3D Roofing recently opened in Battle Ground, bringing local ownership and a community-focused approach to roof replacement and construction services.
The company opened its storefront on March 1 at 909 W. Main St., Suites 101 and 102, in the Wilco parking lot near the intersection of state Route 502 and 503. The company is owned by Craig Dearnaley, a two-time heart transplant and cancer survivor, who said his construction experience and ties to Battle Ground led him to found 3D Roofing.
“One of my first career jobs was construction, and a lot of my friends are apostolic, and they do construction companies,” he said. “I enjoy being a part of the community, and I feel like blue collar construction is (about) being in the community (and) helping people out, so that’s what gravitated me towards construction.”
The company’s name refers to the three Dearnaleys: Craig, his brother, and his father, all of whom have worked in the industry.
He chose Battle Ground for the storefront because of his personal ties to the city and its strong connection to the construction industry.
“Well, I love Battle Ground,” Dearnaley said. “I live in Battle Ground, my brother lives in Battle Ground, we both own homes here, a lot of my friends are here, and I just like the small community.”
He said the storefront near Wilco gives the business a level of visibility unique to roofing and construction companies.
“A lot of times, you don’t see construction companies next to a grocery store,” Dearnaley said. “You don’t see them next to a restaurant; they’re kind of hidden, and I wanted to be a part of the community. I wanted to be a lot more visible.”
The company began operations four to five months before opening its first physical office in Battle Ground. Bishop Brown, the company’s marketing and general manager, said having a storefront has already helped build stronger relationships with customers.
“Battle Ground is a very nice and tight-knit community,” he said. “On several occasions, I have had people actually walk in to schedule an estimate or just drop in and say hi.”
Brown, who has worked in roofing for about a decade, said having a storefront gives customers more confidence when looking for roofing contractors.
“It gives us a lot more credibility for sure,” he said. “When you’re talking to people over the phone, they can do a quick Google search, see your address on there, verify it, and be like, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s right down the road from me.’”
Brown said the company mainly handles roof replacements and new-construction roofing projects in Washington and Oregon. 3D Roofing is GAF-certified, allowing the business to install materials from one of the region’s largest manufacturers. The company also installs metal roofing systems.
3D Roofing’s coverage area presents a unique challenge for homeowners. Both Dearnaley and Brown pointed to the Pacific Northwest climate as one of the region’s biggest factors affecting roofs. Moss buildup, heavy rainfall and moisture accumulation can shorten a roof’s lifespan compared to drier parts of the country.
“The roofs that normally last 30 years in Arizona, they last 18 or 20 years out here just because we have so much moss, we have so much tree coverage, we have so much rain,” Dearnaley said.
Brown added that many homeowners do not realize moisture problems can develop out of sight in attics over time.
“People don’t usually go up into their attics too much (and) let that go unattended for 20 years,” Brown said. “Now you have water inside of your roof. People can start breathing in mold that way as well.”
Dearnaley advised homeowners in the Pacific Northwest to focus on proactive maintenance rather than waiting for leaks to develop.
“You want to be proactive with a roof in the Pacific Northwest and not reactive, just because we get six to seven months of rain,” Dearnaley said.
He also said many homes built during the early 2000s housing boom were constructed quickly, which can lead to roofing problems that are not always obvious to homeowners.
“A lot of people just don’t understand how the shortcuts have taken place on their roof, and I’d like to come out there and educate people and show them what we do,” Dearnaley said.
Brown added that one of the biggest misconceptions homeowners have of the industry is how long roof replacement projects take.
“Most jobs, the average job for us takes one to two days,” he said. “If we’re taking three or four days on a job, then that’s a really big roof.”
The company also provides roof maintenance, gutter cleaning, siding, fencing, decking and exterior painting according to Brown.
Dearnaley said keeping the business local will remain a priority as the company grows.
“When you come to 3D Roofing, you’re helping members of the community, we’re helping you, we’re supporting your community,” Dearnaley said.
Readers can learn more at 3droofingusa.com.
