After completing his apprenticeship and earning his Red Seal (a national endorsement for tradespeople), Diddens found opportunities to work in roofing administration and sales as well as within the trade itself. After only a couple of years, he secured a financing partner in a former customer who had a large portfolio of buildings, allowing for the cash infusion necessary to launch Civic Roofing in its home of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

When summarizing what Civic Roofing brings to the table above others in the field, Diddens tells us that the business has a quality-based focus to its services that pairs with the strength of its catalogue, and that the entire team remains focused on relationship-building with its diverse clientele. Within these relationships, Civic Roofing strives to understand every owner’s goals and priorities when it comes to a roofing job, which dictate the elements needed for success.

“A personable approach and quality people and installations are what set us apart,” Diddens says, a formula that has underpinned the company’s direction for two decades and counting.

Recent years have seen continued success on major projects for Civic Roofing. In 2024, the company executed a large project with a Sobeys grocery store in Winnipeg, which Diddens says is the biggest footprint on a job the firm has ever done. This was a unique project in that it required the removal of old single-ply rubber membrane roofs that were under-performing, which presented challenges with compatibility between assemblies. It was also particular in how the company managed its temporary fields and daily transitions to keep the grocery store dry and safe while executing on the project. Despite the membrane providing a healthy challenge, the project turned out very well and Diddens says that his workers did a terrific job on it.

Elsewhere, Civic Roofing has performed roofing work on over a dozen Tim Hortons stores across Manitoba and into parts of Northern Ontario. Diddens says that the company has a unique understanding of the needs of these stores because they are detailed installations with a lot of mechanical equipment. Some of these projects are renovations while others are new builds, often carrying a lot of humidity because of the omnipresence of hot water. This means that the roof systems need a quality vapour barrier to stand up to moisture migration. Thanks to the expertise the team has built up, Diddens anticipates a lot more roofing jobs for Tim’s restaurant locations in the future.

The company’s biggest project to date is still ongoing, as it is involved in roofing for Fort Richmond Collegiate high school in Winnipeg. This project, Diddens says, has continued to grow in terms of scope despite still being in the early stages. With a tight timeframe in which to work, the project is challenging, but Civic Roofing has worked with Fort Richmond Collegiate for years and is looking forward in turning over a quality result.

Diddens tells us that, when it comes to the company’s growth over the past 20 years, the firm has embraced the opportunities in front of it. Diddens says that the biggest catalyst to growth in the past few years has been taking on Ukrainian refugees to Canada as Civic Roofing employees, all of whom have been able to overcome the inherent language barrier. Their hiring has been nothing short of transformational for the company because of the high-quality performances each worker has put in, with the company rolling through a lot more work thanks to the workers’ positive attitudes and growth mindsets. In fact, the new workers have been so easy to teach that many are moving up to becoming foremen. Diddens is pleased to be part of the personal and professional growth of all his employees and to help them transition into the next phases of their careers.

From his perspective, the construction and roofing industries overall have been healthy for a number of years; despite a slowdown in activity last year, business has picked up in mid-2025 and things have remained busy. The roofing industry specifically has experienced holdups this year because a number of government projects were shelved thanks to the Manitoba provincial election. However, work has come back on the horizon since the end of the election and, as Diddens says of the company’s prospects for the rest of the year, “there should be enough work out there if you’re a good roofer.”

Indeed, Civic Roofing’s future is looking bright as it passes the 20-year mark. Going forward, the team will be identifying the goals they want to achieve and the directions they want to take. Never one to shy away from innovation, the team has been engaged of late with hot work applications, meaning universal roofing installations done with an open flame. These are necessary because of the area’s cold climate; while some new products are coming to market that will make it more palatable to install self-adhering roofs that don’t require heat for installation, some of the self-adhering products are not suitable once the colder temperatures hit, which is where hot work comes back into play.

And more change is on the way for businesses in any realm of the construction sector. Diddens says that there is new legislation forthcoming that will aid the entire industry in obtaining financing. This will hopefully help with the age-old problems Civic Roofing and all its contemporaries have encountered and, in turn, should generate healthy competition within the industry and keep everyone on their toes. The ultimate goal, as always, is to keep the entire roofing ecosystem healthy and wealthy moving forward.

After 20 years in business serving the greater Winnipeg area, Diddens says that the biggest lesson learned by the company has been quite simple: “There’s no greater resource than people.” When it comes to growing a business over the long term, one needs to focus on the people who do the work with you and remember that a team of people is always more effective than going it alone.

High-quality customer relationships are only possible when a group of people—like the team of workers found at Civic Roofing Inc. for the past two decades—is committed to the very best in service. At Civic Roofing, this commitment has never wavered.

The post A Personable Approach<p class="company">Civic Roofing</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

This process of transformation has taken a tremendous commitment. Changing the company’s name meant rebranding 150 vehicles and clothing for around 200, a new website, digital stationery, and all the marketing such an undertaking entails. Now, Mack Kirk’s departments include parkade waterproofing replacement, new construction, fabrication, advanced coating solutions including polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) applications, sloped and flat roofing, and much more.

