From:  Dearborn Press & Guide

DEARBORN — Kearns Brothers Inc. began its 25th year in business on Jan. 31 with an informal kickoff celebration attended by U.S. Congressman John Dingell and Mayors Jack O’Reilly of Dearborn and Dan Paletko of Dearborn Heights.

Gary Kearns, sales and marketing director of the home improvement business, said his brother Mike Kearns, owner and founder, believes the success, longevity and durability of the business through the past 25 years was due in part to staying true to the core beliefs of honesty, integrity, and value.

“Our business is based on doing excellent work,” he said. “My brother says quality doesn’t go out of style.”

Over 50 percent of the business’ customers are prior clients or referrals, he said.

Roofing, siding, windows, chimneys, masonry, porches, gutters, insulation and kitchens are among the jobs they do. The business is located at 2000 N. Telegraph Road one block south of Ford Road.

Dearborn Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Giering said to commemorate Kearns Brothers’ 25 years in business, the chamber is honoring them with the Small Business of the Year Award at the annual Business Recognition Luncheon held April 29 at The Henry Ford.

“We’re not only celebrating a longstanding business in Dearborn, but one that is reputable, charitable and is recognized nationwide for their outstanding workmanship,” Giering said.

Marking 25 years of business in the home improvement industry is an achievement attained by less than 10 percent of all companies in this industry, said Dave Harrison of Harrison Consulting, a home improvement consulting and marketing firm.

Kearns Brothers Inc. is a nationally recognized leader in the home improvement industry and has participated in numerous national panels to develop and promote professionalism in the roofing, siding and window industry, Gary Kearns said.

As a leader in the home improvement industry they have contributed to national trade publications to offer insight on a broad range of topics, he said.

Kearns Brothers, Inc. is a recipient of the Michigan made Sunrise Windows President’s Award for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction and has earned the vinyl siding industry’s VSI 5-Star Contractor designation.

Additionally, Kearns Brothers Inc. achieved the GAF Master Elite Roofing Contractor “Best of the Best” award every year since 2001, one of only nine companies throughout the United States to earn this honor for excellence in roofing installation, customer service and training.

“One of the stories I like to talk about was how the company was founded,” Gary Kearns said.

His brother started off like most contractors by working out of his own home.

“It was a one-man operation,” he said.

Masonry, chimneys and porch steps encompassed most of the work then, he said, and it was just one man and one truck. He said fast forward to today, and Kearns Brothers Inc. employs up to 135 employees at the height of home improvement season and has 27 trucks.

“That’s a bit of a growth there,” Gary Kearns said.

In 1992 the business opened a showroom on Telegraph, he said. He said it was originally about 1,000 square feet and has grown to about 5,000 square feet. Another remodeling of the showroom is currently planned, he said.

Gary Kearns said 1992 was the same year he joined his brother in the business when he moved to Michigan and began in sales.

The business has crews specializing in specific improvement jobs, he said, like crews for roofing, siding, interior modeling, and more.

“We find it amazing how much we do,” he said.

Kearns Brothers Inc. has the capacity to drive far for a job, he said. He said they are able to complete almost any-sized job in a day, and will also do work on commercial and apartment buildings.

On Dec. 22 they began a lifetime workmanship policy for roofing, he said, an expansion of the lifetime warranty started earlier.

“It’s complete work protection for your home,” Gary Kearns said. “You don’t have to worry about your roof again.”

Mike Kearns is extremely optimistic about the future and believes Southeast Michigan’s best days are still ahead, Gary Kearns said.

“Michigan people are strong, determined and resilient,” he said. “We will be here for them, their children and their children’s children.”

Kearns Brothers practices what Gary Kearns calls common sense environmentalism, because he said he feels the term green is overused. The company has switched to using more fuel-efficient trucks and also recycles roofing shingles into material for asphalt. He said this year they expect to recycle 5.7 million pounds of roofing shingles, equivalent to about 5,400 barrels of oil.

Read this at Dearborn Press & Guide