Commercial roofing usually involves huge and time-consuming projects, which also cost a lot of money. Therefore, you should be careful who you trust your roof with. Commercial roofing is a tricky job, and not everyone can do it properly. Only highly trained professionals can tackle such projects, and those are not that easy to find.
Fear not, as we’re here to help you with that.
In this article, we’ll explain why it’s important to hire a good roofing contractor. We’ll also share some advice on how to tell a professional contractor from a fake one.
Why Hiring a Good Commercial Roofing Contractor Is Important
Now we don’t have to explain why roofs are important, as that’s pretty obvious.
But we do want to highlight the importance of hiring a well-trained and experienced team when it comes to commercial roofing.
Let’s say you hire a random roofing contractor without checking their credentials and reviews. You pay up front in cash, and they guarantee that the job will be done in a short amount of time. But then, they never show up or call again.
On the other hand, let’s say you pay the roofing company, and they do the job quickly. However, just a few weeks later, you start noticing water stains, cracked shingles, and other signs of a poorly constructed roof.
The point is — you should do your research before signing a contract or paying a roofing company. Choose only trustworthy companies that have all the necessary licenses and credentials, such as J.O.N. Construction. But more on that later.
Things to Look For in a Commercial Roofing Contractor
There are certain things that every commercial roofing contractor must have in order to be considered legitimate. You should check those things yourself, or consult with the contractor via telephone or in person. Any legitimate contractor will gladly give you all the information you need.
Here are some of the most important things to look for in a commercial roofing company:
1. Location
No matter what the case may be, you’ll always be better off choosing a local company over an out-of-area commercial roofing company.
Whether you need an emergency repair, regular service, or complete roof replacement, always go local. Local companies have a reputation to uphold, especially when it comes to commercial projects. Also, business owners talk to each other and share their experiences. You can bet that they’ll talk bad things about someone who’s just messed up their roof! Because of that, local companies usually can’t afford any mistakes, so they keep their level of quality constantly high.
Besides, if it’s an emergency, of course, you’ll call someone who’s around the block and can fix your roof within hours. No point in calling a crew that can be there in a day or two.
2. Recommendations and Reviews
All that talk of commercial contractor companies having a reputation to uphold is not pure speculation. Actually, the best way to find a good and reliable company is simply by asking around. Ring up other local businesses and ask if they could recommend anybody.
You can also look up online reviews. The Internet is full of reviews and recommendations for all kinds of contractors, including commercial roofing companies. Look for signs of reliability, as well as quality. Try to find someone who had to use the warranty. A standard roofing job has 5 years of warranty, and not all companies live up to their promises.
3. Credentials and Licences
The tips mentioned above stand true for both residential and commercial roofing companies. However, commercial buildings have strict regulations for their structural components. Unlike homes and residential buildings, commercial buildings go through regular check-ups and inspections. Additionally, commercial roofing contractors have to be licensed and registered with the proper authorities. If you hire a non-licensed company to fix your roof, you’ll most probably have to redo it, as well as pay a big fine. It doesn’t matter if they do the job right; they have no institutional assurances that the contractor company can do it safely. Always check that the contractors you’re working with have their credentials up to spec.
4. Insurance
Roof construction workers are always at a high risk of accidentally getting injured. As concerning as it may be, it could also end up in a long and money-sucking court battle if you don’t pay attention to the company’s insurance.
The contractor company absolutely has to be properly insured. A lot of things can go wrong, and when they do, you need to make sure that you don’t suffer any consequences yourself. A safety net is a good thing to have in risky and expensive jobs such as roof repairs.
5. Open Communication
Another thing you should look for in a contractor is their openness and willingness to talk and negotiate. A professional customer-oriented contractor should be more than willing to negotiate about the job. If nothing else, they should at least give you a free estimate based on what your request is.
If a contractor company charges money for a rough estimate, think about how much they’ll charge for the job. Local companies keep it more friendly because they depend on constant, reliable partners to ensure future business. A small price cut now is more than worthy of a second job in the future. Other things such as extended warranties, reduced maintenance costs, etc. should also be open for negotiation when you’re dealing with a flexible contractor company.
Conclusion
If a roofing contractor checks all of the points listed above, then you’re most likely looking at a professional company that’s worth your trust and money.
And if you happen to be anywhere in the Lehigh Valley area, J.O.N. Construction, Inc is your best choice. We’re a family-run business with over 30 years of experience in roofing construction. We specialize in roofing for both residential and commercial properties. We also provide commercial roofing in Bethlehem PA and commercial roofing in Easton PA.
Call J.O.N. Construction, Inc today at (610) 841-3722 or schedule a free estimate by visiting the contact page on our official website.
