Month: May 2023

What Does a Career in Commercial Roofing Look Like?

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

If you’re a construction worker looking for a new path, you should consider the benefits of a career in commercial roofing. Construction is a secure industry, and roofing jobs offer plenty of room for career growth. Here we’ll give an overview of a job in the commercial roofing industry, including a daily schedule, the possibilities for career advancement, and the experience you’ll need to get started. While it’s difficult to explain all the nuances of a job in one article, we hope this overview will give you a sense of what it might be like to work in the roofing industry.

A Roofer’s Daily Routine

A job in commercial roofing offers workers a lot of variety in their daily tasks. No job site is the complete same, and roofers work with a range of different products and materials. This industry is a good fit for anyone who likes physical labor and enjoys spending most of their time outside. After an on-site safety check, work promptly begins. Successful roofers are committed to safety and don’t mind physical labor. We like to think commercial roofing is a great fit for anyone looking to learn new skills, methods, and procedures as the industry changes. It consists of early mornings and working in a variety of weather conditions. The ability to climb ladders and be comfortable with heights is another important trait for anyone considering this career path.

Roofing Job Trajectory

Typically, a commercial roofing career path starts with laborer positions. Individuals working as laborers do most of the on-site construction work. New roofers are introduced to roofing equipment, techniques, and materials, and they learn the difference between a variety of commercial roofing systems.

Hardworking roofers can go on to become Crew Foreman, which means they supervise and train the roofers on the job and oversee the entire roofing project. Foremen are responsible for the safety, direction, and management of the assigned crew. The Foreman executes the daily work plan, making sure it is completed on schedule per manufacturer specifications. Ambitious roofers can eventually move up to become a Superintendent. The Superintendent manages multiple roofing projects at once and is responsible for the quality, safety, productivity, and morale of the Construction department.

Job Outlook

With a career in commercial roofing, you’ll develop skills that will always be in demand. Whether a roofer is looking to climb the ladder at their company or not, the work that is done every day matters. Our skilled trade is one that can always be learned by those who are eager and ready to put in the work. Construction is growing and because commercial roofing also involves maintenance and repairs, the industry doesn’t see as many downturns as other industries.

Required Experience

There are roofing jobs available for workers with any level of experience. Roofing laborer jobs can be a great introduction for people who want to start gaining skills in construction. Workers with previous construction or roofer experience may be able to join a team as a Foreman.

If you’re ready for a career in commercial roofing, take a look at Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal’s career page or contact us today to learn more.

Client Spotlight: Walker Family Partners

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

The Walker family has been an integral part of the Williamson County community for generations. They founded Walker Family Partners in 1994 to develop and lease automotive retail and service facilities in Franklin, TN. Managing Partner Rob Walker has over 30 years of property management experience in addition to the CPA firm he owns.

Walker Family Partners recognizes the importance of providing the best possible experience for their tenants. So, when they needed to replace the roof on one of their properties, their team recognized the importance of finding a partner who could provide a long-term, reliable roofing system.

The Opportunity

Like most building managers and property owners, The Walker team solicited bids from a variety of roofing companies for this roof replacement project. Before selecting a partner, their team spent time outlining their priorities, learning about various roofing processes, and identifying the key factors that would be most important for the investment. This made a tremendous difference when it came time to decide which bid to select.

“Based on our research, we determined the roofing system proposed by Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal to be superior to the other bids,” Rob shared. “Our decision considered this roof to provide the most trouble-free experience for our tenants over the years, and thus worth the investment.”

The Solution

Maxwell Roofing was able to provide a system that provided Walker Family Partners with peace of mind about the quality and long-term sustainability of their roof. The organization and communication between the two teams also played an important role in creating a strong partnership.

Rob and his team recognized the importance of thinking intentionally and strategically about their investment. This helped them understand that roofing companies offer different materials and processes. As they made their decision, they also compared the long-term cost of maintenance with the alternatives offered by other roofing companies. “Once we did that, Maxwell Roofing was the only choice,” Rob shared. “The building now has a solid roof, far superior to the original roof it replaced.”

