Eight Decades of Roofing, One Hands-On Philosophy

I started working for Walter Brown as a summer job when I was 14 years old. It was hard work but I liked being outside and every job offered something new to learn. I continued working summers through high school and during my first year of college I started considering making it my career. Walt was nearing retirement and wanted the business to continue serving the community for a 3rd generation.

I was proud of what I helped build over the last several years and I respected the way Walt treated the homeowners and his employees. He always said, "Treat every house like it's your own and be appreciative of the work you're given and the people that help get it done". I was very proud to be the one who would continue to provide the service and respect that he and his father built the company on.

Why Every Roof Still Needs a Hands-On Inspection

Our dense population presents the greatest opportunities. Our area has seen vast growth over the last couple of decades and there seems to be an endless supply of work. While we've been around since 1946, many new companies are trying to seize these opportunities and have attempted to separate themselves through technology. While the use of drones, measurement services and fancy estimating software has almost become expected, we have tried to balance technology with what's worked for us for the last 80 years.

All of our crew members carry ladders and we climb onto every roof when we're performing inspections or preparing an estimate. A drone looks nice flying above the house but it can't tell if the plywood is damaged or how many layers of shingles are currently on the house. These items need to be checked if you're going to provide an accurate estimate. Nobody wants you knocking on their door to tell them we need to replace 80 sheets of plywood, at their expense.

Walt and his father implemented the core values that still guide Walter Brown Services today. They were just good people who treated everyone fairly and with respect. I had the pleasure of working under Walt for 13 years and saw first hand how he interacted with everyone. They were from a different time and led a simpler life but those values are just as important in today's fast paced life.

At a time when everyone wants to grow their company to be as big as possible, we've maintained a consistent workflow through word of mouth and referrals. This has allowed me to retain my employees and remain active in the day to day functions of the company. We try to improve what we do every day, which isn't possible with rapid growth or employee turnover.

When Roofs Become a Source of Energy

New technology will continue to enter our industry and new materials will come to market. We've seen a lot of solar integrated products being tested and as the prices come down I think they will become more mainstream. As energy costs rise, homeowners are looking for a way to offset the cost and an affordable roof that can generate electricity would be a gamechanger for the industry.

Learning the Trade Before Selling It

Learn it from the ground up, knowledge is everything in our industry. A good salesman can read product information and relay it, but they can't answer the basic installation questions because they've never done the work. Find a good company that you can grow with and learn everything possible. You'll hold greater value if you have to switch companies or if you decide to go into business for yourself.