Having been in the business for a few decades now, we've had plenty of exposure to roofers. And one thing is certain - they're something Forrest Gump's mother could easily compare to a box of chocolates, because you never know what you're gonna get. We've seen it happen plenty of times - the same product is examined by two different roofers and judged in totally opposite ways.
Most recently, this was the case with our metal diamond shingles. We've supplied this material to far away projects and received nothing but fabulous photos and letters of recommendations from installers we've never met or even spoken to on the phone. Yet the very same product shown to another roofer by a potential customer recently in Louisiana was called problematic in a long list of ways. The homeowner was quite concerned when she relayed the roofer's reaction to our product, and it's hard to tell a potential customer that her chosen installer is a clown - though the urge to blurt out something like that is quite strong! A few of the variables in scenarios like this have to do with the motivation of the roofer. It may just be that he's completely unfamiliar with such a product and has no idea how to install it. He may feel that the extra time it could take to learn installation for a specialized product isn't worth the diversion from his routine, particularly if he's made his living installing shingles. Or it may be that metal roofing of any kind is something that makes him feel uncertain because he knows installing a premium roof material may bring higher expectations and more scrutiny - especially compared to a dime-a-dozen asphalt roof.
In this instance, the homeowner decided the roofing material - our beautiful diamond shingles with their stellar performance and lifespan record - is more important than her initial installer. She's going ahead with the material and has found a capable roofer more than willing to install it. It's going to be fabulous, so check back soon for pictures and her testimonial.
The takeaway from a story like this one? Not every roofer is an expert on all kinds of roofing. If the performance, durability and longevity of a metal roof are important to you, it's worth finding an installer who appreciates those qualities too. We're happy to help - we've got a network of roofers capable of installing our beautiful metal roofs, so if a new roof is on your home improvement list, get a free estimate today. And find out more about metal roofing with one of our handy free downloads on on Resources page.
