4 Mistakes Building Owners Make When Hiring a Commercial Roofer

The commercial roofing industry can be the wild west. On the one hand, you have world-class companies with Fortune 500 clients; on the other, you have "Bob & a Bucket" and "Chuck in a Truck" roofers who cut corners and compete solely on price. Cutting through your options and finding a great company that works with your budget can be time-consuming and difficult, especially for someone unfamiliar with the industry.
 
At GIDEON, we've been in the roofing world for 20 years. We've consulted thousands of building owners and managers, installed millions of square feet of roofing, and worked with some of the best roofing companies in the country (and some of the worst). We know the challenges you face when hiring a contractor, and we've compiled a list of the most common mistakes you can make and how to avoid them.

Mistake #1: Treating Roofing Like a Commodity

As a business owner or a property manager, you know that efficiency is essential. The last thing you want is to spend money on an overpriced project that doesn't contribute to the bottom line. For this reason, many people either go with the lowest roofing bid they can find or try a low-effort, low-budget, quick-fix repair. While this may save money initially, it almost always costs you far more in the long run…or even - in the case of a bad repair - in the short run. 

The fact is - expertise and skill vary substantially in the roofing industry. Costly mistakes by cheap contractors are common; this is why many flat roofs last only around half of their manufacturer-intended lifespan. If your decision is heavily influenced by upfront price, you're almost certain to get a low-quality job that will create inefficiencies, lead to constant headaches, and ultimately cost you more down the line. 

The same goes for quick-fix repairs. At Gideon, we often work with owners and managers who've attempted multiple quick-fix repairs, and now, due to extensive damage, they need to replace the entire assembly. They could've spent far less if they'd worked with a more experienced contractor two or three years earlier. An old 10,000-square-foot roof, for instance, can often be restored entirely (with a brand-new warranty) for around $40,000. But if you wait an extra two years, just getting by with inferior patch jobs, your roof may deteriorate to the point that it needs to be replaced. How much will this cost? Around $120,000.

Mistake #2: Not Educating Yourself About Roofing

Roofing (particularly commercial roofing) is a complex product, which means it's vital that you educate yourself on your options. Unfortunately, quality varies a great deal among roofers, so it's important that you can have an intelligent conversation with your contractor and determine their level of competence. We recommend that you learn about the types of roof systems available, the type of roof system you currently have, the pros and cons of different systems, how commercial roof warranties work, and the various components of roof systems. With this knowledge, you can make better decisions and avoid subpar solutions.

Mistake #3: Hiring a Residential Contractor

Commercial roofs are worth much more than residential, so residential contractors are often looking to step into the commercial roofing world. Unfortunately, they don't always have the requisite knowledge. They may get a call from a local building owner and enthusiastically agree to do the job, then put a solution together based on internet research and bits of advice from their contractor buddies. You may get lousy work and pay extra for it in this situation! They may, for instance, recommend a brand new roof when you only need a repair, then install it in violation of the manufacturer's recommendations, voiding the warranty. Instead of spending $4,000 on a proper repair, you've now spent $40,000 on an un-warrantied system. 

To avoid this, vetting your contractor's qualifications is essential. How long have they been doing commercial roofing? Have they ever worked on a roof like yours before? If so, how did the job turn out? Are they certified by commercial manufacturers? (Manufacturer certifications are necessary to qualify for warranties). Asking these questions can help you make sure they have the requisite qualifications.

Mistake #4: Hiring a One-Trick Pony

Some contractors (especially inexperienced ones) are one-trick ponies, meaning they only know how to install one or two roof systems. For instance, roofers specializing in TPO are common because TPO is inexpensive, easy to install, and heavily promoted by manufacturers. While TPO is  an excellent system, it’s not the best solution for everyone. This is why it's often better to work with a company that isn't limited to a particular system but can offer you multiple options tailored to your situation.

Ultimately, a good roofing contractor will take a consultative approach. Rather than simply presenting you with their preferred solution, they'll focus on learning about your business and your building, asking the right questions, and crafting a solution based on your needs.

The Upshot

Hiring a commercial roofing company can be tedious and (if you're not armed with the right info) very costly. Now that you've learned about the top mistakes you can make in the hiring process, we recommend reading about The 7 Most Important Things to Consider Before Buying a Commercial Roof. These questions will help you understand the most important factors involved in purchasing a commercial roof so you can get the right solution, whomever you work with.