Legacy Roofing, a Redmond-based, family-owned business, is celebrating 20 successful years, including recognition in industry trade publications for its across-the-board “Gold Standard” approach to quality, customer care, employee satisfaction and community service.

The company began as Shake Specialists in 1988, exclusively selling cedar shake roofs for new building construction. Founder and CEO Cliff Hurn described himself as a “third-generation shake rat,” growing up near his family’s roofing mill in Concrete, Wash. with “red cedar sawdust in our veins.”

Shake roofs are beautiful and suitable for our local climate but have taken a back seat to other types of roofs because of their expense, Hurn explained.

Now 80 percent of roofing projects in the area are “re-roofs,” using more affordable materials.

So in 2000, Hurn changed the company name to Legacy Roofing with new logos and the catchphrase, “A Tradition of Quality.” Legacy currently has 140 employees including Hurn’s oldest son Hans, who runs operations and productions, his youngest son Stefan, who is the purchasing manager, and daughter Heidi who oversees marketing.

“We’ve been BuiltGreen members for a very long time, using materials and practices that make your home safe, healthier and more beautiful for the Northwest environment,” said Heidi.

Legacy recycles all of its roof debris and uses fuel-efficient vehicles and products such as Energy Star skylights and sun tunnels to make the most of natural light. It also encourages use of insulation to conserve heat in the winter and proper venting to cut down on roof deterioration and unhealthy mold.

Heidi described a variety of products from which Legacy’s customers can choose, including wood that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council; metal products with “cool” codings for energy-efficiency; natural slate which is minimally processed and super-durable, lasting up to 100 years; single-ply PVC, another Energy Star product with a cool roof rating; and asphalt composition productions with new technology to conserve energy.

To make it easier for customers to choose what type of roof they want, Legacy goes to them with mobile offices and showrooms. Sales reps can provide estimates and bids and start paperwork in one visit, with all the latest prices standardized from one salesperson to another, so there’s no guesswork and no haggling, Heidi said.

“We understand that this is the biggest investment people make, after a house, a car or kitchen remodel,” she added.

Regionally, Cliff said, cost for a new roof is about $20,000. Here in Redmond, roofs for bigger homes may run closer to $30,000. Different financing options are available and most roofs — outside of slate — last about 20 years.

Because of the considerable expense, it’s no wonder that customers are cautious about selecting a reputable roofer.

Cliff acknowledged that some contractors are unscrupulous. He takes pride in stating that his company is different.

One thing he does to set Legacy Roofing apart from competitors is to “pay employees very well. We were one of the first to add health benefits for residential roofing (employees). We really emphasize the safety of eyes and limbs. Concern for employees and customers continues to elevate the professionalism of this business.”

In turn, employees are expected to uphold Legacy’s “Gold Standards” of being clean and courteous in the ways they present themselves and maintain company-owned vehicles, which include bathrooms so workers won’t have to disturb customers. The company is even known for its spiffy, rust-free dumpsters.

“The way our workers dress, drive, talk to people, not smoking, not playing a loud boom box at the work site … are things we emphasize,” said Heidi.

Legacy Roofing also impacts the greater community by sponsoring teams for the Susan G. Komen Foundation Race for the Cure, the Jacob Green Foundation for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research and Team STP (Seattle to Portland) Bike Ride for the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, as well as Little League and Boys and Girls Clubs activities and scholarships for Eastlake High School athletes.

Legacy Roofing is located at 9680 153rd Ave. NE. For information, call (425) 444-ROOF (7663) or visit www.legacyquality.com.