The old adage says, “There is safety in numbers.” For the endorsed members of the group, however, there is much, much more than that.
For John Miller of A-1 Roofing Systems, belonging to our respected roofing association has provided credibility, support and resources that have made all the difference in his business, helping him evolve from being a struggling roofer just surviving from job to job to doing large commercial projects. Even with the fantastic year he had in 2017, John expects to double his revenue next year.
“The Choice Roof Contractor Group is like a Better Business Bureau for commercial roofing,” John said, “and clients like that.” The peace of mind makes a huge difference and building owners also value the knowledge resources of the group that back every project.
A Foot in the Door
John was one of the earliest members to join Choice Roof Contractor Group. Prior to belonging to the group, he was struggling to gain traction in commercial roofing and to make ends meet, getting only small jobs for small buildings in a small town. He ended up taking some residential roofing work just to help generate cash flow.
“You were always busy, but it seemed like the profit margins weren’t nearly big enough,” he said. “There was a lot of hustle. There was a lot of fast-paced activity and not enough leftover time.”
For John, joining the Choice Roof Contractor Group made all the difference. It was through the group that he got the breakthrough opportunity that marked the start of his success in commercial roofing.
John had previously cold-called a branch of a large national company but without success. A couple of months later, however, that same company contacted this website looking for a price quote on an 80,000-square-foot roofing job, and John ended up getting the request. That job was his big break.
“They trusted us because of our affiliation with Choice Roof Contractor Group,” he said.
The group’s credibility, accountability and commitment to excellence helped get a foot in the door with a major client. Many other roofing contractors have also gained solid footing doing commercial work and landing big jobs they wouldn’t otherwise have gotten.
“That would not have happened without the Choice Roof Contractor Group,” John said.
Another benefit of group membership is that quote requests received through the group are quality, prequalified leads. The customer gets to see what the group is about and what its members offer as a nationwide team.
“I get quite a few leads from the group,” John said.
“Choice Roof Contractor Group is regularly at the top if you start Googling commercial roofing keywords,” he added.
Advice for Success
While prequalified leads, respected training, group credibility, shared knowledge and the other many benefits of membership can be game-changers for a roofing contractor, John advises that it is up to the individual to become successful.
“If you want to succeed in business, your focus has to be on servicing your customers rather than just seeing what you can get,” he said.
John said he was initially intimated by the commercial roofing market because of the largeness of the projects. He had to work on personal development, finding confidence, learning how those in the business world think and operate, and how to “speak the same language” to show business owners that they could trust him.
“I had to learn the skills and the mindset to learn how to perform in that market,” he said.
When meeting with a prospective client, John said, it’s a mistake to “sell yourself” and tell them everything you can do for them. Instead, he leads out by questioning a client and truly listening—finding out what they need, what their past experience has been with roofers, and how he can help them. He asks to take a tour of the facility so he can see where the issues are, and then after looking at the roof he generally proposes two or three options that he feels will best fit what the building owner needs.
Above all, benefiting the customer and truly providing service should always be a roofer’s aim.
“It’s so fun once you’ve learned your communication skills with your customers,” John said. “You can sell a couple hundred-thousand dollars in sales very quickly just because they sense that you’re servicing them. They don’t feel like you’re just taking money.”
Passing the Torch
John has certainly seen success since joining the Choice Roof Contractor Group. He foresees bringing in millions of dollars in revenue in the coming years. He counts himself blessed that instead of being out in the cold working just to make it through, he is now able to strategically use the winter months to prepare for next season and to line up spring jobs.
John’s five-year plan is to pass on his business to his oldest son, who is now 16 and whose ambition is to go into roofing like his dad.
“He loves what we do, and he has a passion for that,” John said.
Once the torch has been passed from father to son, John wants to become a consultant and a coach for roofing businesses—something Conklin, our preferred manufacturer, will pay him to do.
“It’s a mentorship program that is unequalled anywhere in the industry,” he said.
Because the manufacturer places high value on ensuring its contractors are properly trained, John can enjoy the experience of working with other roofers and helping them succeed. He will be able to do this at no cost to the contractors, as Conklin will use sales commissions to pay him for the mentorship instead of a traditional sales representative (a program that has been in place since the company entered the market in 1977).
Sweet Success
Because A-1 Roofing Systems achieved a large sales volume this year, John earned a free trip to Cancun, Mexico, through Conklin—a vacation he and his family recently returned from. This is yet another achievement he said would never have happened without the group.
“We ended up taking our whole family,” John said. “We’ve got seven kids, and we took the whole family down. We’d never, ever been to a beach anywhere in the world.”
He said a factor that made the vacation even better was there were about a hundred other Conklin families there, enjoying a similar reward for their sales success.
