A Roofing Project’s Value Chain Is More Like a Value Tree

After visiting a job site today I had an “aha” moment: Your contractor’s team of roofing professionals directly impacts all other parties that contribute to a roofing project. This means a roofing project’s value chain isn’t linear; its structure resembles something closer to that of a tree.

At the base of the structure, or the trunk, you have a group of highly qualified building professionals who provide support to the branches. In this scenario, the trunk consists of an architect, engineer or consultant—and in turn an on-site supervisor, foreman and crew—and the branches include main players like building owners, manufacturers and the quality products used, such as FiberTite systems and membranes.

If an entire tree is supported by its roots, who or what is supporting the entirety of the project? In this “value tree,” it’s your contractor’s corporate core values. While likely overlooked, they provide the solid foundation for a successful project. In other words, the integrity of your entire roofing project relies upon the business values held by the roofing contractors hired for the job. It’s worth analyzing this metaphor further to see how the value provided by each party plays into a roofing project’s success.

The Building Owner

A roofing project is initiated by a building owner or management company. This means value begins in the upper reaches of the tree when qualified roofing contractors are hired to recommend and install a roofing application that ensures a building, its contents and occupants are protected from water intrusion.

The Roofing Contractors

The value makes its way down from the leaves and branches of the “value tree” to the team of roofing contractors, or trunk, who expertly install the correct roofing system and membrane. If the system meets the building owner’s requirements, your contractor’s value is perceived to be high, which leads to an improved reputation and then additional work, referrals and financial gain.

The Manufacturer

After the roofing contractors add their value, value also travels back up to the leaves and branches of the “value tree,” particularly to the manufacturer of the roofing application. If a membrane performs and protects as the building owner expects, the manufacturer is able to use the project to promote, market and generate future business.

If a roofing project doesn’t succeed, blame could come back to all involved parties—the building owner, roofing contractors, manufacturer and even to the roofing application itself. Because so much of a roofing project’s success is “supported” by the contractors selected, the inherent success of a project relies on the quality put forth by each member of your contractor’s team—who ultimately need to be “supported” by a strong set of corporate values.

What are your experiences with the value chains of roofing projects? Tell us about them in the comments!