You’ve arrived at the decision to repair or replace your roof and have even secured bids from a few contractors. How do you select which contractor to award the project to? What questions should you ask? You know the decision is important and can’t be based on price alone, so where do you start?
Contractors provide solutions. As a building owner, there are many questions to ask your roofing contractor when deciding which solutions to choose.
For example, how long have you owned the building, and how long do you intend to keep it? If your plans are to sell the building within the next several years, you may seek a shorter-term roofing solution. Is the building continuously occupied or is it rarely staffed? Does the building contain temperature sensitive goods or is it used primarily for services? This is important, as it may determine the type and amount of insulation needed.
With regards to the building itself, the age of the structure can make a difference, along with the existing roof system. If a structure has aged and the existing roof system is relatively lightweight, switching to a heavier roof system could cause undue stress.
Answering this first set of questions can help lead you to the right roofing solution; however, that still leaves the question of which contractor to choose. We’ve done a little homework for you and put together several questions to ask your contractor.
Questions to Ask Your Contractor About Their Business
Can the contractor produce proof of insurance, including proof of Liability and Workman’s Compensation? Is the contractor bonded? Due to the risk of falls, roofing is one of the most dangerous jobs in the construction industry and having a contractor that has proper insurance policies protects your business from financial losses.
How did you come to request the bid from this contractor? Was this a Google search, or did the contractor come highly recommended from another building owner?
If you contacted the contractor because of advertising, it is important to request concrete referrals. Ask your contractor to provide “before and after” photos of work, or drone video, as well as the contact information for the building owner. Take your research a step further by checking the Better Business Bureau, as well as reading online reviews from previous customers.
Within this research you’ll also learn more about the history of the contractor, such as how long they’ve in business. You can never know too much about the contractor you hope to hire!
Questions to Ask Your Contractor About the Commercial Roofing Project
Now that you know more about the contractor’s business, it is important to know as much information as possible about the work that will be performed. This will save you time, hassle, disappointment, and perhaps money.
Has the contractor been specifically trained and/or authorized from the manufacturer of the proposed roofing system? Have they earned any recognition or awards specifically for their quality of work? Let’s face it, anyone can say they are an expert in anything and unfortunately, some manufacturers allow contractors to “buy” their recognition. Ask to see the awards, the contractor will proudly show you!
Do you feel that your contractor has spent adequate time on the roof? Did he provide photos or documentation of the problems on the rooftop? Has your contractor fully explained the scope of work, and do you feel comfortable with the plan? If you have any reservations, the time to address those concerns is before you sign the contract.
For example, if the contractor needs to use a boom lift, do you know where it will be set up and if that location will disrupt the operations of the business within the building? Will the roof work cause any disruption to neighboring businesses? With all there is to consider, you may not have thought about how the roofing project will affect the day-to-day!
Questions to Ask Your Contractor About Safety
As mentioned earlier, roofing is one of the most dangerous careers and it is important for not only the roofing crews but also the occupants of your building to ensure that safety is a priority. Don’t hesitate to ask your contractor about their safety protocols.
Do they have a safety meeting to identify potential hazards specific to that jobsite? What kind of safety training are their crews required to have? What is their safety record? Have there been OSHA violations?
Questions to Ask Your Contractor about the Roofing Product
Within the scope of work, the contractor has identified the process with which the roof will be repaired or replaced. It is also important to discuss the roofing system the contractor plans to use. After all, once the roofing crews leave, what remains is the roof system they installed. By now you’ve done quite a bit of homework with regards to getting to know your contractor. Now it is time to dig into the roofing product.
Start with the manufacturer of the roofing material — how long have they been in business and have there been any major legal issues with their products?
What does the warranty entail? Does the warranty require inspections throughout the life of the roof system? Does it cover ALL parts of the roof system, or are there other warranties by other manufacturers that you need to be aware of? What about workmanship — is that covered in the manufacturer warranty, or is that offered by the contractor? It’s vital to read the fine print and to understand what you are reading. The contractor should be prepared to answer any warranty related questions.
To Review the Many Questions to Ask Your Contractor
Think in terms of the caliber of the contractor you are considering, in conjunction with the quality of the roof system. Most importantly, consider how you feel – what’s your gut feeling about the contractor? How has the communication been during the process? Do you feel confident?
Sentry Roofing strives to offer only the highest quality installations in combination with the best roofing materials on the market for each unique roofing situation. We have worked decades perfecting our craft – from a simple roof patch to the largest of installs, we take pride in every detail. We look forward to serving you.
