The thunderstorm warning became a red-lined tornado warning which made straight for my neighborhood…read moreand tracked right by my house just after the electricity snapped off. Sheer terror struck with the palpable pressure drop, the neighbor's back porch rolled down the street while my garage door blew out, the experience punctuated by heavy things hitting my roof as whatever it was moved away.
When I dared venture out to assess damage I found I was luckier than some, but my 30-year roof should not have gone 40 years (and sure enough, it didn't). Decking was spared, but shingles were gone and more rain was coming. Before morning came sheet rock damage from water ingress, and while tarps would do for a few extra days, I knew I needed a real cure.
Anxious contractors swarmed, many presenting hastily-printed business cards and/or flyers and clamored for my business until learning about my financial turmoil, to wit: no current homeowners' insurance (a condition preventing them from considering me since I could not cover their labor crew), and I wondered how many might simply be scam artists.
It was an emotionally tough process until meeting with Mr. Denver Stepp of Re Roofing and Construction. His uniquely cool, calm, collected and matter-of-fact demeanor together with professionally bundled paperwork of independent insurance policy, current certification from a highly reputable shingle manufacturer, printed list of reviews and references and the offer to assist with research into federal disaster relief (a notably personable thing no other contractor bothered to even broach) gave me a pleasant pause.
Such a preemptive boots-on-the-ground stance from an established owner had a refreshingly honest feel. I found his tact with my situation calming enough to invite him for measurements and a concise, no-frills conversation about the minimum to re-establish roof integrity. His empathetic approach soon allowed me latitude with other desirable options, and in minutes I was convinced of a great shingling choice and a much better ventilation system than I previously owned or pondered.
With only the bottom line left to discuss, to my delight Denver once again reaffirmed by quoting under my expected budget perception. I signed a contract, the agreed date arrived, the weather cooperated, the crew was on my job site before enough light to work by, they were well underway by dawn and finished the job to include cleanup before 3 pm on the same day.
Considering how Mr. Stepp who (like the other truly reputable contractors) must have no doubt already been backlogged with work in the face of the October 2019 Dallas County disaster, he nonetheless took the time to treat me kindly, swiftly, professionally and equally. I would not hesitate to bring Re Roofing and Construction onboard for other projects, because I find Denver's word to be his bond.
Ahead of time, on target, on point and within budget. Bravo, gentlemen. Well done indeed, and with a great many thanks!
