Why Commercial Roof Repairs Fail in Metro Detroit: Mistakes Contractors Make

Let’s be real, no commercial building owner in Metro Detroit is happy when they discover a roof leak or exterior damage. It means time, unexpected costs, and often a stoppage in production at your office or facility (which costs even more). As bad as that is, there is one situation that is worse: needing to have that commercial roof repair fixed for a second time.

The obvious question is then, why does this happen? Well, we wanted to know too. So, we sat down with our expert service team at Four Seasons Kanga Roof, a top Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne County commercial roofing contractor, to understand more. Specifically, we asked our Service Superintendents, Dale Climer and Mike Giacalone, the same question: “What are the common mistakes that cause roof repairs to fail?” The answers they gave may surprise you….

Top Commercial Roof Repair Mistakes in Southeast Michigan:

1. Incomplete Investigation and Misdiagnosis: The number one mistake contractors make when it comes to commercial roof repair is not doing a complete investigation and either mis-diagnosing or under-diagnosing the problem. Dale and Mike both chalk this up to an industry-wide problem, especially here in Michigan, due to a lack of technical knowledge and training for inspectors and field technicians. Did you know that in the state of Michigan, there are no formal licensing requirements to be considered a commercial roofing contractor? This means any Tom, Dick, or Harry can claim to be an expert for replacing or fixing your roof. Always verify a contractor’s credentials before hiring.
2. Not Doing a Complete Repair (Taking Shortcuts): Again, this often comes from a lack of proper training or technical expertise. In a worst-case scenario, it’s from an unscrupulous contractor taking short cuts on your roof. For example, if you are doing a shingle roof repair, you have to hand-seal the shingles you are replacing, but also all of the connecting shingles around the repair that are not being replaced. Once those seals are broken, they will not reseal properly. A dedicated, full-service Metro Detroit roofing company will ensure all steps are followed.
3. Mixing Incompatible Materials: This tends to happen predominantly on flat roofs and metal roofing systems. This is a significant problem because mixed materials can cause a complete failure of the system.
   • For instance, mixing aluminum and steel causes a chemical reaction (galvanic corrosion) that can destroy the metal.
   • Another example would be mixing the wrong adhesives with an EPDM (rubber) membrane roof. If you repair an EPDM roof with an asphalt product (which is what most roof cements are made from), it will actually eat and break down the EPDM, which can lead to a complete roof replacement. For more technical details on EPDM best practices, you can reference the EPDM Roofing Association.
   • Customer Testimonial: “Great company, easy to work with. Alec was great to work with. Highly recommend!!” -ElectroPlating Industries Inc. (Google Review)

Your Checklist: How to Protect Your Commercial Building from Failed Repairs

So with all of these pitfalls in roofing repair, what do our experts recommend for you, the consumer, to protect yourself? Mike and Dale came up with the following checklist to protect your investment in Southeast Michigan commercial roofing:

1. Get an Inspection Report: Before authorizing any work, you should receive a detailed report with photos breaking down exactly what is wrong, what the solution is, and what the investment for you will be.
2. Verify Their Credentials: Make sure they are certified by the manufacturers (like GAF, Firestone, Carlisle, etc.). Ask if they have additional certifications or regular training for their team. Make sure they are licensed and insured (most commercial roofing contractors still carry a Michigan Builders License). The gold standard on top of all of that would be to ask if they are accredited members of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). This is the group that literally publishes the book, and yes there is a book, on how to properly install and repair every type of roofing system.
3. Track Record: As a consumer, you should ask them: How long have they offered repairs? How many repairs a year do they perform? You want to hear strong numbers from your contractor. Independent installers may be cheaper, but they often miss steps that lead to the problems above. We have been serving the Metro Detroit area for 20 years.
4. Ask For A Warranty: Yes, contractors do offer warranties and guarantees on repairs. However, you are only going to get those from the best contractors who specialize in repairs. Check out our Roof Repair Warranty page for examples of what to look for.
5. Repair and Warranty Department: This is a biggie. You need to make sure that the contractor you hire has a dedicated repair and warranty department. Most roofing contractors in Metro Detroit do not have an actual warranty department with trained technicians who specialize only in repairs. To truly verify their expertise, ask if they have different technicians who specialize in different systems. A truly great roofing company in Macomb, Oakland, or Wayne County will have repair technicians who specialize in flat roofs, others who specialize in shingle systems, and others who perform their metal work.

We understand that no one wants to be met with the unexpected surprise of a leak and roof, siding, or gutter repair, but they are a reality of life for commercial building owners in Metro Detroit. So, when the unexpected happens, we really hope this blog helps arm you with the information you need to make an informed decision and hire the right local contractor who is going to fix your problem once and do it right the first time. Because the only thing more expensive than a roof repair is paying for a roof repair twice.

If you are experiencing roof, siding, or gutter problems and want a contractor who does exactly that and checks all of the boxes above, then let our team at Four Seasons Kanga Roof know. Our technicians are all background-checked, licensed, and insured, and all they do are repairs. We are standing by, ready to help solve your problems.

To schedule a commercial repair appointment give our team a call at 586-566-0308 or go ahead and schedule it completely online by CLICKING HERE.

We sincerely hope you found some benefit from this article and that you have a Kanga-Rific day!

Sincerely,

Bill Burkhardt, Jr.

VP-Owner

Four Seasons Kanga Roof