Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
Gervalin is a full-service roofing company specializing in closed-joint bituminous and synthetic membrane roofing systems for both flat and sloped roofs. Over the past 45 years, the company has grown into a leading player in synthetic roofing systems. From its location in Dreumel, the company primarily carries out new residential construction projects throughout the Netherlands, prioritizing consistent quality and close collaboration—with employees, clients, and suppliers alike, says Director Sebastiaan Gerritsen. “That’s what we’re committed to—every day and with an eye toward the future.”
Gervalin was founded in 1980 by André Gerritsen and is considered one of the pioneers in synthetic roofing systems in the Netherlands. “After years of experience in roofing technology, my father had the opportunity 45 years ago to take over the company where he worked, which was being sold off,” says Sebastiaan Gerritsen. “Initially with a business partner, but soon on his own. He brought along twelve experienced roofers, with whom he installed plastic and bituminous roofing systems throughout the country.” The quality of the work and the systems proved so good that demand was almost overwhelming. “At first, my father went along with the growth, but in the early ’90s, he decided to slow things down. At that point, Gervalin had no fewer than one hundred roofers, including just under sixty in-house professionals. It was a huge group, which put a strain on the close-knit, warm family atmosphere. That’s why he decided to gradually phase out the flexible workforce. He also gave employees the opportunity to retire early and/or move to another organization. Over a period of about ten years, Gervalin gradually scaled back to about 45 people in the office and in the field. This allowed the company to function as intended once again: a company where people enjoy working, where colleagues know one another, and where they’re willing to go the extra mile for each other.”
In the years that followed, Gervalin had the pleasure of working on some truly wonderful projects. That is, until the economic crisis in the construction industry began in 2009 and the new-home construction market completely collapsed. “We had many discussions during that time—between my father and me, but also with the people in the office and out in the field,” says Gerritsen. “How could we survive the crisis together? Because we didn’t want to let our people down! Still, we couldn’t prevent some people from seeking opportunities elsewhere. A few people also retired, leaving us with a small group by 2017. Moreover, the average age of our field staff was over 50. As a result, we also struggled with relatively high absenteeism due to illness… It was a challenging time, during which I had the opportunity to carry on Gervalin in my own way.”
“I’ve gathered two experienced people around me with whom I could regularly bounce ideas off and brainstorm,” says Gerritsen. “For example, about the current situation and my ideas for the future. This gave me a lot of peace of mind and led to interesting new ideas, which we used as a foundation to start building the second generation of Gervalin in 2018—while maintaining the standards and values of the first generation as our proven foundation. We carefully sought out new colleagues who would fit in with our regional and family-oriented culture. In doing so, we never looked for roofers per se, but always for the right people. Our goal here is to very gradually lower the average age of our workforce in order to ensure the company’s continuity and a positive work environment.”
He explains that the average age is now just over 40. “This was a conscious choice, because clients clearly need people who are a bit more level-headed, who can communicate well, and who are willing to help come up with solutions. ‘No’ is never our first answer. We’ll continue to stick to this approach in the future as well. As an organization, we’re very relationship-oriented—toward our employees, clients, and suppliers alike. We don’t send out quotes indiscriminately or bid on every tender, but instead focus on long-term relationships with reliable, regular clients—relationships that often develop within our network. In the coming years, we want to further strengthen and expand these relationships, so that a solid foundation is in place for the third generation.”
“Gervalin works with and for renowned companies that place a strong emphasis on collaboration, quality, and safety,” Gerritsen summarizes. “The fact that we are perfectly aligned in these areas is evident from our many long-standing relationships—with clients, suppliers, and employees alike—whom we would like to thank on behalf of Gervalin for their support and the trust they have placed in us.”
