The Warren Roofing story
Warren Roofing and Insulating has proven itself as an industry leader
throughout its long history
Warren Roofing & Insulating Co. was established in 1922 and incorporated
in 1938, with roots in the original tar and gravel business. Headquartered
in Walton Hills, the established company serves Northeast Ohio as a commercial/industrial
roofer in the new and replacement markets. Founded by the Warren family,
the firm was bought by Alex A. Cost in the 1950's; his son Curtis H. Cost
took over the company in the 1970's. The family tradition remains strong
in Curt's son Trevor, who serves as salesman and assistant superintendent,
and with other three-generation employees. Warren averages approximately
65 employees year-around with seasonal peaks reaching approximately 100
employees, many of whom spend their work lives there. It is affiliated with
Roofers Local 44, Sheet Metal Local 33, and Operating Engineers Local 18.
Major corporations, real-estate developers, industrial manufacturers,
school systems, hospitals, libraries, and property managers rely on Warren
Roofing for their expertise in everything from new construction roofing
and full roof replacements, to routine maintenance and emergency repairs.
According to owner Curt Cost, the firm began with built-up roofing and worked
to include new technologies such as modified asphalts and single-ply as
they came along, while also maintaining specialties like tile and slate.
In addition, he says, the firm consults about fire, insurance and UL ratings,
ASTM numbers, vapor barriers and other mysteries, so architects get what
they want and owners what they need.
Warren Roofing is a full-service company, handling projects from roof
surveys, detailed written proposals, energy conservation recommendations,
CAD drawings, field supervision, complete roof replacement, new construction
roofing, historical renovations, and complete architectural sheet metal.
Warren services many of Northeast Ohio's largest shopping centers, office
complexes, warehouses, school districts, manufacturing plants, apartment
complexes, churches and hospitals, working with the entire spectrum of general
contractors, and with roofing consultants as well.
Warren Roofing is a Master Select Contractor, having established enduring
relationships with the premier roofing material manufacturers, so it is
one of few exclusive contractors approved to install premium products that
carry the best commercial roofing warrantees. It is an approved contractor
for The Koppers Company and The Honeywell Corporation. The majority of Warren
Roofing business is the hot asphalt roofing, and it is a master roofer for
GAF and the JM Corporation. Modified bitumen roofing is also a significant
part of Warren Roofing business, and it installs roofs by GAF, JM, Performance,
Siplast and Soprema. Warren has kept pace in the single ply technology and
is an approved contractor by EPDM manufacturers Carlisle, Firestone, and
Versico. The diversity of single ply that ranges from PVC to TPO is covered
by manufacturers that look to Warren for its expertise, namely Bondcote,
Stevens, Fibertite, and Genflex.
Specialty business with Warren comes in several partnering relationships
with such fine area firms as Tremco and Hickman companies. These associations
allow full service supply and contracting services provided by the roofing
manufacturer directly to the building owner, with Warren Roofing as the
contractor.
Warren Roofing's cache of knowledge is continuously evolving as modern
roofing becomes lighter, reflective, more elastic and more environmentally
friendly. Rooted in the time-proven foundation of built up roofing, it
has grown into an industry leader in the acceptance and success of modified
bitumen and single ply roofing systems. Currently Warren Roofing is piloting
industry expansion into environmentally friendly "green" roof
systems and the myriad of cold process roofing systems that are certain
to gain a lasting place in the commercial roofing market. In addition,
it is continually able to meet the ongoing demand of retail, education and
healthcare by being minimally disruptive to those on the inside and on the
ground, minimizing smoke, noise and fumes as work
Ongoing service
Warren also offers a special service via its service affiliate, Total
Roofing Services. "We realized that once a roof was up, that wasn't
the end of the story," says Cost. Something as costly as a roof should
be monitored at least twice a year to prevent unnecessary problems or damage.
There is a need to see from time to time that all components of a roofing
system are performing adequately in a preventative roof walkover.
Total Roofing Services specializes in emergency repairs and maintenance
programs, dedicated to servicing these issues that have historically been
difficult to schedule. Total Roofing answers requests for maintenance, roof
surveys (with CAD drawings and digital photographs) and, most importantly,
emergency repairs. "These are the finesse guys," says owner Curt
Cost. "They go in, for example, if an existing roof is going to have
a new air conditioning unit installed. They are the detail guys, the problem
analysts." BXM
The Warren Roofing portfolio
Warren Roofing and Insulating Co. strives to meet the needs of a wide
variety of customers. Warren's customers range from large industrial concerns
such as General Electric, to retail customers like Severance Town Center
and CityView ... from institutional concerns like University Circle museums,
large hospital complexes, NASA, and the Diocese of Cleveland, to churches
and synagogues of all denominations as well as numerous school districts.
Installing roofing systems for both low slope and steep slope roofing has
challenged Warren with a complexity of designs, problems with efficiency,
long-term performance, and ultimately safety. Understanding the strengths
and limitations of every roofing product is critical to solving roofing
problems.
Some examples:
The A.M. McGregor Home, a long-term care facility, is an exceptionally
large and expansive installation of architectural sheet metal including
copper built-in gutters, saddles and bay windows, all integral in recreating
old world craftsmanship. The gutters are tapered and inlaid. The roof
saddles are soldered flat copper pan roofs and the copper clad bay windows
pop out of the Tudor-style roof throughout the entire exterior elevation.
Segmented radius copper ogee gutters highlight the detail of this historically
inspired design.
