Weathering the storms

Ray and Joyce Gilliland moved to their lovely and well-kept Hudson home in 1985. 

To keep up with their growing family of three children, 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, they built a home addition that included a gorgeous sunken great room with skylights and a deck. It was the perfect spot for hosting holidays and hanging out with the kids. Then one day this February, they returned from a vacation to find the skylight had leaked all over their white sofa.

It was time to give the tenacious team at Spartan StormShield a call. 

Armed with product innovation and trusted craftsmanship from highly trained crews, the company lives up to its reputation for installing “the roof system to last your lifetime.”

I sat down with Ray to find out the details of how and why one local roofing company is taking Northeast Ohio by storm.

Q: What made Spartan StormShield stand out from other companies? 

A: Spartan had put the roof on the church I attend and I was already familiar with the company’s excellent reputation. Within a day of me calling, a roofing specialist came out and inspected our roof. He diagnosed the problem right away and explained it thoroughly to me. It turns out that the kind of gutter covers we had installed 10 years ago made the perfect conditions for forming ice dams. Water was entering under the shingles, freezing, then melting when it warmed back up, especially around our skylights. After he gave me an estimate, saying this is exactly what he would do if this was his own home, I didn’t even bother calling anyone else. I had complete trust in him.

Q: Please describe what it was like working with the crews. 

A: They arrived exactly when they said they would, 8 a.m. sharp. They took their time explaining to me exactly what they were going to do that day. Every precaution was taken to protect our deck and landscaping with thoughtfully placed tarps, which was a pleasant surprise we appreciated. Their workmanship was highly efficient. When they were finished, the job site was as clean as before they showed up.

Q: What was the scope of work? 

A: In June, Spartan removed the gutter covers, installed a new roof on our addition, carefully matching it to our existing roof, and installed ice and water shield around the skylights and over the roof to protect it from future ice dams. Then they installed new gutter covers that allow for the water to flow through them during heavy rains.

Q: What made you happiest about your experience? 

A: I would say the trust factor. Every person I dealt with at the company spent time explaining to me what was needed. I had a clear understanding. When we got the final bill, it was almost exactly what the estimate was. It also means a lot to me that they stand behind their work with an impressive warranty. I know if there’s a problem going forward, it would be fixed. It’s rained 4 inches the past couple days, and I wasn’t at all worried.

An A+-rated member of the Better Business Bureau, Spartan StormShield is headquartered at 309 Silver Street in Akron. They install and repair roofs for homes and businesses all over Northeast Ohio. Call 330-SPARTAN (330-772-7826) or visit SpartanStormShield.com for more information and to schedule a free roof inspection or leak analysis.