Roofing: Karl Stevens, Jr.

Business Name: Stevens Roofing Corp.
818 West 39th Street
Norfolk, VA 23508
Phone: 757.489.8791
Fax: 757.489.8649
Email: info@stevensroofingcorp.com

Stevens Roofing Corporation is a sixty-plus year old family owned business. It's a full service roofing company doing everything from installing large steep and flat roofs to cleaning gutters and repairing leaks. The company has been called on to install or repair roofs as far away as Colorado and Pennsylvania, but today concentrates its efforts in the Tidewater, Virginia, area. However, the company will also take jobs in other cities and states when the occasion arises. The company specializes in premium roofing systems such as slate, tile, wood and metal.

Karl Stevens, Jr., President of Stevens Roofing Corporation, has been involved in roofing for over fifty-five years, and is a past president of the Virginia Association of Roofing Contractors (VARC). Karl holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Old Dominion University. Tom Jones, Vice President, has been involved in roofing and construction for over forty years including being a construction superintendent, a sales representative for a roofing supply company, and owning his own roofing business. Karl recently made the following comments about the company:

Can you tell me something about your workforce?

"Sure, over the years roofing has become a very technical profession. We constantly train our workforce so that everyone is capable of maintaining our reputation for quality work. We want to earn our clients' trust so we can continue to earn their business. We strive to have the best trained, most knowledgeable workforce in the area. We not only give our employees on the job training, but during inclement weather we hold classes for them, giving them lectures and classroom training on all phases and types of roofing. We also send our employees to manufacturers' training seminars and have manufacturers’ representatives come to us and hold training sessions as well."

You mentioned earlier that you don’t advertise. How then do you attract new clients?

"We rely solely on our base of satisfied customers to call us again when the need arises and also to pass our name on to friends. We are often working on three generations of the same family at the same time."

Since you don't advertise do you have a sales force that calls on prospective customers?

"No, we have no roofing sales people. When you request our services we send a roofing professional to consult with you. This person has been trained to identify problems and can answer any questions you may have."

There are many roofing companies in business today. How is your company different from the others?

"Well, first of all it should be said that we are not the cheapest people in town and we don't want to be. There is no way the cheapest price is going to be able to do the best work and stay in business. We want to stay in business by giving our customers the best value for their dollar and sometimes that may be the highest price, but, you will know the work is being done right, by trained employees, working for a company that will be in the business to stand behind their work. We plan to be here if you need us in the future, just as we have been here for our customers for over sixty years in the past."

What advice would you give someone looking for a roofer?

"A new roof - and even repairs - can be an expensive proposition and it would be wise to spend time evaluating the roofing contractor before awarding your contract. First of all, be very skeptical about the lowest price. In roofing, probably more than any other trade, that old saying 'you get what you pay for' is probably true. Low bidders are often uninsured, do substandard work, and will be unavailable if there is a problem after the work is complete. Also, you shouldn’t be expected to pay anything up front unless something has to be custom made or has to be special ordered and can’t be returned. Never pay for a larger percentage of the work than has been completed. Also, you should have thirty days after completion of work before final payment has to be made so any possible discrepancies found can be taken care of. There are other things you should know that we have posted on our web site."