Crocker Park is the city's preeminent mixed-use residential, retail and
office complex which includes parking structures and a variety of roofing
challenges in its 1.7 million square foot design - all systems which were
ably met and successfully completed by Warren Roofing and Insulating Co.
The entire project exhibits a wide range of the many roofing components
that the company has mastered.
The Eton Collection retail complex uses slate roofing on its towers and
mansard roofs. The front five feet of decking is curved, making installation
a challenge for Warren craftsmen. The copper standing seam roof extends
the front of the new mall, with areas of copper flashing and copper curved
panels that were a work of art so intricate that the architect delegated
the detailing to Warren's artisans to complete and make weathertight.
The Metzenbaum Federal Courthouse has an historical copper batten roof
that was extensively renovated to allow for the removal of obsolete equipment,
the installation of a new atrium skylight, and the upgrade of deteriorated
components. Old soldered seams were restored, radius dormer panel roofs
upgraded, and the main roof and connecting gutter were redesigned to accommodate
the new atrium skylight, maintaining the historical look and watertight
integrity of this majestic Courthouse.
The Myers University Club is a showcase of Warren Roofing's work with
historic preservation. Protecting this venerable structure, one of the original
Millionaires' Row homes on Euclid, for a new life as a Myers University
meeting space took full advantage of the firm's wide ranging expertise with
roofing systems as well as with insulation and exterior sheet metal.
The creation of the Nottingham-Spirk Innovation Center from the First
Church of Christ, Scientist on University Circle involved a great deal of
work, but Warren Roofing and Insulation contributed with an extensive program
of moisture protection to this complex building. The standing seam roof
had to be approved by the Ohio Historical Society, and the work has to be
accomplished in a short timeframe to meet the schedules of other trades.
The Peter B. Lewis Building is a challenge to any contractor, with its
sinuous curves and total lack of anything cookie-cutter. Warren was able
to live up to the breakthrough technological demands to create an effective,
one-of-a-kind roofing system as they roofed the flat areas and completed
the flashing of the sinuous curves. 20,000 square feet of flat and another
20,000 square feet of flashing successfully manages the cascade of water
that flows from the cookie cutter.
West Tech Lofts is a conversion of an historic major high school to a
residential community. The removal and replacement of 100,000 square feet
of existing roofing, while maintaining a watertight building, was the challenge
presented to Warren. Sheet metal was artfully fabricated to conform to historical
conditions. BXM
The Warren Roofing experience
The goal of Warren Roofing & Insulating Co. is to outperform its
customers' expectations by providing conscientious attention to quality,
performance, attitude, workmanship, and pricing in delivering its services.
Its long-term success is the result of a careful and consistent effort to
place the customer first. This is evident in the firm's consistent repeat
business from building owners, general contractors, consultants, and architects.
According to owner Curt Cost, the firm's expertise lets it work with
architects to create specifications that meet the owner's and the structure's
needs while taking full advantage of modern technologies. This is an important
balancing act made possible by the firm's extensive knowledge, skill and
capabilities. It is Warren's intent to provide the best roof at a competitive
price for all its customers. Its integrity develops from a dedicated purpose
to perform at the highest standard possible without regard to profit or
gain.
Because the modern era has so many types of roof systems tempered to
fit individual customer requirements and needs, Cost explains that the firm
has assembled different work crews, each expert in its own area, furthering
to maintain Warren's reputation of appointing the appropriate crew to its
specific work. "In this day of specialization, it's difficult to be
a generalist," he says. "This way, we keep our market share and
keep our people employed while performing on the leading edge as well."
Says Cost, Warren Roofing has more than kept up with breakthroughs in
safety equipment and practices in the recent past. "Safety is our most
critical and crucial issue," he says, with the company surpassing OSHA
standards and also meeting the most stringent of owner requirements.
When Warren Roofing begins a business engagement, the customer's best
interest is immediately foremost. The process begins with the proper roof
design, and the relationship grows from there. Warren evaluates and assesses
the variables that inevitably challenge the success of most roofing projects.
That pre-planning is an integral part to the success of every Warren project.
Equally important are those rare times when unforeseen situations present
roadblocks to the progress of the job. It is at these critical junctures
that every owner appreciates the good decision to deal with a company with
the integrity of Warren Roofing.
Here's an example: When Warren was on a roof of the Alexander Graham
Bell Academy, an interior tile fell on a faucet handle in a third-floor
sink, causing a flood that destroyed equipment in several offices, including
computers, a television, fax machine and furniture. Insurance would pay
for only the replacement value of the old equipment, but Warren chose to
pay for new Dell computers and new TV/VCR/DVDs to replace the outdated damaged
electronics in the Cleveland inner city school.
Here's another: Warren was called to replace a roof on a 200,000 square
foot warehouse it had put on 20 years before, as a new owner needed to please
a new tenant and correct some minor leaks. The firm looked at its old plans
and used infrared technology to analyze current conditions, and was able
to save the owner about half a million dollars by simply repairing the existing
roof, and providing the owner a schedule of preventative maintenance visits.
"A lot of roofs are replaced prematurely," says Cost.
It is obvious that customer service is of paramount concern to the management
and employees of Warren Roofing. It has grown its business by listening
to and anticipating customer needs, building its business on past and ongoing
relationships and by securing a future customer base that is selective in
their choice of suppliers. Says Cost, "It is no longer who can do the
roof the cheapest. It is who can give the best value hand-in-hand with the
vital tangibles of performance, safety, production and qualityall important
pieces to the equation when an owner is selecting a contractor."
BXM