Thank you to Walker Family Partners for choosing Maxwell Roofing as your trusted partner for your reroofing project. As a family-owned business with decades of experience in Nashville, we always enjoy partnering with companies that have also been a part of our community for years.

A Spring Cleaning Checklist for Your Commercial Roof

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

As the winter weather fades away, it’s time for building owners and property managers to take a look at their spring commercial roof checklist. Spring cleaning is a crucial part of any commercial roof maintenance plan, and this checklist will help managers prioritize the needs of their roof as the outdoor conditions shift.

This is part of the checklist that Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal professionals use with the building owners and facility managers we partner with during our spring maintenance visits:

1. Perform a basic clean and roof walk.
Before calling in a professional, facility managers should safely walk the roof and inspect it themselves, looking out for any obvious damage or other problems. During this time, employees should also clear the roof of any debris to prepare the roof for a full inspection.

2. Check penetrations, seams, flashings, drains, and patches.
After the basic roof survey, facility managers should take a look at the most common problem areas on their roof. Check around any roof penetrations, like skylights or vents, to make sure there are no cracks or leaks. Ensure that drains and gutters are not clogged. Look at any old repairs or patches to ensure they are holding up, and, finally, examine all the seams and flashing to ensure nothing is damaged.

3. Clean drains, scuppers, and gutters.
It’s absolutely crucial that building owners and facility managers keep standing water off of their rooftops. While every commercial roof system is different, most have some combination of drains, scuppers, and gutters to divert water off of the roof and away from the building. Often during the winter, debris, and dirt will gather around these openings or clog them. It’s important to clear out debris and wipe away dirt as part of any spring cleaning program.

4. Clean thermoplastic roofing membranes.
Thermoplastic roof cleaning is often specific to TPO, PVC, and KEE roofing membranes. After the water and large debris have been cleared away, the dirt and grime can still remain on the roof. Dirt can hide roofing problems like leaks and even accelerate UV damage to the roofing membrane. Dark spots on a roof will absorb more UV rays and over time will cause those areas to deteriorate faster than the lighter sections of the roof.

5. Update and perform tasks based on your maintenance plan.
All commercial roof maintenance should adhere to a plan. Keeping a schedule and sticking with it allows companies to plan their budgets for the maintenance necessary to extend the life of their roof. Companies on a maintenance plan should update it based on their inspection. Companies without a maintenance plan should use the beginning of the year to find a trusted roofing partner to help create a plan.

If you’re ready to get started with your spring commercial roof checklist, contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal today. Our team is eager to help ensure your roof isn’t damaged and prepare for the upcoming hot and humid summer months.

6 Tips to Prepare for Commercial Roofing Service and Repairs

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

All roofing systems require periodic maintenance, service, or repairs at some point. The best thing you can do for your commercial building is to proactively prepare for commercial roofing service. In many cases, when a problem is identi­fied early and properly repaired, the extent and cost of repairs will be significantly less than if problems are ignored.

After working with hundreds of commercial building owners and property managers across Tennessee and Alabama over the years, we’ve identified six tips to help you plan and prepare for any commercial roofing service or repair that your building may need.

1. Implement Commercial Roofing Preventative Maintenance Best Practices

When it comes to commercial roofing, the best defense is a good offense. Building owners and property managers who make preventative roof maintenance a regular part of their schedules will see benefits for their buildings over the long term. Your preventative maintenance plan should include everything from performing regular inspections and watching for potential leaks to regular debris removal and preparation for seasonal changes.

2. Keep Maintenance Logs & Record Previous Repairs

Keeping a record of any service activity can be incredibly helpful when it comes to roof maintenance. In the chance that you do need to hire a professional roofing contractor, this previous maintenance log becomes an extremely useful tool for them to quickly reference previous work. It can also be helpful for you when selling a property.
A maintenance log can help you keep a record of who goes up onto your roof, the day and time they are on the roof, where they were working, and why they were there.

