Replacing the roof on a commercial building carries many of
the same duties as putting a new roof on a residence, but the accountability
may be much greater due to multiple business tenants as well as expensive
assets on the site. One of the most important factors of installing a new roof
on a commercial building will be the company that does the work, and knowing
what to ask about the essential aspects of a prospective company’s operations can
help to determine the best contractor for the job. These questions can be
organized into 5 categories:
- Insurance coverage – One of the first questions to ask is whether the company carries both general liability and workman’s comp insurance. If the company does not furnish documentation of coverage, you can stop the interview and move on to the next contractor, because you’ll be on the hook for any injuries or damage that occur during the project if the contractor doesn't carry these policies.
- Company information – Ask about the amount of time the company has been in business and the physical location of the nearest main or branch office. Be very wary of a company that can’t substantiate its time in business or is using a P.O. Box or a residential address as the location of an office.
- How much of the business is done on commercial buildings – Ask about the percentage represented by commercial projects versus all other projects that have been completed by the company. Many companies will advertise themselves as commercial roofers despite completing only a handful of projects. If the percentage of commercial projects is in the single digits, watch out.
- Relevant experience – Inquire about past commercial projects that are similar to your building. Make sure the company has experience with projects of similar scope as well as with the materials that will be used in the project. Contacting the owners or managers of buildings where work has been completed by the prospective company can provide intelligence on the quality of the work as well as the performance of the newly installed roof.
- Manufacturer certifications – Manufacturers certify roofing technicians based on their completion of training modules for the installation of specific types of roofing materials. The best results, especially when complex materials such as slate are being used, are most likely to be delivered by roofers who are factory trained in the best practices of installing manufacturers’ materials.
Asking these questions can help to determine the best contractor
for your commercial project. Perhaps just as important, this information can
help you to steer clear of inexperienced roofing companies that may end up
installing a roof that causes problems from day 1.
