People are curious and sometimes ask when and how XL Roofing
in Edmonton Alberta started, so I thought it a good idea to note it down and
offer another way to tell my story . . . it
begins here how I help my clients with their roofing needs ~ tar and
gravel, SBS membranes, flat roofs, torch on, rubber roofs, rolled roofing and sheet
metal roofing.
My name is Chris Fraser and I started XL Roofing 12 years
ago. My wife Jackie and I have a large family by today’s standards (five
children). So our goal was and is, is to build a future for the possibility of
growing a company to a point of maybe passing down or employees wanting to buy
in. Back in the days when our children were starting to get expensive and
competing for mom’s love, we made a decision to keep their mom at home . . .
the day we decided to start our company . . . the year was 1998 and we have
never looked back!
My Early Experience
I started roofing at the age of sixteen during my summer
breaks. Once high school was finished I started my 3 year roofing
apprenticeship. A recession followed. I must share a unique typical Canadian
experience. The Company which I apprenticed under was a very multi cultured. My
Foremen consisted; an Italian (WWII Vet), a Ukrainian (WWII Vet), a German (WWII
VET), a French Canadian, and a Native American. There was a recession in 1981
& 82 when I started. The competition was fierce between foremen, as ones
job seemed to always be on the line. If a worker/roofer did not cut it, quite
simply you were gone. They all demanded absolute perfection, which I am proud
to have went through. It has made me who I am today and what I expect of my
men. I gained all my experience through large established companies, and it
wasn’t uncommon for a roofing inspector to be looking over our shoulder most of
the time, so doing excellent work became habit. At the age of 21 I was running
my own crew. Today I have 33 solid years experience and I know that I bring a
lot of knowhow to the roofing trade and my clients - tar and gravel, SBS
membranes, flat roofs, torch on, rubber roofs, rolled roofing, sheet metal.
In short that is how it all started!
