Businesses are growing by leaps and bounds with the expert support, added credibility, and comprehensive resources offered through our network of endorsed roofing professionals.
One such success story comes from Rufus Hostetler of Mid-West Roofing Systems in North Dakota.
Backstory
Rufus began working for various residential-focused contractors at the young age of 14. Later he started his own business and eventually landed his first commercial job, which was a 14,000-square-foot metal roof. After seeing how much better everything was, he began moving from residential to commercial roofing work.
Rufus was one of the very first members to join up with Choice Roof Contractor Group when the association was first getting off the ground. Belonging to CRCG has revolutionized his business.
“It’s been huge,” he said.
He went fully commercial in 2012 and has never looked back.
Getting Professional
For Rufus, the benefits of belonging to a professional network like Choice Roof Contractor Group have been manifold, including:
- Interaction with other professional roofing contractors
- Knowledge of what actually works in commercial roofing marketing
- How to consistently close large commercial contracts
- Help with bidding and completing jobs
- High quality sales material to print and email to prospects
“For us to be able to have all that as contractors, without creating it all on our own—that’s huge,” he said.
Another benefit of belonging to Choice Roof Contractor Group is having access to the professional marketing services of Top Roof Marketing, which caters specifically to commercial roofing contractors.
Rufus said he gets about 50 percent of his sales leads through his website, which was built and is maintained by Top Roof Marketing. The services offered through Top Roof Marketing, including regularly published blogs with targeted keywords and social media distribution, have even helped him expand his business to other states.
Because his business website is so polished and professional-looking, Rufus said, it makes it appear that he runs a huge operation—when, in fact, his business is not quite as large… yet.
“I’ve had quite a few customers comment on how my website is set up and that they really like it,” he said.
Without the support and benefits of Choice Roof Contractor Group and the expert services of Top Roof Marketing, Rufus said, he wouldn’t have the successful business he enjoys today.
“I would probably be doing OK,” he said, “but I wouldn’t be doing as well.”
Living the Good Life
With the help of Choice Roof Contractor Group, Rufus has been able to build a very successful roofing business in a relatively short amount of time, experiencing success that many roofing contractors only dream of. He attributes a great deal of that success to his membership in Choice Roof Contractor Group.
“It definitely has had a big impact in my business,” he said.
The support, training to do more advanced installs, and expert consultation available through the group has greatly increased his business savvy and confidence.
In addition to enjoying professional support, training, and interaction, endorsed members also have the added bonus of access to commercial roofing leads generated through the association. While getting regular leads isn’t a guarantee and contractors need to always be proactive in soliciting new business contacts, Rufus said, when a lead comes through the group it is always a very high quality lead.
The success Rufus has experienced since joining Choice Roof Contractor Group has enabled him to have the kind of lifestyle he wants and the freedom to spend time with his family, travel and enjoy life in all kinds of ways.
“It has allowed us to do pretty much anything we wanted,” he said.
Because endorsed Choice Roof Contractor Group members like Rufus use high-quality Conklin roofing products and enjoy discounted pricing, an added perk of association comes in the form of manufacturer roofing leads, valuable referral commissions and even special trips from Conklin. Rufus has won vacations through Conklin for reaching certain targets. For instance, in the first year of going fully commercial, he was given a weeklong vacation paid for by Conklin with other “Preferred Contractors” who bought more than $125,000 worth of product. Last year, he achieved “District Manager” level, and once again he enjoyed a paid vacation in Cancun courtesy of Conklin.
Interesting fact: Early on, at age 22, Rufus was introduced to Conklin roofing products. This was before our group was fully established. When commenting on his experience with the manufacturer, he said “The products that we use—I mean, I wouldn’t use anything else. I haven’t had one roof that failed on me. … It just comes back to doing it correctly.”
You Can Benefit, Too!
Rufus’ success story is just one more example of how Choice Roof Contractor Group is benefiting roofing contractors throughout the United States. Our endorsed members enjoy various exclusive perks, such as:
- Off-site and on-site assistance from veteran roofing contractors
- Commercial roofing marketing strategies
- Our popular roofing lead generation program after qualification
- Helpful support from our strategic partners and suppliers
- Additional credibility from our nationwide reputation for excellence
- Professional commercial roofing training
- Discounted pricing on energy-efficient, long-lasting roofing products
- Job referral opportunities through connections in our network
- And much more!
If you’re interested in finding out how your roofing business can benefit from being part of the group, give Rufus a call at (701) 500-9399. He would also be happy to share exactly how he was able to grow so quickly.
Like any roof system, a flat roof can eventually develop problems that need attention. Drainage is an important concern because low-slope roofs must be designed to move water efficiently toward drains, scuppers, gutters, or other drainage points.
When your flat roof develops problems, it is important to address the underlying cause rather than relying on a temporary surface repair.
The following are some common contributors to metal roof problems that necessitate the immediate services of a knowledgeable roofing contractor:
Let’s face it—most people aren’t professional interviewers, and they aren’t professional contractor recruiters, either. So it may seem intimidating to choose a roofing professional to attend to your commercial building. But it absolutely, unequivocally matters whom you select to repair your roof—and the research you do before hiring a contractor matters a lot.
When you’re in need of commercial roof services, do you feel confident hiring a contractor? Many commercial building owners don’t, so if you feel at a loss when it comes time to engage a roofing professional, just know you’re not alone.
