Brandon Dawson is building more than roofs—he's creating opportunities.

Ever wondered what really separates quality roofing contractors from fly-by-night operators? Brandon Dawson, owner of Access Roofing Colorado, pulls back the curtain on an industry often shrouded in misconception and complexity.

With a background spanning from union carpentry to high-level commercial construction, Brandon brings authentic expertise to our conversation about what homeowners truly need to know before selecting a roofing contractor. He reveals shocking statistics about storm-chasing contractors—approximately 80% are out-of-towners who vanish when warranty issues arise later. This practice has tarnished the industry's reputation, making it crucial for homeowners to verify credentials and local presence.

The discussion takes a particularly illuminating turn when Brandon explains how insurance companies are increasingly tightening their policies, adding exclusions many homeowners remain unaware of until it's too late. His company has positioned itself as both contractor and advocate, guiding clients through the labyrinthine process of insurance claims while ensuring quality workmanship. For commercial property owners, Brandon shares a little-known secret about Section 179 tax benefits that could save millions in deductions.

What truly distinguishes Access Roofing, however, is their evolution into what Brandon calls a "for-purpose business." For every roof installed, they contribute $250 to their Access of Hope Foundation, specifically supporting fathers navigating difficult custody situations. This commitment to community impact extends beyond business hours, mirroring Brandon's own high-energy approach to life—from motorcycle adventures to his current "75 Hard" personal development challenge.

Whether you're facing immediate roofing needs or simply preparing for future home maintenance, this episode delivers essential knowledge from a trusted local expert. Connect with Brandon on social media @thebigbdawson or visit axisroofing-co.com to learn how quality roofing can protect your most valuable asset while supporting meaningful community initiatives.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Nick George.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in need of a roofingcompany?
That's the best that's outthere.
Well, one might be closer thanyou think.
Today I have the pleasure ofintroducing your good neighbor,
Brandon Dawson, with AccessRoofing Colorado.
Brandon, how's it going?

Speaker 3 (00:33):
Great, how about yourself?

Speaker 2 (00:35):
Excellent.
Tell us all about AccessRoofing Colorado.

Speaker 3 (00:40):
So I own Access Roofing.
It's a Colorado-based company.
We started with residentialstorm restoration and now we're
expanding into a largerdepartment, into the commercial
division and reallyall-encompassing in the home
services solution.
Also, you know, top preferredcontractors.

(01:08):
We're BBB accredited, we prideourselves in delivering top
quality, While we're alsoguiding the homeowners, you know
, through the insurance processas we go, because that could be
daunting, you know, for ahomeowner and beyond roofing, I
also have a security company,Elite Private Protection.
So both ventures, you know,connect under my larger mission,
which is building a businessthat serves the people at the

(01:32):
highest level while we'recreating these opportunities for
other people.

Speaker 2 (01:36):
How did you get into the roofing business?

Speaker 3 (01:41):
So I've been a general contractor for a long
time.
I started years ago goingthrough you know, the Carpenters
Union, went through theapprenticeship was running work,
building big high ground upcommercial construction, and
then over time I just saw howthe storms were impacting family

(02:11):
and businesses and howconfusing that whole process is
and how confusing it can be.
So that's when I realized thatroofing was not just about
shingles but it was aboutadvocating for the people as
well, and you know what began asknocking on doors and you know
learning.

(02:31):
The trade has now since growninto building Access Roofing,
into a platform that reallyempowers teams, and we're
expanding across differentstates as well teams and we're
expanding across differentstates as well.

Speaker 2 (02:48):
And just so listeners know how we're spelling Axis,
it's A-X-I-S.
So, Brandon, what are somemyths or misconceptions in your
industry when people think youknow what they might expect when
they pick up the phone and call, or pick up the Google search
bar and call a roofing company?

Speaker 3 (03:04):
You know that's a great question and a big one is.
A big misconception is that allroofers are the same.
That's just absolutely not true.
The truth is you know thequality, the warranties, you
know the code, compliance andeven how the insurance
supplements are handled.
Very dramatically, another mythis that insurance companies are

(03:25):
just going to take care of it.
You know, in reality, like I wassaying, carriers are really
tightening their policies.
They're delaying claims,they're adding all kinds of
exclusions throughout the policy.
A lot of times these homeownersdon't even know what they're
getting into.
You know they're dropping downto ACB policies.
They got all kinds of softmetal exclusions.

