If you’re a commercial roofing company, chances are you’ve had to engage subcontractors to perform some of the roofing jobs you’ve landed.

So when it comes to evaluating subcontractors as vendors, it’s crucial to ask detailed questions to ensure their qualifications for the job. These are some areas you should cover in your screening:

Qualifications and Experience of Subcontractors

• Experience: How many years of experience do they have in commercial roofing, specifically with projects similar to yours? Can they provide examples of past projects and references with other commercial roofers?
• Certifications: Do they hold any relevant certifications (e.g., OSHA, NRCA)? Are their workers certified and/or trained in specific roofing systems you’re bidding?
• Insurance: Do they have adequate liability and workers’ compensation insurance? Can they provides copies of certificates?
• Safety record: Ask about their safety record and what measures they take to prevent accidents on the job site. Look for specific examples and industry correct terms.

Work Approach and Timeline for Subcontractors

• Project understanding: Do they have a clear understanding of the project scope and specifications? Have they asked back enough (if the right) questions to demonstrate understanding?
• Subcontracting scope: What specific tasks will they be responsible for? Will they subcontract any part of the work assigned to other subs?
• Project timeline: What is their proposed timeline for completion, including key milestones? Can they explain factors that might impact the schedule?
• Communication: How will they communicate progress updates and address any concerns during the project? Who their primary point of contact with your commercial roofing company?

Materials and Quality Assurance for Subcontractors

• Material sourcing: Who will source the materials? If them, are they using reputable suppliers and high-quality products?
• Product warranties: Can they provide copies of relevant product warranties and explain their claims process? Do they warrant their own work?
• Quality control: What quality metrics do they have in place to ensure the work meets industry standards and specifications?

Additional Considerations for Screening Subcontractors

• References: Request references from past clients and verify their satisfaction with the subcontractor’s work. Particularly ask questions around any issues that arose and how those were remediated.
• Financial stability: Check if they have a good financial standing and can handle the project scope.
• Legal compliance: Ensure they hold necessary permits and will comply with all safety regulations.

Remember, screening a subcontractor for your industrial roofing company is crucially important as they will be representing your company. Finding a vendor or a partner that aligns with your company values and what your clients expect will ensure a successful project.

When in doubt, call as many references as possible and ensure that you closely monitor any first projects together.