Your Tenant, Your Roofer, Your Money

Roof replacements can be expensive. Often it’s the largest expense you run into outside of actually buying the building. So why let your tenants choose who works on your roof? Tenant contractors can end up costing YOU more than you might think.

Here are 4 reasons to consider having a preferred roofer for your tenants to contact.

Reason #1: Repairs/modifications to a Warranted Roof

If your roof is currently covered under a manufacturer warranty, only an authorized roofing applicator can perform roof repairs or flash new penetrations that are installed. That means not just anyone with a truck and a ladder can be hired to do the work.

If you don’t know who installed it, you can always reach out to the manufacturer (Carlisle SynTec, Sika Sarnafil, GAF, etc.) and ask for a list of local roofers who are authorized applicators. Most major roofing manufacturers also have an authorized contractor find tool on their websites. Not having a manufacturer authorized roofing contractor perform the work could void your roof warranty.

Reason #2: Improper Roofing Materials and Repairs

I see it all the time but it still makes me cringe, improper roof repair materials. Repair materials have to match the roof system or they just won’t work. Tenants don’t necessarily know roof types or roofing products so how are they to know what the contractor is doing? They’re trying to keep operating costs down so saving a few hundred dollars sounds great. The problem though is the savings typically comes from inferior products and inferior installations.

Roof cement and fabric are not universal roof repair products. The guy with the truck and ladder uses it on everything anyway and it often leads to deterioration of the roof. In the end, it costs you money to fix it correctly. If you submit a warranty claim and unauthorized products are found to have been installed it could end up costing you a lot of money as well as void your roof warranty.

Reason #3: Roof Manufacturer Training

Manufacturer training makes a huge difference in the quality of work and how long it lasts. Experience certainly goes a long way, but there are certain materials and instances where specific training is required.

Having a preferred roofer that is trained by the manufacturer means the repair or install will be done right and done right the first time. We spend a lot of time and money making sure our employees are trained correctly for all the manufacturers we represent. We also invest in the proper equipment needed for all the roof systems we install and service. A commitment to training and investing in equipment by your contractor will always save you money in the long run.

Reason #4: Documentation

Another really important benefit to controlling who accesses your building is project documentation. When you limit the contractors that can work on or in your building, it’s much easier to know who installed something and when it was installed. This can save valuable time and money should something go wrong down the road.

Reputable contractors should maintain records of every service call, install, warranty issued, and when they took place. Many times this information can be obtained by the building owner or property manager through the contractor’s online client portal. When the tenant controls the contractor, most of this information is never passed on.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, the decisions of others can actually end up costing you both time and money. What may save a few dollars now can end in costly repairs or require complete replacements to be done prematurely. Having trusted professionals at your disposal can make your job much easier and keep your money where it should be…your pocket.