The company also opened its new headquarters earlier this year. As such, Mack Kirk Industries is equally proud of its new, two-and-a-half-acre footprint on 198 Street, Langley Township, British Columbia. The new building allows the team to showcase its diverse offerings in novel and exciting ways. “We offer a wide spectrum of services under one umbrella,” says Christina Laplante, Vice President. The new, larger building allows Mack Kirk to employ the professionals it needs to support its wide range of services.

Laplante is open about the sincere appreciation the company’s leadership has for its incredible team—the people who have made this natural progression from roofing to welding to concrete and beyond possible. “We keep hiring really great people. We’re very fortunate to have the team that we have and the employees that we have,” she says. Christina and her husband, company President Gino Laplante, have been working together for over two decades after buying the company in 2003, and looking back at how far they have brought the business makes overcoming the challenges against all the odds worth the effort.

The company’s development was an organic progression, one that evolved by providing customers with a level of quality and service they couldn’t find in the market. Traditionally serving clients as diverse as universities, parkade owners, multi-family complex developers, hospitals, and commercial and industrial developers, the Mack Kirk team has a vast depth of understanding and experience across many disciplines. “The moment you get into commercial and industrial roofing, it’s not just roofing anymore,” Christina says.

Gino concurs. “It becomes a general contractor role… Contractor management is where we’re going,” he points out, highlighting that the company has established a reputation as a general contractor capable of managing and completing building projects through their entire life cycle, with the added benefit to its customers of being an expert roofer specializing in flat and low slope roofing. Mack Kirk is also favored for its outstanding knowledge of specialized processes like asbestos removal, waterproofing installation, and seismic and safety codes. Moreover, the team is a trusted go-to for repairs to older buildings where weathered rebar can cause structural damage.

As the recipient of numerous industry awards across British Columbia, Mack Kirk has also specialized in certified green roofing and green wall consultation and installation since its early days, becoming increasingly sophisticated in these capabilities over the years. In fact, its new building will soon feature its very own partial green roof and vertical garden.

To best serve its roofing operations, Mack Kirk Industries runs an independent roofing maintenance and repair outfit, Mack Metals, complete with a high-tech sheet metal shop which is also open to the public. Besides this service, it also offers solar installations, electrical and mechanical services, and its well-known custom welding, carpentry, and fabrication.

“When you hire Mack Kirk, you hire a well-rounded general contractor. Mack Kirk is no longer a roofing company; we passed that years ago,” says Gino. Accredited by the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association (CRCA), the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and the Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia (RCABC), the Mack Kirk team is accustomed to dealing with a large variety of jobs and challenges in the field. Its customers in British Columbia know they are hiring the best in the business, a team that is seasoned in delivering well-thought-out solutions.

In the process of building the company’s future, the Laplantes felt it was important to also honour the company’s heritage. One of their initiatives was to research the origins of its founder, Mack Kirk, who originally established the business in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. After reaching out to relatives, the team started piecing together the company’s timeline, a task that is as sentimental as it is crucial to preserving its origin story. “[Tracing company history] is something we’ve always wanted to do,” Christina says. “We were always very passionate about that,” and the team will be creating an exhibition wall to showcase this history.

Certainly, powerful growth has brought with it a number of impressive projects. One of Mack Kirk’s most historic moments presented itself not long ago when the team poured 30 truckloads of concrete in four hours. One of its largest current projects is on the Red Bull Ingredients Facility’s 7-acre building in Chilliwack, British Columbia, and recent months have also seen 20 school reroofing projects, shopping malls, and other projects executed by the team.

Gino is especially proud of Christina’s role as the only woman on the RCABC’s board of 13 members. “I’m very proud of that. It’s her third year now… It’s a good way of giving back to the roofing industry and to keep her finger on the pulse,” he says about the role, in which she has served as Director for two of those three years.

Christina speaks of the RCABC with high praise. “It’s been a very positive experience. The foundation of RCABC is very solid,” she says. “The respect for the brand and the direction that the association wants to take forward to maintain its integrity and efficiency and to be leaders in the roofing industry for all of Canada is incredible,” she adds, sharing how much she enjoys being a part of such a meaningful mission. With all her years of hands-on industry experience, Christina’s position and ability to contribute at such a high level while serving the sector comes as no surprise.

And, as if 2025 was not eventful enough, Christina took what she calls “another leap of faith” by enrolling in an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) graduate degree course, commencing this month. “I’m doing it because I’m passionate about learning,” she tells us. “I want to bring some knowledge and education back to the industry and our company on how we can do things better.”

As a firm believer in being only as good as its last job, this team makes continuous improvement a priority. Not only does the quality control afforded by self-performing most of its trades prove invaluable in the company’s growth; by bringing its characteristic sense of warmth and integrity to everything it does, the Mack Kirk team continues to lead with heart as well as skill.

When it comes to their plans and vision for the future, the company’s leadership remains as pragmatic yet positive as always. “We’ll continue to strive. We’ll continue keeping our families employed,” Christina Laplante says, highlighting that so far, 2025 has seen a record number of employees further their education courtesy of Mack Kirk Industries Limited. Excited about the future, she prefers allowing things to unfold as they always have. “I guess we’ll see. We’ll see where this journey keeps taking us.”

