Hiring the Right Commercial and Industrial Roofing Contractor For Your Needs

by Deseronto Archives

Hiring the Right Commercial and Industrial Roofing Contractor For Your Needs

Purchasing a new roofing system for your existing metal roofs is no small investment. It is an important investment that should take thought and consideration before choosing the right industrial and commercial roofing contractor for your needs. Before you spend your money, spend your time learning how to evaluate the roof contractors you may be working with. Not all roofing companies are alike and there is no foolproof method for selecting a professional roofing service. The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) gives consumer a few tips to consider before settling on one roof company.

The first thing to do when looking at a roofing contractor is verify a permanent place of business. Things to look for include a telephone number, a tax I.D. number, and a business license. Any professional roof service should have these readily available. Once you have verified they are legit, ask for proof of insurance. It would be wise to check both their liability coverage and their workers’ compensation certificates. When looking at their insurance coverage, be sure to check their coverage dates. You want to make sure their coverage runs through the duration of your roof restoration project they would be doing for you. If you fail to check their dates and something happens while they were not insured, building owners may be held responsible for accidents that occur on the property or dragged into litigations.

From there you want to make sure the roofing consultants of your interest are properly licensed or bonded. Your state’s Department of Professional Regulation or Licensing Board will have this information. It may also be beneficial to you to call your local Better Business Bureau or Department of Professional Regulation and ask about any complaints filed against the contractor.

A good commercial roofing company is one that can provide its potential customers with a readily available list of client references and a list of completed roof coating projects. Calling some of the clients on their reference lists can give you a good idea of the quality of work performed as well as the professionalism of the company. Be sure to look for a company with a proven track record that is financially stable as well. They should be able to provide you with their current financial information.

Once you have narrowed your search down and are asking for quotes from various roofing services, be sure to insist on a written proposal that you can examine for complete descriptions of the work, the roof coatings and specifications, including approximate starting and completion dates and payment procedures. You may also be interested in knowing about the companies roofing specialists who will be performing the work. It is important to know their safety record and the safety training they receive. Be sure to choose a company that is committed to the safety and education of its workers. The company should also be able to explain their roof systems, quality control procedures, the name of the person who will be in charge, and how many works and the amount of time it will take to complete the work.

As a final note, be sure to carefully inspect the roof warranty that is offered. Watch for any provisions that would void it and ask any questions you may have regarding their warranty and future commercial roof leaks or commercial roofing repairs. A positive to look for in a roofing company is one that offers its customers some form of a yearly roofing maintenance agreement on top of their warranty. With a roof maintenance agreement, it should address any roof leak concerns and the roof repairs that would be covered before you have a leaking roof.

Keep in mind the saying, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” when choosing the lowest bid. Many commercial roof contractors can come off as attractive professionals with their below-cost bids, but many of them are often uninsured and perform substandard work. Price is only one of the criteria for selecting a roofing contractor. Professionalism and quality workmanship should also weigh heavily on your decision in hiring the right commercial or industrial roofing specialist.

www.thermaltecroofing.com Thermal-Tec Roofing is a leading Commercial Roofing and Industrial Roofing Company that provides our MR Multi-Ply® Roof System to commercial roofs and industrial roofs throughout the Midwest including; Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois,…
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Essential Requirements for Roofing Supplies

by tommaync

Essential Requirements for Roofing Supplies

Roofing supplies include a wide range of materials and items used for the construction and maintenance of a roof.  This means not only shingles but molding, lumber, pipes and vents, roofing cements, ladders and all the handy tools , even roofing nails. 

Starting at the top, let’s consider the roofing material.  This is considered the roof proper and includes wood shingles, ceramic tiles, asbestos shingles, metal roofing sheets and tiles, rubber roofing sheets and shingles, and a lot of other types of materials.  The roofing material should be chosen based on location, so that the roof will withstand the local elements and issues that impact a roof.

The frame or support structure of a roof is lumber.  This usually consists of a triangular truss and a lattice of beams.  The roof itself is then laid over the frame.  Lumber is used for other elements including the cornice, part of the frame that hangs over the wall, the fascia, or underside of the cornice, the eave, which allows water to drip away from the roof, and the soffit, or underside of the eave.

Pipes and vents protrude from the roof.  They help the house breathe, and are also the escape routes for smoke from a fireplace or cooking hood, as well as for hot air from the attic.  The bottoms of pipes and vents are commonly sealed with a boot, or metal strip, including a lead based or plastic sealant.  These pipes and vents have one way shields sealed with rubber so that the air or smoke can escape, but water doesn’t drip into the pipe or vent.

Now onto the roofing tools which include the ladder to climb up to the roof, as well as other items necessary for both installation and removal, as well as for regular maintenance.  These include simple items such as a broom and bucket to hold waste shingles, a slater’s hammer complete with a hammer as well as an ax and blade, a slate cutter to cut through shingles, seaming pliers to grab shingles, and a hip runner to install the ridge cap, the portion of the roof that caps the seams.

Roofing nails must be long enough to go through the shingles and go further to about 3/8 inch below the bottom of the shingle.  Anything that interferes with the nails biting into the wood could cause the nail to spring out of the shingle, and eventually the loss of shingles.  This includes shingles with ridges, some under shingle materials, and of course nails that aren’t long enough for the roofing material.  A good roofer can drive a roofing nail with one solid hit.  A homeowner doing it themselves will find that they can drive the nails with one hit after only a few minutes.

Roofing supplies aren’t as simple as they first seem.  But with a little planning, you’ll have everything needed for a quality roof.

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