As a business owner, one of your top priorities should be protecting your commercial property, inventory, equipment, and daily operations from the elements. Your roof serves as the first line of defense against weather damage that can lead to costly repairs or jeopardize your operations.
Selecting the right commercial roofing contractor is extremely important when replacement, repairs or maintenance are needed. But not all roofers have the specialized skills, experience and capabilities required for commercial projects. Before signing a contract or hand over your hard-earned money, be sure to consider these five essential tips for choosing a qualified commercial roofing company.
1. Look for Extensive Industry Experience
When it’s time to replace or repair your worn out or damaged commercial roof, experienced matters—greatly. You need a contractor that knows commercial roofing systems inside out, across various roof types, industries, and building sizes and configurations. They should have a breadth of expertise that allows them to spot issues, predict problems before they accelerate, and provide options personalized for your specific property’s needs.
Some key questions to ask potential commercial roofing contractors about experience include:
- How many years have you been specializing in commercial roofing?
- What is your contractor’s background and roofing credentials?
- How many commercial roofs has your company installed or repaired?
- What types and scales of commercial roofing projects have you completed?
- Do you have experience working with buildings in my industry and with needs like ours?
Optimally, look for a well-established commercial roofing contractor that has been consistently operating locally for 10+ years. They should have master-level staff with advanced roofing credentials. Extensive experience also often translates to enhanced professional networks, potential volume discounts on materials, and knowledge of various tax credits or rebates available.
2. Ensure They Specialize in Commercial Roofing Services
It’s not just overall roofing experience that counts—your contractor of choice should specifically specialize in commercial roofing services. The requirements, materials, processes, equipment, codes, and standards differ greatly between residential and commercial projects. While some general contractors dabble in both realms, the superior results come from a provider who specializes in commercial roofing.
Some key differences to understand include:
Roofing Materials
Commercial roofs use much heartier, rugged and weather-resistant materials than residential due to larger spans and increased weather and traffic loads. Common options include thermoplastic, EPDM, modified bitumen, metal and PVC— vastly different than residential shingles.
Systems
Low and steep-slope roofing systems common on large commercial buildings require an array of components besides just surface roofing—like insulation, vapor barriers, flashing, drainage, and ventilation components.
Codes & Standards
Rigorous building codes, construction standards, and even fire and wind load requirements apply specifically to commercial buildings determined by factors like occupancy, square footage, and location.
The scale of commercial buildings translates to considerable safety risks that residential crews aren’t trained to handle. In addition, specialized mechanical equipment like cranes, lifts and cutting tools are required.
Look for established commercial roofing contractors like Roof Masters of CO with decades of proven expertise across the many facets unique to business, manufacturing, healthcare, school and government buildings. With nearly 30 years working on commercial structures throughout the region, we are deeply familiar with every consideration to keep your property protected not just today—but for decades to come.
3. Look for Proper Licensing and Insurance
Commercial roof replacement or repair is always a major investment. Before extending trust and hiring any contractor, it’s wise to validate they are properly licensed, bonded and insured.
At a minimum, the commercial roofing contractor you choose should carry:
State Business & Roofing Licenses
Nearly all states require roofing contractors to hold formal registration and licensing to operate. This ensures they adhere to roofing codes and standards.
Liability Insurance
This essential coverage protects against third party bodily injury and property damage claims—extremely important on large commercial jobsites with employees, the public, and valuable assets present.
Don’t just take your potential roofer’s word on proper credentials. Independently contact your state licensing board and demand to see current certificates that validate up-to-date coverage amounts before contracting. Reputable companies like Roof Masters of Colorado readily provide all documentation upfront.
4. Make Sure They Offer Comprehensive Commercial Roofing Services
Replacing or repairing an existing commercial roof is a major endeavor. When issues arise, you want a contractor equipped to handle not just commercial roof installation—but all architectural elements, maintenance, repairs, contingencies and specialty situations roof-related. This is where working with a comprehensive, turnkey commercial roofing provider brings key advantages.
Look for extensive capabilities across areas like:
Inspections & Maintenance
Can they provide periodic inspections, tune ups, debris clearing and preventative maintenance between roof replacements? This extends the lifespan.
Broad Commercial Roofing Services
Do they handle repairs & replacements for various roof types (flat, metal, pitched), plus lighting, vents and other roof elements?
Weatherproofing & Coatings
Can they apply seals, sustainability coatings and layers to fortify your existing roof? This also improves energy efficiency.
Structural Enhancements
Do they address critical aspects like roof decking repair & reinforcement for structural integrity and load bearing capacity?
Drainage & Gutters
Can they handle clogged drains, ponding issues or damaged perimeter gutters that compromise roof integrity over time?
The most qualified commercial roofing contractors are essentially one-stop-shops capable of handling any challenge related to your roof. At Roofmasters, we meet this standard with nearly three decades as full-service commercial roofing experts across Denver and Boulder. Get in touch today to learn more about our comprehensive capabilities!
5. Look for Strong yet Fair Warranties
Reputable commercial roofing contractors stand firmly behind their workmanship by offering robust warranties. However, in this industry more than others, some roofers make misleading claims masking unreasonable stipulations in the fine print.
When evaluating commercial roofing warranties:
- Seek long coverage durations. Quality commercial roofing materials and proper commercial roof installation should last 20-30 years through harsh weather elements.
- Understand prorated terms. Many warranties decrement in value as the roof ages. Make sure the initial years still provide adequate protection.
- Watch for strict fine print. Overly rigid clauses around testing methods, moisture levels, exact materials used etc. can leave you unprotected against defects.
- Request sample documentation. Never take vague verbal conveyed warranties at face value. Thoroughly review the actual warranty document itself to understand coverage.
As an award-winning, professional commercial roofing company, Roof Masters of CO provides ironclad workmanship and manufacturer warranties on all our commercial roofing projects. Contact us for a free quote or to answer any questions you might have about your roofing project.
