Company History
Our history begins around the turn of the 20th century when CP decides to take the roofing and sheet-metal skills he has learned working on for other old time craftsman to the new company doing bearing his name. Due to his dedicated work and outgoing personality he is able to build the business rather quickly. The young firm was performing stamped ceiling installations, fabrication and installation of exterior metals and cornices, chimney caps, stove pipes, roofing and all types of sheet metal. The company grew steadily along with the entire North Central West Virginia region throughout the teens and 20s until the Great Depression came along. As with all businesses during this time it was a struggle to stay afloat, but CP was able to do it and weather the hard times until the economy improved. The firm chugged steadily along until CPs son Wilson joined the firm in the late 1930s. Armed with a degree from West Virginia University, Wilson brought a formal business training and was eager to help his father grow the business. The firm increased their sheet-metal work by doing custom air ventilation systems at the numerous mines in the region. In addition to roofing they also did dust collection and HVAC sheet-metal work for the many industrial plants found along the rivers and in the small towns around the region.

Sutter Roofing at their West Pike St location circa 1906. Note the Asbestos Roofing sign!

Sutter Roofing crew installing the roof deck on the Harrison County Courthouse 1932. CP Sutter 3rd from right.
Wilson also increased the firms heavy metal fabrication capabilities by investing in all the latest machine shop tooling, welding, and bending equipment for heavy steel. They soon had enough business to break this segment out as a second company called Metal Products Inc. The new firm was often called upon to work on the specialized heavy metal equipment used in the mining industry. This heavy steel fabrication experience and exposure let us to doing more steel work including structural steel for buildings, bridges, mining equipment, and platforms for the oil and gas industry. The roofing division also grew greatly during this time due to the many buildings that were built supporting

Metal products workers in shop early 1950s

Graveling a hot tar roof – late 1950s
The third generation of Sutter family leadership of the firm came about in the late 60s and early 70s when Wilson’s oldest son Steve and joined the firm. Steve had just graduated from Salem College and was anxious to join the thriving family business. He worked in many departments of the company before he concluded that he really enjoyed the roofing side of the business. It was also about this time that the early 70s recession hit the US hard and especially the industries that Sutter Roofing & Metal serviced. The firm’s heavy steel business was decimated and things were not looking good. Also at that

CP Sutter at his desk. West Pike Street around 1920.

Wilson and CP Sutter at their desk in their “new” office – Montpelier Addition. September 1941.
The roofing department grew steadily through the early 1970s doing many schools, office buildings, and industrial projects throughout the state.
The Power Plant project was a built-up roofing project and as such the firm had hired many skilled union roofers to perform the work. Steve wanted to keep this skilled workforce going so he decided to go after more work in further reaches of the state. To be competitive and more productive the firm invested in a

Sutter Roofing bulk asphalt tank and

Two of Sutter Roofing’s three brand new tanker trucks
The industry changed in the late 70s with the introduction of EPDM “rubber” roofing. Low installed cost and 10 and

Teddy Moore running the Power Tear Off Machine – WV State Penitentiary Moundsville 1976

Reroofing The Greenbrier Resort, 1980

Reroofing The Greenbrier Resort, 1980
Steve continued running both the WV and Florida Firms until he moved to Florida permanently in 1984. At that time David assumed Presidency of the firm and continued the strategy of performing difficult larger projects that we were well suited for. Some of these high-profile projects include:
- WVU Medical Center
- Robert C Byrd High School
- Gilbert County High School
- The Greenbrier
- East Fairmont High School
- Mylan Pharmaceuticals
- WVU Alumni Center
The firm celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2002 and has continued to do well in the North Central WV region.
In 2017, the firm was acquired from Wilson Sutter’s descendants by his grandson Doug Sutter. Doug is a Clarksburg native and WI High School and West Virginia University graduate who has spent his entire career in the roofing industry. He will continue to serve as President of the Florida firm.
Our future is very bright with our current mix of new and long term staff. We are eager to grow our business and serve West Virginia’s roofing needs as we have been since 1902!

