| Roofers descend as fast as hailstones
Not long after dark skies returned to blue following last month's hailstorm, the thumping of nail guns replaced the sound of falling hailstones on the roofs of many local homes. As an out-of-state company, Hoffman Weber was required to get a South Dakota excise tax license before it could start any work in Mitchell. Storm damage can provide businesses with the customer base needed to become a local company, he said, but the amount of work will always determine which companies stay and which choose to leave. "We choose to support the markets we choose to be in," he said. JRD Roofing, also based in Yankton, did very little work in Mitchell before the storm, but with fewer jobs available nearby, coowner Adam Kelsey saw the storm in Mitchell as opportunity to get more work. Cumings, who lives in rural Mitchell, has done construction work across South Dakota and elsewhere with his company in the past, but said he was usually referred to those out-of-state jobs by past customers. Hoffman Weber Construction is a Minneapolis-based construction company with a presence in nine states. "That's how we get our start in most locations," said the company's Chief Operations Officer Adam Brookins. He estimated 95 percent of Hoffman Weber's business is in storm-related repairs. Once the work in Mitchell is gone, Brookins said the company will most likely open a brand new, more permanent location in Sioux Falls. Hoffman Weber has replaced 25 roofs in Mitchell since the storm, and is finishing about 10 more each week, Meyer said. Because of Hoffman Weber's size and the relationships the company has developed with suppliers, Brookins said it can supply lifetime warranties many local companies are not able to compete with. "The chances that any local company is going to be in business in 50 years probably isn't very good … they're massive companies that back our warranties," Brookins said. When coming to a whole new area, tension sometimes develops between Hoffman Weber and local companies, he added. He also said companies that sound local are not always as they appear. He turned down the offer. "It's taken me 10 to 12 years to get my name what it is. "Everybody that's on our roof is employed by us. ". "The most that happens is we will hear people bad-mouthing our name," he said. The stability of storm-related work is a draw for Meyer and his company. "It's a lot more stable work to have an insurance claim where you know you're going to get paid, instead of trying to sell to residents for additions or improvements," Meyer said. "My whole family is from here. Kelsey said the company is steadfast when it comes to using its own workers, in contrast to hiring crews from out-of-state. Cumings' company has replaced 85 roofs in Mitchell since the hailstorm. "I've got more jobs in town than any other roofer, and I've got a big target on my back," Cumings said. "You get a lot of shoddy work from out-of-state workers," he said. "It's going to take some extra roofers in town to get this many roofs done. Hegg has simple advice for residents looking for a roofer: "Do your homework. "I haven't had any problems. He recommended homeowners get a few bids before making a decision, and always check a roofer's references before hiring anyone. |
Sunday, 10 June 2012
Roofers descend as fast as hailstones