The post Above and Beyond – From Rooftops to Full-Service Contracting<p class="company">Mack Kirk Industries Limited</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Dedicated to providing the Ontario construction industry with a quality building product since 2002, Tilt Wall Ontario embraces the goal of delivering superior goods and services by utilizing a process that saves time and money on projects such as offices, warehouses, sports facilities, facilities for handling and storing food, and multi-residential. To date, this award-winning company has completed 100 structures, with nearly 5,000 panels tilted.

“I was personally introduced to tilt-up construction in 2000,” says Vice President Len Overbeek. “In 2001 I did my first tilt-up project, an agricultural project, and then in 2002, along with three other partners, we founded Tilt Wall Ontario.”

Although Tilt Wall Ontario is currently the only company offering tilt-up construction in Ontario, the method itself is used worldwide. And although the method had been around for more than 100 years, it was definitely a new and unique product when introduced to the Ontario market, which created a set of challenges for the company.

“For the first 15 or so years of our career, there would be years where we did one or two tilt-up projects, and years where we did no tilt-up projects,” says Overbeek, adding that the company’s breakthrough occurred around 2014.

To help expand public knowledge, the company built its own office building and warehouse in Woodstock, Ontario, to allow potential customers to see, feel, and touch what tilt-up construction was all about firsthand. The gamble paid off with “a couple of nice school projects. Tilt-up was not just a new-fangled idea; it was a method of building that people started to look at from there.”

To date, Tilt Wall Ontario’s most noteworthy project took place several years ago with an 855-thousand-square-foot Amazon distribution centre in Hamilton, constructed from start to finish in 12 months “from when they broke ground to when they turned it over to Amazon,” says Overbeek, a truly incredible feat that also took place during COVID. “That was a big milestone for us as a company.”

In terms of current work, the company recently started a large warehouse project in Mississauga that utilizes local hires and local ready-mix concrete, along with an upcoming “super secret” project that will be the largest to date.

The tilt-up process
To prepare the job site and pour the concrete floor slab, which serves as the casting surface for the tilt-up panel construction, all necessary supplies and tools are gathered, and wall footings are built around the slab on which the panels will eventually stand. Then, conventional dimensional lumber is used to build the forms which are then linked together in the precise size and shape required, complete with window and door openings. These forms are assembled by workers horizontally directly on top of the floor slab or a temporary casting slab.

Next, a bond breaker is sprayed onto the slab to prevent the panel concrete from bonding with the casting surface. Architectural finishes or features, such as reveals, brick, or formliner, are then laid into the panel forms. To allow the panels to be lifted and connected to the roof system, footings, and adjacent panels, all necessary embeds and inserts are installed.

After clearing away any debris or standing water from the slab underneath the forms, the panel assembly begins. Depending on whether the panels are composite or non-composite, either wire mesh or a steel grid of reinforcing bars is tied into place. A layer of concrete is then poured, and immediately after, a continuous layer of three to four inches of rigid insulation is placed on top, along with the pin or tie system. A second layer of rebar is tied above the insulation, providing the panel’s structural reinforcement. Finally, the top layer of concrete is poured into the form, completing the panel.

The panels are then left to cure, typically for seven days, until they reach the required strength. These Large concrete panels with polystyrene insulation are formed on-site to create true edge-to-edge insulation, which increases fire protection, energy efficiency, and design flexibility.

It’s at this point that tilt-up construction gets its name. Once the panels have hardened and the forms have been taken out, the crew uses cables that plug into the inserts to link the first concrete panel to a crane. The panel is raised from the slab into a vertical position above the footings by crane, which is known as “tilting up.” From the crane’s long lines, enormous concrete panels weighing between 50,000 and 200,000 pounds are suspended. Working together, the crew precisely positions the braces and maneuvers the tilt-up panel before proceeding to the next panel. The operation is incredibly quick, with a skilled tilt-up crew installing up to 40 panels in a single day.

“The process eliminates of lot of false formwork,” adds Overbeek. “When we compete against cast-in-place and against pre-cast, we’re eliminating a lot of the trucking because we’re using local material and local trades.” For a job in Ottawa, for example, other than a few key people from Woodstock, everybody else is local.

Pouring the panels on site is a key feature, he adds, which ensures the builder isn’t restrained to size. “We’re not limited to hard and fast rules and dimensions,” Overbeek says. “We form up the panels, and then we can put the architectural finish in the exterior panels. We’ll give it a form liner to give it a shape.”

Once the exterior concrete has been poured, insulation is installed immediately after, and is generally four inches thick, providing a unique benefit of being truly 100 percent continuous from the top of the panel to the bottom, edge-to-edge, opening to opening.

“It’s really what makes us the Yeti at construction,” Overbeek says. “Our buildings are very energy efficient. It’s partially because of the continuous insulation, but secondly because of the thermal mass of concrete on the interior of the building. Once our insulation is poured, we pour our interior layer, or what we call the structural layer of our panel.”

That structural layer is anywhere from six to eight inches thick, and typically fully reinforced, which gives Tilt Wall Ontario the ability to eliminate most of the perimeter steel in the building, adding significant savings as well as time. “When our panel goes up, we’re doing what anywhere from seven to 10 trades would do to finish the same envelope of the building.”

