How to Get a Quality Roof Job: A Conversation With Juan Osorio

Q: There’s a lot of information available about how homeowners should choose a roofer. For customers who care about quality, not just getting the lowest price, what should they look for to help ensure they receive a high-quality roofing job?
A: On my end, I check each project every day to make sure my crew is doing everything correctly. They provide photos of the roofing work, so even if I’m not at the jobsite, I can review the photos and make sure everything is being done properly. That’s one of the ways I maintain quality throughout the project.

Q: Are there particular types of roofing materials or projects that your company specializes in?
A: Right now, we primarily install metal roofing and TPO roofing systems. TPO is commonly used for flat roofs, and these systems can also help meet California’s Title 24 requirements.

Q: Communication and timely follow-up are important to homeowners. How do you approach preparing estimates and keeping customers informed?
A: It depends on the project. If it’s a straightforward reroofing job, I can sometimes provide an estimate the same day. However, I prefer to make my estimates very detailed. When I inspect a roof, I take a lot of photos and identify exactly what needs attention. For example, the roof may only need maintenance rather than complete replacement, or there may be damaged flashing, a vent that needs to be replaced or a section of rain gutter that needs work. I like to break those items down in the estimate so the homeowner understands what needs to be done and what each item will cost.

Q: You recently qualified for Diamond Certified. How have you been using the certification and what type of response have you received from homeowners?
A: When I meet with new customers, I provide them with the Diamond Certified information. A lot of people are excited when they see it. They’ll ask, “You’re Diamond Certified?” and when I say yes, they understand that it reflects the quality of our company.

Q: How large is your roofing crew and how many projects do you typically handle at once?
A: Right now, I have 11 people working for me. Depending on the workload, we may have up to four projects going at the same time.

Q: Is there anything you’d like your customers to know about your approach to service?
A: I understand my clients’ time is valuable, so I try to make the process efficient and avoid wasting their time or money.

Q: You mentioned that price can sometimes be an obstacle when customers are comparing estimates. How does that affect your approach to bidding projects?
A: It can be difficult. Sometimes I provide estimates in Alameda County and lose the project because another contractor comes in lower. But I don’t want to reduce the quality of my work just to lower the price. When I look at some of the work being done at those lower prices, I know I can’t work that way. I need to charge a fair price for the quality I provide.