How to Choose The Right Commercial Roofing Contractor
Let’s face it…..there is never a “right time” to have to replace your commercial roof. While it’s the most important aspect of your building, planning for a major commercial roof repair or replacement it not something you plan for or get excited about. It’s basically out of sight, therefore your roofing system often becomes a business element that’s usually overlooked until you have no choice left BUT to think about it. However, now that the issue has presented itself, how do you choose the right commercial roofing contractor?!
This task can seem incredibly daunting if you don’t already have a trusted contractor you’ve worked with in the past. But you’re in luck! – we are here to guide you through the process and bring to the forefront certain questions and requirements you should address before choosing the right commercial contractor.
Determine what commercial contractor specialties your project needs
Not every roof project is created equal. You could be looking for and slightly educated in certain type of roofing systems, most prominently. PVC, TPO, EPDM. Or maybe you are looking for a coating or restoration. Perhaps maybe a mix of both. Will you need gutters, downspouts, etc. Now maybe you don’t know all of this yet. So that’s what you want to find out through the discovery and estimate phase. Your commercial roofing experts should be able to advise you on all your options and best courses of action. If they can’t, then they aren’t the contractor for you.
Here at J Smucker Contracting we employ a good, better, best approach that is meant to walk you through all the options and advise you on what is in your best interest. Make sure your contractor does the same. As with most things, it’s best to get at least 3 different quotes from three qualified companies and then compare.
Inspect their commercial roofing portfolio
This step is easier than ever. Most companies will have a page or section on their website dedicated to past projects, similar to this (https://www.
Customer Reviews and Feedback
A cursory info-gathering tactic is obviously to take a look at online reviews. Platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or the Better Business Bureau are certainly helpful. You’re going to want to get a list of these clients to contact and inquire how the project went. The most reputable commercial contractors will list highlighted client projects on their website. It’s easy to look at some ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures and think they MUST be a satisfied customer. However, that is not always the case.
Specific questions to address when contacting past clients
- How was their overall experience?
- Did the roofing project stay within the confines of their approximate timeline
- Were there any unexpected costs that arose during the project – and were these costs foreseeable and therefore overlooked on the part of a less experienced contractor?
- How was their response time to any their questions or concerns?
- Have there been any warranty issues since completion and how did the contractor handle it?
Ultimately, you want to get an overall understanding as to whether they would recommend this company to other commercial business owners/managers. All companies do a great job of highlighting their happy customers with reviews and before and after pics. You want uncover the “hidden underbelly” if there is one. Your decision on which commercial roofing contractor to choose should generally be more focused on the customer experience and quality of work than the price.
What questions should I ask a commercial roofing contractor?
You’re going to ask your prospective contractor many of the same questions you are asking their past clients above. Oftentimes, the questions that are exclusively asked of the contractor should revolve mostly around the project itself. How many projects of this size and scope have you done in the last year? How many weeks are you booked out? Who will be my one point of contact before, during, and after project completion? How are warranty calls handled and who is responsible for them? You are entering into a fairly long term relationship with whoever installs your new commercial roofing system. Most warranties last between 10-20 years, at least on the manufacturer’s side. So you want to be sure that you are learning as much as you can about them and like them and trust them enough to take this journey together.
What should I look for in a roof proposal?
If the proposal you receive is only a few pages long, run!! A commercial roof is complex. At J Smucker Contracting, our average roof report and estimate is 15 pages long. It includes pictures of the current roof; pointing out all the specific flaws. A high-level roofing proposal needs to be a detailed quote that goes through all the materials being used and the sections being addressed. A solid proposal runs through all the warranties, payment procedures, manufacturer specs, references, and places for both parties to sign. A sparse proposal that deviates from the aforementioned criterea is simply a roadmap to headache, confusion and potential litigation.
Verify their roofing certifications and insurances
All roofing material manufacturers have a process to become certified to install their products. This is important to verify, because if your prospective contractor isn’t certified, your warranties will be in jeopardy. The other thing you want to verify is their insurance. Most projects constructed by top tier roofing companies go smoothly, with years of experience mitigating any potential problems. However If there are issues, you want to be sure they have the insurance to cover it. Remember – you want to ask them for their COI (certificate of insurance) and review their limits and their policy-dates to make sure they are valid.
Commercial roofing for Pennsylvania businesses
So you have gathered all your info, asked all the questions, what’s left? Making your final choice. As stated before, rushing the ‘research’ process to narrow down your choice or basing your contractor strictly on price is generally a mistake. There is so much more research that goes into a satisfying experience than than searching for the contractor who will complete the project as cheaply or quickly as possible. Factor it all in – did you enjoy speaking with them? Were they responsive? Knowledgeable? Have they been in business long and will they be able to honor the warranty? Are their past clients happy and satisfied? Are they local (which is always a major plus)? Are they properly licensed, insured, certified? Ultimately, are they the commercial roofing contractor for you? If they are, sign that dotted line. If not, move on and find a company that is!!
If you are a business in the Pennsylvania tri-state area feel free to contact us with any additional questions you may have. We provide roofing estimates for businesses free of charge.
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