Another unique benefit and advantage of this type of construction is that even though the panels are generally quite tall—anywhere from 20 to 60 feet—90 percent of the work is done safely at ground level. This also means using about one-third less labour than used with traditional construction. “With tilt-up, we’re able to provide a superior building product in the same amount of time.”

This attention to speed and skill is good news in light of a country-wide housing shortage, which Tilt Wall Ontario has addressed through JanVeek Concrete Homes to help offer a solution. This quick, affordable way to build offers a strategy that is “simply affordable” by building a solid concrete home inside and outside with a metal panel roof designed and built on a floating casting slab and fully insulated, making it very energy efficient. “The idea is to keep the maintenance down and really reduce maintenance over the length of this home. That’s the biggest reason why we did the JanVeek,” says Overbeek.

The tilt-up impact
All of this incredible work has resulted in recognition, with Tilt Wall Ontario being named by the Tilt-up Concrete Association as its Contractor of the Year in 2018. Additionally, with Overbeek serving as Vice President of the Association, the company’s products are backed by credibility and integrity. “We’re a certified member of the Association, so you’re not just getting an engineered product,” he says. “It’s an engineered product with certification.”

And it’s engineered to look good, too. “I always say, what we do with tilt-up construction is we take cold, ugly concrete and we make it beautiful,” says Overbeek. “We do that by giving it any shape or contour on the exterior with form liners that can be thin brick embedded into the panel. But the exterior of our panel is cast down, which gives it the architectural feature once we tilt the panel up.”

While the company has faced similar challenges as others in construction, including general market uncertainty and the red tape involved in receiving approvals, Tilt Wall Ontario’s efficient approach and short lead times means it doesn’t run into many issues when it comes to supply of critical elements.

Do these benefits mean Ontario will see more tilt-up companies in the future?

“It’s really the chicken or egg scenario,” Overbeek says. At the moment, tilt-up is used extensively on the West Coast and East Coast of Canada, and it’s a matter of gaining traction and affordability in Ontario, which I believe it has started to do after 23 years.”

As Tilt Wall Ontario continues to innovate and lead the charge in tilt-up construction across the province, its commitment to quality, efficiency, and design versatility stands as a model for the future of building. From large-scale distribution centres to energy-efficient homes, the company has proven that tilt-up is more than a construction method—it’s a smarter, faster, and more sustainable way to build.

The post Taking Concrete from Cold to Beautiful<p class="company">Tilt Wall Ontario</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Under his leadership, Leverett—who took over the business name in 2012—has grown Tarrant Roofing into a successful, multi-million-dollar enterprise, earning its legacy as one of the most trusted names in roofing, solar, and fabrication in Texas.

Serving the Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin areas, Tarrant’s many residential and commercial roofing services include cost estimates, repair, inspection, insulation, replacement, and gutters, to name a few. On the contracting side, Tarrant provides fabrication, painting, floors, and decks. And the company offers roofing materials to meet every need. These include metal roofing, modified bitumen, elastomeric roof coatings, and composite roofing. The company also provides ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM), a tough synthetic rubber roofing membrane, and Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO), an alternative to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and rubber roofing products.

Receiving praise from residential and commercial customers alike, Tarrant Roofing’s dedication to the industry has not gone unnoticed. Utilizing shingles and solar panels manufactured by CertainTeed and affiliated with industry leaders like Owens Corning, Soprema, Tamco, and others, Tarrant is also a proud member of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). The company holds itself to national-level standards, despite Texas not requiring licensing for roofers.

The power of three: divisions that deliver
“Our growth is a testament to our relentless commitment to excellence, customer care, and innovation within a traditionally undervalued industry,” says the company. In recent years, Tarrant Roofing has broadened its offerings to residential and commercial clients alike. This includes establishing Tarrant Fabrication. Created in October 2019, Tarrant Fabrication’s custom sheet metal services include custom metal roofing panels, metal flashings, metal fascia and soffits, gutters and downspouts, chimney and vent caps, and other metal products.

December of the following year saw the creation of Tarrant Solar, a turnkey sales and installation company that works with CertainTeed solar panels. Experienced local staff, familiar with the permitting process, work closely with clients to streamline residential and commercial solar projects. Many solar installations are applied to roofs and, realizing the potential for leaks and other damage, Tarrant ensures roofs are protected during and after solar installation. The company is so confident in its abilities that these installations are even backed by a special roof warranty.

“One of the most exciting developments has been the launch of the Tarrant Solar Division, a strategic expansion that perfectly complements the company’s core roofing services,” shares the company. “By offering solar and roofing as an integrated solution, Tarrant provides homeowners a seamless, efficient installation experience. Solar comes with its own challenges, but they are wonderful challenges to have. Together with roofing, we’re creating smarter, more sustainable homes.”

Along with Tarrant Fabrication and Tarrant Solar, the company has expanded its operational and training capabilities and upgraded its technologies. “Together, these divisions allow Tarrant to deliver fully integrated exterior solutions with in-house quality control,” says the company. “Whether it’s a custom metal project, storm-resistant roofing, or energy-saving solar panels, clients get consistent excellence across the board.”

