Commercial metal roofing projects can be vastly different from residential projects, as they typically include very thorough processes and require specific details regarding scheduling, submittals, and product choices. If you’re new to the commercial metal roofing world, looking to get your first commercial project under your belt, or just want to brush up on what a commercial metal roofing project usually entails, this article is for you.
Sheffield Metals International (SMI) is committed to providing the metal roofing industry with researched, in-depth information regarding installation, product details, trending topics, and more. We’re a leading provider of metal coils and sheets and have forged countless partnerships with contractors, architects, and fabricators all over the country.
In this article, we’ll look at how a commercial metal roofing project is organized, who is involved, and some specific processes that are unique to commercial metal roofing. By the time you’re done reading this article, you’ll have a better understanding of commercial metal roofing and will know where to find assistance for your next project.
Commercial Metal Roofing Project Overview
For commercial projects, the property owner will select an architect to design the building. The architect then lays out the full vision of the building and specifies products to be used for the build, known as the specification document.
What Is a Specification?
A specification is the document an architect puts together that covers anything related to the project’s interior and exterior, including details such as the roofing, windows, and plumbing. In this document, the architect will specify what products or systems they want to see used on that project. This provides an overview and scale of the project for contractors to consider during the bidding period. During installation, the specification document gives the general contractor (GC) direction for how to proceed.
Once finished with the initial design phase, the architect will put the project out to be bid on by general contractors. The general contractor manages all the different facets of the project, including the metal roofing company that will be chosen to install the roof.
How Does the Bidding Process Work for Commercial Metal Roofing Projects?
Once the general contractor wins the project, they will look to hire subcontractors to perform the work. This will start the bidding process.
To do this, the general contractor will put the project out on software platforms that commercial metal roofing contractors use to get leads and bid on projects. If a roofing contractor sees a project they’re interested in, they’ll look at the bid date, the plans, specs, and scope of the work, and decide if it’s a project they’re willing to chase.
In some cases, the roofing contractor can suggest a different product for use, which may or may not be accepted by the architect. This is known as a substitution process.
How Does the Substitution Process Work?
If a roofing contractor wants to use a different manufacturer’s system than what is listed in the specification, they will have to follow the procedures acceptable to the architect usually outlined in section 01 of the spec. It is typical to have to fill out a form and provide documentation as to why that alternative system should be considered.
This form usually makes its way back to the architect, and if the architect approves it, they will put out an addendum to the spec listing that alternative system or product as something that can be used on the project.
If the contractor does decide the project is something they’re interested in, the roofing contractor will put together a submittal package for the system they want to put on the roof, which includes unique pricing related to material costs, labor, installation, and travel. This submittal acts as a kind of initial budget for the project. On the bid date, they will submit that package for consideration.
If the bid is accepted, remember that the dollar amount included in the initial submittal is not set in stone. Changes can happen during the project — contractors can run into unforeseen issues, causing plans or specs to be reworked and additional orders to be made. These changes will be worked out between the roofing contractor and the GC.
How Can You Find Assistance for Commercial Metal Roofing Projects?
For commercial metal roofing projects, contractors need to keep up with a revolving variety of factors, including products on the market, scheduling, installation best practices, and maintaining a crew, while architects require the right information and testing requirements to ensure their design is up to standards.
This is a lot to handle on your own — it can be helpful to partner with a trusted metal roofing supplier that can offer you guidance at every touchpoint of the commercial process.
One of Sheffield Metals’ goals is to supply metal to commercial contractors working on standing seam metal roof applications. We also offer a variety of services that can assist you throughout your project. Sheffield’s Commercial, Architectural, and Technical (CAT) team was designed to assist commercial contracting partners in all phases of their project.
Commercial Help
The commercial team can help with various aspects of a project such as substituting an alternative system — we can assist the contractor with choosing the correct panel profile, substitution documents, forms, product cut sheets, samples copies of warranties, and all of the supporting testing information needed to complete this.
Architectural Assistance
Sheffield Metals is a great resource for architects on all things related to standing seam metal roofing. We know how challenging it can be when designing an entire structure, and if you aren’t familiar with standing seam systems or are looking for specific information, you could get stuck. Sheffield has in-house experts with architectural and metal roofing experience that can connect the design to technical information and help you complete the job.
We also offer AIA-accredited courses on our website, where architects can receive continuing education credits and learn more about the metal roofing industry.
Technical Support
Our technical team can provide answers to engineering questions you may have, as well as testing and information regarding panel profiles. Sheffield Metals provides weathertight warranties, and our technical team will work in tandem with the roofing contractor to perform onsite inspections every step of the way, provide the final inspections, and issue the weathertight warranty document when completed.
Looking for Support for Your Next Commercial Metal Roofing Project?
In this article, we went over the broad overview of the commercial metal roofing process, from the initial designs and specification to the metal roofing contractor being awarded the job. Feel free to check out more resources related to commercial metal roofing projects below:
How to Break into and Succeed in the Commercial Metal Roofing Industry – Sheffield Metals
How To Get Commercial Roofing Jobs As A Residential Contractor (youtube.com)
The right partner can assist you with all parts of your commercial metal roofing project. Contact Sheffield Metals today to gain full advantage of our Commercial, Architectural, and Technical (CAT) team.
