Is the roof on your commercial property in desperate need of repair? Or worse, is it crumbling apart and in need of replacement?
Either way, you’ll want to obtain roofing services immediately. The roof on your business obviously plays a very important role, and if it leaks or collapses, it could shut down your operation for weeks and possibly even months.
Before you hire a commercial roofing company to help, take the time to research different companies in your area. It’ll allow you to find the right one for the job.
Here are 10 tips for finding the best commercial roofing services in your city.
1. Ask Other Business Owners for References
When you start searching around for a company that can set you up with commercial roofing services, you might not know where to begin. Your fellow business owners might be able to provide you with the help you need.
If you know a business owner who recently obtained services on their commercial roof, ask them if they can point you in the right direction. They might be able to recommend the company they worked with. At the very least, they’ll be able to tell you if that company is worth your time and money.
Preferably, find a business owner who obtained the same commercial roof services you need. For example, if you need a new roof, look for a business owner who just put on a roof themselves. Or if you need roof repair, look for a business owner who just paid to have their commercial roof patched up.
2. Use the Internet to Search for Reputable Roofing Companies
Ideally, speaking with your fellow business owners will yield quality recommendations. But in the event that you don’t find the recommendations you need, turn to the internet next for help.
The internet makes it simple to learn more about companies that offer roofing services in your area. It will help you generate a long list of roofing companies that can handle commercial services.
Once you’ve made a list of roofing companies, read online reviews for each one, paying special attention to both the good and bad reviews for them. This will provide you with a good idea of what each individual company is about.
In addition to reading online reviews, use the internet to check the Better Business Bureau listings for companies. They’ll reveal if commercial customers have ever filed complaints against the roofing companies you’re interested in working with.
At the end of all this, pick a few roofing companies you like most based on what you’ve found out about them online. You’ll find this to be an effective way to narrow down your search.
3. Schedule Meetings With Commercial Roofers
The next step you’ll want to take when trying to find the best commercial roofers is actually calling and speaking with a few of them. Get in contact with the companies you found online and schedule meetings with them.
During those meetings, talk to roofers about the commercial services they offer. Tell them about your specific roofing issues and see if they’re qualified to handle them.
Different commercial roofers will offer different services. Some might be better equipped to handle roofing inspections and repairs than roof replacement. Others might specialize in roof replacement but not repairs.
Figure out which of the commercial roofers on your list supplies the services you need. This will be very important moving forward.
4. Find Commercial Roofing Companies With Extensive Experience
Outside of finding roofing companies that can provide the services you want, look for companies that have extensive experience when it comes to working with commercial businesses.
Completing commercial roofing jobs is a lot different than completing residential ones. You want a company that is focused on commercial roofs and that has been working on them for a long time.
Feel free to ask commercial roofers about how much experience they have. Additionally, ask them if they can name some of the local businesses they’ve helped with their roofing problems.
5. Make Sure Commercial Roofers Are Licensed and Insured
Are the commercial roofers you’ve contacted licensed and insured? That should actually be one of the very first questions you ask when you start reaching out to them.
All commercial roofers need to be licensed and insured before they start working on a commercial roof. Otherwise, it could end up being disastrous for you.
A license proves that a roofing company has gone through the process of registering their business and training their employees with regards to roofing. Proof of insurance, meanwhile, proves that a roofing company is covered in the event of an accident on the job.
If a roofing company tells you they don’t have an insurance policy in place, run the other way immediately. It tells you they aren’t serious about protecting you and your roof while working on it.
6. Obtain Written Estimates From Roofing Companies
Any time you’re going to have work done on a commercial roof, you should always, always, always obtain written estimates from roofing companies. These estimates should take both roofing materials and labor into account.
It’s a good idea to reach out to several different roofing companies to get estimates since it could save your business money in the long run. You’ll essentially force commercial roofers to compete against one another to earn your business.
A written estimate will also protect you down the line if a roofing company tries to charge you significantly more for their services than they originally said they would. You will have a strong case in court as long as you get an estimate in writing from the company.
7. Avoid Choosing a Roofing Company Based on Price Alone
After you get written estimates from roofing companies, you might be tempted to simply choose the one that offers you the lowest price. It will, after all, save you money and benefit your business financially.
But the cost of commercial roofing services shouldn’t be your only concern. You are probably going to get what you pay for. And if you go with the lowest estimate, you might end up having shoddy work done.
If one estimate, in particular, seems low, ask the company that provided it why they’re able to offer services at such a low price. Consider going with one of the companies that offer a more reasonable price if they aren’t able to give you a good answer.
8. Learn About Warranties Offered on Commercial Roofs
The last thing you want to do is make a repair to your commercial roof or replace your commercial roof altogether only to have it spring a leak or cause other problems in the near future.
Prior to having roofing services completed, learn about the warranties that roofing companies will provide to you. They should be prepared to provide you with follow-up services if your roof fails within a certain amount of time.
Make sure you scan the fine print when it comes to commercial roof warranties. Each roofing company will have a different warranty policy in place, and it’ll be up to you to get to the bottom of what each one offers.
9. See How a Roofing Company Plans to Handle the Cleanup Process
After a roofing company provides you with commercial roofing services and leaves your property, it should look like they weren’t ever there. There shouldn’t be shingles, nails, or any other roofing materials laying around.
The cleanup process is an important part of roofing services. Check with roofing companies to see what they’ll do to make sure your commercial property is 100 percent clean before leaving.
Some companies have cleanup crews who will come in and do the dirty work at the end. Others rely on their roofers to clean up after themselves throughout roofing services.
Whatever the case may be, you don’t want to be left with a giant mess. See how a roofing company is going to go about cleaning up your site.
10. Work With a Roofing Company That Makes You Feel Comfortable
The roofing company you work with now should be the roofing company you work with from now on if all goes according to plan. The next time you need commercial roofing services, you should be able to call on them again.
You’ll need to feel comfortable while working with the roofing company for this to be possible. Make sure they communicate well with you and vice versa. Additionally, make sure they go above and beyond to answer your questions and explain their services to you.
By taking this approach, you won’t have to worry about going through this whole search again when you need roofing services in the future.
Hire the Best Commercial Roofing Company Today
If you need commercial roofing services, work your way through the tips listed here. They’ll give you the best chance to find the right roofing company for your business.
They’ll also allow you to ask the right questions to roofing companies and learn more about the maintenance you’ll need to do to your commercial roof as you move forward.
Read our blog for more information on the different types of roofs and the various roofing services that are available.
