Nedlaw Roofing was started by Randy Walden in 1988. Years later, his two sons—Drew Walden, President of Nedlaw Group of Companies, and John Walden, Managing Partner of Nedlaw Roofing Owen Sound—would continue the family roofing tradition and grow the company into what it is today.
By remaining true to their core values and maintaining a dedication to quality, the family business has grown into one of the largest commercial roofing contractors in Ontario. This is their story and the lessons the family has learned along the way.
The History and Journey of Nedlaw Roofing
Randy's sons grew up in the industry, and the roofing business became a significant part of their lives to the point that they knew they'd one day continue their father's legacy. According to Drew, "For me, there was never really a single decision moment. Roofing has always been in my blood, and it felt like the natural path forward."
Today, the two brothers run the family company, leveraging the years of experience they gained from working within it. They've grown the company and modernized with the times, all while remaining true to their core values. Still, they remember what it was like at the start.
"One of the first major commercial projects I took on was a 450,000 sq. ft. roofing job in Brantford, Ontario," Drew says. He found the job by simply calling the contractor's phone number from the sign he saw on the fence. The contractor said they hadn't even started to look for bids yet, and so, Nedlaw Roofs submitted a quote and, surprisingly, ended up winning the job.
"That experience taught me that, sometimes, you just need to put yourself out there—opportunities don't always come to you; you have to create them."
The brothers realized they truly made it as a company back in 2021, when they moved into their new 40,000 sq. ft. facility. After operating out of a 5,000 sq. ft. facility for the last 30 years, their newfound success required them to move into a bigger facility to manage existing operations. This move signaled their transition from a small family-run business to an established leader in the roofing industry.
"It was more than just a building; it was a symbol of growth, of our team's hard work, and of the future we're building together."
What's set Nedlaw Roofing apart from its competitors all these years is an emphasis on combining experience, scale, and values. The second-generation family business brings over 35 years of knowledge and stability to each project. Nedlaw has also been recognized as a GAF Commercial Chairman's Circle contractor since 2024, a prestigious recognition only for businesses that have proven their excellence in the industry. The company has built up sufficient resources to manage anywhere from 30 to 40 large-scale projects simultaneously without sacrificing quality and maintaining accountability at each step.
That's how it's been able to grow into one of Ontario's leading commercial and industrial roofing contractors—and how it keeps clients coming back project after project. "Our clients know they're getting both the reliability of a big operation and the personal commitment of a family business."
Overcoming Challenges Along the Way
The path wasn't always straightforward, and there were challenges along the way. One of the biggest challenges Nedlaw Roofs faced was finding and keeping skilled workers, especially as the business grew.
"At any given time, we manage 30–40 commercial and industrial jobsites across Ontario, so having the right people in place is critical." To combat this challenge, they've created a strong company culture, offered competitive wages, and invested in training and development, so employees feel supported and can deliver the high-quality work the company has built its reputation on.
Since this is a common issue facing many construction companies, GAF created the CARE Contractor Training Center to help companies find skilled workers.
Of course, the challenges and worries haven't stopped, despite their massive success. As a business owner, Drew feels the responsibility is much greater than when he and his brother were just employees of the company. Things that keep them up at night are often related to scale, from overseeing huge projects and managing risks to knowing that something like a roof leak on a major commercial building can have serious consequences. While the pressure can be intense at times, it also pushes the family to stay focused on quality, safety, and reliability.
Sharing the Secrets to Success—and Their Advice for Others
Having learned the difficulties of the roofing industry firsthand, they offer their own advice to others looking to follow a similar journey. One of the most essential pieces of advice for owners is to delegate the work as soon as possible. Drew initially tried to do everything, from project management and client relations to accounting, which is a common mistake many business owners make.
"But as the company grew, it became clear that success depends on trusting your team and empowering them to take ownership." As Drew learned to delegate the work, it freed up his time to concentrate on long-term business growth.
Earning their clients' trust is another factor that made Nedlaw Roofing a success. They achieved this by doing exactly what they said they would, delivering on time, and staying on budget. Drew always keeps an open line of communication and is honest about issues that come up while addressing them immediately. This transparency gave him a trust factor with clients who eventually became repeat clients and long-term partners. When a company can trust you to not only do good work but also be honest and accountable, you'll keep getting their business.
However, it goes far beyond just trust. "Trust is at the core, but relationships also go deeper than business." They both make an effort to truly get to know their clients as people. They've found that if a client starts to feel part of the roofing family, the connections last beyond a single project. Many of Nedlaw's long-term clients have become advocates and referral partners, since they know firsthand how much value they place in the relationship, along with the work itself.
Maintaining quality while managing costs and timelines isn't easy, but it all begins with strong project management. The team at Nedlaw Roofing holds weekly production meetings to review job progress and productivity, so any issues are caught early on in the process. A strong focus on quality training and investing in keeping their crews up to date with the latest roofing products and techniques enables them to deliver high-quality results.
Get the Support You Need with GAF Roofing Resources
Running a successful company isn't easy, and as the Walden family found, simply relying on yourself to do everything isn't ideal. From finding the right employees to using the right tools and products, GAF offers extensive resources to help you grow your company.
Visit the GAF Roofing contractor resources page to learn more about the programs and products GAF makes available to residential and commercial contractors.