3. Know the Fine Print on Your Warranties

Warranties are an important part of any repair job. It’s helpful to know if the parts or areas that need repair are still under a manufacturer’s warranty. The challenge that some commercial roofs often have is their materials are from a variety of different manufacturers. This is where finding a trusted roofing partner can help. Rather than having to keep track of all the various warranties and details, commercial building owners can work with a roofing company to help manage their warranties.

4. Decide How You’ll Choose an Experienced Reputable Commercial Roofing Partner

When you need someone to work on your building’s roof, be sure to hire only an experienced and reputable roofer. How do you choose a qualified roofing contractor? The first step is finding a contractor with proper licensing, insurance, and safety certifications. From there, it’s important to consider their reputation, the quality of their work, and their ability to support your greatest needs.

5. Recognize What Questions to Ask

Knowing what questions to ask before any repairs are needed can give you confidence that your roof is being properly repaired. In addition to knowing the common questions about commercial roofing projects, it’s also helpful to recognize what questions to ask before hiring a roofing contractor. Asking these questions can help maintain clear and open communication throughout the repair process.

6. Don’t Ignore Minor Issues

Our final tip to proactively prepare for commercial roofing service is to take every issue seriously. The idea that you can avoid addressing a “minor problem” is one of the biggest misconceptions about commercial roofing maintenance. Minor problems can add up over time, causing major problems for your roof or the structure of the building itself.

Whether you’re looking to proactively prepare for roof repairs or if you find yourself in an emergency situation that needs immediate service, our team at Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal can help. Our 24/7 emergency service is designed to address issues quickly and keep your building safe.

Contact our team to learn how we can support your commercial roofing service needs by finding the problem, fixing the problem, and looking for opportunities to improve the lifespan of your roof.

Employee Spotlight: Kasey Fanton

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

The career development and professional growth opportunities in the commercial roofing industry make it an appealing profession for anyone who’s willing to work hard and treat others with kindness and respect. It’s not uncommon to hear of someone who started as a field employee and worked his or her way up to a management role. That’s the story of Maxwell Roofing and Sheet Metal’s Construction Manager, Kasey Fanton.

Journey to Maxwell Roofing

Kasey grew up in Kendall, N.Y., a very small town on the southern edge of Lake Ontario. During high school, Kasey joined the commercial roofing industry, and he hasn’t looked back since. “I always tell people that roofing was a long summer job that has turned into a great career,” Kasey described.

Kasey initially started as a laborer for Upstate Roofing. Over the next 18 years, Kasey worked his way up to becoming a Senior Project Manager at the company. Kasey also gained valuable experience on the job and also pursued a 4-year executive training program through Leaderbuild Institute in Rochester, N.Y.

Joining the Maxwell Family

In 2022, Kasey and his family decided to move to Nashville. As he looked for jobs in the roofing industry, Kasey hoped to find a company that was family-oriented with a strong culture of safety, success, and teamwork.

Kasey joined the Maxwell Roofing team in October of 2022 as a Construction Manager. In his role, Kasey works with superintendents to serve clients in a variety of industries. Every day Kasey works hard to find solutions to the challenges of each commercial roofing project he manages.

What Stands Out About Maxwell Roofing

“One of the things I appreciate most about Maxwell Roofing is the culture,” Kasey explained. “I walked in here as ‘the new guy from New York’ and was welcomed with open arms. I feel that I have been a part of this team for a very long time.”

By approaching every situation with a team mentality, Kasey works alongside others at Maxwell Roofing to develop a plan for success that allows employees to stay safe and productive.

“If there is a problem or issue, we throw it on the table, dissect it, and come up with a solution,” he explained.

Outside of work, Kasey loves going to the gym, cooking, and spending time with his family and children. He also enjoys hiking and appreciates the many beautiful state parks that Tennessee has to offer.