Putting a solid roof over top of Emery

By Sean Delaney

From big to small, they roof them all.

You may recognize the jingle Eileen Roofing Inc. is known for, but what you may not know is they are a grassroots family company grown with hard work, elbow grease and an eye for protecting any building the best they can.

“A lot of businesses won’t go after the small jobs, but not us,” said Diane Cabral, general manager. “A lot of our longest standing customers, our best relationships are based on the fact we don’t discriminate between the size of jobs.”

From large commercial projects to residential fixes, Eileen roofing tackles any project they’re approached with and with more than 30 trucks on the road at any time, and as many as 70 employees during their high season, the Emery business is equipped to handle them all.

Established in 1996, they got their name from having their original office on Eileen Avenue.

“It was my husband really, a truck and half a dozen guys,” Cabral said. Her husband Rui is the president of the company. Eileen began lending a hand doing anything the company needed, including sheet metal work, estimates in the middle of the night and working a regular job to subsidize the lack of income.

“I went full time with Eileen in 1999, because we decided we’re either going to make a go of this, or we’re not.”

The pair began the process of getting bonded, a certification that allows companies to bid on government contracts, and just one day after receiving their certification landed a big job for Toronto Housing.

“That’s when Eileen began a really dramatic upward trend,” Cabral said.

Today they handle large commercial jobs, residential roofing, roof vacuuming, flat roofing, the whole nine yards.

The Cabral family moved to?Emery in 2000, and after outgrowing a rental unit moved the business to the area in 2006.

“It’s a great location, perfect for us really,” Cabral said. “It’s central to everything and all the highways are here.”

Her roofing tip is ensure you are getting quality work, not just quick and cheap.

“It’s like any product. You can have the best materials in the world, but if it’s not installed right, it’s not going to work or last.”

Eileen Roofing is located at 1825 Wilson Ave., North York and can be reached at: (416) 762-1819.

Or visit: www.eileenroofing.com