What They Didn’t Tell You About Hiring a Commercial Roofing Contractor in New Philadephia, OH

commercial roofing New Philadelphia

Perhaps you’ve heard stories everywhere from business owners about how they ended up hiring the wrong roofing contractor. Commercial roofing scams are common in New Philadephia OH and anywhere else in the world.

This is why as someone who runs a business or plans to sell a building, be extra careful in the hiring process. We understand that people dislike tackling roofing jobs. After all, roof-related tasks are not simple and involve some cost and risk.

In fact yesterday, our team spoke with a couple of entrepreneurs. True enough, they told us that roofs aren’t at the top of their priority list of business activities.

Are you planning to start a brick-and-mortar store? Do you need to tackle a commercial roof repair New Philadelphia? Or are you putting up your unused building for sale?

If any of these applies to you, read this article. Here, learn everything you should know about hiring a commercial roofing New Philadelphia OH contractor.

Why is your commercial roof an important investment?

Only a few people realize, especially business owners, that the roof above the head matters. How so? Well, first of all, your roof shields your building against all kinds of outside perils. These include heat, cold, strong winds, chemicals, pests, and fires.

Weather

It may not occur to you that your roof will one day deteriorate since roofs don’t last forever. The challenges that your roof face along with the lack of maintenance speed up its damage. Not only that, hiring the wrong commercial roofing New Philadelphia OH contractor will shorten the lifespan of even the best roof material.

Roofing contractors should be able to help you have a healthy and long-lasting roof through the selection of durable materials and proper installation or repair techniques.

Avoid early roofing problems, and save time and money by selecting your contractor carefully.

What you should know about hiring a commercial roofing New Philadelphia OH contractor

1. Reputation is an important criterion.

Roofers will tell you everything you need to hear so you can hire them immediately. But what they cannot manipulate are the things that people say about them. This is where you will need to ask the opinions of your friends, family, and neighbors.

You can start by looking for prospective contractors in your locality by searching on Google. Just type into Google’s search box the query “your location” + roofing contractor. Another method is to approach the people you know and get recommendations.

Google

Once you have a list of commercial roof repair New Philadelphia contractors, call them by phone. Make sure that you ask if they are willing to share past references. These are clients they served in the past. If they can give you references, consider calling these customers.

However, also be aware that a contractor might only share with you the ones that were satisfied with their work. With that, you need to read online reviews – most preferably on local listing websites like Google My Business, Yelp, Better Business Bureau, and Angie’s List.

2. If a company is in their first year of doing business, it’s best not to hire them.

Consider yourself lucky if you read this piece of advice, because not all business owners are careful with this. In the commercial roofing industry, years of experience is a good indicator that a company is skilled to perform the job correctly.

Commercial roof repair New Philadelphia contractors who’ve been around for at least three years have more likely handled repeat clients and solved different roofing problems.

Be aware of the fact that several roofing companies start out strong but after a few years, fail. They probably were not able to handle the demands of their clients, manage their finances properly, or adapt to changes in the industry.

Commercial Roofing Company

Longevity is another important criterion to note in a commercial roofing New Philadelphia OH contractor. Research how long a prospective company has been running. You can also visit the Better Business Bureau to check a company’s years in business. Find that information at the upper right-hand corner of a company’s profile.

3. The lowest bid is not always the best deal.

Of course, as a business owner, you want nothing more than to get something for your building at a very good price. That’s one way you’ll be able to save. In your process of finding a commercial roofing New Philadelphia OH contractor, a certain contractor will stand out. This is usually the lowest bidder.

Now you might think that the lowest bid is the best. We’re here to tell you that you’re absolutely mistaken. The cheapest commercial roofing jobs – especially a roof replacement or a major repair –  are not the ideal ones to go for.

You see, there’s an adage that says, “You get what you pay for.” That is true in the commercial roofing industry. You have all the reasons to suspect that a cheap roofer doesn’t have insurance, license, and may use low-quality materials.

Quality First

Do put in mind that legitimate commercial roofing New Philadelphia OH contractors offer deals as well. However, it’s easy to tell the difference between a very low bid and a reasonable price.

Here’s what you should do to avoid scams. Ask for multiple bids and make sure that they’re documented. Several proposals can help you compare apples to apples. Take note that prices expressed verbally is a warning sign.

The written estimate should contain at the very least, the following details:

  • Start and end date of the commercial roofing project
  • Types of materials to be used and breakdown of costs
  • Workmanship and manufacturer warranties
  • Proof of the contractor’s license
  • Payment details (down payment, payment terms, payment methods, etc.)
  • Termination clause (in case any of you violates the terms of the contract)

When a commercial roofing New Philadelphia OH contractor specifies that they’ll be able to provide an estimate on a specific date, expect them to deliver.

4. Good roofing contractors are transparent.

Truth be told, it can be really hard to find contractors that tell you everything you need to know whether you ask for more information or not. Full transparency matters because it’s how you’ll be able to make a wise decision. Moreover, no client can trust a service provider that appears shady and hesitant to answer your questions.

If you have some questions to throw, do not hesitate to ask them. Again, your commercial roof is a valuable investment. It is your right to know everything about your roofing project, from the type of materials to how the roof is installed.

In fact, we encourage you to research ahead of time possible questions to ask your commercial roof repair New Philadelphia OH contractor. Know the answers to the questions.

Questions

Some roofers take advantage of the fact that clients do not know a lot of terms in the roofing industry. It’s safe to assume that a contractor is taking advantage if they don’t make an effort to help you understand.

We recommend that you ask prospective contractors the following questions:

  • Are you licensed? If so, can you share your license number with me?
  • Will you subcontract the roofing job?
  • Do you clean the project area before you end the work each day?
  • How will you make sure that my roof is not exposed while the installation work is still going on?
  • Is a maintenance program included after you install my roof?
  • What is the best roofing material to use for my building?

Images and other resources are good to include when a roofer provides you an explanation.

5. Local is the way to go.

Since your commercial building is located in New Philadelphia OH, hire a contractor from there. Hiring contractors from your place have many benefits.

First of all, you know where they are located so you can visit them anytime you need repairs or a commercial roof coating New Philadelphia OH. Or, when you’re totally new to Philadelphia OH, it’s way easier to find a trustworthy roofing contractor nearby. Think about getting local references.

Local

When a storm hits your place and you need an emergency repair, a local contractor will be there to save your roof in a matter of minutes. A faster response time is indeed a huge advantage in emergency situations.

And because the commercial roofing contractors work in your area, they know the best materials to use according to your climate, budget needs, and personal preferences.

Hiring a contractor that is not familiar with your place might suggest a material that will not last long. This will cost you more in the future.

Furthermore, local roofers know the building codes specific to your area. This ensures that you comply with the requirements.

Over to You

Think Plan Act

Always proceed with caution, whether you’re getting a new roof or repairing and restoring an existing one. Never take for granted roofing projects because again, you need a good roof to protect your business and get you more than your money’s worth.

Make sure that you read all the facts about hiring a roofer. They will help you in the selection process and arrive at a smart choice.

J&M Roofing LLC is a trusted commercial roofing New Philadelphia OH contractor. Operating locally, we have been restoring roofs using the best materials – single ply, spray polyurethane foam, and membrane coatings.

Let us evaluate your roof with our free roofing estimate. We’re ready to meet your commercial roofing needs.