6 Tips for Finding & Hiring a Commercial Roofing Company
Finding the right commercial roofing company can be challenging. With so many options available, how do you find the one that will offer the best value for your money?
The trick is to take your time during the research process. Schedule consultations with each company, request bids, and consider these six important factors:
1. Experience & Expertise
There’s no getting around it—experience matters. Look for a roofing company that has been in business for many years and has a proven track record of success. The company should also have experience working on commercial roofs and be familiar with the unique challenges and requirements of these types of projects.
It’s also important to note that newer businesses aren’t explicitly bad because they don’t have a reputation yet. Consider the people who work for and own the company and how much industry experience they have.
2. Reputation
Experience isn’t the only important factor. Even well-established businesses can have poor reputations. You’ll also want to look at their reviews on Yelp, Google Business Profile, Angi, and other online directories. When looking over reviews, look at ones that truly highlight a potential customer’s first-hand experience. Does the review include text or just a star rating? Are there pictures? Remember that reviews can be fake—pay attention to detailed ones.
If the company has negative reviews, are they responding to it? If they are, how are they responding? Do they treat the customer respectfully and try to amend the negative situation, or play defensive and blame the customer?
Don’t be afraid to ask potential roofing companies for references too. Any reputable company will have a list of references available to give to potential customers, and they won’t hesitate to give them out.
3. License & Insurance
The state of Michigan requires all roofing contractors to apply for and obtain an occupational license for maintenance and alteration. So, any roofing contractor you contact should have their license. If they don’t, that’s a red flag and a sign to move on to the next company. In addition to licensure, picking a commercial roofing company with general liability insurance is ideal because it gives you peace of mind that you won’t be held liable for any accidents or damages that occur during the roofing project.
4. Estimates
As previously mentioned, if you’re selecting a roofing company for a specific project, it’s important to request bids from each company. When you receive bids from each company, check the details. Are they just giving you a number, or are they also providing a breakdown of costs? Transparency is essential—you should know where the costs are going (materials, labor, available warranties, etc.). Don’t be afraid to get multiple estimates from different companies to compare prices and services.
5. Communication
When you initially contact the company, how is communication? Was it easy to find their phone number or website contact form? When you reached out to them, were you able to talk to someone, or were you sent straight to voicemail? Did they have an automated call menu, and if so, was it easy to use? If you did talk to someone, were they easy to communicate with, or did they seem rushed, aggravated, and annoyed?
You want to hire a roofing company you can rely on and trust for exceptional communication. If you don’t feel your business is important to them—take it elsewhere.
6. Location
Where is the business located? Generally, the closer a roofing company is to you, the better, but this doesn’t mean you must rule out any business not immediately within your local city. A roofing company operating within your city will be more familiar with your jurisdiction’s building codes and permit requirements, and they may be able to respond to you more quickly in the event of an emergency.
Request a Bid From Summit Commercial Roofing
If you’re searching for a commercial roofing company, consider Summit Commercial Roofing. Founded over 50 years ago, we’re a fully licensed and insured contractor specializing in flat roofing services, including installations, replacements, repairs, and maintenance. Although we’re located in Livonia, MI, we proudly serve businesses across Southeast Michigan, including Washtenaw, Wayne, and Monroe counties. You can view our portfolio of past projects here.
Please contact us today to request an inspection or project estimate—we respond to messages within 24 hours and can provide detailed estimates within 48 hours.
