Look, I know enough job sites to understand that most people don’t think about their roof until it’s making its way into an inventory report. Commercial roofs aren’t scaled up residential roofs. Their slant is most likely less severe.
They house drain pipes and heating and cooling units.
They are subject to foot traffic from maintenance crews. All these factors increase the risk of a roof leak occurring and decrease the amount of time between installation and production of a sizable puddle in your inventory report. A commercial roofing contractor who actually knows what he’s doing will walk the roof, examine the flashing, examine the drains and tell you what you need to hear regardless of how that affects your plan.
Residential Roofing Contractor vs Commercial – Not the Same Ballgame
Here’s a mistake people make every day. They call a residential roofing contractor because the guy got a good deal on their neighbor’s shingles, and they think a roof is a roof. It’s not.
Commercial jobs use different products, different equipment, even different codes.
TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen – none of that is found on a typical house job. If you’re running a business in Washington IL, or somewhere nearby, you need someone who’s done commercial roofing before, not some guy trying to learn for free on you. Ask for references. Ask for pictures of jobs they’ve completed in the past year.
A good contractor won’t hesitate.
Roofing Washington IL Property Owners Can Actually Rely On
Washington IL definitely sees it’s fair share of bad weather. Hail, high winds, a pissed-off twister from time to time that blows through and take a good chunk of shingles along with it. Local roofing companies who have been doing this for some time understand the effect the climate will have on a roof after a couple of years and believe it or not, that can be more helpful than you’d think.
A contractor from three counties away might not understand how the freeze-thaw cycle affects the durability of certain materials or how the lack of sheltering tree line can affect wind forces on your parapet walls.
Use a local roofer, it’s more functional. You want someone to answer the phone and show up right away if something goes wrong, not one that’s been two counties over.
Storm Damage and Insurance – Don’t Go It Alone
After a storm has come and gone, and you’re faced with the aftermath, don’t attempt to fight your insurance company alone. I have watched to many owners taken to the cleaners because they didn’t have someone in their corner who understands how the process should work. A good contractor will send someone out to measure, take photos, and document the damage before any of the repairs are made.
The contractor’s documentation is what gets you approved for your claim.
And I have found that insurance adjusters work faster, and more favorably toward the property owner when they know a contractor is keeping close tabs on the claim. It’s not about making things difficult, it’s about making sure you get exactly what you’re supposed to.
New Roof Installation – What to Expect
A new roof on a commercial building is a big project. This should be expected. We’re talking tear off, insulation, deck inspection, drain, flashing, membrane, the whole nine.
Rushing any part of the process is how the problems come along two years later that end up costing five times as much to repair than if they’d been done properly to start with.
A qualified contractor will give you an actual schedule rather than some idealistic two-day rush job, and keep you informed of the process so you aren’t wondering what is going on. Don’t be shy about asking questions. Ask all you can. If they get testy, well you don’t want to work with them anyway.
Don’t Forget the Siding Contractor Piece
Roofs don’t exist in isolation. The siding on your building may seem like an afterthought, but it actually plays a bigger role than most realize-particularly on a commercial property where the building’s outer shell takes a lot of abuse from the elements and regular wear and tear. A siding contractor that has expertise in roofing and siding systems, in terms of how they work with each other-around flashing and drainage, for example-can spare you frustration down the line.
Some roofers take on siding as well, and that might be something to inquire about early on.
The fewer people working on your roof, the better.
How to Pick the Right Team for the Job
Ultimately, choosing a commercial roofing contractor is about trust. And you build trust by showing me the work, not just sounding good over the phone. Verify their license.
Verify their insurance, not just yours.
Check reviews, but also have a conversation. If you’re talking to him, are you getting answers, or fillers? A roof is one of the largest investments a building owner will make, and it protects everything below it. Don’t skimp, but don’t rush your choice either.
Wrapping It Up
Your roof is not something you want to take chances with and whether you are having a small repair made after a weather event or a brand new roof installed on a warehouse, you want to find the right commercial roofing contractor. Look for one that understands the kind of conditions roofing Washington IL must be able to withstand, one that will be honest about the costs, and one that will treat your premises as if it were their own.