(03:45):
So really, you know what wespecialize in is helping these
homeowners through this processand, if they're not in a good
policy, with connecting them toanother resource that we have in
our network to get them into abetter policy.
But again, what's happening is,you know the market, the way
that it's shifting, even withthe insurance, and insurance is

(04:09):
not wanting to pay out.
It's really shifting to to moreof a retail market.
Um, so we make that wholeprocess, you know, seamless,
documented and fully compliant.
So so the clients are protected.

Speaker 2 (04:27):
Could you explain to me again the difference between
a roofing company that ischasing hailstorms and a retail
roofing company?

Speaker 3 (04:39):
Yeah, so what happens is a lot of the times, you know
, when you have a roofingcompany that are chasing these
storms.
I'll be honest with you, 80% ofthem are out-of-towners,
they're fly-by-night roofingcompanies.
You know, I had a list about300 roofing companies from one
of the first storms that hitColorado and I looked through

(04:59):
that list and 80% of them arecompanies that I have no idea
who they even are.
So what happens is, you know,they come in, they do the work
and then, when it comes time forwarranty later on, down the
road or a leak or somethingthat's going on with the roof,
guess what?
These guys are nowhere to befound, and that's the problem in

(05:25):
the roofing industry as a wholeis now the roofers have a bad
name, you see.
So it's always important to usea local trusted contractor
that's insured and licensed, andmake sure you do your research.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
And when you say retail, does that mean like a
retail facility where people cancome in and shop and touch
stuff?
I mean, I'm just trying tounderstand when.

Speaker 3 (05:39):
I'm talking retail.
Basically, what I'm saying is acouple of things.
One, with the insurance as aroofer, it's almost like you're
the bank, waiting on theinsurance to pay out the
proceeds to the homeowner.
A lot of times there's amortgage company involved where
you have to get a mortgageaffidavit.

(06:00):
You know, I have to get anendorsement because they're
vested in the property, theyhave a vested interest, so it
delays the process and it's likethe roofing company is a bank
almost.
But here's what's happeningeven more is that?
Um, because of all of that, itjust makes more sense now and
the way the market's shifting isjust to pitch it as a retail.

(06:21):
In the first place, you know ifyou can get a brand new roof
and I promise you nobody'sexcited wake up in the morning
jumping on the bed.
You know to buy a new roof, butit's your largest asset and
there's a lot of things that cango wrong very fast.
So, uh, we just came back, youknow, from a big conference, a a
win, the storm conference, andjust kind of listened to the

(06:42):
industry leaders and what'shappening.
And even you know top industrypros and other insurance
companies.
The insurance is asking okay,hey, you know, by the time you
guys are done.
Supplementing these claims areway out of proportion.
Why can't you give us a writtenestimate right there at the
time that we're doing theinitial inspection?

(07:05):
And now you know from ourexactimate estimate, with our
line item estimate in yourretail, what it's going to cost
you.
Maybe we're a few thousand offand we can get closer to that
number rather than you know,starting off with a small
estimate from the insurance inthe first place and really
trying to get it boosted upwhere the homeowners really get

(07:27):
the value for what they're owed.
You know, because my job is toput the house back in the
pre-storm condition and toreally look out for the
homeowners.

Speaker 2 (07:36):
Right, and so you know.
And storms don't happen all thetime.
So who is, who is your targetcustomer and how are you
marketing to them right now as acompany?

Speaker 3 (07:47):
You know.
So that's a good question.
And so direct outreach, doorknocking that is always number
one.
You know, we doing localmarketing.
We're we're big in thecommunity.
Um, we, we're sponsoring uh, wesponsored one of the uh semi
last year the nightmare.

