Looking for commercial roofing contractors?
Whether your commercial roof needs repairing or replacing, don’t just hire the first roofer that’s recommended to you or the one that’s seemingly offering the lowest rates.
It’s important to do research and check out the different companies – particularly their skills and qualifications – before employing them. Poor quality work is likely to cause further damage to your roof and possibly your building too, costing you more later down the line.
That’s why we thought we’d explain how to hire a commercial roofing contractor and what factors you should look out for.
How to find reputable roofing contractors
There are several places you can look for trusted roofers, including Checkatrade and trade associations such as the National Federation of Roofing Contractors Limited (NFRC).
These companies are dedicated to helping businesses find the right tradespeople and will do all the checks, so you don’t have to. Commercial roofing contractors are rigorously vetted when they first join the NFRC and will then be inspected periodically.
Have any of your friends, family and neighbours recently had a new roof or a survey? Perhaps they can recommend someone they’ve used in the past? If so, you can double-check their credentials on the Checkatrade website before requesting a quote.
It’s also worth looking online and reading reviews to make sure they’ve worked on projects similar to yours. It’ll give you a better idea of what sort of experience you can expect to receive if you decide to work with them.
What factors should you consider?
A quick Google search for ‘commercial roofing contractors’ and you won’t be short of options. However, it’s worth keeping the following in mind:
Experience
Ideally, you want to hire commercial roofing contractors that have been working in the industry for a long time, completing jobs to a professional standard.
If they’re familiar with your type of roof, they’re more likely to get the job done faster but without cutting any corners.
Be sure to visit their website and see if they’ve uploaded any of their previous jobs or ask them for photos of the different types of commercial roofs they fit, repair and maintain.
Qualifications
There are a few ways roofers can qualify.
For example, they can take a course at college and learn all the skills required to become a trainee. Or they can apply for an apprenticeship which involves practical exercises with a college or training provider.
Though most roofers will have worked towards a roofing qualification, it’s not always the case. Some may have shadowed a professional roofer and learned on the job instead. So don’t let this be your only determining factor when hiring competent commercial roofing contractors.
Insurance
When searching for a commercial roofer, make sure you hire one that has public liability insurance. Otherwise, you could end up out of pocket if something were to go wrong.
Commercial roofing contractors with numerous employees should have employers liability insurance too, covering the compensation costs of employees who have injured themselves or become unwell at work.
Get a commercial roofing quote today
If you need a commercial roofing contractor to take a look at your roof, it pays to request a minimum of three quotes from different companies.
Don’t be afraid to ask them to provide a clear breakdown of their costs and make comparisons between the quality of the materials they use.
After all, you want to trust that your commercial building is protected against all weather conditions – ensuring the safety of your workers.
