Project Spotlight: The Mission Inn

Autor: Dan Stout | 17 de febrero de 2025

If a life-changing opportunity came calling, would you be up to the challenge? The team at Veirs Kluk Roofing (VK) knew the answer when their office line rang and they were presented with a hotel roof restoration that would challenge their skills, organization and determination.

The client was The Mission Inn, a National Historic Landmark, hotel and tourist attraction that draws over half a million visitors per year. From a limited initial scope, the project grew to include almost 20 roof decks, multiple materials, three crane deliveries and even a shutdown of traffic on a major thoroughfare.

For many roofers, it would have been more than they could handle. For Veirs Kluk, it was their opportunity to shine.

A Mission of Historic Proportions

Built in 1876, The Mission Inn is a treasured landmark for the city of Riverside, California. It's a massive structure filled with visitors year-round. And it was badly in need of a new roof. That's where VK came in.

"We're a small team here at VK," says Project Executive Thomas Hayward. "It's just me, my brother Chad Bailey and Jordan Veirs." But while the team is small, they have deep roots in the community. "VK has been in Riverside for 75 years," he explains. "To reroof the crown jewel of Riverside, that's the feather in our cap and the biggest capstone project we've had so far."

But they also knew The Mission Inn was far from a controlled worksite.

"The hotel was fully operational," Hayward says. Management only closed off the top floors directly under the reroof. For VK, understanding expectations and communicating with the client was essential to beginning the bid process.

Working the Bid

The initial call came in September 2023. VK responded quickly, delivering the first bid package in October. And then ... silence.

"It went quiet for a while," recalls Hayward. But when it picked up, it accelerated. Ultimately, there were eight bid revisions and six job walks. With each walk, the scope grew. Initially at 30% of the hotel, it settled at almost 85%.

It was clearly a challenge, but VK wasn't in it alone. The team knew it was best to get vendors involved as soon as possible. Justis Massey, regional sales director for Beacon, explained how partnerships begin with the bid process.

"On a project like this," says Massey, "Beacon steps in to review the details, visit the jobsite and provide accurate, competitive pricing. We establish loading schedules, align on timing and processes, and coordinate with the branch. Our goal is to help contractors submit accurate bids and deliver materials on a schedule that keeps the project moving."

The contract was signed in May. With a completion target of early September, VK would commence work in June. It was time to order materials.

From Contract to Completion

On historic buildings, materials are often like-for-like replacements. Typically, that's not a problem. Then again, The Mission Inn isn't a typical project.

The bulk of the reroof was a mix of shingles and ballasted flat roofs. The shingles were straightforward, but the ballast turned out to be a headache. To preserve historic integrity, Hayward explains, "We had to push the rock, tear off that side, install and push the rock back down." After all that work, they still needed over 100 bags of supplemental ballast.

The back of the hotel was even more complicated, with 50-year-old clay tiles. "Almost every roof had its own type of tile," says Hayward. "MCA Tile did custom tiles for all six slopes."

Material loading was another complication, one that required three separate crane loads. At this point, VK's relationship with Beacon was paramount.

"Tight collaboration was crucial," says Massey. "A building like this presents a lot of challenges due to the variety of materials, the multiple elevations for delivery and the fact that it's a 100-year-old structure."

"So, you know, quite a few different things going on there," Hayward says with a laugh. But at the end of the day, he says, "Beacon got it loaded and staged it out great."

Satisfied Customers

VK Roofing hit significant completion on September 4. Almost exactly one year after that fateful phone call, The Mission Inn was ready for its annual role in the city's Festival of Lights.

Even more impressive is the minimal impact the work had on the Inn's operations: only two complaints during the entire hotel roof restoration. It's a tribute to a well-planned job, successfully executed.

Tips for Roofers Facing a Major Project

Considering scaling up for a bigger job? Thomas Hayward suggests focusing on the basics.

Comunicación

From day one, Hayward was clear with the client that it wasn't going to be a small, quiet process. And that let the hotel prep accordingly.

"That was probably the sole reason why this thing went as smooth as it did — getting the information to whoever needed it as soon as possible," he says.

Work the Quote

If there's just one tip Hayward could give other roofers, it'd be this: "Service the call aggressively."

"We were out there when they needed us," he says. "We delivered the bid on time." When the project went quiet, VK followed up. "The project probably grew three times the size after that follow-up email."

Work With the Best

Taking on bigger jobs means scaling up. VK brought on quality workers and turned to key partners like Beacon.

"We ensure project success by maintaining constant communication with the contractor," says Massey. "This includes regular check-ins on current and upcoming deliveries, daily follow-ups to confirm everything is on track, and proactive planning for the next steps."

"All the material came in, everything got loaded correctly," recalls Hayward. The only thing he'd change? Ordering the custom tile sooner. "It ended up coming in on time," he says, but it would have given them a little more breathing room.

To learn more about about VK Roofing, please visit them at https://www.veirsklukroofing.com

Answer the Call

If you want to tackle a major job, connect with your local Beacon supplier.

"Our team — consisting of the outside sales representative, key account manager, branch manager and contractor — works together seamlessly to keep the project running smoothly," says Massey.

With a team like that, when opportunity knocks, you'll be ready for the challenge.