Bob and Emily Hoel are the owners of Hoel Roofing & Remodeling in Knightstown, Indiana, which is located forty-five minutes east of Indianapolis.

Together, Bob and Emily (who are married) founded Hoel Roofing & Remodeling in 2017 after they had both worked for another roofing company.

“We got introduced to the roofing business back in 2016. We worked for a couple of the big companies and we saw that they didn’t take care of the customers,” Bob says, adding that he felt he and Emily could offer homeowners a better customer service experience.

“We poured our heart and soul into taking care of customers because we believed that no matter who we sold roofs for, we always wanted to take care of the homeowner. That’s ultimately why we started our own roofing company.”

At Hoel Roofing & Remodeling, customers are able to decide between installing Owens Corning or Malarkey shingles on their roof, two brands of shingles that Bob says give homeowners better value than their cheaper competition.

“Newer shingles like Malarkey and Owens Corning put copper in their granules, so every time it rains it actually washes some copper down, and that will clean up algae and make roofs last longer and look new,” Hoel says.

“Some of the cheaper shingles don’t have copper in their granules and they will show a lot of algae within a few years.”

Unlike other roofing contractors, Bob and Emily were not always involved in the roofing business.

In fact, both had previously worked in industries that were much different than roofing.

“Before we got into the roofing business, I worked in the medical field and Bob worked in the environmental field. Each summer, we baled hay during our free time to make extra money, so any bad day that we have in the roofing business is okay because it beats bailing hay any day of the week,” says Emily.

Adds Bob:

“When Emily says bale hay, it was a small square bale. Actually, the first summer we were married, we baled over 8,000 bales of hay.”

But Bob and Emily have come a long way from the days of baling hay, and they attribute much of their success to Dave Ramsey and the financial principles that he disseminates online.

“Growing up, our parents struggled with money. A lot of people say that you should let your mess be your message, and one thing we got a hold of was Dave Ramsey’s financial principles,” says Bob.

Bob then notes that he learned Ramsey’s principles right before he and Emily got married.

It’s been ten years since the couple took their vows, and in that time, the implementation of Ramsey’s advice has paid off tremendously.

“We live so much of our life based off Dave Ramsey‘s principles, practicing things like living debt-free and running a roofing business debt-free,”

Bob says.

“We wanted better for our kids than what we had growing up. Don’t get me wrong, we both had parents who loved and took care of us, but for me, I grew up with a single dad because my parents got divorced when I was two years old, on account of bankruptcy and other financial issues.”

Emily too appreciates Ramsey’s guidance because her family also did not have the benefit of financial stability.

“I grew up in a trailer, so I want to do better for my kids and show them the value of hard work. Like Bob, I also grew up with humble beginnings, but I’m looking toward the future and I’m excited to see where it can take us,” she says optimistically.

In just four short years, Bob and Emily have already developed a roofing business that looks poised to become even more successful in the coming years.

This is due not only to the fact that Hoel Roofing & Remodeling does a good job installing shingles, but they also have ingratiated themselves to their local community, which has paid major dividends for the Knightstown-based roofing company.

“The reason we love Indiana is because we were both raised here,” Bob says. “We live in a more rural area, but the community supports our roofing company. We have three kids, and that can be challenging, especially because we want our roofing company to grow, but central Indiana is home, and it has done so much for our family and our marriage.”

Emily also loves her local community, and she could not imagine running a roofing business anywhere else.

“I love Indiana. Call me weird, but I love seeing cornfields, bean fields, and cattle everywhere,” she says.

“We moved to Tennessee for a year, and while Tennessee is a beautiful state, there’s nothing like being home right here in Indiana.”

Hoel Roofing & Remodeling has also benefited from the knowledge shared by the Roofing Insights YouTube platform, something Emily says has also made her kids excited about the roofing industry.

“We get the Roofing Insights Magazine in the mail. Our kids know Dmitry [Roofing Insights CEO], Amber [Director of Operations], and Brent [Co-host],” Emily says.

“Our kids also know shingle brands already. Our son loves Owens Corning, and our daughter loves Malarkey.”

Bob adds that exposing their kids to the roofing industry at such a young age has not only taught them about the business, but it has also given them a great example of how hard work leads to tangible results.

“Even though our kids are very young, they are involved in the roofing business because my dad raised me with the values of if you work hard and you’re honest, you’ll be alright in life. That’s why I want to instill work ethic in our kids,” he says.

While it may appear that everything at Hoel Roofing & Remodeling is going well these days, Emily is also quick to point out that the roofing business always presents unexpected obstacles.

“The roofing business is very challenging. Just when you think things are going well, some materials show up late or a crew decides not to install a roof. In the roofing industry, you are not going to be able to predict all the challenges that you’re going to run into,”

Emily explains, but she still insists that getting into the roofing industry is one of the best things to ever happen to her family.

“Owning a roofing company is definitely worth it because we are doing it for ourselves. It’s our business. Our name is on it, so every challenge is a blessing in disguise.”

One of these challenges includes dealing with pesky insurance claims.

At Hoel Roofing & Remodeling, their team of experts are able to take years of experience and use that to best serve their customers during the insurance claims process.

One way that Hoel Roofing & Remodeling does this is by advising homeowners to take photos after severe weather has occurred.

“If you’re at home and you see the hail hit the ground, take some pictures. After the hailstorm is over, you can even go outside and grab a piece of hail, put it in your freezer, and then later show it to your adjuster. Also, do not be afraid to take some pictures of the downspouts or the holes in your siding,” Bob says, then mentioning that hiring a reputable roofing contractor will also go a long way toward ensuring that homeowners receive fair compensation from their insurance carriers.

“Have a roofing contractor represent you during the insurance claims process, but before signing a contract take a look at their reviews online and make sure they know what they’re doing when it comes to helping homeowners with their insurance claims.”

Bob also says that when choosing which roofing contractor to hire, it is crucial to find a local contractor who puts the needs of homeowners first.

“Find a roofing contractor that cares about your home, is there to walk you through the process, and prioritizes your best interests. For example, if you need asphalt shingles or a metal roof, you want a roofing contractor who puts you first and isn’t only concerned about their bottom line,” he advises.

Emily echoes that sentiment.

“Find someone who is not only going to do your roof right, but will also answer their phone later on if your roof has issues,” she says.

To learn more about Hoel Roofing & Remodeling, visit their website today or give them a call at 765-561-2054!