Raising the bar (or the roof?)
The roofing industry is not immune from the old saying, ‘perception is reality.’ Not all companies are created equally, and throughout the years, Tarrant Roofing has worked diligently to change the public perception of roofing contractors. As the company puts it, “We want to help everyone, but our unique standards are setting us apart from the ‘Chucks in trucks’ or ‘Bubbas with ladders.’”

Today, Tarrant employs approximately 75 full-time team members across three locations. Prioritizing hiring skilled, values-driven professionals, Tarrant invests heavily in training and development, ensuring continued growth and client satisfaction. “We believe that happy team members at home give 100 percent in the office. That’s why we emphasize work-life balance, clear communication, and daily alignment around shared goals.”

And with a unique, all-trades approach, Tarrant provides customers with a luxury-level experience backed by transparency, craftsmanship, and a labor guarantee that ensures peace of mind. “We are in the business of solving problems for homeowners and real estate agents,” says the team. “Every interaction is built on trust, not just transactions.”

While many roofing businesses talk about their core values, Tarrant puts words into action with every job. These core values define the company and help steer its decisions and culture. They also set the standard for how Tarrant serves its loyal customers, hires talent, and grows as an organization.

Putting “Quality First, Profit Second,” Tarrant remains committed to meeting and exceeding client expectations. “Our dedication to quality extends beyond the products themselves; we aim to provide exceptional customer support, ensuring that our customers’ needs are met promptly and efficiently. We believe that by prioritizing customer satisfaction, we can build long-lasting relationships, foster customer loyalty, and ultimately drive profitability.” Only by living these values can the company uphold the quality and trust that have built Tarrant’s reputation and will secure its future.

Even though the company has been in business for over three decades, Danny Leverett and his team feel that Tarrant Roofing is just getting started. With an eye on the future, Tarrant is focused on scaling operations, expanding its team, and serving new and long-term customers with even more durable, sustainable roofing solutions.

“We want to continue building systems that not only look great but also withstand the extreme Texas climate,” says the company. “Our mission is simple: to leave every home better than we found it. Through quality craftsmanship, transparent service, and a passion for doing right by our customers, we’re building more than roofs—we’re building trust.”

The post Committed to Excellence<p class="company">Tarrant Roofing</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

When Tara Colopy took the reins in 2020, she inherited a business that was rich in heart and dedication but in need of operational structure and strategic vision. It was a pivotal moment, not just for the company, but for its future direction. “I walked into a business that needed structure, systems, and heart,” she recalls. “So, I built a plan, laid out a roadmap, and went to work.”

She immediately set out to transform the firm’s internal culture and operations. What began as a family-run company rooted in community values has now scaled into a purpose-driven organization with clearly defined goals, professional development pathways, and a culture of continuous improvement.

Since Colopy’s leadership began, The Third Estimate has grown from $8 million in annual revenue to an anticipated $31 million in 2025. This remarkable trajectory has been fueled by an unwavering commitment to people, customers, employees, and community members alike. “Growth doesn’t happen by chance,” she says. “It happens by choice, by strategy, and by nurturing the people who make it possible.”

A key focus for Colopy during the transition period was implementing scalable systems and structures. The company introduced comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures for every department, restructured workflows, and rolled out company-wide training programs. The goal: predictability and consistency. “We needed consistency,” she explains. “We had to create predictability for our team and our clients so that we could deliver excellence every single time.”

The company also introduced new software systems to manage customer relationships, operations, and project tracking. This investment in technology allows every member of the team to be aligned on timelines, client communication, and project milestones. It also supports the company’s goal of delivering an elevated client experience at every touchpoint.

Today, The Third Estimate operates out of two showrooms, one in Solon and another in Fairview Park, with plans underway for a third location. The multi-location expansion is part of a larger growth strategy that carefully balances reach with quality. “We’re not chasing growth for the sake of growth,” Colopy says. “We want to serve more people, yes, but we want to serve them well.”

While many companies in the remodeling industry focus heavily on sales volume, The Third Estimate differentiates itself through its client-first approach. The company is known for delivering a thoughtful, white-glove experience, one that feels far more like a high-end concierge service than a standard construction project.

From the moment a customer reaches out, they are met with intentional care. A team member reaches out to schedule a welcome call, walk them through the next steps, and begin building a relationship. Clients are educated about their options with complete transparency, and project managers stay in touch throughout every phase of the job.

“We’ve created a customer journey that’s full of intentional touchpoints,” explains Colopy. “From our welcome call to the thank-you gifts and warranty wrap-up, we’re showing clients that they matter to us—not just during the project, but well after it’s done.”

This attention to detail has created a loyal customer base, with more than 20 percent of business coming from referrals and returning clients.

One of the most innovative aspects of The Third Estimate’s service offering is its sustainability-forward roofing solution, Eco Revive Roofing. This proprietary roof rejuvenation treatment helps homeowners extend the life of their existing roofs by five to 15 years, reducing the environmental impact and cost associated with full replacements.

In an industry that generates massive landfill waste each year, Eco Revive Roofing is a bold and necessary alternative. “We’re very intentional about sustainability,” says Colopy. “Eco Revive Roofing saves homeowners money while protecting the environment. It’s a win-win, and it’s a big part of our identity.”

