About Northern Forge Construction — Why Luis Started This Company
Owner-operated roofing and exterior contracting. Luis is on every job site, every day.
Why I Started Northern Forge
I started Northern Forge because I kept seeing the same thing happen to homeowners: they'd hire a roofing company, get handed off to a crew they'd never met, and end up with a roof full of shortcuts they didn't know to look for.
I've been in construction my whole working life. I know what a properly installed roof looks like — and I know what a rushed one looks like two winters later. After years of watching homeowners pay full price for half the job, I decided to do it differently.
At Northern Forge, when you hire me, you get me. I show up to every inspection, I'm on the job site every day we're working on your home, and I'm the person who picks up the phone when you call. There's no dispatcher between us, no project manager passing messages. You deal with the owner — the same person who stakes his name and license on every job.
I'm based in Coon Rapids and I serve the full Twin Cities metro. I built this company on simple principles: do the job right, be honest about what you find, and treat every home like it's your own. Those principles don't scale well if you take on more than you can personally oversee. So we stay focused — and the work shows it.
— Luis Hernandez, Owner
Northern Forge Construction
10+
Years in construction
100%
Owner-supervised jobs
0
Jobs handed off to someone else
8
Cities served in Twin Cities metro
I will personally inspect your roof, give you my honest assessment — whether that's replace, repair, or you're fine for now — and put everything in writing before any work begins. If I wouldn't do it on my own house, I won't recommend it for yours.
— Luis Hernandez, Northern Forge Construction
Credentials & Licensing
State Licensed
Minnesota Contractor License BC809688. Issued by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. You can verify this license at the MN DLI contractor lookup.
Licensed in Wisconsin — WI Lic# 4298-DCFR
Northern Forge is licensed to work in Wisconsin (WI Contractor License 4298-DCFR). We serve the western Wisconsin communities across the river from the Twin Cities metro.
Bonded & Insured
Fully bonded and carrying general liability insurance. We'll provide a certificate of insurance before any work begins — no questions asked.
EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm
Northern Forge Construction is certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct lead-based paint renovation, repair, and painting activities pursuant to 40 CFR Part 745.89. EPA Firm Certification #: NAT-F329709-1. Protecting your family and our crews — required for pre-1978 homes.
What "Owner-Operated" Actually Means
A lot of contractors say "owner-operated." Here's what it means at Northern Forge:
- Luis personally performs or supervises every inspection
- Luis is physically present on your job site every day work is happening
- Luis reviews every estimate before it goes out
- Luis is the person who answers when you call — not a scheduler
- Luis's name and license are on every permit and warranty
- Luis handles insurance claims alongside you — not a third-party adjuster-chaser
Working with HOA Communities
Northern Forge works regularly with HOA property managers and boards across the Twin Cities. We provide the documentation, COI, and material pre-approvals that HOA projects require — and we know how to work within community standards without surprises.
HOA Services →Ready to Work with the Owner Directly?
Luis personally reviews every inspection request. Free inspection, written estimate, no pressure.