Knight Roofing

Constant Attention to Detail - They Want It Done Right

Specializing in residential roofing and some light commercial projects, Knight Roofing has made a name for itself as one of the best quality roofers in the Bay Area. The business is focused on reroofing and high-end custom homes, offering a variety of tile, composition shingles, shakes and wood shingles for projects generally within a 50- mile radius of their home base of Fremont. Noted for their specialty of lightweight tile roofing, their expertise in such installations is the result of careful analysis of customer needs and strategic business choices. "Years ago, after understanding the roofing needs and concerns of our customers, we realized the growing demand for quality product to replace existing wood shake roofs," says David Rice, lead estimator for Knight Roofing. "We decided to fill this niche by specializing in lightweight tile, one of the hardest products to install properly, but one of the most durable and cost-effective roof systems on the market."

Indeed, for the last four years, Knight Roofing has received the Monier Lifetile Pinnacle Award, which is awarded to the top 10 installers of lightweight tile in the nation. Such excellence is not a fluke; founder Bill Knight's constant attention to detail and push for quality in the services his company provides has helped Bill to grow Knight Roofing into one of the premier mid-range roofing companies in the Bay Area.

"There are a lot larger and a lot smaller," he says, "but we're big enough to get volume material discounts and we have our own equipment for all phases of each job. We do all our own sheet metal, trucking, clean-up, tear-offs, everything, complete." In fact, many of the services provided by Knight Roofing are uncommon even in much larger roofing firms. "We offer full sheet metal work on reroof projects and custom homes," says Bill. From bid to execution, "everything that's needed in a roofing system is part of what we offer."

With similar attention to detail, Steve Negrette is a full-time estimator who brings specialized services to the custom home side of the business. Dedicated to reviewing plans and specifying costs for new home construction, his services go beyond merely bidding a project. His critical eye can spot design issues and resolve problems that need to be addressed before roofing work begins. His knowledge of all current materials available helps him provide the builder with the best system for that project. This scrutiny is carried through on the job, where roofers ensure that the work of other trades is suitable to support the roofing. Digital cameras are employed to send images of challenges and trouble spots back to the office for tactical problem-solving.

Rounding out the family aspect is Greg Knight, who runs all the Knight Roofing remodel/reroofing contracts. From start to finish, he has a reputation for exceeding customer expectations on scheduling material deliveries, manpower and inspection coordination, keeping all job sites free of debris during the process.

Knight's pride in his business is evident with the well-kept condition of his equipment. "All our trucks are in A-1 shape," he says. "That gives an image of what we're about. We don't drive worn out vehicles around." Bill takes advantage of good image and visibility when working in a neighborhood as well. Before his roofers begin a job, Knight Roofing sends out mailings to residents alerting them to their presence "so people know that trucks will be driving through the area." This is followed up by another mailing mid-project, so anyone interested in their work can see it in progress. Between mailings and satisfied customers, most of Knight's business comes from referrals and word of mouth.

Customer satisfaction is a priority in a company where technical excellence is a given. "If we make a mistake, we go back and fix it," notes Bill. The objective, though, is to avoid those mistakes in the first place, and to this end estimators look for design concerns in plans, and specialized work crews are assigned to tasks they have honed to high degrees of efficiency. "We develop a good working relationship with the builders on interpreting the specs and making things come out right and seeing problems before they arise. It's just an easy working relationship once the builder knows what we need, and we know what they need." In a high-complaint industry, Knight Roofing has no outstanding complaints against it with the Better Business Bureau, and their high referral ratio attests to the levels of customer satisfaction they maintain.

Accessibility is a key element in the customer dialog. "We're big enough to handle everything," remarks Dave Rice, "but small enough to be personal. When someone calls in, they don't get the next one of 50 who happens to be near the phone; they get one of three or four knowledgeable people."

The bottom line for Knight Roofing is that the work is done right. "When we come back to finish the roof on a custom home," says Bill, "if something's happened there that isn't acceptable to us, we won't finish the roof until we get it fixed right. That's for the builder's own good as well as ours and the customer who moves into the home."

"As a roofing contractor," agrees Dave, "we know what to look for. Contractors agree with us; they want it done right."

Contact Knight Roofing at (510) 438-9077, or visit knightroofing.com

November 2005 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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