The product is especially appealing to homeowners who are environmentally conscious but not ready for the cost or commitment of a full roof replacement. By offering Eco Revive Roofing, The Third Estimate gives clients a smart, eco-friendly option without compromising on protection or performance. The company continues to explore other green initiatives as well, such as responsibly sourced materials and energy-efficient product offerings. Sustainability is not a marketing buzzword at The Third Estimate; it’s embedded into the culture and the service model.

Beyond its customers and sound growth strategies, The Third Estimate is perhaps most proud of its people. Tara Colopy has built an internal culture focused on transparency, empowerment, and professional development. Employees go through a structured 90-day onboarding program, and leaders are cultivated from within the organization whenever possible. “We believe in identifying potential and nurturing it. I’d rather invest in training someone with the right mindset than hire externally without that cultural alignment.”

One shining example of this philosophy is Tyler Kee, the company’s Marketing Supervisor. Identified early on as someone with strong initiative and creative thinking, Kee was mentored directly by Colopy and given increasing responsibilities over time. He now leads branding, advertising, and community engagement strategies for the entire company.

The office structure itself supports collaboration and transparency—walls have been removed, creating a shared workspace that encourages idea-sharing and teamwork. Departments meet regularly to share updates, set collective goals, and ensure alignment. “We meet every single week to realign,” says Colopy. “Every person knows the vision, the numbers, and where we’re heading. That kind of openness fuels trust and performance,” she says.

“We lead with empathy, intuition, and strong communication. That’s a huge asset in an industry where clients are looking for trust and clarity.”

Colopy is also passionate about creating opportunities for women in the trades. Through the company’s BuildHERS initiative, The Third Estimate awards three $1,000 scholarships annually to young women pursuing careers in construction or remodeling. By partnering with local trade schools and offering mentorship, Tara Colopy and her team are helping to shift the narrative around what roles women can and should play in the construction industry. “We want to show them that they don’t have to follow a path they’re not excited about. There’s opportunity in the trades, and there’s room for women to lead.”

The Third Estimate’s commitment to service, sustainability, and culture has earned it national recognition. It was recently ranked #120 on Qualified Remodeler’s Top 500 list and placed #100 by volume in the Top 200. The company is also a recipient of Owens Corning’s Pinnacle Community Award and 2025 Product Excellence Award. Colopy’s impact, meanwhile, extends beyond her own business. As the only woman currently serving on Owens Corning’s national Platinum Advisory Board, she collaborates with industry peers to shape best practices, forecast industry trends, and contribute to national initiatives that raise the bar for the remodeling sector.

Community impact is another cornerstone of The Third Estimate’s mission, and through its Think Third Patriot Project, the company provides complete home exterior renovations to local veterans. This includes everything from roof repairs to siding and windows, at no cost to the recipient. Another key initiative is the firm’s work with Akron Public Schools. The company participates in an annual meal-packing event that supplies children with food for the weekend, ensuring that students who rely on school meals aren’t left without nourishment. In the most recent event, the company packed 4,000 meals, with supplies sourced both by employees and funded directly by the Colopy family.

“These aren’t just charitable acts; they’re part of who we are,” Colopy shares. “It’s about leading with service. It’s about giving back to the community that’s given so much to us.”

As The Third Estimate continues to scale, its leaders remain grounded in their original mission: to serve people with heart, integrity, and excellence. Plans for a third showroom are underway, and the team is focused on further refining internal systems, expanding sustainability efforts, and continuing to invest in employee development.

“We’re small enough to listen and big enough to deliver,” Tara Colopy says. “That’s the balance we’ve worked hard to strike, and that’s what’s going to carry us forward.”

In a sector often dominated by volume and margins, The Third Estimate has chosen a different path: one defined by values, vision, and the belief that success is best measured in people served, not just projects completed. With Tara Colopy’s steady leadership and a team that’s deeply aligned around purpose, the future looks not just promising, but transformational.

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“Hopefully, we will celebrate our 100^th branch in Q3 of this year,” says Holloway. “As of now, it’s all been greenfield expansion, which means we do them ourselves.” As founder, CEO, and president, Holloway has taken the company to enviable heights, with the team having installed well over 60,000 roofs in its time.

By the numbers
With a skilled staff of around 1,800—an increase from 1,600 in just a year—the team performed about 24,000 jobs last year. With the average roof costing about $11,500, that works out to almost $280 million in 2024 alone. Holloway is not shy about his company’s achievements and is quick to praise his dedicated team members. At BCR, he says, quality doesn’t just happen on its own; it comes from hiring the best people.

Unlike many competitors in the roofing industry, BCR doesn’t have a hard time finding subcontractors because it hires the best people and pays them well. The roofing companies that struggle to find labor are, says Holloway, “the guys who want a deal on every single job. We’re proud of paying our subcontractors at the higher end of the market, and of the relationship we have with them.”

To ensure the right roofers for the job, BCR does its due diligence, which includes public record searches, ensuring applicable licenses are up to date, checking references and previous work, and more, to ensure all subcontractors are held to the highest industry standards.

To the next level
Last August, respected private equity firm Brightstar Capital Partners™ acquired BCR, a move benefiting the company and Brightstar alike.

