Roofer profile: Scott Owen, Owen Enterprises Inc.

By Rocky Mountain Snow Guards.

Learn how this multi-talented roofer used Rocky Mountain Snow Guards and DaVinci composite roofing in their work.

It’s hard to imagine an exterior service that Owen Enterprises Inc. doesn’t offer. Whether it’s siding, windows and doors, garages or even general contracting, the talented Illinois team can handle the challenge. Led by President Scott Owen, LEED AP BD+C, HCRI-R/C, PA, the company especially excels at roofing. For more than 35 years, their commitment to quality has translated to thousands of incredible roofing projects.

Those are a lot of initials after your name, Scott. Can you explain them to us?

LEED AP BD+C stands for LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design + Construction. It's an engineering credential for professionals involved in the design and construction of green buildings. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and that’s a certification awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to signify a commitment to sustainable building practices. Those are both very important to our company and the clients we serve.

HCRI-R/C relates to my role in assessing property damage related specifically to roofing. HCRI stands for Haag Certified Roof Inspector. The R/C specifically indicates that my experiences are in both residential and commercial roofs.

Finally, PA after my name stands for Public Insurance Adjuster. I am licensed by the Illinois Department of Insurance and a number of other states as well. This allows me to interface with the insurance company and represent homeowners that have property damage. As a Public Insurance Adjuster, I can actually file the claim and talk about policy and law, which a contractor cannot legally do. We get difficult claims settled, by citing policy, building codes, manufacturer's specifications and case law. I earned and use all these designations to illustrate my serious dedication to our industry and to assist our customers.

Tell us about the geography you install roofing in and what kind of snow retention systems are needed for your customers.

We’re based in Lombard, Illinois. Our customers are spread throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, including northern Indiana, southern Michigan and southern Wisconsin. These are all areas requiring snow retention to keep homeowners and their properties safe from avalanching snow, especially on slicker, nonporous materials like composites, metal, slate and tile roofs.

What type of roofing do you tend to install most, and what’s your favorite “go to” snow retention products that you use repeatedly with that material?

One of our preferred roofing products to install is the DaVinci Multi-Width Slate product. This synthetic material is beautiful, but on its own it doesn’t hold snow back. So we primarily use our favorite RG-16 snow guards. These metal snow guards are specifically designed for installation on new synthetic slate and shake roofs. They have a proven track record of success with us.

What’s the most challenging/interesting roofing project you’ve ever done where a snow retention system was involved?

We recently had an insurance claim project in Naperville, Illinois. Hail severely damaged the flashing and cedar shakes, and the roof had to be replaced. My company, Owen Loss Management Inc., was contracted to negotiate the loss/claim with the homeowner’s insurance company.

After that, Owen Enterprises Inc. completed the installation of a new DaVinci Multi-Width Slate roof with a staggered installation. As is our practice, we affixed RG-16 snow guards to the roof deck since it’s a new roof application, for a very sturdy and secure fit. We also upgraded the skylights to VELUX® opening solar skylights with solar shades. The finished project is truly sensational.  

How often do you use the free layout and quote snow retention service from Rocky Mountain Snow Guards when you’re working on a roofing project? Why are you using this service?

Any time we’re using nonporous roof material that may be subject to winter moisture control issues, we immediately turn to Rocky Mountain Snow Guards and have them handle the layout of the plan. They’re the experts, and we trust them.

What keeps your company coming back to Rocky Mountain Snow Guards for your snow retention needs?

We’ve found that Rocky Mountain Snow Guards has done the research other manufacturers have not. Their layouts are proven in the field. They’re not based on speculation. When we recommend and install snow guards from Rocky Mountain Snow Guards it’s our reputation on the line with our customers. I’m really comfortable with aligning Owen Enterprises Inc. with their products and services.