If you own commercial property, then chances are you already have a moderate amount of overhead. So, you don’t need even more costs hanging over your head (pun intended) – as in faulty roof work completed by inept contractors. In an era where anyone can list their services on sites like Craigslist, whether they are certified or not, it’s hard to tell who the legitimate contractors are.

One of the best ways to find reputable contractors for commercial roof repair in Boise is to ask other business owners in the area for their recommendations. After you gather a few contractor names, Google can be your best friend in searching for reviews. Sites like Angie’s List can help you narrow the field of contractors, and the Better Business Bureau can refine your list even further.

Once you’ve compiled your short list, you can start calling contractors to feel them out. You can tell a lot by speaking to someone on the phone. How a potential contractor handles your query can tell you just how professional or not they are. Listen to how well they articulate the services they offer. If they can’t tell you exactly what services they perform, but instead spend more time trying to convince you that they can “do it all,” it could be a red flag.

Important questions to ask are:

• Confirmation they are indeed certified for commercial roof repair
• Are they licensed, insured, and bonded and are they willing to show proof as such?
• Are they able and willing to provide references for previous work?

If you are satisfied by the answers you receive, and any references provided check out,

you can begin the process of obtaining quotes. It’s important to remember that the lowest bidder may be better for your budget in the short term, but could end up costing you even more in the long run. If any of the work they perform isn’t completed in accordance with applicable building code, you can be held liable, and on top of having to pay for the roof work to be redone and completed to code, you can also potentially be fined or shut down for the code violations. And that’s in addition to any liability for mishaps or injuries that might result from shoddy work leading to partial or complete roof failure or collapse.

Shopping around for contractors that perform commercial roof repairs in Boise doesn’t have to be a tedious process, but it can lead to a lot of complications if you choose to hire the contractor offering the lowest quote and the fastest time frame. If one contractor on your list offers to do the job much faster than all the others, and for a considerably lower price, it can be indicative of sub-par material use and corner cutting.

There are distinct differences between residential and commercial roofing. For example, while most residential roofs have steep pitches and are covered in shingles or tiles, commercial roofs are generally flat or have only a slight slope to allow for water drainage. Also, because many commercial properties house air handlers and external pipes on their roofs, contractors must use the right materials and be competent enough to work around such obstacles.

Ultimately, the work performed by your chosen contractor can be considered another investment. After all, the roof of your business literally protects your business assets, inventory, employees, and customers. Don’t take contractor selection lightly – do your research and plan to spend a little bit more for quality service to get it done right the first time.  Be sure to select a reputable contractor like Upson Company!