By Marie Kennedy, For The Mountain Times
Late on a recent wintry afternoon, I placed a panicked call to Klobas O’Neil Roofing. I had a leak in my laundry room, and there was a big snowstorm on the way. After a quick chat with owner and office manager Andrea O’Neil, I was assured that the crew would come over – at the end of their day, on a Friday – to put up a tarp. It was getting dark when they arrived. Owner Sean O’Neil and his team spent a good hour securing that tarp, making sure that it wouldn’t be going anywhere – problem solved at least until spring when we’ll be finding a more permanent fix.
Andrea O’Neil, owner and office manager for Klobas O’Neil Roofing has been helping people with emergencies – like mine – since she took over the office management for the company. It’s what she does. People call in, often in crisis, and Andrea helps them sort things out.
Now, Andrea is expanding the company’s services to include restoration work. “This is something I’ve already been doing informally when people call for help,” she explains.
Her goal is to simplify the process for homeowners. “In addition to what we’ve always done, I’ll be working directly with insurance companies as the go-between for homeowners.”
She sees a real need for local, trusted restoration services. “If you live up here and a tree falls on your home, we already have subcontractors we work with — people we know, like the painter, the deck guy, the gutter guy. The big restoration companies bring in their own contractors from town, but we have relationships with skilled local folks who do great work.”
Sean O’Neil is a seasoned roofer. He grew up in this mountain community and attended Welches Schools. He took over the business from its founder, Randy Klobas. Randy started the company in the 1970s; it was originally based in Boring. Sean was just 18 when Randy hired him, and the two worked together for years. When Sean was ready to strike out on his own, Randy was already considering retirement. He incorporated the business, sold it to Sean, and officially retired in 2005.
Andrea sums up the company’s values best: “I love what we have posted on our website because I really believe it.” She takes a moment to look it up, and then reads aloud: ‘Our reputation is built on hard work, transparency, and a commitment to doing what’s right for our customers — because here, you’re not just a client, you’re our neighbor.’
And that’s exactly how Klobas O’Neil Roofing and Restoration operates – neighbors helping neighbors, no matter the weather.