Press Rewind: Our Manufacturer Interview, Then and Now
Our KWP interview captures a snapshot of a family company in the middle of its story. In this KWP interview, Corey Thrush talked about where the business came from, how we choose products, where exterior colors were heading, and how homeowners were starting to research online.
A lot has changed since then, and some things haven’t changed at all. So we pressed rewind. Below you’ll find the original answers, plus a fast-forward button on each one that shows where Thrush & Son stands today.
A Note Before You Press Play
This KWP interview reflects a past business relationship. Thrush & Son® no longer endorses, promotes, or maintains a partnership with KWP Products.
Since this piece was published, we’ve made strategic adjustments to align with evolving standards, product performance expectations, and long-term objectives for our customers. We periodically evaluate manufacturer relationships to make sure they meet our criteria for quality, reliability, innovation, and value, and we chose to move in a different direction for exterior siding.
We’re keeping the KWP interview online because the history and the insights still matter, especially the parts about how we choose products and how homeowners make decisions.
The KWP Interview: 6 Questions, Then and Now
Each track below is a question from the KWP interview. You’ll hear the original answer first. Tap fast-forward to see how that answer reads today.
How long have you been in the business?
“We have been in business for over 58 years. Thrush & Son was founded in 1960 by Wilbur Thrush in Phillipsburg, Ohio and eventually moved to Brookville, Ohio. In 1989 W. Allen Thrush purchased the company from his father, and in his first year as a business owner he tripled his father’s largest year.”
Now more than 65 years. Wilbur started it, W. Allen Thrush owns it, and Corey is the third generation. More than 31,000 homeowners have trusted us. Read 65 years strong.
What do you install?
“Siding, both vinyl and engineered wood, is just a portion of what we do. We also install windows, entry doors, patio covers, gutter systems, kitchens, bathrooms and walk-in bathtubs.”
We’ve narrowed our focus to the exterior, with roofing as our main specialty. Today that means GAF roofing, CertainTeed siding, Nobility windows, Masonite doors, and WaterLock Pro gutter guards. We’re a GAF President’s Club Contractor.
Who runs the company?
“Thrush & Son is still family owned and operated, with Allen’s wife, Michelle, being the Vice President and their son (me!) Corey, the Chief Marketing Officer. We currently have two locations, Brookville and Troy, and will soon be adding a third.”
Still family owned, and the third location happened: we now serve the Miami Valley from Brookville, Troy, and Lebanon. Meet the family in who we are.
How do you choose the products you offer?
“With any product that we may potentially offer, we do extensive research before marketing it to our customer base. Homeowners may trust you as a business, but they need to have trust and a certain level of comfort in the products you offer.”
That rule hasn’t changed, and it’s exactly why our product lineup has. We review manufacturer relationships regularly and keep the ones that meet our standards for quality, reliability, and value.
Have color preferences changed?
“Darker and more commercial-like colors are starting to enter the marketplace. Homeowners shied away from darker, rich and vibrant colors for so long because of fade, a fear of being different, and sticking to the neutral norm. That has finally begun to change.”
He called it. Dark accents, black trim, and two-color exteriors are everywhere now. See our guides to two-tone siding and siding colors.
Do customers research before they call?
“Six times out of ten they do know what they want. Over 30 percent of our leads are internet driven, and we make sure to provide the homeowner with almost information overload on our websites.”
Even more true today. That’s why we rebuilt The Home Improvement Minute with sourced, plain-language guides like about vinyl siding and the right company.
Reading the original answers back, two things stand out. The company has grown and focused, and the way we think about products and customers is the same as it was during the KWP interview. Good habits age well.
Where the KWP Interview Fits in Our Story
The KWP interview is one moment in a story that started more than six decades ago. Here’s the short version. For the long one, read 65 years strong.
- 1960FoundedWilbur Thrush starts the company in Phillipsburg, Ohio, then moves it to Brookville.
- 1989Second generationW. Allen Thrush buys the company from his father and triples its largest year.
- 2017The KWP interviewTwo locations, a growing exterior lineup, and a conversation about trends.
- TodayThird generationBrookville, Troy, and Lebanon. 31,000+ homeowners. Roofing first.
In the KWP interview, Corey mentioned that W. Allen Thrush tripled the company’s largest year in his first year as owner. That drive to grow, without losing the family feel, is still how we run things. Since then we’ve added a third office in Lebanon, and roofing has become the heart of what we do.
What Hasn’t Changed Since the KWP Interview
Product lines change. Manufacturers change. Technology changes. But a few ideas from that KWP interview still guide every estimate we write.
The biggest one: the price on day one is only part of the cost. Corey’s original point about repainting cedar every few years became our rust bucket post, and the same thinking runs through our trusted roofing guide.
How the KWP Interview’s Predictions Held Up
Corey made two calls in the KWP interview: that homeowners would get braver with darker colors, and that more of them would research online before calling a contractor. Both proved right.
Darker accents, black trim, and two-tone siding are now common choices on Miami Valley homes. And the market has shifted in other ways too. According to NAHB, vinyl was the most used main wall material on new U.S. homes started in 2024, and in our region, vinyl siding replacement recouped 80.4% of its cost at resale in the 2025 Cost vs. Value report.
Back then, Corey estimated that more than 30 percent of our leads came from the internet. Today, nearly every homeowner we meet has read reviews, compared products, and watched a video or two before we arrive. That’s a good thing. It means better questions, clearer expectations, and fewer surprises once the work begins.
As for online research, that’s why The Home Improvement Minute exists: plain-language, sourced guides so you can walk into a conversation with us already knowing the right questions.
The Same Family, a Sharper Focus
Thrush & Son® is still family owned and operated, three generations in. Roofing is our main focus, backed by GAF President’s Club status and a Best of Dayton 2024 win, and we also install siding, windows, doors, and gutters.
We serve Miami, Montgomery, Greene, and Warren counties from Brookville, Troy, and Lebanon. Read homeowner reviews, browse the project gallery, check our BBB profile, or meet us in who we are.
KWP Interview FAQs
What was the KWP interview about?
In the KWP interview, Corey Thrush talks about the company’s history, how it chooses products, changing color trends, and how homeowners research projects. It reflects that moment in the company’s history.
Does Thrush & Son still work with KWP?
No. The KWP interview reflects a past business relationship. Thrush & Son no longer endorses, promotes, or maintains a partnership with KWP Products.
What siding does Thrush & Son install today?
We install CertainTeed siding, including insulated lines. See our siding replacement services, or read about vinyl siding for the facts behind today’s products.
How long has Thrush & Son been in business?
Since 1960. Three generations of the Thrush family have run the company, and more than 31,000 homeowners have trusted us. Check our BBB profile.
Is Thrush & Son mainly a roofing company?
Roofing is our main focus, and we also install siding, windows, doors, and gutters. As a GAF President’s Club Contractor, we can offer GAF’s enhanced warranties, which GAF ties to a contractor’s certification level.
Where is Thrush & Son located?
Our offices are in Brookville, Troy, and Lebanon, and we serve Miami, Montgomery, Greene, and Warren counties.
Were the color predictions in the KWP interview right?
Largely, yes. Darker colors and two-color exteriors have become common. Our two-tone siding guide shows how to use them well.
Let’s Start Your Own Conversation
Bring your questions. We’ll walk your home, explain your options in plain language, and put the products, scope, and warranty in a written estimate with no pressure. See our roofing services, visit the Exterior Design Center, or ask about financing.
Call 937-833-5136 · Office: Mon–Thu 9–4, Fri 9–2 · Michelle, our AI assistant, answers 24/7
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