It’s raining business for roofing companies – Camarillo Acorn

Rain last month drove up calls for service

BUSY TIMELino Rivera works on the roof of a home in Thousand Oaks on March 6. Recent storms have caused a surge of new customers for local roofing companies. BOBBY CURTIS/Acorn Newspapers When it rains, it pours.

That is certainly the case for the roofing industry, which has seen a boom in business since the torrential downpour last month.

The National Weather Service reported Camarillo saw 2.85 inches of rain on Feb. 17the most rain in one day the city has had in four decades.

It was frantic, Dawn Espinosa of Camarillo-based GreatWay Roofing told the Acorn. Over that one weekend, we received over 100 calls about leaks. Even now, were still trying to catch up.

Other Camarillo roofing companies have also been flooded with calls from homeowners throughout Ventura and Los Angeles counties seeking estimates.

Ron Ostlund of Fortress Roofing said he has been incredibly busy the last few weeks.

Its so much increased business that I am actually turning work down, the business owner said. Im a really, really small company, and I do most of the estimates myself and all the work myself, and theres no way I can handle the activity thats going on.

But the Camarillo resident, who said he has at least a three month backlog of jobs, is certainly trying.

Ostlund said many people dont even know they have roof problems until it rains and water starts leaking into their homes.

Before the heavy rains, (business) was a little stagnant, the roofer said. People dont spend any money on their roof unless they have to. Thats just kind of human nature. . . .

Its a little overwhelming, but Im not complaining. Its definitely good for business in the long run.

While many roofers are trying to capitalize on the increase in business, Fred and Susan Esquivel of Esquivels Roofing said their situation is different.

The business received between 50 and 75 calls a day during the rains, a volume they were not able to handle given their small crew and the fact that the company is winding down after three decades in business.

Susan, the office manager, said Esquivels Roofing is finishing its already scheduled projects over the next few months before Fred retires.

Were doing roofs over again because weve been around so long, said the office manager, adding the company did respond to requests for service from its longtime customers.

The irony of having their phones ring off the hook as the company is scaling back was not lost on Susan and her husband, who said the drought has definitely affected business.

Its feast or famine, she said. Roofing is expensive and its the last thing most people want to do, but in a sudden rainstorm, especially like the one we had, all these people needed plastic, and we had a lot of insurance companies calling us.

They werent alone.

Espinosa, the office manager for GreatWay for more than a decade, said shes been underwater with calls since the storm last month.

The company, which is booking house calls about two weeks out due to the high volume of requests, even hired extra workers for support.

Ive pretty much been by the phone, she said. People are panicking because they dont want water in their house, which is understandable.

However, she said, homeowners shouldnt get their leaky roofs fixed in haste.

Espinosa said most homeowners insurance companies will pay for tarps to protect houses from unwanted water damage.

We suggest they look into that so they can make a good decision and dont have to make a quick decision, the office manager said. If you get someone who is not necessarily qualified but can do the work (fast), you might have to go back and redo something. But if they take some temporary measures to cover the initial leak, they can take their time getting the right contractor.

Espinosa said people often put off fixing or replacing their roofs because it can be costly and you dont get to see it.

But keeping the roof maintained could save money down the road, she said, adding the expense is worth it.

Your roof is important. Its protecting everything.

Read the original post:
It's raining business for roofing companies - Camarillo Acorn