4 Steps to Ensure a Smooth Commercial Roof Repair or Replacement Project
Are you a commercial building owner who’s tired of strategically placing trash cans to catch leaking water
when it rains?
Did a storm do some damage you need to deal with before it becomes a larger issue?
Either way, a leaky (or damaged) roof means it’s time to find a commercial roof repair contractor.
But where should you start and how does it all work?
This 4-step guide will walk you through exactly what to do for the smoothest possible commercial roof
repair or replacement project. You will learn:
- An easy research checklist to choose the best commercial roof repair contractor.
- What to expect when your contractor does an initial assessment of your roof.
- How your contractor determines the options and estimates for your commercial roofing project.
- The best way to make an informed decision and move forward confidently.
1) An Easy Research Checklist to Choose the Best Commercial Roof Repair Contractor
First, what should you look for in a reliable commercial roof repair contractor?
There are so many options it can be hard to know who to trust. The simple answer is to do your research.
Here is a quick checklist to review a potential roofing contractor:
Read Online Reviews
Just like a great restaurant, previous customers are a reliable source of information.
You can read reviews on Google or of course on the company's website.
Also consider the number of reviews the company has. For example, on Google you can see this number on their Google Listing, along with an average rating on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.
The bottomline is to make sure you’re looking at a trustworthy source when reading reviews. Which is why we recommend starting with third-party sites so you can see both the pros and cons of working with them.
Look at Their Portfolio of Commercial Roof Repairs
Take a look at past commercial roof repair or replacement projects and check if any are similar to yours. It’s great to use a contractor who has dealt with similar situations as well as the type of roof you have.
Here, you’re matching a contractor’s skill and experience with your needs.
Ask for References
Don’t be afraid to ask for references. You are interviewing contractors for the opportunity to work with you on a very important project. You need to know if they are qualified, have longevity in the industry, and a proven track record for quality and performance.
Verify their Certifications
Don’t be afraid to ask for references. You are interviewing contractors for the opportunity to work with you In our local Oklahoma market, the law requires that every roofing contractor register with the State of Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB). Today, there are over 1,600 registered roofing contractors in the state. But only around 240 of them are endorsed to repair or replace your commercial roof.
You can go to Oklahoma Construction Industries Board’s website to see out if the contractor you’re considering is licensed, endorsed, and in good standing with the CIB.
Simply type in all or part of the company’s name, click submit, and you can immediately check their status.
2) What to Expect From a Contractor's Initial Assessment of your Commercial Roof
Once you’ve chosen a commercial roof repair contractor, you will schedule an initial assessment of your roof.
During this assessment the contractor will take a very close look at your roof to determine what their recommendations will be. Typically the cost for the assessment is determined by square footage, as it is an in-depth and time consuming task.
The most important steps in the initial assessment are:
- Taking a core sample
- Photographing the entire roof
- Estimating the remaining serviceability of the roof
Taking a Core Sample
This is a process where the roof is cut open to determine how many layers are on the roof, how much insulation is present and the decking type (or the kind of building material used).
Photographing the Entire Roof
Every part of the roof will be photographed for long term records of the initial condition of your roof. Ponding water, pitch pans, skylights and any other pertinent parts of your roof will be photographed and assessed.
Estimating the Remaining Serviceability of Your Roof
Although there is no specific science to this, a good commercial roof repair contractor can give an estimate of the lifespan left in your roof.
An experienced eye will look at details like granule loss, asphalt cracking, and
many other factors.
3) How Your Contractor Determines the Options and Estimates for your Commercial Roofing Project
After your roof’s initial assessment, your contractor will begin to create a recommendation for moving forward with your project.
Your commercial roof repair contractor will use the findings from the initial assessment to determine the best path to take.
There are a wide range of possibilities including:
- Simple repairs
- Roof coatings
- Layovers
- Complete roof removal and replacement
Your contractor will provide a very detailed estimate of their recommendations with all of the associated costs, relevant code changes, and possible options for manufacturer’s warranties.
4) The Best Way to Make an Informed Decision and Move Forward Confidently
Now that you’ve chosen your commercial roof repair contractor, had your roof’s assessment done, and been presented with your contractor’s recommendations and estimates, it’s time to decide on a course of action.
You and your contractor will sit down to discuss the options they have presented.
Make sure to ask plenty of questions and voice any concerns you have. Some of the best questions to ask are:
- Are you a licensed commercial roofing company in your state?
- Do you have the required commercial roofing insurance policies?
- Do you provide written estimates?
- Are you certified by the manufacturer to install the products on your proposal?
- Are you a local commercial roofing company and how long have you been in business?
- Are you going to remove my old roof and what are you going to do with the debris?
- How long will it take and what is your process for cleanup?
- What types of warranties will I have on my roof?
- How will I pay you for this project?
Once you and your contractor have discussed all the options, they have answered all your questions, and addressed your concerns, you have all the tools to make an informed decision. We go into more depth with these questions in another blog post, here.
You can move forward confidently knowing that you have made a decision based on all the information available.
It’s now time to begin your commercial roofing repair or replacement project
Choose Advantage Roofing as your Commercial Roof Repair Team
Following the 4-step process above will ensure you choose a quality commercial roofing contractor and feel confident in the roof repair or replacement process. And now that you have walked through these steps, we hope you will give Advantage Roofing the opportunity to serve you with our roofing solutions.
From TPO to metal, we are Oklahoma's commercial roofing experts. Our commercial roofs are built to last beyond the manufacturer warranty.
Contact us now for a fast estimate on your project.
Our mission is to positively impact your life through our services and talents.
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