(08:08):
Um, we're doing ai drivencampaigns.
But now we're really gettinginto strategic branding so we're
positioning access as a trustedname here in Colorado.
We're getting in, you know, withdifferent realtors.
We're actually starting to makerelationships, you know, with
different insurance companies,trying to get on the preferred

(08:29):
list, because before, you know,it was a little different story
and now it's almost like youhave no choice, you need to be
in that network.
So we're creating bignetworking events.
We're letting people knowwhat's going on in the industry.
We're teaching people and justhelping out throughout the
process.
But then we're also doingeducation, like I said, from

(08:51):
lunch and learns.
You know, with commercialowners talking about Section 179
.
A lot of commercial ownersdon't realize, but I like to get
them all in the same buildingFor one.
We're talking about a lot ofmoney.
Right, when you have HOA, domaintenance, you know, upgrade
their property and you can haveup to a two and a half million

(09:21):
dollar deduction that yearinstead of spreading it out over
29 years.
So we're really informing, youknow, the people how they can
use this to their benefit, andthose are just some of the
different things we're doing toattract.

Speaker 2 (09:36):
Have you ever thought about doing your own podcast to
educate people that way?

Speaker 3 (09:41):
You know what?
As a matter of fact, mygirlfriend Holly and I are
starting the podcast hererelatively soon, in the next
week or two, and it's going tobe called Elevate.

Speaker 2 (09:52):
Wow.
Outside of work, what do you dofor fun?

Speaker 3 (09:58):
So I'm a little bit of an adrenaline junkie.
I love all things fitness,taking care of my body, you know
, taking care of my faith,really big into motorcycles.
Been riding bikes since I was alittle kid, boating out with
friends, you know, camping whenit comes wintertime,
snowmobiling up in the mountains, but just enjoying nature,

(10:22):
being outside.
I think I got ADD I'm not 100%sure on that but I'm always on
the go, so always, always doingsomething.
And then on top of that, youknow like I'm doing a 75 hard
program right now, which isprobably one of the best things
you can do mentally, and it's 75days straight, two workouts a

(10:44):
day, an indoor-outdoor workout,reading 10 pages a day, drinking
a gallon of water, but reallytaking care of yourself, and
every time I've done that lasttime was five years ago it's
really boosted.
You know where I'm going andgrowing and leveling up.

Speaker 2 (11:01):
Brandon, tell our listeners, please, one thing
that they should take away fromthis interview about Axis
Roofing Colorado.

Speaker 3 (11:10):
Yeah, one thing that we're very proud of and just
kind of switch to this model.
But we're actually afor-purpose business now and
what that means is we're notjust focused on the profits,
we're looking at giving back.
We got a couple of differentones.
We got the access of hopefoundation to support families
and causes we believe in, andwhen I say that is, we're

(11:32):
talking about including helpingparents that are in challenging
custody situations and investinginto our community.
So when you work with us,you're not just getting a new
roof, but we're helping make adifference.
So every roof that we installnow, we do a flat rate, a new
roof, but we're helping make adifference.
So every roof that we installnow, we do a flat rate of $250
per roof that we're putting intothe Access to Hope Foundation

(11:52):
to help fathers to be able tostay in their kids' lives, and
then, on the security side, justhelping veterans and giving
back to the community.

Speaker 2 (12:02):
How can our listeners learn more about Access roofing
company on online and socialmedia and by phone?

Speaker 3 (12:09):
yeah, so I am all over social media um, a lot of
it's my personal brand, brandondawson, on facebook and at the
big b?
Dawson at instagram.
You can go to Axis Roofingbusiness page on Facebook as
well and Instagram, and thenalso our website is

(12:30):
axisroofing-cocom.

Speaker 2 (12:36):
Awesome.
Well, Brandon, we reallyappreciate you being on our show
and we wish you and AxisRoofing Company the very best
moving forward.

Speaker 3 (12:45):
Awesome.
Thank you so much.
Thanks foring Company the verybest moving forward.

Speaker 1 (12:50):
Awesome.
Thank you so much.
Thanks for having us.
I really appreciate it.
Thank you for listening to theGood Neighbor Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go tognpfortcollinscom.
That's gnpfortcollinscom.
Or call 970-438-0825.