Everything You Need To Know About Choosing A Commercial Roofing Contractor
1 The Benefits Of Choosing Commercial Roofing Contractors
2 What To Look For In A Contractor
3 Not All Contractors Are The Same
4 Don’t Forget About National Roofing Contractors
5 Commercial Roofing From The Miami International Airport to the Superdome and Beyond
As a facility owner or property manager, you are no stranger to the woes of roofing needs. Roof issues are an annoying addition to your tasklist and repairs really start to add up. Not to mention the price tag on a new roof.
In every roof’s life cycle, however, there comes a time when you have to bite the bullet and invest in a (new) roof or more substantial repair. Low-quality materials and questionable workmanship aren’t going to cut it this time. Not unless you want to be in the same position in a matter of years—months, even.
Finding a great commercial roofing contractor is your best option. With so many companies to choose from, though, the decision can be difficult. At IRC, we want you to have the best roof available to you. That’s why we’re here to give you the resources you need to narrow down your contractor options and make the best call for your company.
The Benefits of Choosing Commercial Roofing Contractors
Doing your research can really pay off when it comes to finding the best roofing contractor for your next project. Commercial roofing contractors can repair your leaky roof and give you a better experience and a longer-lasting solution to ease your roof-related stress. The better the contractor, the better the roof. Here’s what the best contractor could do for your roof:
Higher Quality Roofing
Years of wasting time and money on patch jobs for your roof can be solved with something as simple as talking to a professional about your roofing options. Not only will you end up with a roof that doesn’t need constant repairs, you will have one that stands the test of time and holds up through all manner of weather.
A good contractor will be able to offer you better solutions for your roof, such as spray foam roofing. Spray foam is a viable, more effective alternative to simply patching leaky roofs. With long-lasting spray polyurethane foam (SPF), you will experience fewer leaks and repairs over the life of your roof. A spray foam roof can last for decades with proper maintenance. While ongoing repair is not required, when repairs do come up, they are generally just quick and easy fixes.
Less Tear-off and Downtime
With the right materials and experience, a great contractor could save you tear-off and downtime on your next roofing project. In your business, getting behind schedule because of a hole in your ceiling is not an option. An experienced commercial roofing contractor can make repairs with less tear-off with a roofing material like spray foam. Spray foam, in many cases, is applied right on top of your existing roof, which means less downtime for your business. This process is faster, more efficient, and gives you a better quality roof every time.
Cut down on expenses
The upfront bill of commercial roofers and spray foam roofing may seem high, but a professional roof repair completed using sturdy materials like SPF will pay for itself in a matter of years. An SPF roof is specially designed to protect your building from the elements, as well as keep your facility cool in the summer and warm in the winter. With commercial flat roof repair and spray foam, you’ll benefit from the lower recurring roofing costs and a lower electric bill. Plus, you won’t have to pay for a whole new roof for years and years to come.
Curious About Spray Foam Roofing?
What To Look For In A Contractor
Before even getting to the nitty-gritty of roof repair, there are a few qualities you want to look for in a great roofing contractor. Finding the best is about more than looking for the company that has the most employees or makes the most money. The qualities you want stand out from the crowd for different reasons.
Quality of Service
While you of course want a company that will install the best roof on your building, it’s also important that you find a company you enjoy working with. Service matters in this industry, too. You want to work with someone who will ask questions to make sure they understand exactly what you want and expect out of your roof—and then deliver on that expectation.
The best contractors will work with integrity, meaning they will do what is right by you and your building every time, even if it means losing time and/or money. They have an agreement with you, and they are going to fulfill that agreement, whatever it takes. They will get the job done to your standards, no matter what.
Your business has a timeline to stick to, and your contractor should do whatever they can to keep to your agreed upon time frame. Timeliness is crucial for roofing contractors because it is indicative of the behavior and mindset of the contractor. A contractor that doesn’t mind wasting your time, giving you headaches, and charging you more money because they miss deadlines, probably doesn’t mind giving you a poor-quality product and poor service along the way.
It can be easy to tell when a sales representative is being genuine, but if you’re not sure, seek out previous clients of the contractor.
Knowledgeable
Knowledge is key when a contractor is quoting, planning, executing, and completing a roofing project.
A great contractor will be able to walk you smoothly through every step of the process and answer your every question. Everyone you work with should be knowledgeable in the solutions available, your existing roof, and even possible alternatives so that you can find the best roofing solution for your unique circumstance.
