Construction Business Review

Donald B. Smith, Inc.
Maximizing the Longevity of Roofs through Best-in-Class Services

Doug Smith, Donald B. Smith, Inc. | Construction Business Review | Top Roofing CompaniesDoug Smith, President
When I was a child in the early 1980s, my father took me to his office. I was usually upset because my friends were going to the pool all day and I had to work. I was mowing grass, painting walls and unloading shingles in the yard. At the time, Donald B. Smith (DBS) Roofing was the leading residential roofing company in the area. Additionally, we were installing small commercial roofing systems. Now, we are celebrating our 75th anniversary.

Summers in college were spent on the roof—not the best way to discover your passion. Following Penn State, I would begin estimating. My father, Pat Smith, told me: “I have my own clients; you need to go find your own.” 35 years later, I’m still searching for the next client to serve. Those early years taught me discipline and work ethic.

The growth exhibited by DBS roofing has been remarkable over the years. From commencing small-scale contracts in residential and commercial spaces, DBS has expanded and now takes on large roofing projects worth $5 to $10 million dollars per project. Having a proven track record of successful projects has helped us garner an array of long-standing clients, and we are poised to install nearly $60 million in sales for 2024!

Many of our achievements can be attributed to our ability to understand the human aspect of the business, well that and holding ourselves to the highest standard of customer service and quality.

I started bringing contracts to my father along with a new approach to roofing sales.

We had many heated discussions over his bids vs my bids, but three years later, he had his first stroke. On that November day 32 years ago, he looked at me and said it’s your turn now. I was 24 years old. I had to learn the hard way that any decision is better than no decision at all.

We changed directions again when we became the primary roofing contractor for the Residences at Caves Valley Country Club, and slate roofing became my passion. But everything changed between 2008-2010. The housing crash sent everyone into a tailspin.

A couple of years before the crash was my life-changing event. I was driving home one day after work when I took a call from one of the largest warehouse builders in the U.S. He asked me a simple question. How does DBS Roofing install a gutter in a warehouse? Without hesitation, I answered. 18 years later, we are their team members in warehousing from North Carolina, VA, MD, PA and New Jersey.

That relationship is still going strong today.

Now our goal for 2024 is to install a million sq ft each month. But it wasn’t easy, and it didn’t come without failure.

Quality is our top priority


“I have learned more from my mistakes than from my successes.”

I have always said: “In this industry, your only thank you is the next contract.”

This commitment to excellence has helped DBS achieve prestigious awards and recognitions.

“Quality is our top priority,” says Doug Smith. We are the only roofing contractor in the U.S. to be recognized for both quantity and quality in the same year by the leaders in the industry, holding the Carlisle ESP and Quality award along with the Platinum Council and the Quality award from Elevate in the same year.

Today, I Still take to work the words that my uncle and father taught me, now sharing my knowledge with the next generation. My sons Grant, Darren and Connor begin their journey where I once started as the introverted little kid in 1980. I tell them “it’s not always about gaining more business. Sometimes it is about what we can do to help and serve others. Business is about relationships.”