For business owners, keeping your facility in good shape is always a challenge. The biggest challenge you’ll face is keeping your commercial roof in good condition.
While the typical flat roof can last nearly 50 years with regular care and maintenance, you will need an experienced commercial roofing contractor to take care of repairs.
Finding a contractor you can trust can feel overwhelming. With so many gimmicks out there and misleading advertisements posted every day, where do you start?
You need to take your time and speak with several contractors before you choose the right one for your building. When you speak with them, ask them these key questions and review their answers in detail.
1. What Types of Roofing Projects Have They Worked On?
Before you can move forward gathering information on pricing and availability, you need to make sure the roofer can work on the type of roof you have.
Commercial roofs aren’t all the same. Some use traditional asphalt shingles while others rely on high-grade flat roofing materials. Not all roofers are familiar with all types of roofs.
Before you agree to work with a contractor, make sure they know how to work on your specific roofing type. You can ask for pictures of roofs they’ve worked on in the past for further verification. If they haven’t worked on your type of roof, keep looking.
2. Are They Licensed and Insured?
Every reputable commercial roofing contractor will have a current business license and insurance policies in place. The license ensures that they meet the state’s requirements and can work on buildings to make sure they’re up to code. The insurance policies are in place to protect you from liability.
If the roofer you’re speaking with doesn’t have a valid business license or refuses to produce proof of insurance, don’t hire them.
Without a business license, you can’t guarantee that the roofing contractor will do the work properly. Without insurance, you could end up paying for any damage the roofers do to your property or injuries their team suffers on the job.
3. Can They Provide References?
It’s always a good idea to start looking up reviews and references for each roofing contractor you’re considering working with. Start online and see what others have to say. You can even search for the business on the Better Business Bureau to see if there are outstanding complaints.
Once you find a few roofers that have good reputations, ask them for references. Trustworthy contractors have a long list of satisfied customers willing to speak about their experience.
Follow up with those references and see what they have to say. If most of them would use the roofing contractor again, they’re worth hiring.
4. What Types of Warranties Do They Offer?
Unfortunately, not all commercial roofers offer the same types of warranties. Some only provide manufacturer warranties for the materials they use. Others stand by their work completely, guaranteeing that their repairs will withstand the test of time.
Before you agree to work with a contractor or ask them for an estimate, find out what types of guarantees they provide.
A trustworthy and experienced contractor will offer manufacturer warranties on all products they use, but they’ll also stand behind their work. Keep in mind that workmanship guarantees will vary from company to company.
Find out the details before you decide to hire the roofer. This way, you’ll know that you’re getting the best warranty possible.
5. Will They Offer a Written Estimate?
According to the commercial roofing pros at TEMA Roofing, it’s always a good idea to shop around and get estimates from different companies in the area. However, it’s key to ask for written estimates from each contractor you speak with.
Those written estimates will outline the projected costs for labor, materials, and any other incidental fees that you may need to pay.
When you have the estimate in writing, you’ll be able to compare pricing from different contractors more easily. While you might feel tempted to choose a company based on price alone, don’t.
Look at everything outlined in the estimate and compare both the amount of work the contractor will do and the money you’ll have to pay. Choose the contractor that offers the best value and highest quality of workmanship.
6. How Long Will the Process Take?
As a business owner, you need to keep your doors open to make any money. Any downtime while roofers are making improvements to your building could disrupt your bottom line.
Always ask how long the contractor thinks the project will take. They should be able to provide you with a rough estimate. Keep in mind that there’s always a chance that your roofer will discover more repairs during the course of their work.
This could make the project take longer than initially planned.
7. Will They Be Able to Help with Maintenance?
Believe it or not, some roofing companies only work on new roof installations. Before you decide to hire a roofer, make sure they’re able to help with ongoing maintenance.
They’ll be able to explain the types of maintenance they can help with before you hire them. Even better, they may have a maintenance plan that will help you save money over the life of your roof.
This will help you keep your building in good condition for years without having to deal with the hassle of looking for a new contractor anytime you discover a leak.
Ask These Questions Before Hiring a Commercial Roofing Contractor
Your business is your pride and joy. Hiring the right commercial roofing contractor will help you keep your company up and running smoothly and safely.
Take the time to ask each contractor these questions and you’ll be able to find the best roofing expert for your needs.
Need more advice on managing your building’s upkeep and maintenance tasks? Check out our latest posts for more helpful tips and tricks.