Quality of Work
A contractor may have all the knowledge in the world about roofing and the different types of systems to use but if that contractor can’t plan or execute a roofing project they won’t last long in the industry because they will over promise and under deliver. Of course, when searching for a roofing contractor, you will no doubt want to look at their past body of work to get a grasp on how they operate and to see the work they have done. Make sure their roofs look good and perform well and that the contractor has the skill required to complete your project on time and in a fitting manner.
Not All Contractors Are The Same
When it comes to your business, your facility is one of the most important aspects of your operation. With something this crucial, a second-rate roof isn’t going to cut it. We cannot stress enough the importance of doing your research before signing on the dotted line.
When it comes to your roof, you can’t pick just any commercial roofer out of the phone book because not every company is going to give you the same end result. Some are easier to work with than others, like we discussed in the previous section, but that’s not the only important factor. The solution to a better roof and a better overall experience is finding the best contractor for the job. This means taking a deeper look at a few key factors.
Years in Business
The longer a company has been in business, the longer they’ve had to perfect their techniques and prove the quality of their work. That means better materials, better workmanship, and a better roof every time. With years of service, they also have years of loyal customers.
Experience
It’s one thing to just be in business for a long time, though, and another to have the experience that proves their dedication to the industry for the last few decades. You want a contractor that has the ability to handle anything thrown at them – One that has worked with every type of roof and done every type of project, from the simplest of jobs to the most complex.
Safety
While there are regulations that every roofing contractor has to follow to be OSHA compliant, that doesn’t mean that every company is going to go above and beyond to ensure the safety of every person in the vicinity of the job site. Safety training and practices should be ingrained in a commercial roofing company’s culture and process. But too often it gets bypassed for productivity and speed.
Before you choose your next commercial roofing company, take a look at their safety measures. Do they require intensive training for every person that will be up on your roof? Do they have physical measures in place to prevent falls and other injuries? Do they have thorough procedures in place in case of emergency?
Products and Solutions
Contrary to popular belief, it’s better to find a roofing contractor that specializes in one or two products, rather than one that runs the gamut. When a company specializes in a certain product, that means they know that material forward and backward. First, research the best type of commercial roofing material for your property, and then you should look for a contractor that specializes in that solution. If you’re not sure, a truly honest contractor will recommend the best solution whether or not it’s their specialty and refer you to the best company for the job.
Quality
While it’s always good to have options, what you’re really looking for when searching for your next roofing contractor is a company that will do a great job, give you the best service, and ensure that you have a high-quality roof to last you for years to come.
The best roofers have been in business for decades and have served hundreds of happy customers. When this is the case, you know that the quality of work is going to be far superior. Combined with experience, high-quality roofing solutions like spray foam, are going to give you long-lasting results that save you time and money in the long run.
Core Values
Now, it may sound cheesy, but a company that can’t put words to their mission, vision, and core values isn’t a company you want to work with. Having shared values means that a company is dedicated to putting their best foot forward. For the customer, this means superior service and customized solutions, high-quality products and expert workmanship, and a better overall roof experience.
Safety Is Critical To A Positive Roofing Experience
Don’t Forget About National Roofing Contractors
You may think the easiest way to find a great contractor is by opening up the white pages or Googling “commercial roofers near me,” but the truth of the matter is that this method could send you in the wrong direction. When it comes to your roof, you need the best available. And the best available isn’t always in your neighborhood.
You Want the Best, Not the Most Convenient
Looking in your area is great when you’re ordering tacos, not when you’re investing in a new roof. You have to do your research. Simply relying on the closest commercial roofing contractor near you could lead you to an inexperienced roofing company, and worse, you might end up with a roofing system that’s not right for your building.
It may be that you do have a great contractor in your area, but you won’t know for sure until you do your research on all your options. Don’t discount a national company just on the premise that they are national. The best national commercial roofing companies will travel to you to deliver better and longer-lasting solutions for your roof. You don’t need nearby, you need a great roof!
Get Relief From Your Roofing Woes
Commercial Roofing From The Miami International Airport To The Superdome And Beyond
Commercial Roofing from the Miami International Airport to the Superdome and Beyond
With over 40 years in business and over 140 million square feet of roof installed, IRC serves not just the Louisville area where we are headquartered, but the whole country. We are dedicated to a job well done so much so that we have clients with hundreds of locations across the country!
Don’t discount national companies when searching for your next roofing contractor. When you need the best, we offer the best. Whether you have one building or one thousand, IRC has you covered. There has been no project too big or complicated for us to handle.
To learn more about what IRC can offer you for your next commercial roofing project, contact us today.
