The roofing industry is a family affair for Caleb Benton, owner of Benton Roofing in Henderson County. His father, Roger Benton, originally founded the company in 1978 in Jacksonville, FL, relocating to WNC in 1993 to cool off from the Florida heat after finding a school that was a good fit for his children.

After serving in the US Marine Corps, Caleb Benton decided coming home and joining his father in running the roofing company was the best choice. Though he didn’t have a construction background, he learned from his father and was able to grow the company, eventually deciding to take it over himself.

Benton Roofing constructs, inspects, and repairs roofs of all varieties. While they specialize in commercial roofing, they will occasionally work on residential projects with specialty tiles or shake, or roofs with historic or unique dynamics.

Certain types of roofing systems require specific certifications, and Benton Roofing works to maintain their status as a certified installer for these systems. They work with steep-sloped and flat roofs, TPO installations, gutters, and even have an in-house custom metal fabrication shop.

According to Marketing Manager Amanda Bowen, the company continues client relationships after installation with regular inspections, routine maintenance, and warranty services.

“We are here to be their roof resource,” Bowen said. “Different roofs have different longevity. Some can last 20 to 30 years, but building owners should get in the habit of general maintenance. You should have your roof inspected twice a year to make sure there’s no unexpected damage, debris, mold, or water.”

Many of Benton Roofing’s projects include new construction work. They regularly bid on new projects and partner with area general contractors, architects, and engineers, and provide business-to-business service for building owners. Other projects include re-roofing work and repair and maintenance services.

As their presence in the market has grown, the company has completed projects at some area hospitals, manufacturing facilities, and local government buildings, and recently reroofed the Biltmore Estate Winery.

Still in “growth mode,” Benton Roofing is currently having new facilities built, which they hope to be moved into by the end of the spring. The new location will include a warehouse, a metal fabrication shop, storage, and offices.

“I’ve been with the company for five years, and we had about 45 staff when I started,” Bowen said. “We currently have about 76 full-time employees, and we just hired a few more.”

A combination of supply and demand has helped Benton Roofing grow their business and their team. With a healthy run of projects and plenty of work scheduled, Bowen said leadership is always looking for roofers and superintendents. They’ve shifted marketing from general brand awareness to recruitment, and place a heavy focus on retention.

An increase of internal communication and an open-door policy helps employees feel they are a part of the team. Bowen said anyone can walk into anyone else’s office or send an email asking questions if they need help, and team members are happy to share feedback with each other. The leadership team works to share celebrations of things like employee anniversaries, shows appreciation by complementing hard work, and hosts team-building games and events. 

“It’s construction, but at the end of the day, we’re all human beings,” Bowen said. “It’s important to make sure that each employee feels like they’re a part of something bigger, more than just a place to collect a paycheck. We’re helping to build the infrastructure of our community.”

Recognized as #54 on 2023’s Top 100 Roofing Contractor list by Roofing Contractor magazine and #4275 by 2023’s Inc 5000, Benton Roofing serves the Southeast region with commercial and industrial roofing expertise. Learn more at BentonRoofing.com.