Selection of a new roof for your facility is a big decision for any company.  We’ve presented a few things you should take into consideration before beginning your roofing project.

What type of roof should I install?

There are many choices in types of roofs and in roofing manufacturers.  What is right for one building, may not be right for another building.  The most important element in choosing a roof is to have an experienced, knowledgeable commercial roofing contractor come to your facility and evaluate it with its particular roofing characteristics to determine which roof will meet your objectives.

How should I select a roofing contractor?

Roofing projects are dependent on the contractor, and selection of your contractor is critical to the success of your project.  You should look for a contractor who has a proven track record with multiple years of experience installing multiple types of roof systems.  Financial strength, years in business, and references are also worth serious consideration.  And speaking of references, you should always check their references and inquire not only about the installation but also about service after the installation is completed.

What type of warranty should I consider?

There are multiple warranty types and lengths available.  When evaluating warranties, you need to consider who has authorized the warranty and the exclusions that are written into each warranty.  If the warranty and the exclusions do not meet your needs, then changes or riders to the warranty should be requested.  Additionally, you should determine what it is you would like to accomplish with a warranty such as how long the building will be owned, what the current use and potential future use of the building may be, and who you want covering potential future needs.

How much and what type of roofing insulation should be installed?

Insulation’s functions include providing insulating properties or R-values, providing an acceptable substrate for the waterproofing membrane(s), providing compressive strength and resistance to roof traffic, and providing slope for proper drainage.  The type and the amount of insulation used varies with roofing objectives.  Types of insulation include fiberboard (non-coated, one side coated, six side coated, and high density), perlite, densdeck, expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, fiberglass, and glass foam.

How should I maintain the roof once installed?

Each roof system and manufacturer has set requirements that are the responsibility of the building owner.  The requirements vary from keeping drains and gutters free from debris to extensive preventative maintenance programs with required annual inspections.  As an Owner, you should understand and know these obligations prior to purchasing the roof in order to understand the total cost of roof ownership.  An experienced roofing contractor will be able to help you with this process.