So many things can go wrong all at once. For instance, the supplier might send the wrong materials. The crew might show up late. The authorities might halt the project due to permit issues. And the slightest oversight in work quality can result in a leaky and unsafe roof.
Any one of such scenarios can lead to unwanted delays and budget overruns. Avoiding them comes down to your roofing project management style. Poor project management breeds inefficiency. And that eats at your profits and damages your reputation as a roofing contractor.
A successful roofing project runs like a well-oiled machine. However, coordinating all the various elements of a roofing job (materials supply, crew, equipment, subcontractors, paperwork, schedules, budget, etc.) is not always easy. Staying on top of things can overwhelm even the most seasoned roofing manager.
Don’t worry, though. This article shares helpful roofing project management tips. Read on and learn how to maximize efficiency, productivity, and profits on every roofing job.
Why Is Project Management So Important in Roofing?
Excellent project management is crucial in the successful completion of any roofing project. More specifically, roofing management is responsible for these five success factors:
Meeting Roofing Deadlines
Contractors often miss deadlines. In one survey, 72% of contractors said their projects had taken longer than expected. While there can be many causes of delays, poor scheduling is the main culprit in most cases.
Missing deadlines does not reflect well on your brand image. It can also lead to cost overruns. In the roofing business, time is money (literally). The longer a project takes, the more it costs.
Avoid costly delays by following these project scheduling tips:
- Estimate a realistic duration for the project based on its scope and dependencies.
- Develop a construction project timeline that clearly visualizes the work schedule.
- Coordinate with suppliers to ensure timely material availability.
- Account for possible delays caused by external factors, such as adverse weather conditions and bank holidays.
- Track roofing progress against the planned schedule.
Sticking to the Budget
A majority of construction projects go over budget. In a sample of 16,000 projects, researchers found that more than half (65%) exceeded their planned budgets. Some by as much as 1,800%.
But don’t let that be an excuse for allowing costs to run wild in your roofing projects. In fact, why not set your brand apart by sticking to roofing budgets? You can do so in the following ways:
- Start with an accurate cost estimate of the entire project.
- Include a contingency buffer in your budget.
- Work closely with suppliers to anticipate material cost fluctuations.
- Keep track of expenses at every step.
- Cut or optimize costs wherever possible.
- Draft a flexible budget able to adapt to cost changes.
- Review budget performance after every project and learn from the results.
RELATED ARTICLE: 4 Essential Elements of a Roofing Estimate (with Template!)
Coordinating Teams
You need all hands on deck to pull off successful roofing jobs. Follow these tips to get everyone—crew members, subcontractors, and support staff—on the same page to maximize productivity:
- Establish clear communication channels.
- Assign specific roles to each individual.
- Instill a sense of responsibility and accountability among crew members.
- Appoint team leaders to oversee small groups of workers.
- Provide everyone with all the necessary information, materials, and tools for the job.
- Ensure there are no skill gaps in your workforce.
- Get clear visibility of roofing workflow.
- Provide the necessary briefing and training before each workday.
Mitigating Risks
Mitigating risk is a big part of roofing project management. All roofing projects have an inherent component of risk. Depending on the job, roofing risks may include safety issues, disruptions, OSHA violations, equipment failure, design errors, and supply chain problems.
Dealing with risks involves four steps:
- Identify a probable risk.
- Assess the likelihood and potential severity of the risk.
- Pick a strategy to eliminate, reduce, or work around the risk.
- Continue monitoring for other risks.
Meeting Customer Expectations
A roofing job is not complete until the client is happy with the new roof. Here’s how you ensure client satisfaction throughout a roofing project:
- Understand the client’s expectations in terms of roofing requirements.
- Establish clear roofing success metrics and milestones.
- Update the client regularly on work progress.
- Stick to the agreed-upon timeline and budget.
- Invite the client to share their roofing ideas and thoughts on the project.
- Be honest and transparent.
What Are the Best Tips to Boost Productivity on Roofing Jobs?
Productivity is basically a measure of how efficiently and effectively you can manage a roofing task. It’s not necessarily about working hard, but working smart. The idea is to get the most out of your resources—your crew, tools, materials, time, and money.
These eight tips will help you maximize productivity on roofing jobs:
Plan Thoroughly Before Starting
Failing to plan is planning to fail. It’s a cliché, but it’s nevertheless true. Without a meticulous roofing project plan, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
You need a detailed plan that highlights every step of the project, from start to finish. The plan should include:
- Production schedule and work calendar
- Cost estimates and budgets
- Roofing requirements
- Roof measurement
- Material takeoff
- Subcontractor agreements
- Crew assignments
- Equipment, tools, and vehicle allocations/dispatchments
- Legal/industrial compliance paperwork
Use Project Management Software
Managing roofing projects on pen and paper can be painstakingly tiresome and time-consuming. When undertaking multiple jobs, management can be a nightmare. Not to mention, it’s easy to make costly mistakes.
The good news is that you don’t have to do things manually. Digitize roofing project management with a roofing project software. Going digital makes roof estimating, measuring, scheduling, and budgeting so much easier. A roofing software is one of the most useful project management tools you can have.
RoofSnap, for example, is an all-in-one roofing management solution. This powerful platform with customizable features covers all your project management needs. It does all the heavy lifting for you, from measuring roofs and drafting contracts to documenting progress.
RELATED ARTICLE: 3 Key Features of the Best Roofing Software
