Client meeting with a commercial roofing contractor.

Commercial roofing is serious business. If you own a commercial building, you need to think about the benefits of commercial roofing contractors.

Nowadays everybody is a do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiast. Regardless of how many DIY videos you watch, your skill level will not match the years of experience that commercial roofing contractors possess.

Although you may be tempted to perform a roof installation or repair by yourself, it isn’t a good idea!

Maybe you think you can save money by doing it yourself. But, what happens when you perform a less than adequate roofing job? It ends up costing you more money in the long run, thanks to numerous repairs and other potential expenses.

Still not seeing the importance of hiring a professional contractor for your roofing needs? Here are 10 things that might change your mind.

1. Following Your City’s Building Code

Are you familiar with the building code in your city?

The building code is a set of laws and regulations that govern how construction projects get handled. If you are not familiar with the system and proceed to construct your new roof by yourself, you may make a few mistakes.

If an inspection of the structure indicates that the building code got violated, you may have to demolish the roof. This means you incur a loss for the first roof and also the additional cost to do it again.

Commercial roofers make it a point to stay updated on the building code. Thus, they are your best bet to get a large commercial roofing project done correctly.

2. Your Safety

Commercial roof installation is a dangerous endeavor for a novice, and there have been numerous cases where DIYers have fallen off roofs trying to conduct installation or repairs.

Now, you might be asking, “Aren’t there pieces of safety equipment I can buy to prevent that?”

The short answer: yes. But, unless you’re a full-time roofer, then you’re going to make these costly purchases for a one-time job. Isn’t it better to have a professional roofing contractor handle the roofing work for you?Hiring a professional roofing expert will save you not only time but also money and potential accidents in the process.

3. The Quality of Work

Quality work comes with hands-on experience. You could watch every roofing DIY video on YouTube, but your quality of work will not match a professional’s workmanship unless you have real world experience in the roofing industry

Roofing involves more than just attaching roofing materials to roofing beams. You have to consider numerous factors, including the installation of ventilation outlets wherever necessary. Without adequate experience, you are bound to make either a minor or major mistake.

A minor mistake (like a leaky roof) could lead to more severe consequences when mold develops, leading you to spend even more time and money on a project that could have been fully completed if a commercial roofing contractor was hired.

4. Staying Within Budget

A common issue with DIY roofing is going over budget. This happens when a homeowner commences a roofing project without adequate planning and budgeting.

Budgeting involves calculating the costs of the materials as well as accounting for miscellaneous expenses that might occur. It is for this reason that roofing contractors provide estimates and quotes before they commence working on your roof.

Hence, with a commercial roof contractor, you are fully aware of all the costs involved. You do not get any unexpected charges, allowing you to stick to your budget.

5. Advice on the Best Materials

When it comes to roofing, there are many different types of roofing materials that you can choose from for your building: EPDM, TPO, or a built-up roof (BUR), just to name a few. And because of this, it can be difficult to determine which products are best for your application. 

Quality roofing is a matter of selecting the materials that are favorable to the weather conditions in your region and have the longest lifespan with the least maintenance.

It’s best to work with a commercial roofing contractor who has worked with numerous materials from various manufacturers. These contractors can advise building owners about the best options for their commercial roofing system.

6. Getting Roofing Materials at a Discount

Purchasing roofing materials at your local hardware store means more often than not that you’re going to be paying full retail price for them.

Commercial contractors, on the other hand, buy their high-quality roofing materials in bulk because they’re usually working on multiple projects at any given time. Hence, they purchase at wholesale price. If you get your roofing material through a contractor, they’re going to add your products to their bulk order.

Even if they quote the materials a little higher, you’ll still get a discounted price compared to the retail price. (And who doesn’t like saving a little bit here and there when they can?).

7. Saving You Money

Roofing contractors are cost-effective in two ways: Procuring materials at a discount AND reducing the need for future repairs.

Reducing repair costs comes as a benefit of having the job done right the first time.

If you handle the roofing installation or repairs yourself, you may make a mistake that leads to future complications. For instance, failing to insulate the roof properly could cause it to leak later on. A leak, while seemingly minor, can lead to the development of mold which will require costly repairs.

Collectively, you will end up spending more on repairs in the long run than it would have cost you to hire a roofing contractor.

8. Timely Completion of the Job

When rushing against the weather, time is critical. Imagine having a roofing installation with the onset of rain. If it doesn’t get completed in a timely fashion, your belongings could be taking a shower.

Alternatively, imagine having a roof repaired before a building inspector comes to take a look at your property. If you were looking to sell the property and the inspector finds the roof undone, then you miss out on the sale.

While your time may be limited due to other responsibilities, your roofing contractor is focused on just one thing – repairing and installing roofs.

Hence, when completion time is a factor, hiring a roofing contractor is the best option rather than DIY.

9. Avoid Lawsuits and Liabilities

Installing a DIY roof on a commercial property could lead to lawsuits and liabilities if something goes wrong.

For instance, if the roof collapses, causing an injury to a third party, you can get sued. Additionally, if leaks and mold develop and cause damage to other people’s property, you will be liable for the loss.

Hence, it’s beneficial to have a commercial roofing contractor handle both the installation and repairs. Should anything happen, they will be liable.

10. You Get a Warranty

A warranty stipulates that after a roofing contractor completes a job, any damages or repairs will fall on the contractor. The warranty is usually valid for a few months to a few years. If the contractor made a mistake when installing or repairing the roof, they would cover the cost to fix it.

When you do it yourself and make a mistake, 100% of the cost to fix the error will get covered by you.

With a professional roofing contractor’s warranty, you won’t have to be worried about any repair costs that may arise as a result of their work.

Conclusion on the Benefits of Hiring Commercial Roofing Contractors

DIY may seem cheap and efficient, but unless you are a seasoned commercial roofing contractor, you should stay away (especially considering the fact that roofing contractors save you from numerous headaches at the end of the day).

When looking into how to hire a roofing contractor, always ensure they have valid insurance and a history of quality work. It helps to read testimonials or even interview previous customers who have used their commercial roofing services

If you’re in need of a reliable commercial roofing company, get in touch with us. We’ll take care of you!