OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — While a lot of home renovation projects are on hold during the coronavirus due to people trying to limit exposure to others, the roofing industry is staying busy.
Prime Roofing in Omaha said it’s business as usual for them during the pandemic. The company said since roofers are on the tops of houses they have little to no social interaction with the homeowners and can safely practice social distancing while working.
“We have to be a little more careful,” said Abe Wagner, a co-owner at Prime Roofing. “Typically when we meet customers we want to give them the personal touch and shake hands on a deal well struck and we stopped shaking hands. But otherwise from the ability to do work we’re working outside on people’s roofs so there is not a lot of close personal interaction anyway.”
Wagner said since people are working from home and spending more time at home it is the ideal time to update a roof.
“If you have a job right now you’re doing it from home and if you’re spending 90-percent of your time at home the structural soundness of your home is paramount and is the most important thing” Wagner said. “It’s not just your home but it’s your office, daycare or school and so the upkeep of your home is ultra-important right now.”
Jeanie George, a co-owner of Prime Roofing, said it’s still important to hire the right roofer and to make sure to let them know what you are or are not comfortable with them doing at your home.
“Choose a company that is willing to go the extra mile to be comfortable and let them know what level social distancing you want and make it clear to them and let them know,” George said.
George also said Prime Roofing is still fixing a lot of roofs with hail damage from 2019.
Watch reporter Phil Bergman’s story in the above video.