“Best Choice Roofing has built a strong reputation in the market by providing essential services to their customers and excelling at customer service,” said Bruce Roberson, partner at Brightstar, in a media release. “We believe that we’ll be able to enhance their systems and infrastructure to support continued rapid geographic expansion.”

Matthew Allard, partner at Brightstar, added, “BCR’s founder-led culture, impressive track record of sustained growth, and position of leadership in the industry make them an ideal partner for us. The company operates in a highly fragmented industry with tremendous growth opportunities, and we look forward to partnering with Wayne and his team going forward.”

In under a year, the acquisition has already shown many benefits. “What Brightstar has done is beef up our infrastructure and get us ready for the next level,” Holloway shares. “We’d gotten to almost $300 million a year in revenue with our infrastructure model and have always been focused on being the biggest and the baddest roofing company in all of America. And for us to get to that point—the next step—we needed to look at some mergers and acquisitions.”

Bold thinking
With his dream of building a more robust corporate infrastructure across America, Holloway saw the benefits of bringing in a partner and access to capital. At the same time, the acquisition opened BCR up to bold new ideas and different ways of doing business, including welcoming a new C-Suite executive team.

The moves have also resulted in BCR strengthening its technology infrastructure, incorporating a new collaboration suite and a new financial system. For years, BCR has embraced technology for the benefit of the company and its many customers, and this includes building its own app from the ground up. “It allows employees to really capitalize on opportunities, and is a great training module,” Holloway explains.

The app collects data all day long, analyzes key performance indicators (KPIs), and provides links to a learning management system (LMS) and a database. From there, staff can access videos on learning and improvement. Through its retail division, the company uses programs that equip employees with information about potential customers including name, income, likely credit scores, and more.

Holloway explains that BCR has also been able to tap into Brightstar’s talent recruiting resources. “They have been a great partner in bringing fresh ideas to the table,” he says. “Most importantly, they helped us create a new partnership model.”

Before the acquisition, BCR had a few partner models operating in different branches nationwide; while the approach worked, it wasn’t necessarily sustainable. On January 1, BCR announced the creation of a new management layer and new operating partners with equity in the organization, motivating them to more profitable goals. “For the company, it certainly has had a positive impact,” says Holloway.

In the first quarter of 2025, investment in infrastructure enabled BCR to open 10 branches, a record for the organization. And at BCR, nothing is left to chance, including the best locations for new branches. Before entering a potential market, the team analyzes large amounts of data, including storm activities and weather patterns, re-roof activity, population demographics, and more. “A lot of data goes into making our decisions, and we lean heavily on a lot of partners we have to help guide us as well,” says Holloway.

Award-winning business
From word-of-mouth recommendations to being recognized as one of America’s Top 100 Roofing Contractors by Roofing Contractor, BCR has risen to the top of many industry lists, and is Owens Corning’s largest platinum-preferred contractor.

Owens Corning is famous worldwide for its many roofing, insulation, and fiberglass products. First honored by the manufacturer as a Top 1% Roofing Contractor in 2022, BCR was once again recognized in February at a celebration attended by 1,200 guests.

“We were recognized as the Southeastern Division MVP, and also for selling the most Owens Corning warranties,” says Holloway. “When I say ‘sold,’ I mean we gave them away. So, we provided more Owens Corning warranties than anyone else in the nation, which extends the labor warranty up to a lifetime.”

On every street
From its first location to plans for 100 branches and beyond, Best Choice Roofing continues to build on its reputation for professional craftsmanship and the best customer service in the business.

“The goal is to get Best Choice Roofing on every street in America,” says Holloway. “We want to make sure that when anybody thinks of a roof, we are the first brand they think of. In addition, we are looking at doing some roof rejuvenation products and ancillary options,” he tells us.

“Right now, we are laser-focused on giving our people the opportunity to grow with this new partnership model. What I’ve always said—and it’s been proven time and time again—is that when you give people the opportunity to grow, your company grows along with them. And that’s a very positive thing to happen.”

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We wanted to know more about this team which has been garnering multiple awards for outstanding work, including being named a Platinum Preferred Contractor for Excellence in 2024 by roofing manufacturer Owens Corning; rated in the Top 100 by the Roofing Contractor Group; ranked as a Craftsman Premier in the IKO ROOFPRO program, which offers extended protection limited warranty; and scored 4.9 stars in customer reviews, so we spoke with Andrew Hutchison, General Manager.

He told us the company’s roots go back to 2008, when founder and president Will Bates, a military veteran, and his wife Tasha began working with other roofing companies doing storm repair work anywhere and everywhere, from New York to Colorado. In 2012 they decided to settle in their hometown of Sullivan and start their own business. Hutchison first met them in 2014 when he was working for a lumber company that provided roofing materials to Central Roofing and began working with them in 2018.

But it wasn’t until the Christmas party, eight months later, that Bates, who up until then had “always worn all the hats himself, invited me to become general manager,” Hutchison says. “The year prior, they had done about $4 million worth of business, but in the intervening years, business has continued to grow, and this past year we were over $40 million.”

Much of this growth is attributable to Central Roofing’s qualified and highly skilled workforce, a result of the company’s investment in education and training through classroom instruction as well as the on-the-job training offered to roofers, installers, artisans, and project managers, which ensures the job is “done right at first try.”

