As a business owner, commercial roofing for your building is a necessity. We all know that a poorly-maintained roof is just asking for trouble. It is likely to leak, letting in all kinds of natural elements, such as rain and snow, and can actually become a safety hazard.

In commercial settings, this means danger to you and your employees, your equipment, and ultimately your business. That is why getting the right commercial roofing repairs is essential. 

The question most commercial property owners struggle with is finding a reliable repair service. A sub-par repair job does not fix the problem, in fact, it only delays it until it becomes a much bigger issue in the future. 

Finding a reliable service is just as important as getting timely repair and maintenance. We’ve designed this guide to help you find the best commercial roofing repair service in East Texas. 

Choosing the Right Roofing Contractors

If you look around in East Texas, you might find more than a few options to get your commercial roofing repairs done. However, this does not mean that all of these options are reliable. So, how do you choose a good contractor that you can trust? There are a number of factors you should look at: 

1. Experience Level

This might go without saying, but the kind of experience a contractor brings to the table is invaluable. The more varied experience they have, the more capable they are of dealing with your unique situation and issues. Specifically, you want to look for a company with experience in commercial roofing. 

It can vary significantly from residential roofing, which uses slightly different materials and can prove challenging to a contractor with little experience in the field. It’s best to just enquire about a contractor’s experience if you can’t find sufficient information about them online. The kind of experience years of trade can bring to the table can significantly improve the state and quality of your roof repairs. 

2. Check References

On the topic of experience, a great way to get an understanding of a contractor’s skillset is by reviewing customer testimonials. About 80% of consumers become less inclined towards a product that has no reviews – and for good reason. 

Testimonials from other customers speak to the skill of the contractor, as well as what you can expect if you were to work with them. 

One or two bad reviews don’t necessarily mean that a contractor is not good at what they do. In fact, such occasional testimonials assure you of the legitimacy of the customer reviews. 

You can also use them to discuss with your contractor your needs and how they would go about addressing them. A pattern of several negative reviews, however, paints a different picture, and you should probably look elsewhere.

3.  Discuss Costs

Naturally, the cost of any service you contract is an important consideration. Unlike popular belief, however, cheap is not always the best. The lowest-cost commercial roofing repairs might go easy on your budget – but not necessarily in the long run. 

Excessively cheap services can sometimes mean contractors are cutting corners to keep their costs low, which means the quality of the repair will be subpar at best. 

Your best bet is always to shop around and compare prices. If you find a contractor that is providing services significantly cheaper than others, it’s best to stay away. The formula you should be using is to determine if you are receiving value for your money. 

Determine what services they offer, their experience levels, and what materials they use, and compare that with the price to ensure it is fair for what you are getting. 

4. Get Estimates

Since cost is an important factor, it should be discussed before you engage the contractor. The reason for it is simple. It gives you an idea of what sort of expense you will be looking at and the opportunity to determine if the work merits the cost. 

Moreover, estimates involve contractors coming out to inspect your building before they commit. This speaks to the overall level of service you can expect from experienced contractors who can offer good customer service. 

Most top-tier roofing repair companies will offer you a free quote to get started. While this is not a necessary mode of operation, it can be indicative of the kind of service you can expect. A free quote is an opportunity for both parties to determine if the other is right for them. Look for companies who can offer you free estimates as part of their service.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

5. Establish Communication

Communication is key anytime you contract a service. Information about dates, times, nature of the service, the extent of the work required, and costs need to be communicated clearly to the customer to ensure a smooth process. 

A contractor who is bad at establishing such communication is going to be a hassle to deal with, even if their commercial roofing repairs are satisfactory. If you get in touch with a contractor you are looking to hire, and you have trouble getting hold of them or getting straight answers from them, it’s time to keep looking around. 

This lack of miscommunication will lead to contractual disputes, shoddy work, or insufficient services down the line. You deserve better service, and your hunt for the right contractor should include considerations for their communication ability. 

That said, these are just some general factors you should be looking out for when searching for a contractor. Once you identify a few potential hires, be careful in determining who you should go with. 

Questions to Ask Before Hiring for Commercial Roofing Repairs

One way to vet potential roofing contractors is to ask them a few questions that can indicate the kind of service you can expect from them. If you’re looking in the East Texas region, here are some of the questions you can ask your contractor:

Do you specialize in any specific kinds of roofs?

When it comes to skill sets, anything relevant may not do. Commercial buildings vary greatly in their structure and, therefore, in the way the roof is constructed and must be repaired. Ask any contractors you’re considering hiring what kind of roof they specialize in. 

If they don’t have a specialty or claim to be able to work with various kinds of commercial roofs, you can ask about the specific relevant experience they may have. Ideally, however, you want to hire someone who specializes in the roof you need to get work done on – this guarantees the best quality service for you.

What experience do you have?

When you ask about the contractor’s experience, be specific. Ask about previous jobs they have done, especially regarding something similar to the work you want to hire them for. Continuing with the earlier question, if they don’t have a specialty, ask them about their experience regarding your building roof. 

It may be that they have a lot of experience with other roofs but very little with the kind you need their services for. In that case, you might want to look elsewhere. This is why this question is important and why it should be elaborated on. Ask for specific examples or testimonials, and only go ahead if they can provide examples of relevant experience.  

What roofing process do you follow?

There may be many nuances to their process that you may not understand, so why do you need to know this? Professionals will likely have a process that they have fine-tuned over the years, so is this question necessary? The answer is: absolutely! The key is to know the contractor has a well-defined process and isn’t making it up as they go. 

The answer to this question also prepares you for the kind of work that will be going on at your building. This allows you to make alternate arrangements in case the work would interrupt regular activities inside the building. 

What kind of warranty do you offer?

Not all contractors may offer a warranty – and this does not necessarily speak to their quality of service. However, a warranty is a way to get some peace of mind regarding something going wrong. Commercial roofing repairs can be costly, and a warranty gives you the contentment of knowing you’re covered against any damages, at least for a period of time. 

Don’t simply ask if the contractor offers a warranty, but clarify its terms as well. How long the warranty applies, and if there are special considerations or conditions under which it may be waived, or if it only applies in certain instances? Do not just assume that a contractor will cover you by clarifying it with them.

What’s your safety record?

Safety is an important consideration no matter the kind of work. Doing a roofing job makes it even more important. Ask about your contractor’s safety procedures, protocols, and equipment. Their procedures should speak to how much they value the safety of their workers as well as the general work environment you should expect around them.

What’s more, in the event of an onsite accident, you could be held liable for the injuries. It is best to go over their safety process, as well as ask if they might need special arrangements from you. Ask for their history of safety as well, and if they show an extensive history of accidents at work, you might want to look for a different contractor. 

What is your training, education, and license?

The contractor you speak to should have relevant experience, but it’s also good to look into their training and license. Their credentials are a good indication of their experience as well as the sort of training they have received. It also helps you determine the legitimacy of who they claim to be and the skill set they claim to have. 

You should also ask to see a copy of their license if you can. This is just an added precaution to ensure they are qualified and accredited to do the work you need them to do. Good credentials can go a long way in assessing the skill and ability of a contractor. 

Wrapping Up

Some dedicated research into commercial roofing repairs can save you a lot of hassle down the road. The issue is that working with a subpar contractor might get you a lower price and shorter work time, but it will create bigger roofing problems for you in the future. 

You don’t want to be pushed into paying excessively high fees in the name of great service. At the same time, you want to find a trustworthy and reliable contractor who can speak for their skill and expertise. With nearly 30 years of experience in commercial roofing, that is exactly what Roofcare promises you. Book a slot today and get a free quote!