Business of the Week: BDW Roofing, Mount Kisco
Don Holohan knows the importance of a quality roof. He also realizes that many homeowners may not be getting the protection they need because of incorrect installation, poor materials or insufficient maintenance.
Since 1990, Holohan, president of BDW Roof LLC has been repairing old roofs and installing new ones on both residential and commercial structures. His company, located at 421 Lexington Ave. in Mount Kisco, also offers additional services such as the installation of siding, gutters, windows, doors and chimney caps.
A longtime roofer, Holohan is passionate about his work. Despite having a crew of up to 20 men, he still loves to do the roof work himself. Not afraid of hard work, this native of Ireland learned the basics of roofing from his father and also from the completion of a rigorous apprenticeship program.
After immigrating to the United States in the 1980s, Holohan worked for a Manhattan-based construction company, but later decided to go off on his own. He moved to Mount Kisco because of its central location and easy proximity to jobs in southern and northern Westchester, Putnam County and parts of Connecticut.
“This is a complex business,” Holohan said, “but if you do good work, it pays off.”
For Holohan, that means being on call seven days a week to answer customers’ questions or being at their doorstep within 20 minutes of an emergency call. It’s also about offering peace of mind through the company’s roof maintenance program, which is included in every job. The annual inspections are designed to protect a home’s value so that “minor problems don’t become major catastrophes,” he said.
During the winter, BDW, which is fully licensed and insured, also provides emergency repair and ice and snow removal.
It’s the kind of hands-on service that Holohan believes is essential to the success of his business and one that can create the kind of trust that customers don’t often receive from larger companies.
For homeowners looking to replace their roofs or repair an existing one, Holohan is an outstanding resource. One of the primary failures in roofing today, he said, is the fact that roofs are being installed without giving the product the ability to breathe.
“Properly installed roofs have a barrier under the shingles to help prevent leaks,” explained Holloman. That helps to guard against seepage near dormers, skylights, vent pipes and chimneys.
“Roofing contractors who skimp on the materials or cut corners during installation can leave a house susceptible to water damage,” Holohan said. “The idea is that you are allowing the roof to breathe from end to end.”
The materials that BDW typically installs include slate, cedar, copper shingles and asphalt, which is the most commonly used roof material in North America.
The company, which has the highest grading (A+) from the Better Business Bureau and is an accredited member of the Roofers Association of America, also installs roofs on commercial buildings, schools and firehouses, using what is known as EPDM roofing systems. EPDM, (ethylene propylene diene monomer) is the most popular material for new and redone low-slope roofs, Holohan said. The material is guaranteed to last for at least 25 years.
For homeowners, BDW offers a 50-year manufacturer’s limited warranty and free gutters with every new roof installation. Veterans, he said, receive a $300 savings when they agree to install a new GAF lifetime roofing system. GAF is the largest roofing manufacturer in the country, and BDW is one of its factory-certified contractors.
Holohan is also serious about maintaining safety on the job, requiring his workers to wear safety harnesses and strictly comply with the federal government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.
“I take this industry very, very seriously,” Holohan said.
For more information on BDW Roofing, visit www.bdwroofing.com or www.bdwroofingllc.com. To obtain an estimate, call 914-218-8820 or e-mail BDWRoofing@optonline.com.
Colette Connolly is a copywriter and p.r. expert. She owns Connolly Communications, which is based in Bronxville, New York. Colette specializes in providing content-rich, SEO-optimized press releases, articles, newsletters, brochures, and customer success stories.