Last year, Bates, who remains president of Central Roofing, combined forces with Omnia Exterior Solutions, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, an umbrella company comprising 11 roofing and remodeling companies serving home and business owners in 22 states. Its mission is to “revolutionize the home exteriors industry by building the nation’s premier collection of curious, collaborative, team-minded businesses.”

“The companies are all similar in size and we are aligned in the ethical way we conduct our businesses,” Hutchison explains. “Essentially, Omnia’s goal is to help us achieve our goals and encourage work done to the highest standards, thereby bringing customer satisfaction back into the spotlight in the roofing and remodeling industry across the country.”

Being affiliated with a national company gives each of the partners certain advantages. However, by maintaining their own independent regional offices, they are not slotted into a “one size fits all” approach and are able to do what they do best—which is to understand the unique weather conditions of their regions and how they will affect the roofs they install. Illinois, for example, has greatly varied weather conditions including heavy snow, rain, strong winds, and intense summer heat. Choosing the right roof and installing it according to the manufacturer’s specifications will protect against those elements and prevent water damage, mold growth, and energy loss by reducing heating and cooling costs.

Connecting with manufacturers
Whether a customer is looking for asphalt shingles, stone-coated steel, wooden shake shingles, tiles, composite shingles that look like slate or wood, or a commercial membrane roof, Hutchison says the key is to work closely with the manufacturer and understand the product, because the products have very different makeups.

Depending on the needs of a commercial property with a flat or low slope roof—such as hospitals, schools, multi-family residences, manufacturing plants, shopping centers, big box retailers, and restaurants—Central Roofing can recommend the right product for a monolithic membrane. EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) for example, is a type of synthetic rubber. “It looks like black rubber, and can be adhered or attached to the roof, but if it were to be used on a restaurant rooftop with grease coming out of the vents it would deteriorate quickly around that area,” Hutchison tells us.

A better option for the restaurant would be TPO, a thermoplastic membrane, which is resistant to light grease, whereas if the roof is going to be installed on an industrial plant where chemicals or solvents are in use, the best material choice would be PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a single-ply membrane which is more resistant to chemicals. Because TPO and PVC membranes are typically white, it reflects heat, so it’s also suitable for a flat roof over a living space because it will keep the rooms below cooler. “We have installed roofs that include light foot traffic areas with walk paths and a few with decks on them where people can access rooftop mechanical equipment or lounge around on a sunny day.”

All the manufacturing companies Central Roofing has teamed up with are nationally recognized and quality driven, “and working with them is another way we make sure we take care of our customers,” Hutchison shares. “We do extensive training with manufacturers to ensure we are the best trained in our industry with their various systems and we also work closely with them on individual projects to make sure everything is done according to their specifications,” he says. “In construction, you run into oddities and there’s not necessarily a simple way of dealing with those, so we get together with the manufacturers and their technology departments and make sure we come up with the correct solutions to overcome those obstacles.”

He went on to say that the company has the capability to handle all the requests that come its way, even when it receives requests for a product with which it is not familiar. “What we do in those cases, is contact the manufacturer, learn about it, and make sure our guys are fully trained to install it before we begin the job.”

A lifestyle, not a job
Like the company founder and president, Hutchison also served in the military, as did many of Central Roofing’s employees, “but we didn’t go through the credentials to become a designated veteran-owned company,” he says. “We grew fast enough that we didn’t feel it necessary to take advantage of the programs that are available for veterans. We wanted to save room for smaller veteran-owned companies to realize the benefits and just went with our own organic growth.”

Indeed, concern for customer satisfaction and compassion for employees are at the heart of this company. Every employee who works in the field is provided with fall protection systems, most have gone through 30-hour OSHA or OSHA equivalency training, and all participate in safety refreshers regularly. “I love working at Central Roofing—it is much more than a job,” Hutchison says. “I had never worked with an employer before who allowed staff to express the kind of person they are; it was all about business. But here we show compassion and do things out of the goodness of our hearts.”

This business model extends to hiring practices that emphasize the importance of ensuring new hires fit in with the company’s culture of honesty and integrity. “Here we don’t treat people like a number. We are all one big family—we share our problems, we help each other through them, and we are very supportive.”

Community-minded
The service Central Roofing’s founder and many of its employees gave to the nation through the U.S. military is now being extended to the surrounding community in which it does business. The company supports sports teams, school programs, blood donor drives, and at Thanksgiving and Christmas, works with local grocers to put together food boxes for several families, which employees from Central Roofing deliver to their homes.

For many years, Central Roofing, did an “annual veteran roof giveaway, in which we supplied both the material and the labor,” to install a replacement roof on the home of a veteran. More recently, the team has participated in Purple Heart Homes, a veteran-based program in which it partners with Owens Corning, who supplies the material while Central Roofing supplies the labor to install new roofs.

Today, Central Roofing stands as a testament to what is possible when skill, service, and heart come together under one roof. The company has grown from a small local business into a nationally respected leader in roofing solutions, elevating industry standards while staying true to its roots—offering tailored, weather-smart roofing systems and cultivating a company culture where people matter.

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