“You start keeping company with people who are used to success in what they’re pursuing, and that, in itself, is a big boost in continued success down the road,” John said.
John and the Rest of the Group Can Help You Succeed!
John emphasized the unique and tremendous benefits Choice Roof Contractor Group offers to roofing contractors like him.
“If you want to change your lifestyle and you have a commitment to stick to it until you succeed, we have something to offer here,” he said. “There’s no other group out there that offers what we do.”
For roofing contractors throughout the United States, CRCG provides numerous perks, including:
- Offsite and onsite assistance from veteran roofing contractors
- Commercial roofing marketing strategies
- Our popular roofing lead generation program after qualification
- Helpful support from strategic partners and suppliers
- Additional credibility due to 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 learning more about how your roofing business can benefit from Choice Roof Contractor Group membership, give John a call at (608) 487-1500. He would also be glad to share details regarding how he has been able to grow his business so quickly.
Flat roofs are prone to a common set of problems, any of which will require flat roof repair solutions administered by an expert commercial roofer.
Some common repair solutions administered to flat roofs to address problems include replacing metal flashing, caulking protrusions and repairing seams. One of the best roofing solutions available in the industry is a roof coating, which can effectively address all of a roof’s problems and add years to the life of a flat roof. This is the choice is a viable option approximately 80% of the time (if the roof’s condition is too far deteriorated, full replacement will be required).
Hiring a commercial roofer can be a real crapshoot, unfortunately. There are many scammers out there looking to make a quick buck at a building owner’s expense. There are also many inexperienced roofers who claim to have expertise but aren’t knowledgeable about commercial roofing and, therefore, don’t perform the work correctly. Having work performed by either type of roofer almost always leads to huge problems down the road. By the time the issues begin to rear their heads, however, a scammer or an amateur will likely be long gone, leaving the building owner with no recourse.
Most insurance companies are good about dealing fairly when a claim is made, but there are always those occasions when a claims adjuster is unreasonable, a claim is handled unjustly, or a customer has been underpaid for the roofing work they need. When such an occasion arises, you can turn to the Choice Roof Contractor Group for expert help in getting the insurance claim payout you need and deserve.
In addition to offering expert help with insurance claims via this key relationship, Choice Roof Contractor Group also provides access to a network of trusted roofing professionals in order to help safeguard you never become the victim of a roofing scam.
Flat roofs are one of most common types for commercial buildings. Strictly speaking, flat roofs aren’t actually “flat” but have only a very slight pitch. Because they aren’t as pitched as other roof types, they don’t drain as efficiently, and this can lead to the problem of ponding water.
There are a lot of roofing contractors out there, no doubt about it. When you own or manage a commercial building, part of your job is finding one that is reliable and properly qualified.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just snap your fingers and a listing of pre-verified roofing contractors in your area would suddenly appear? As it happens, there is such a resource that will point you to verified roofing experts near you—and all you have to do is call or click to meet one of them in person.
You may be the best, most honest roofing contractor that ever picked up a hammer, but if you aren’t effectively getting your message out to potential customers your business will not thrive.
The average Joe or Jane doesn’t understand the technicalities of roofing—all they want is someone who can solve their problems. Effective advertising can help convince prospective customers that you are that person.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) oversees and regulates safety-related matters for employees within the United States workforce. In terms of OSHA commercial roofing regulations, there are both mandates and guidelines offered by OSHA relative to safe practices within the roofing industry.
Searching for the perfect commercial roofing company is a bit like looking for the fountain of youth—success is impossible because what you’re looking for doesn’t actually exist.
Not only does our membership comprise a group of exceptional roofing experts across the nation, but our members are among the best in the country! 
Built-up roofing, or BUR, is a popular choice among commercial building owners for various reasons. It is comparatively inexpensive, for one thing. BUR roofing is also composed of various layers, making it an effective insulator. BUR roofing is additionally an attractive option, usually featuring an aesthetically pleasing gravel top coat.
Ethylene propylene diene monomer roofing, commonly known as EPDM or rubber roofing, is a single-ply rubber compound used for flat roof application. EPDM roofs are known for their durability and have a respectable life expectancy.
Modified bitumen is another single-ply system that is among the more environmentally friendly flat roof options, helping reduce energy costs by reflecting the sun. Modified bitumen is typically rolled onto the surface of a roof. Formerly, applying modified bitumen required laying the material on a roof and then using a blowtorch to heat it, but newer systems employ a safer installation method of peeling the material and then adhering it to the roof.
PVC roofing is known to be one of the best options for a flat roof, boasting easy installation, high reflectivity and outstanding durability. PVC roofs are also able to resist water ponding—a common problem for flat roofs.
Perhaps the best flat roofing option of all is a roof coating system. These systems, especially the ones manufactured by the Conklin® company, offer an array of benefits that make them highly desirable.