Hiring the Right Roofer in Boston
April 14th, 2021
If you own or manage a commercial property, you know that it can be challenging to find and hire the right contractor for any type of building improvement project. There are many choices of specialty contractors in any given local area, so how will you know if the commercial roofing company you choose will be the best fit for your building’s needs?
The roofing team at Northeast Industrial Roof can expertly serve the needs of nearly any commercial property owner or manager who seeks commercial roofing services. That’s why we recommend speaking to two or more roofers before deciding on which contractor you’ll ultimately hire to work on your commercial roof.
Finding a Roofer
There are several approaches to finding a reputable roofing company that can provide solutions that meet your needs while providing outstanding service and delivering value:
Better Business Bureau: As the generally recognized standard for trustworthy business recommendations, the BBB is a nonprofit organization that provides ratings based on customer reviews.
Directories: Most commercial roofing manufacturers such as Johns Manville and GAF have directories on their websites where customers can find manufacturer-certified installers. These contractors must meet a strict set of requirements in order to become and remain certified.
Referrals: When asking a friend, family member or colleague for an honest recommendation for service they have received, you’re seeking referrals. Referrals hold a great deal of value because it means that those past customers are happy with the work performed by the company on their home or business.
Questions to Ask Commercial Roofing Contractors
When you’ve found a few contractors who may meet your needs, it’s smart to ask questions regarding their licensing and insurance as well as company policies for safety, customer service, and any other questions you have.
Here are a few important topics you might consider asking about:
Experience: The roofing company should be verifiably experienced working with the types of equipment and materials needed to complete the job, including roof tear-off and installation methods, so that you can be sure that you’re getting high-quality roofing that will last. If the roofer is manufacturer-certified, they’ve been properly trained to work with that manufacturer’s products & materials in a way that will allow your warranty to remain valid for the full term of coverage
Insurance and bonding: Most states require contractors, including roofers, to carry insurance and bonding. The minimum required insurance coverage typically includes general liability and workers’ compensation. These policies protect your interests in the event that injury or damages occur while a roofing job is in progress.
Licensing: Contractors are required by most states to obtain proper licensing before they can legally perform any type of construction work, including roofing. State licensing agencies typically require certain education milestones to be met prior to the license being issued.
References: The company should be willing and able to provide contact information for at least one or two past customers who would be willing to provide honest testimonials. Try to speak directly to the references to ensure that they had a good experience and that they love their roofs.
Warranties: Most roofers offer one- to three-year warranties on workmanship, and the products are typically well-covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. In short, if manufacturing defects or improper installation cause your roof to fail prematurely, your warranties should cover the repair or replacement costs.
Manufacturer Designations
As stated above, many manufacturers provide certification to commercial roofing contractors who meet the requirements to become qualified to install their products. While the requirements for designation can vary by manufacturer, the certification ensures that the contractor is properly licensed, bonded and covered by insurance. Some manufacturers even check the business’ or individual’s credit, consult the company’s BBB ratings, or make contact with references to verify the company’s trustworthiness and workmanship.
Why is a manufacturer certification important? Proper and thorough training is always important when working on something so crucial to your building, so manufacturers provide the most updated information and training materials to their certified installers. Manufacturer training is unique to the manufacturer’s specific product lines, thus the training is also unique to each manufacturer.
For example, Northeast Industrial Roof holds a Peak-level certification with Johns Manville – the highest level offered by the manufacturer, which means that our roofing specialists have met and continue to meet the knowledge, experience and skill requirements set forth by the manufacturer to hold this certification. Our roofers periodically undergo training and education, and the company is reviewed annually to make sure our license is current, our insurance coverage is adequate and our professional reputation remains in good standing.
Northeast Industrial Roof guarantees your satisfaction with our workmanship on all commercial roofing repairs and installation.
Questions? Call Northeast Industrial Roof today at 781-874-0248 or contact us to schedule a roof inspection for your commercial roof.
