Every year, thousands of commercial real estate owners are performing routine roof maintenance. All too often, during this routine maintenance, roof system problems are discovered. Cracked, warped or cut membrane; loose or loose flashings around chimneys, pipes, vents or skylights, or loose seams and flash flooding causing excessive amounts of granules in gutters are all visible signs of roof system problems.
For commercial real estate owners who need to hire a professional roofing contractor, there are steps to ensure a job is done right the first time. These steps include checking a roofing contractor's proof of insurance, requesting a written warranty for materials and workmanship and ensuring the roofing contractor is properly licensed or bonded.
It is important to find a roofing contractor who has a maintenance program, which includes checking your roof for any type of roof failure or potential problems. This includes an estimate on cost and scheduling dates. Be wary of contractors with very low bids - they may have to cut corners to make a profit. Remember that price is only one of the criteria for selecting a contractor.
Do Your Homework
Once you have a list of roofing contractors, how can you find out about their reputations and the quality of their work? The best ways to learn about roofers is to visit buildings they have roofed or completed repairs on and talk with the owners.
Ask roofing contractors for a list of addresses of their most recent buildings they have completed work on. They may even be able to provide names of some building owners who would be willing to talk with you.
The more people you talk with, the more accurate an impression of a roofer you are likely to get. Some questions you can ask people include: Are you happy with the work done? If you had any problems, were they fixed promptly and properly? Would you use this roofer again if needed?
Usually, people tell you if they are pleased with the work by their roofing contractor. And if they are not, they'll probably want to tell you why.
Licensing
Is the roofing contractor licensed? In most states, licensing is done by the State, and, in most cases, by the County Government. Ask your roofing contractor or contact the National Roofing Contractors Association, or visit http://www.roofhelp.com/state_licensing_requirements.htm to see if your state requires it.
Insist that the contractor apply for and obtain all required building permits from the building department concerned. Inspect the permits. Fly-by-night operators who are not certified cannot obtain permits.
Insurance
Does the roofing contract have worker's compensation insurance? If so, how much? If the contractor doesn't have insurance, you can be liable if any of his workers are injured while working on your property. A roofing contractor must also have general liability and automobile insurance. The contractor can easily provide this information by obtaining a Certificate of Insurance from his insurance company. Call the insurance company to be sure that the insurances are in force.
Ask Questions About Service
One important criterion for selecting a roofing contractor is the warranty provided on the job. Is the contractor willing to provide you with a good workmanship warranty? This warranty should protect against any defects in the roof.
Find out if the roofing contractor will provide you with a copy of the roofing material manufacturer's warranty and thoroughly explain it? Ask if defective materials are replaced at the original purchasing price or are they prorated? Will labor be an additional cost?
Some other questions you might ask roofing contractors are:
„ Does the contractor thoroughly inspect your roof and then explain his findings? A good contractor will inspect anything that could cause leaks, whether it is roof related or not (for instance, chimney defects, air conditioning units, fan, walls, etc.)
„ Does the contractor provide a written estimate? Does the estimate include:
„ A detailed description of the work that is contracted?
„ Additional work that may have to be done and give a price for such?
„ Application of an ice and water protection membrane in areas where the average January temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or less?
„ Clean up all debris generated from the project?
By doing your homework, you will be able to appreciate the value of your investment with a sense of confidence and the knowledge that will help you make the right decisions when finding a commercial roofing contractor.
The Top Five Things You Should Know...
1. Check with your Roofing Contractor Association, the Internet, architects and with building owners to obtain a list of roofers.
2. Contact the Small Business Administration in your area.
3.Visit with Commercial Real Estate people you know to see if they have used a roofing contractor and obtain a random sample of opinions about their workmanship, professionalism and timeliness.
4. Ask about warranties and service after the sale.
5. Contact the National Contractor's Association for additional assistance.
