Chris Bautista on Roofing, Hustle, and Building Above Roofing

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Chris Bautista, owner of Above Roofing, LLC. Chris helps homeowners with roof leaks, repairs, replacements, and maintenance inspections. He got into roofing after helping his father-in-law install a roof, and the work stayed with him. Twelve years later, he has built a business around doing the job right.

Chris walks me through one of the lessons that shaped him as a business owner. Early on, he underestimated a job and lost money. That taught him to slow down, inspect roofs with more care, ask better questions, and make sure the price matches the work. It is a lesson a lot of entrepreneurs learn the hard way. Charging correctly is not just about profit. It is about understanding the full scope before making a promise.

We also talk about what homeowners should know before hiring a roofer. Chris points out that many people do not understand the insurance a contractor should carry. That coverage protects the workers, the contractor, and the homeowner if something goes wrong. He also encourages people to ask about experience and what types of roofs a contractor can install. In the Kanawha Valley, many older roofs are being torn off and replaced with shingles or metal panels when some of them could be preserved.

Chris sees staffing as one of the biggest challenges in the trades right now. He wants more young people to see the trades as a career path. Homes and buildings are not going to build or repair themselves, and skilled workers will always be needed.

When I ask him what skill every entrepreneur needs, his answer is simple: hustle. The skill he is working on now is patience. Chris also shares that his company name connects to his faith and the belief that we are above and not below. For anyone who wants to reach Above Roofing, Chris points them to the website or his phone number, 304-942-9296.