Turning setbacks into roofing success

By The Coffee Shops®.  

A New York City roofing contractor shares how an unexpected career pivot led to a thriving business.  

The path to roofing is not always a straight line. While some begin as general contractors and find an unexpected passion for roofing, others arrive at the jobsite from a little further afield. On a episode of Stories from the Roof®, Megan Ellsworth sat down with Sean Levine, CEO and founder of Royal Renovators, to discuss his unconventional path into roofing and the lessons learned along the way. 

Sean's story began long before he launched his New York City-based exterior renovation company. Construction was already part of his family history. As Sean explained, “On my mother's side, my grandfather was a contractor,” adding that his mother still operates a business that includes construction services. 

While construction had always been present in his life, roofing was not his planned career. After graduating from law school during the 2008 recession, Sean found himself facing a difficult job market and began searching for a different path. During that period, he uncovered something that was unexpectedly exciting. “I discovered that my passion was even more so to be an entrepreneur,” Sean said. 

The transition was not seamless. By his own admission, he entered the roofing industry with almost no technical knowledge. “I didn't know if the roof was on the side of the building, or if the siding was on the top of the building,” he joked. Despite that learning curve, Sean immersed himself in the trade. He credits experienced installers, crew leaders and relentless self-education for helping him develop his expertise. 

His first roofing company ultimately failed, teaching him important lessons about cash flow management and business operations. Rather than abandoning the industry, Sean used those experiences to build a stronger foundation for Royal Renovators. 

Looking back, he sees that willingness to adapt and continue learning was essential to his success. What began as a temporary opportunity evolved into a long-term career built around helping customers and solving complex roofing challenges. As Sean's story shows, roofing careers do not always begin on a roof. Sometimes they start with a willingness to take a risk, learn continuously and embrace unexpected opportunities. 

Listen to the full podcast to learn more about entrepreneurship and building a roofing career.