Winning reputable industry awards matters more than marketing budgets when it comes to small business credibility. In construction, where trust separates reputable contractors from fly-by-night operators, third-party recognition carries real weight with customers facing major home investment decisions. Chase Construction North West shows how pursuing industry recognition can differentiate a business in an overcrowded market.
The Awards at a Glance
The GAF 1-Star President’s Club Award represents recognition from one of North America’s largest roofing manufacturers. GAF selects winners from their Master Elite contractor network based on performance metrics, customer satisfaction scores and ongoing professional development. The award is exclusive – only the top one to two per cent of roofing contractors nationwide achieve President’s Club status, with even fewer reaching the three-star level.
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The Seattle Times nomination carries different but equally meaningful weight. The Best of the Pacific Northwest Awards rely on community voting and nominations, with over 500,000 votes cast across 290 categories this year. For local service businesses, this type of grassroots recognition often translates directly into customer trust and referral opportunities.
The Company Story
Chase Construction North West has operated in Western Washington since 2002, building its reputation on roof replacements, installations, siding, windows, painting and repairs for residential and commercial properties. The Edgewood-based company maintains full licensing, bonding and insurance coverage – basic requirements that some competitors skip to cut costs.
Owner Chase Beattie has positioned the business to compete on quality rather than price. Building a successful construction company requires demonstrable proof of superior service. Industry certifications and community recognition provide that proof in ways that advertising claims cannot.
Earning Recognition
The GAF President’s Club designation requires contractors to first achieve Master Elite certification – itself limited to less than two per cent of North American roofing contractors. From that already exclusive group, President’s Club winners must demonstrate consistent performance installing Golden Pledge warranties, maintain high customer satisfaction scores and complete ongoing training requirements.
‘Receiving the GAF 1-Star President’s Club Award is a testament to our team’s dedication to doing the job right,’ said Beattie. ‘Being nominated by our local community is equally meaningful – it’s an honour to be considered among the best roofing companies in the region.’
The Seattle Times nomination process involves community members submitting businesses they trust, followed by public voting from 9-27 June. For Chase Construction, the nomination signals genuine customer satisfaction beyond what paid reviews might indicate.
Why Awards Like This Matter
Third-party endorsements address a fundamental problem in home improvement: customers struggle to assess contractor quality before hiring. Unlike retail purchases, roofing work cannot be returned or easily evaluated until years later when problems emerge. Industry research shows awards provide crucial social proof that influences customer decision-making, particularly for high-value services like roof replacement.
The GAF system works because manufacturer warranties depend on proper installation. GAF protects its reputation by certifying only contractors who meet strict standards and maintain performance metrics. Community voting adds another layer – neighbours recommending businesses they have actually used.
When evaluating contractors, customers should look for multiple forms of third-party validation: manufacturer certifications, Better Business Bureau ratings, community awards and verified customer reviews. Protecting your business reputation requires no single credential tells the complete story, but patterns of recognition indicate consistent performance.
What’s Next
Public voting for the Seattle Times regional awards runs until 27 June, giving community members a voice in recognising local businesses. For companies like Chase Construction, the voting process extends their reach beyond existing customers to potential clients who value community input.
The recognition carries practical benefits beyond marketing value. Award-winning status often improves employee morale and recruitment, helps secure better supplier relationships and can influence insurance rates. Some industry certifications also enable contractors to offer enhanced warranties unavailable to non-certified competitors.
The Bigger Picture
Third-party recognition increasingly separates legitimate contractors from questionable operators in markets flooded with new entrants. Trust credentials gain fresh relevance as customer research patterns show homeowners rely heavily on validation from trusted sources when making major home improvement decisions. Companies that invest time pursuing industry certifications and community recognition position themselves advantageously against competitors competing solely on price.
For customers facing roof replacement or major home projects, contractor awards and certifications provide measurable criteria for evaluation. In sectors where reputation determines long-term success, third-party validation often matters more than advertising spend or lowest bids.
