According to City of Vancouver’s statistical data on construction activity, the business permit volume as of August 2024 is 3,417 business permits. These are clearly just data for us, however, they are opportunities for scammers in roofing. Want to get away from them? Let’s dive right in.
How do you know you are going to have a good roof for your Commercial roofing job?
While the first step of responding to your roofing needs is calling a roofing contractor, it is important that one must know what makes up a good roof. For commercial builders and construction companies, their next step would be selecting the best roofers for their buildings. But what comes next? Knowing what qualities to look for when checking the roofers’
outputs will be essential in your next decision making. To know what a good roof looks like confirms that you made the right decision in hiring them, which also means you have found yourself a good roofing company.
Selecting the right roofer for Commercial Roofing
In choosing roofer for your commercial roof, the factors below must be considered:
With credentials: Looking for commercial roofers with license/s and certifications narrows down your options to those that meet certain levels of standards.
Years and training: Knowing the number of years that a roofing contractor is exposed to the field, combined with knowing what kind of extensive training they went through to be a roofer, will help you determine what kind of roofers (and how experienced they are) compose the crew.
Reviews: Search for some reviews about the company and try to get as many reviews as you can from the different platforms and social media that they have. Reputation lets you know what they are known for.
Values: Like a person’s character, to know a company’s character is through the core values that they believe in. Best Roofers are embodied in their customer service and it gives you an idea on how your experience will be with them.
Look for References: When choosing a roofing company for your commercial roofing, one of the most important factors to consider is their track record. Request references of past projects and ask them to provide details of their previous work in the roofing industry. If possible, contact a few of their previous clients to gather feedback.
Carefully review their completed projects to identify both mistakes and positive aspects. This step is crucial because commercial roofing jobs are significant investments, and it’s essential to ensure that the quality of work meets your expectations and requirements.
These factors will serve as your guide to selecting the best roofers for you. It’s also a guide on how to spot untrustworthy companies and scammers. We don’t want to be in the homeowner’s shoes in Surrey who reported a scam to BBB Scam Tracker to further search for the wanted person. (Campbell, 2022)
Beware of Common Mistakes in Commercial Roofing.
By being aware of the following mistakes, it exposes unskillful workers or scammers that are just making money out of you.
- Incorrect nailing
- Improper ventilation
- Not removing previous roofing materials
- Misalignments
- Using old damaged materials or boards
- No ridge cap
- Lacking drip edge
- Not focusing on manufacturer’s guidelines
- Forgetting the underlayment
- Not securing roof measurements in applying a roof on a
house or building - Insufficient Insulation Thickness
- Poor Installation of Vapor Barriers
Spotting these mistakes in installing a roof will not only save you from any roofing problems, but it also saves you from those scammers. They don’t reveal themselves but they are revealed by their low quality of work.
Qualities of a Roof done by Best Roofers
There are many qualities of a good roof but the following are the general standards that should be evident in your commercial building’s roof.
In all honesty, one of the first features we check out is the attractiveness of the roof on the building. However, as much as we want our roofs to look as good as possible, a couple
of things below make the roof good-looking:
Asphalt Shingles
No missing shingles
No curled shingles
Well granulated shingles
Straight and flat shingles
Metal
Dent-free
Properly installed metal flashings
Properly installed metal roof valleys, pipes, hip, and ridge caps
Properly used metal roof fasteners
Torch On
Successful adhesion (proper application of primer)
No punctures or tears
No blisters from improper installation
Properly Installed Vapor Barriers
With good insulation
EPDM
No signs of bubbling
Properly adhered
Properly sealed
High Quality Roofing Materials. Widely known and trusted manufacturers such as Certainteed, IKO, and Malarkey, and their customers, abide by the security measures and rules for the warranties. These brands are widely known to offer high quality materials. If your roofing contractor uses the mentioned brands or other similar top brands, the high quality roofing materials will produce a high quality roof.
Solution to any weather condition: The real test is the weather conditions such as heavy rains, strong winds, UV rays etc. If your roof can withstand any of it, you’ve got yourself a good roof.
Longevity: A sturdy roof can last up to 20 years and above before it needs to be replaced. It depends on what type of roofing material is used but no good roof will only last 5 to 10 years. If your roof checks all the previous qualities, it is guaranteed that the roof will last for a long time.
Are you Ready for Commercial Roofing?
Despite having all this knowledge, there’s still a risk of falling victim to scams, as some people have unfortunately experienced.
In an article on Home Improvement Scam in CBC News posted by Moira Wyton, A Vancouver Island family believed they were targeted by scammers using the name of a legitimate business in Ontario. They were charged for more than $10,000 only to see how the quality of work did not match the cost. Although it was a homeowner, as builders and construction companies, it is important to make an informed decision because you have more at stake (construction requires more power and workforce due to size and weight, more number of people will be at risk of getting affected, losing huge amounts of money) in choosing the right roofing contractor.
Another report on Roofing Scam in CTV News by Pat Foran, a woman was scammed a total of $80,000 after being convinced that her roof has problems. Imagine happening to a property with a value of more than $80,000, you would be having a hard time revising your budget plans for the project.
Ergo, hiring the right one and knowing what high quality commercial roof will be your defense against scammers.
