England 19/07/2013 – Tough trading conditions for commercial roofing firms has led some to switch the focus of their business, at least for now.
A reduction in the number of commercial properties being built in the UK has created a problem for those firms who provide the roofs for these buildings. Since 2007, the value of the commercial building sector has fallen by an astonishing 32%. As a result, the demand for commercial roofing in Liverpool and other large cities has also fallen away sharply.
For many roofing firms this has spelt the end of their business. Sadly, many firms have been unable to find enough work to keep going, so have gone out of business. However, some firms have found a way to prosper even in today’s tough trading environment.
Firms that have diversified have survived
Those firms who have long standing trading relationships have fared better than most. They are the companies who have secured the few contracts for new commercial roofs that are available.
However, it is those firms who have diversified and now focus mainly on refurbishment or maintenance who are weathering the storm the best. Older firms have been able to use the knowledge and experience they have built up over the years installing a range of roofing systems to provide maintenance services for a wide range of roofs. These days a company is far more likely to repair, rather than replace, their commercial roof. As a result, those firms that have diversified into maintenance and refurbishment are the ones who are finding themselves the busiest.
Firms like Liverpool based, Roof Management Ltd, who provide a free survey, are the ones who are securing the bulk of this business. This firm has further diversified its business by offering a vertical cladding service. Their workforce was already used to working with metal cladding, so all they did was to update their skills to allow them to secure work cladding entire buildings rather than just the roof. Firms like this are still turning a profit and will be around to benefit from the boom in the commercial building sector, which many predict is just around the corner.