Hiring the wrong contractor can mean much more than shoddy workmanship—it can mean legal battles, the need to bring in other contractors, and ongoing roof repair expenses in the coming years to address the problems resulting from the initial poor workmanship.
Whether you’re a veteran roofing contractor or a new hand looking to break into the business, it can be difficult to find the right fit as you search among commercial roofing companies hiring new recruits. As with any job market, the available positions can be few while the applicants are plentiful. Also, keep in mind that there are many different kinds of commercial roofing skills for different systems. As you venture forth in search of the right job with the right company, keep some of these tips in mind to bolster your efforts.
When you’re job searching, the last thing you want to be is passive. Turn passivity into proactivity and make sure you stand out from the other applicants who are vying for the same jobs as you. For instance, don’t just mail in your resume—hand-deliver it to the companies you’re interested in, and, while you’re there, ask to meet with the hiring manager. Make the most of every opportunity to leave potential employers with a positive impression of who you are and what you could offer them as an employee.
The Internet has greatly changed the world of marketing, but there’s still much to be said for direct mail advertising rather than merely sending out literature. Research has indicated that direct mail can effectively connect contractors with potential customers and prompt responses when campaigns are properly targeted and executed.
Search engine optimization (more commonly known as “SEO”) is key for driving traffic to your website and getting your message in front of the right potential clients when they need service most.
Yes, door knocking works in commercial and it definitely deserves to be on this list. It doesn’t cost much more than your time and can work extremely well when done right. With the right approach, literature, clothing, and smile, you can create opportunities to speak with building owners and potentially walk more roofs.
Belonging to a nationwide contractors association like Choice Roof Contractor Group can also create opportunities for quality sales leads, professional connections, shared knowledge, and collaboration.
If you’re looking for support as you build your commercial roofing business, Choice Roof Contractor Group provides contractors with access to a nationwide professional network and a variety of resources. Benefits can include:
A warranty can sound great coming from the lips of a good salesman, and it’s easy to be lured into choosing one company or product over another because of long-term warranty claims. However, when you examine the fine print, you’ll find that, far more often than not, a warranty is crafted to protect the company, not the consumer.
Companies like to seduce consumers with flashy promises like “lifetime warranty” or “30-year warranty.” That language makes it sound like your roofing product is going to be guaranteed for a lifetime or for 40+ years, respectively—but is that really what it means?
Another thing to watch for in a warranty is whether it’s prorated or non-prorated.
Far too many roofing products are warrantied for much longer than they have existed. Be wary of a product that has only been on the market for two years, for example, but promises a 30-year warranty (even if the manufacturer has been around for decades). When you compare the results of a product being tested in a laboratory and a product being tried and proven on actual roofs, there is no comparison.
It is also crucial to check out consumer reviews for both the roofing systems and roofing contractors you’re considering. These days, the Internet is jam-packed with reviews that are easy to access, and they enable would-be consumers to learn from what others have already experienced with a certain product or contractor. It is simply unwise to blindly purchase a product or enter into a work agreement without digging into some background information first.
Some companies’ standards are also not up to par with the standards of other companies. Many roofing product manufacturers hold only brief, and certainly not intensive, training workshops before setting contractors loose on the world with their manufacturer’s stamp of approval. Reputable companies, on the other hand, hold in-depth, hands-on trainings for contractors to ensure those installing the company’s roofing products are knowledgeable and will install the products correctly.
The phrase “there is safety in numbers” has definite application to the world of commercial roofing. When you choose a private contractor, it can be a little bit like playing Russian roulette—you just never know if you’re going to get quality workmanship or reliable products. In contrast, when you hire a contractor who belongs to a nationwide association, there are myriad benefits and reassurances, such as the availability of a national pool of experts, group accountability, set service standards and a long track record of dependability.
Built up roofing is one of the traditional types of flat roofing systems used on commercial buildings. BUR systems typically consist of alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing fabrics that form a finished membrane. This bitumen is generally asphalt, coal tar or cold-applied adhesive. The surfacings used for BUR systems include aggregate, such as gravel, mineral granules or slag; glass-fiber or mineral surfaced cap sheets; or hot asphalt mopped over the whole surface. Asphalt BUR is composed of multiple layers of reinforcing plies and asphalt, which forms a redundancy of waterproofing layers.
Single-ply membranes are sheet membranes that are manufactured in factories and are typically classified as thermoset (EPDM) or thermoplastic (TPO or PVC), the key difference being that thermoset materials are irreversibly solidified after heating, and thermoplastic materials can be softened and hardened repeatedly when heated and cooled.
Polymer-modified membranes are made up of reinforcing fabrics, which act as carriers for hot polymer-modified bitumen as it is made into a roll material. Like BUR membranes, modified bitumen roof system membranes are made up of multiple layers. They are usually installed as a two-ply system and are often fully adhered. The surfacings of these membranes include aggregate surfacing, metal foil-laminate surfacing, mineral surfacing and smooth liquid-applied surfacing.
For many commercial flat roofs, a high-quality roof coating or restoration system may be worth considering when the existing roof is still a good candidate for restoration.
Along the same lines, there can also be disadvantages when you’re working with an independent local contractor without access to a larger professional network. Some local contractors may be residential-focused businesses that only occasionally perform commercial work, while others may have extensive commercial experience.
From the very beginning, Conklin has been the preferred manufacturer of our group. Top reasons we prefer 