When Steve Daddario calls his roofing company one of the most efficient he’s ever seen, it means something. Mr. Daddario is a 30-year veteran of the industry who started as a roofing contractor out of his home in 1982. It’s now one of the most successful roofing companies in the Bay Area.

Daddario Roofing Company, Inc. is able to work quickly and efficiently because it fields a single large crew that handles one job at a time, focusing all its energy and resources there. As a result, it can complete jobs in two days that would take most companies three or four–a pace that impresses the entire neighborhood, says Mr. Daddario.

Daddario Roofing installs and repairs all types of roofs. This includes all types of composition shingles, fire treated cedar shakes, concrete and clay tile, modified asphalt and single ply roofing systems for low slope roofing application. Its repair team has years of experience repairing roofs and diagnosing even the most difficult problems and leaks. The company has a mission, says Mr. Daddario, to provide “the best quality of work, with integrity in everything we do and say, all at a very competitive price.”

Daddario Roofing offers “the experience and professionalism of a larger company with the personal touch of a smaller one,” says Mr. Daddario. As owner-operator he handles production details from start to finish, staying in close contact with the project manager Edgar Montoya, who has worked with Steve for over 22 years. Steve and Edgar are in close contact with the homeowner in during the re-roof process to make sure everything goes smoothly. He’s also there to follow up, making sure that complete clean up proceeds quickly and the customer is 100 percent satisfied.

Customer feedback from is overwhelmingly positive, says Mr. Daddario. They are always amazed, he says, at how quickly and efficiently the work is completed and at how beautiful the finished roof is. They also cite the hard-work ethic, responsiveness and friendly communications of Daddario employees.

With a business model that keeps overhead low, Daddario Roofing is able to offer better pricing than larger competitors in most cases. A rarity in the roofing industry, it does not typically require up-front deposits. The reason, Mr. Daddario says, is his unshakeable confidence in his team’s ability to do its job right the first time.

Daddario Roofing also conducts roof inspections, an area in which it has more experience than any other roofer in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, says Mr. Daddario. It has ably provided roof inspection services to hundreds of agents in the real estate community for over two decades.

Be careful of a roofing company cutting corners. There are always ways. Protect yourself by hiring a company with integrity, says Steve Daddario of Daddario Roofing Company.

Since even the most diligent companies can’t monitor their employees every moment, “You must have people who care about their work,” says Mr. Daddario. “No matter how diligently a job is supervised, if workers want to cut corners they can.”

Your best hedge against these problems, says Mr. Daddario, is to hire established roofing companies with a proven track record. If possible, choose one with long-term employees, who tend to be the most loyal and well treated—and typically repay that treatment with a solid, reliable work ethic.

“These are the professionals who value integrity and quality work,” says Mr. Daddario. “They care about putting a roof on for you, like they would care about putting a roof on their own home. Those people are hard to find.”

He recommends exercising caution when dealing with contractors whose prices are markedly lower than their competitors. Often, he says, they figure out some other way to build the difference into their margins.

Similarly, keep in mind that an uninsured contractor will nearly always deliver the lowest bid. Given the nature of roofing work and the potential for catastrophic injury to a worker, Mr. Daddario recommends against using uninsured contractors for any reason. He even cites cases, though infrequent ones, of contractors presenting expired certificates of insurance.

“It’s a document with a lot of information on it. And the expiration date is hidden in there,” says Mr. Daddario. These types of problems have worsened with the economic instability of the last few years, he says.

He also suggests checking with the Better Business Bureau for current complaints, particular unresolved ones.

Q: How will I know when I need a new roof?

A: We can tell you. Over the years, you wouldn’t believe how many people tell us that three roofers told them they need a new roof, particularly on a shake roof. I’ll look it over and assure them it can be repaired. You may have another four to five years of life left in it. The repair is going to be, say $800, and the new roof would have been $11,000. We’re very honest and confident in our ability to repair a roof.

Q: Do I need to vent my roof?

A: The heat radiates down into your house, making it significantly warmer. This can also cause the shingles to fail prematurely. Proper venting alleviates these problems.

Q: Can you put in venting for me?

A: Yes. Whether its standard eyebrow vents, ridge venting, solar-powered attic fans or electric powered, we’ll make sure your venting is well designed and suited to its purpose.

Q: How long will my roofing project take?

A: We typically complete projects in two days. I’m careful to tell people: that’s not because we hurry through. It’s that we work on one project at a time with a single large crew. They’re very hardworking, very efficient and very professional.

Q: Do you warranty your work?

A: Our warranty is as strong as any in the industry. It’s a 10-year workmanship warranty on re-roofs. Plus we typically offer a one-year leak-free warranty on repairs. Many companies will not warranty the entire roof. They warranty repaired areas only, which doesn’t really protect the consumer.

Q: How do I prepare for a roofing job?

A: We have a handout, a line item list of things for you to do. Most of it is fairly simple, like moving your vehicles out of the garage and driveway. Typically there will be some dirt and debris that can get into the garage, so we recommend covering up things that you don’t want to get dirty. We can provide help if needed.

Q: Solar panels need to be removed for roof repair, right?

A: Yes. We have someone who does that, someone we’ve been working with for well over 15 years. Or if people have their own solar person, they are free to field bids.