The average roof is designed to last for about three decades. That’s why a good roofer rarely visits the same house twice — unless he’s still around when it’s time to replace the roof he installed three decades ago.
Raymond Toyama, owner of R.S. Toyama Roofing Service in Honolulu, said his phone started ringing after he began advertising in this publication. “Many people saw my name in the newspaper and called me and said, ‘Hey, you’re still in business? I want you to come and replace my roof!’ I did their jobs maybe 20 or even 30 years ago! They thought I’d retired.”
With a crew of six skilled roofers, one administrative employee and a schedule that keeps them all quite busy, Toyama is anything but retired. Launched in 1979, his company specializes in roll roofing, slate, tile and composition shingles for residential structures, and has become known for quality craftsmanship and competitive pricing.
It can be easy to spot the need for roof replacement, Toyama explained. “The first obvious sign of trouble might be a leak. And if your roofing is getting old, or if you see pieces of your roofing on the ground after a heavy wind or rain, you’ll know that you should have somebody climb up on your roof and take a look at it.”
Toyama learned the roofing trade from his father-inlaw, Nobu Kageura, with whom he worked for 10 years before launching his own business. Kageura, who passed away in 2007 at the age of 91, set an example that Toyama has tried to follow in his own business.
“He taught me to take care of my customers,” Toyama said, “and that sometimes we all make mistakes. But when you do make a mistake, you must make sure you follow up and take care of the problem.”
As a licensed and certified roofing company, R.S. Toyama Roofing Service stands behind its work with a seven-year workmanship warranty — the maximum allowed by Hawaii state law. Combined with the manufacturer’s material warranty, which usually runs from 20 to 30 years, Toyama’s workmanship warranty, backed by his company’s longevity, is a commitment to quality designed to bring homeowners peace of mind.
The average lifespan of a new roofing company is only about 3.3 years, according to the National Roofing Contactors Association. Over the years, Toyama has been hired by quite a few homeowners whose roofs were poorly installed by companies that went out of business, even before their workmanship warranties expired.
“The fact that we’ve been in business for 32 years — I think that says a lot about our company!” Toyama said with pride.
ADDRESS: 1321 HART ST.
CONTACT: 847-6265
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