs low. Always ask the company how they arrived at the estimate before signing anything. Typically, more middle-of-the-road pricing is generally the safer bet.
How to Find the Perfect Material for Your Commercial Roof
Top Considerations for a Commercial Roof
When you’re installing a commercial roof, there are a number of things that you need to take into consideration. These are the most important things you need to think about
Building Usage
What is the building going to be used for? Is it a warehouse where inventory will be stored? Is it going to be a public space? These are important questions to ask because a public space will need insulation, while a warehouse will require resistance over leaks
Weather Considerations
The location of the building will have a big impact on the commercial roof that’s best for your project. You could be in a location that’s exposed to extreme weather conditions. There may be building codes in your location to make sure that the structure is sound
Will the Business Grow?
Are you working with a business that plans to grow in the next few years? You want to make sure that you have a roof that will grow with it. You don’t want to put the business in a position where it has to replace the entire roof again for a building expansion
Different Types of Roofing Systems
Let’s take a look at the different types of commercial roof materials that you can use for your project. The first is a metal roof. A metal roof replacement is a good option because it’s durable and can withstand high winds. They can be used in a low sloped design, a standard slope or flat roof repair.
