Mike Im: An Early Start
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
PACIFICA — Mike Im’s roofing career got off to an early start thanks to a family member who worked in the industry. “I got into roofing because of my uncle, who had his own roofing company,” he explains. “I was fortunate to learn the process of roof installation at a young age. At first, I mainly worked with my uncle during summers, but after I turned 18, I began doing it full time. I became very focused on refining my skills and knowledge, and within three years, I teamed up with my dad to open our own roofing business. We ran that for 28 years until my father passed away. After a couple of years of transition, I opened Im Roofing Company in 2018.”
Mike says his favorite part of roofing work is the craftsmanship it entails. “I love the art of roofing. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my work, so everything has to be uniform and look good. I take pictures before, during and after each job, and it’s very satisfying to look back and see the transformation we were able to make happen.”
A resident of Pacifica (where he lives with his wife, Woo Kim, and their two sons), Mike likes to spend his time outside of work with his family. “My kids are my best friends, so I love hanging out with them,” he says. “Before I know it, they’re going to be all grown up, so I try to spend as much time as I can with them. On the weekends, we like going to the movies, fishing, jet skiing and doing other fun activities.”
As a roofer in the San Francisco area, Mike appreciates the diverse character of his workdays. “There are so many different architectural styles here in the city, which keeps things interesting,” he says. “You have pitched roofs, flat roofs, tile roofs…some homes even have shingle roofing up front and a flat roof in the back. Some architectural styles are more challenging to work on than others. For example, Victorian homes are pretty difficult to work on, so we have to set up scaffolding around the perimeter to ensure safety.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Mike says he’d visit another continent. “I would probably take my family on a European vacation. A lot of people say they’d go to Hawaii, but I’ve already been there many times. I’ve never been to Europe, and my wife has always wanted to go.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What are your favorite sports teams?
A: The Golden State Warriors and the San Francisco 49ers.
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant?
A: Outback Steakhouse.
Q: If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?
A: Neither—I’m happy to stay in the present.
Q: Do you collect anything?
A: I collect cars.
Read moreRead less
