Now with more than 25 years in business, RSI Roofing Inc, was founded and incorporated in 1982, by Roger and Marilyn LaPierre. From their 20,000 square foot facility and (60) sixty plus employees, they work with owners, architects, and engineers from building conception to final completion. In 1982, they started with five or six people working in the company. Now they have ten times that number, with between 50 and 60 employees working in six to ten groups at any one time. This makes RSI the 78th largest roofing company within the United States, as rated by RSI Magazine in 2008.
RSI is a Carlisle ESP ("Excellence in Single Ply") contractor and they were recently presented with the prestigious "Hall of Fame" award from Carlisle for over 656 perfectinstallations. This is the highest award given out by Carlisle to installers of their product. RSI is also a GAF and Firestone Master Contractor, as well as an advisory board member to Firestone. In 2001 RSI was presented with ABC'S Platinum award for outstanding safety and employee recognition, and also received the 2001 National Safety Award for companies of similar size. Along with ABC, RSI is also a member of NRCA, NNYBE, and NRTWC. RSI also has a complete crew of asbestos abatement handlers who work in strict accordance and compliance with NYSDOL criteria and guidelines. RSI can virtually complete all phases of roofing and sheet metal needs with their own skilled technicians.
To date RSI has installed over 10,000,000 square feet of Carlisle membrane alone, with a grand total of 52,000,000 square feet of roofing installed. A few of their more prominent projects are: Pentagon, New Heating Plant, located in Washington, DC; Frederic Remington Art Museum, Ogdensburg, NY; Robert Moses Power Dam, Massena, NY; Boldt Castle, Alexandria Bay, NY; and their most recent and largest contract ever (850,000 square feet) is a United States Federal Prison Camp located in Waymart, PA.
A new and unique product that RSI quite recently specializes in is a "Living Roof." They are roofs that are covered with a specialty mix of soil growing medium for lawns, plants, shrubs, etc. The major benefit to a Living Roof is the heating and cooling efficiency of the building. Normal R-Values for the building insulation can be reduced without compromising the building's overall insulation. Installation of this 'Living Roof can be viewed first hand at either of these recently completed RSI jobs at the Joan C. Weil Adirondack Library, Paul Smith's College, Paul Smith's, NY; or Little Trees Visitor Center, Thompson Park, Watertown, NY. This new roof is also in the works for upcoming plans at several colleges in NNY.
Probably the most unusual project for RSI was a 'Bat House' located on Ojibway Island on the St. Lawrence River. The noise and smell from the thriving bat population in the attic troubled the owner but she didn't want to get rid of the bats as they perform a most valuable function in bug and mosquito control. A 'Bat House' was designed and built, then eventually all of the bats were relocated to their new structure built in the style of a Japanese pagoda with four separate copper roofs, and resembling a Christmas tree. All of the furnishings and favored environments were custom designed by bat experts, and the 'Bat House' was well distanced from the owner's dwelling. In 1998, RSI bought out a local sheet metal company, GTB, which had been working exclusively for RSI for over ten (10) years. This has had a tremendous positive impact on the coordination and flexibility of roofing and sheet metal work.
The RSI sheet metal division generates specialty projects from terne metal, stainless steel, copper as well as other materials. RSI now manufacturers their own UL certified, FM rated standing seam roofing and accessories, this enables them to have the leading edge in the standing seam roofing industry.
In 2001 GTB received an award for the sheet metal installation on the Academic Center, Clarkson University and also the McNally summerhouse located on the St. Lawrence River. This family McNally residence sports a copper roof system, as well a mixture of shingles, copper shingles, and standing seam roofs. Another unique installation was completed at Fort Drum, NY over the General's Quarters called "The LeRay Mansion," this roof was completed using terne coated stainless steel.
RSI has worked on several copper standing seam roofs such as SUNY Oswego Johnson and Riggs Halls; and a standing seam roof for Clayton's Antique Boat Museum, Haxall Building. Haxall is the largest boat museum in the United States, exhibiting power and sailboats as well as being highly active in the restoration of old wooden vessels and even war canoes.
Mr. Roger LaPierre tells New York State Construction that "RSI Roofing is a people business first and foremost. We take great pride, as do our trained employees, in servicing client needs when, and where they need them. "
This philosophy, for sure, will stand RSI Roofing Inc in excellent stead for the future of RSI.