When roofing contractors take on a large project, there are a lot of moving parts involved that can make or break the project’s success. The metal roofing supplier that you work with is one of those key parts which is why choosing the right metal supplier is so important. Especially in these recent times of building material shortages, price increases, and general uncertainty, having a metal vendor that you can rely on is critical to the ultimate success of your project.
Western States Metal Roofing knows that when you choose us as your metal roofing or metal siding vendor, you are putting your trust and professional reputation in our hands. This is why we go above and beyond to deliver for our clients. If you are currently working with a metal roofing supplier who is not providing the same level of exceptional service, it’s time to look at switching your metal roofing manufacturer.
In this article, we discuss the most important factors to consider when switching metal suppliers in today’s market and how working with the right metal supplier can actually help your business.
What Should You Look For In A Metal Roofing Supplier?
- Ability To Pre-Purchase Material
- Large Inventory
- Steel Allocations
- Shipping Capabilities
- Customer Service
- Technical Support
- Large Selection Of Metal Panels
- Large Selection Of Metal Roofing Colors
Allowing Customers To Pre-Purchase Material
Mesa Hangars at Falcon Field Airport
The Mesa Hangars at Falcon Field Airport in Mesa, Arizona is a recent example of a large-scale construction project that was able to stay on track due to being supplied by Western States Metal Roofing. The project, which totaled ± 394,000 square feet, broke ground in June 2020 and faced several challenges due to Covid- 19.
Greg St Clair, President of Arizona Corporate Builders, served as the project executive and let us know how crucial having Western States as their supplier was in having the project of this size come to fruition at a time when the world had just entered a global pandemic.
Arizona Corporate Builders was responsible for the steel structure portion of the project and chose Western Wave panels from WSMR for the project’s siding. The biggest challenge the company faced was dealing with volatile material price increases which threatened the project’s ability to stay on budget and could have resulted in the project not moving forward.
By collaborating with Western States Metal Roofing to figure out a solution, St Clair was actually able to pre- purchase the material from WSMR so that the price was protected and the schedule was not delayed. Western States Metal Roofing stored the material for them until it was needed for the project. Doing this was able to keep the project within its financial limits so it could move forward.
WSMR let them pre purchase material which kept their project on budget and stored the material so the price was protected.
In addition, St Clair chose Western States Metal Roofing because it is a family business with a “can do” attitude that matches the attitude that his own company adopts.
Choose A Metal Roofing Supplier That Has A Large Inventory
Inventory management got a lot of businesses in trouble when supply chains started to fail. You want to use a metal roofing manufacturer that carries an extensive inventory of metal coils so that they are not as affected by steel allocations and global supply chain delays.
When working on a large-scale project, such as the Mesa Hangars, it’s critical to have a metal roofing supplier that has an adequate supply of material to keep up with your large orders. If your business has outgrown the supply that your current vendor can provide, it’s time to look for a metal supplier that can meet the quantity and quality needs of your project orders.
Choose A Metal Supplier With Adequate Steel Allocations
Steel allocations tie into metal supply and might be an area that people overlook, but is especially important considering current global events. Sanctions on material from Russia can result in additional steel shortages and uncertainty in the steel industry.
A metal roofing supplier with an excellent history and relationships with steel mills will ensure that mills are producing enough material for them to meet the demands of your projects.
How Will Your Metal Supplier Handle The PVDF Paint Shortage?
PVDF paint can now be added to the growing list of products that are facing supply chain issues. The PVDF coating shortage specifically has to do with the pigment, solvent and resin chemicals that make up the paint being in short supply. Many of the painted metal panels feature the PVDF paint system as it is often preferred over the SMP paint system because of its higher quality.
So what does PVDF paint storage mean for the metal roofing industry? Depending on your supplier, you can expect some metal panel colors to be harder to find or perhaps not even available and orders experiencing longer lead times. This is why choosing a manufacturer that has painted panels in stock and excellent relationships with paint vendors so they can keep supplying painted material is so important.
