Restoring trust with a reliable roof

When U.S. Marine Corps veteran Roger Bradshaw had 19 solar panels installed on his home in 2022, promises were made by the company he found when researching solar technology online.

“It felt like the right thing to do, generate clean energy efficiently and be more self-reliant,” he recalls. “I was told the panels would produce up to 80% of my electricity in some months. The salesperson told me the existing roof was in great shape, had 8-10 good years left on it and I believed him. Unfortunately, he wasn’t a roofing professional and didn’t even go up on the roof.”

After Roger and his family found out the panels did not produce much electricity, he reached out to the solar company and was frustrated to find out they had already gone out of business.

“I took a sweet-sounding deal that didn’t end up being so sweet,” he says. “The solar company was from South Carolina, and the financing company was out of state, too. I should’ve known better. We sunk more than $50,000 into a system that didn’t operate like it was supposed to.”

When Spartan StormShield co-owner Jarod Arlia and roofing specialist Jack Thompson found out about this predicament, they offered to help.

“Honoring our military veterans with gratitude and assistance is important to us,” says Jarod, who notes they have several veterans on staff.

During his four years in the military, from 2016-2020, Roger saw tough combat tours in Syria and Iraq.

“It’s been a challenge to integrate back into the world and put trust in people again,” he says. 

A Beacon of Truth 

When Jack got up on Roger’s roof to inspect it, he didn’t find a roof in the great shape he’d been led to believe.

“Jack told me the roof was in terrible shape, maybe as old as the 1990s,” says Roger. “Shingles were disintegrating, deck wood was rotting and sagging, and the underlayment seal was broken,” says Roger. “He told me I needed a new roof.”

Understanding the difficulty of the situation, Jack approached Spartan StormShield’s owners to inquire if the company could thank a military veteran for his service by replacing his roof for free. The owners wholeheartedly agreed and presented the idea to Roger, who was “over the moon” grateful.

Roger shared that every level of his interaction with the staff at Spartan StormShield, from the first phone call to the day of installation, was met with professionalism and authenticity, efficiency and quality.

“When I found out they would replace my roof at no cost to me, that’s the closest I’ve come to tears since leaving the military,” says Roger.

Jarod says his company is proud to, “stand by one of America’s own and show our gratitude for Roger’s service.”

Breakthrough Solar Shingles
Although both solar panels and solar shingles share the purpose of converting sunshine into electricity, there are significant differences between them.

As a Master Elite contractor of GAF solar shingles, the roofing specialists at Spartan StormShield are trained and certified to install solar shingles.

According to GAF Territory Manager Jon Day, who works with co-owners Joel and Jarod Arlia, the Timberline Solar ES2 Shingle from GAF Energy is the first nailable energy shingle, with no racks, no bulky panels and no drilling into the roof.

“The product integrates directly onto the underlayment and functions like a traditional asphalt shingle, protecting against rain, snow and winds of up to 130 mph,” he says. “With a power output of 57 watts per shingle, they generate clean, renewable energy for a home and come with a 25-year warranty. Homeowners see reduced energy costs and could qualify for a federal tax incentive.”

Not surprisingly, these shingles have won numerous awards for innovation.

“Traditional solar panels are secured through a 5-1/4-inch lag bolt drilled into the roof. This creates points of failure and potential for leaking,” says Jon. “This, however, is not the case with solar shingles. These energy shingles are always black, but can be paired with a large variety of Timberline Shingles to integrate seamlessly with the look of a roof.”

He adds that solar shingles are perched for explosive growth in the marketplace due to the rising cost of and demand for power, which is expected to triple by 2030.



Jarod says their customers find it comforting to know they can add a new roof and solar power collection at the same time, working only with Spartan StormShield and not an outside solar contractor.

Armed with product innovation and trusted craftsmanship from highly trained crews, Spartan StormShield lives up to its reputation for installing “the roof system to last your lifetime.” The company is headquartered at 309 Silver Street in Akron. It installs and repairs roofs for homes and businesses all over Northeast Ohio. Call 330-SPARTAN (330-772-7826) or visit SpartanStormShield.com.