I have been around some type of construction trade all my life! Before high school, I carried hod for my Uncle's masonry business and gophered for my Dad at his electrician's business.

During and after high school for a few years, I helped my brother with his small roofing company working weekends and summers and later on nearly full time. I also took a photography class that served me well over the years. This website is full of photos that have been compiled over many years. One of my specialties is photo-documentation of roof jobs (before, during, and after).

After high school, I worked for a Milwaukie siding contractor for a year before attending Oregon State for one year in 1976.

I started Joe Sardotz Roofing (CCB # 55962) with a few hundred dollars and the dream of being self-employed, independent, and self-sufficient. I started separating myself from the pack by doing things most couldn't or wouldn't do to establish a niche. Things such as hand nailing instead of air guns, plywood never wafer board, top notch components instead of cheap ones that would not last as long as the roofing itself. I took my time, communicated with the owner about job progress regularly, and paid strict attention to details.

I always paid my employees by the hour. Today, many roofing contractors pay piece work, which encourages speed over attention to detail, thereby compromising quality. The more you do and the faster you go, the more you make that day. Hurry up, slap it on, hope for the best, race to the next job. Two day wonders I used to call them. To this day, this way of doing things is the rule rather than the exception. Buyer beware. Do your homework. I know how to separate the wheat from the chaff.

From tearoff to install and everything between, to office chores, estimating, contract writing, ordering, and installing with up to six employees — I did it all. Over the last 10 years of the business all Joe Sardotz Roofing work was word of mouth. No advertising of any kind except for a yard sign. No computer, cell phone, fax machine or pager. Times have changed.

Why I Started Oregon Roof Consulting and Inspection
My roofing contractor business and work for other companies continued until age 52 (2010) when knee issues made me realize I could no longer do the extremely physically demanding work every day on roofs. Full time climbing on roofs year round could no longer be done.

Beginning in 2003 and ending in 2010 I worked for four roofing companies in Oregon and one in Idaho. My duties were mainly estimating, project monitoring / managing, and selling. All of them had disturbing similarities:

• Two companies could only buy materials on a cash first basis. No distributor would give them an 'open' account.
• Vehicles were not typically well maintained. One company put six vehicles on the road with NO INSURANCE! This company also had 'exempt' status with the CCB which means no employees. They had 16 employees. This company is now out of business.
• Quality of product was typically less than top priority. Corners were often cut. Inferior components were incorporated into the roofing systems which happens all the time. Quality of product often an afterthought.
• Workers were not reasonably compensated. Morale was at times poor. Employee turnover is high at some companies.
• Hurry up, slap it on, hope for the best, race to next job, get the check NOW. A lot of unnecessary issues arose simply because workers were in too much of a hurry. Sending repair crews to fix mistakes was a  frequent occurance.
• Production trumps quality at many companies. Unfortunately, this is more common than you would think.

I finally woke up and decided to become self employed as a consultant and owner advocate. My goals: to use my experience to property owners advantage; to help people get value.

Being self-employed, this time as a consultant / owner advocate, seemed the logical next step in my career. I ran my business plan by who's who in the local roofing scene as well as past clients, architects, builders, insurance agents, and family. All said it was a good plan. Necessary, needed and overdue. Search the Internet for 'Residential Roof Consultants' mostly you get roofers wanting to sell a job. I'm selling nothing. I install nothing.

Now I offer my experience to home and property owners as well as many professionals to help them:

• Avoid being taken;
• Give them peace of mind;
• Know they are getting good value for their money and a quality solid roof they can depend on.

I am licensed to provide roof consulting and inspection services in Oregon and Washington. Let's engage in some commerce!