Questions You Should Be Asking your Roofing Contractor

Repairing or replacing your commercial roof is a major investment, so it is well worth your time to conduct thorough research before selecting a contractor. But if you’ve never worked with roofing, how do you know what factors are most important? 

The professionals at Technique Roofing sat down with us to offer their own expert advice when it comes to roofing, including what to look for when seeking a contractor for your business. 

Q: What advice would you give to a company looking to hire a roofing contractor? What should be the first step?

A: If you were shopping for a truck, you would probably start the process by asking the people you know and trust about the trucks they drive. The same goes for roofing. Talk to other business owners about their experiences, both good and bad, and get recommendations from them. Most of our customers are referrals from other customers. Our reputation precedes us, and customers that we have had years ago are coming back when it’s time for a new roof.  

Q: Once you get a reference and call a roofing contractor, what are some things that you should expect them to bring to the table? What would you want to see as a customer?  

A: Remember, you’re not just buying a product; you’re buying the service that comes with it—a 15-20 year service. For Technique Roofing, it is important for us to create and maintain a good relationship with our customers. Similarly, you might pay just a little more for a vehicle because it is at a dealership you trust versus a small selling lot that doesn’t have a good reputation. Show me a guy bragging about a really good deal on a roof, and I’ll show you a subpar roof with shoddy workmanship and materials. You don’t want a contractor who cuts corners. You want honesty, open communication, and quality work. It all comes back to trust. 

Q: What are some of the largest roof failures that customers should be aware of before hiring a contractor for their own roof? 

A: Some of the most catastrophic failures come from wind. You don't realize how important it is to have your roof installed correctly until you have a real wind event or a big storm, then it's really going to show up. Did they put in the correct number of fasteners, and did they do a little extra fastening around the perimeter? If not, and a tornado comes nearby, your roof is probably going to be on the ground! 

Q: What would you say to customers who aren’t sure if it’s time to replace their roof? Or if they have a roof that's, say, 12 to 18 years old—what would you tell them to extend the life of their roof?  

A: We offer our customers a free inspection every year and encourage them to take advantage of it to know exactly where they stand. We provide photos, a detailed drawing of the roof showing everything that's going on, then a report with how many more years to expect out of the life of this roof and whether it needs maintenance or repairs. Basically, we tell you what we would do if we owned that building. 

Contact Technique Roofing with all your commercial roofing questions.