I recently moved into a nearly 45-year-old home in West Mobile with a roof that hadn't been…read morereplaced in at least 20 years. It had cheap 3-tab shingles, several missing sections, leaks, and outdated turbine vents--it was in rough shape. Thankfully, I got accepted into the Strengthen Alabama Homes (SAH) fortification program, which covered over half the cost. Still, this was a major investment, so I wanted to be sure I was making the right choice.
With experience as a former maintenance supervisor for a 16-story apartment building, I treated this like a serious project. SAH required me to get bids from three authorized installers. I researched thoroughly, keeping a tally of every recommendation I saw online, especially on Facebook. SunnBuilders came out on top in mentions.
When Kevin Keith from SunnBuilders came out (the second of three reps), it became clear he was different. The rep from Company-A pushed unnecessary upgrades, like a bond breaker for the peel-and-stick ice and water shield, claiming you'd need to re-deck the roof later. Technically true--but Kevin explained that a second shield layer can be added decades down the line, which made more sense. The first company also wanted to keep my outdated turbine vents, even though they aren't allowed under SAH. Kevin, however, quoted ridge vents for proper airflow and explained why it mattered.
He warned me about companies offering low bids upfront only to hit you with expensive change orders later. I felt confident that SunnBuilders was upfront and honest. They also offered attic insulation services, which I was very interested in, though I couldn't afford it at the time. Still, this was a big selling point for me.
Company-C rep was nice, but had a take-it-or-leave-it vibe.
SunnBuilders' quote came in a few hundred dollars higher than the others, but Kevin worked with me to land on an agreeable figure. While I couldn't swing the insulation, I appreciated the flexibility and the no-BS approach. I wanted it done right--and they delivered 1000%
On April 1st, I came home to see the materials shrink-wrapped and staged by the house. The crew arrived just after 7am the next morning and worked through Friday afternoon. These guys worked. Watching them carry 90lb bundles of CertainTeed shingles up a ladder all day was wild--GAF shingles are lighter, and have a better embossed look to them (in my opinion) but I chose CertainTeed for their quality and am glad I did.
Major shoutout to Allen, Billy, Gavin, and Matt. They went way above and beyond. Cleanup was intense due to the wind blowing debris all over--including into my pool. One of the guys even jumped into my unheated pool (70 degrees!) to clean tar paper and shingles from the bottom without me even asking!
Final advice:
*Choose SunnBuilders!
*Go with CertainTeed shingles.
*Skip the bond breaker unless it makes sense for you.
*Consider having them add insulation if your budget allows.
!!!And PLEASE, leave the guys a cooler of cold drinks. The crew appreciated it and I've always believed a little appreciation goes a long way.
