News Releases CentiMark CareersCentiMark Cares Company Organization Company History CentiMark Literature CentiMark Images
Public Relations:
Kathy Slencak
P: 724-514-8572
F: 724-743-6010
Edward B. Dunlap started D&B Laboratories in 1967 as a part-time industrial cleaning business in the basement of his home. In 1968, with $1,000 seed money from D&B Laboratories and one associate, Dunlap started Northern Chemical Company. This upstart building maintenance products and services business produced first year sales of $98,500.
In response to customer needs, Northern Chemical Company became involved in roof maintenance. In the 1970s, the oil crisis negatively impacted the built-up roofing market that was dependent on crude oil for asphalt. The quality of asphalt decreased as oil companies were pressed to extract as much oil from crude as possible and the price of asphalt increased, resulting in higher roofing prices.
Concerned about the quality of bituminous materials used in built-up tar and asphalt roofs, CentiMark began marketing and installing single-ply rubber (EPDM) roof systems. The newly developed EPDM polymer was both durable and waterproof. It was a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution to the increasing costs associated with built-up roofing. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, rubber polymer was one of the fastest-growing roofing products and accounted for almost 40% of new and replacement roofs on commercial and industrial properties.
The company, with Corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA, grew through geographical expansion, diversification of product line and an aggressive National Accounts Program. In 1987, the corporate name was officially changed to CentiMark Corporation.
Each decade brought a new milestone: revenue of $1 million in 1974; $10 million in 1984 and $100 million in 1994. In 1991, CentiMark was the first roofing contractor to be rated 4A1 by Dun & Bradstreet based on a strong credit appraisal and net worth.
In 2000, CentiMark became the first and only roofing contractor to achieve a 5A1 rating from Dun & Bradstreet based on a strong credit appraisal and net worth in excess of $50 million.
By year 2009, revenues exceed $404.3 million. CentiMark, with 65 offices in the United States and Canada, is the largest independent commercial roofing contractor in North America.
Moving into the 21st century, CentiMark continues to make strides in the roofing industry with strategic business partnerships, relationships with group purchasing organizations and thousands of National Account customers. CentiMark leads the roofing industry with comprehensive roofing portfolio databases and e-commerce and web-based initiatives.
To better serve customers, CentiMark has always kept abreast of new trends and technologies. New CentiMark Roofing Solutions include: single-ply EPDM, fleece-back TPO thermoplastic, copolymer rubber coatings, metal roofing and wall panels, spray polyurethane foam and steep slope shingles. CentiMark is the only coast-to-coast provider of commercial steep sloped shingles and the largest spray polyurethane foam roofing contractor in the United States.
In response to today's energy concerns, technological innovations and customer-demands, CentiMark is moving forward with solutions for energy efficient roof systems to increase R values and reflectivity. Energy solutions include the increased use of spray polyurethane foam, photovoltaic solar panels and environmentally safe, "green" roof solutions. It's the near future -- not the distant future -- when we'll see rooftops doubling as urban gardens and grasslands or as miniature electronic generating stations.