Shipping Capabilities
Inquire about the shipping capabilities of the metal supplier you choose. When you have projects in different states or counties, it’s important to have a supplier that has delivery options to accommodate all of those areas that does not require finding a new vendor.
Western States Metal Roofing has a designated freight department that keeps customers informed and up-to-date on the delivery status of their orders so you know if any unexpected circumstances arise.
Customer Service
Choosing a metal supplier that offers exceptional account support makes all the difference. Having a helpful and responsive support team helps you nurture and further grow your business.
Not all metal suppliers are created equal and some will offer perks that others won’t. For example, you will have access to a dedicated sales person. Normally, they can be contacted on their mobile phone number. This is especially important if you have quick questions that can be answered via text messages, need a scheduling favor, or want to pick up the phone and get an immediate reply.
Order Accuracy
It’s important to use a metal roofing supplier that delivers the correct materials to your job-site. Inaccurate orders will cost you money and will upset your customer. Find a vendor that rarely makes mistakes and corrects them immediately when they occur.
Scheduling Emergencies
Metal roofing manufacturers will usually require two to three weeks to complete a job. However, sometimes things just get forgotten. Maybe you forgot a few pieces of trim or messed up on a measurement. Having a vendor that will work with you and keep your job on schedule is vital.
Technical Support
It’s not uncommon to have questions about metal roofing or wall panel installations. It might be a metal wall panel system that you are unfamiliar with. Working with a company that has the experience with these applications, along with knowledgeable sales representatives and technical service technicians, will make your metal panel installation go much smoother.
In addition, some metal roofing companies have installation videos online that will explain the installation details much better than a phone conversation. Some larger suppliers will even offer custom installation videos for a specific project.
Metal is becoming more commonly found in the design of large restaurant and fast food chains, where a consistent appearance is important throughout all locations. Larger suppliers, such as Western States Metal Roofing, work with several large national chains. WSMR is one of the suppliers that provides additional support to these clients by producing installation videos that detail how to install their specific material for their locations to help ensure that each installation is done correctly.
In addition to videos, Western States offers exceptional customer support materials that you should look for in a metal supplier including:
- Roof/ Wall Color Visualizer Software Tool
- Complimentary Sample Metal Color Chips
- Technical Product Data Sheets
- Complimentary Material Take Offs
- Knowledgeable Sales Staff
Large Selection Of Metal Panel Profiles
Working with a metal supplier that is a “one stop shop” for all your metal products, including metal roofing and metal siding, to make your project seamless. You want a metal supplier that can meet your metal needs by providing different metal roof panels, metal wall panels, flashings, pipe, tubing, sheet, flats, and accessories. Having one vendor makes your job go a lot smoother.
Large Selection Of Metal Roofing Colors
When it comes to design, the opportunity to work with a supplier that offers a wide range of colors and looks that are different from the norm expands a metal project’s ability to be unique. It gives you an edge when you can offer your customer an extensive selection of products that aren’t available to your competition.
Western States Metal Roofing is proud to offer metal roof and siding panels in over 100 colors, in addition to weathering steel, galvalume steel, and real copper. In addition, WSMR distributes all the metal roofing accessories needed for a successful installation.
When looking for a new supplier, be sure to research all the products they offer to ensure they carry the panels, colors, and gauges your business needs to meet your customer’s demands and engineering requirements.
What To Do When You’re Thinking Of Switching Metal Suppliers
We understand it can be stressful to switch your metal supplier especially if you’ve been working with a particular steel distributor for a long time. However, in these times of shortages and longer lead times, working with the right supplier has never been more important. Ultimately, working with the wrong supplier can cost you business.
At Western States Metal Roofing, we’re here to help our customers be successful. Our team of knowledgeable sales associates are happy to answer any of your questions or concerns. Start by requesting a free quote and someone will be in contact with you shortly.
