Roof is no place to skimp on materials
When a roof needs to be replaced because of a weather-related event like a hailstorm or tornado, or when it just succumbs to the ravages of time, it pays to do your homework.
Experts advise to make sure the firm you choose uses only the highest-quality materials, purchases all of the components that the manufacturers suggest and employs experienced and qualified installers.
Skimping on your roof is a recipe for disaster, said George Lombardo, owner of Gold Standard Restorations Inc., based in Crystal Lake. You want the job done right because your roof protects you and your belongings from the elements, 365 days a year, he says.
Lombardo should know. He worked for a firm that maximized profits by "buying bottom-of-the-barrel shingles, inappropriate generic underlayment and other off-brand accessories."
"Unless you buy a manufacturer's complete roof system, you won't get the complete warranty," Lombardo said.
That is why Lombardo started Gold Standard in 2010, determined to provide residents of the Chicago area with the highest quality materials and workmanship. The business has been certified by the top shingle manufacturers and has also earned Master LEED certification for its construction practices that reduce impact on the environment.
"Our name is our mission statement. We are in business to provide homeowners with gold standard workmanship. Consequently, we include a 50-year warranty on both labor and materials and that warranty is not prorated. If the shingles ever fail, for instance, we will replace them at current costs, not at what they cost when they were installed, and that warranty is transferable up to 20 years," Lombardo said.
"We are not the cheapest roofing contractor, but we do things right and offer a wide variety of wood, asphalt, synthetic and composite shingle products, including architectural shingles, three-tab shingles and even EuroShield rubberized shingles that look like cedar shakes. We also install gutters and vinyl, cedar and fiberboard siding and have worked on everything from homes built in the 1800s to brand new homes," he said.
Gold Standard also has a sister company called Indemnity that represents homeowners whose damage claims have been refused by their insurance companies. Lombardo and many of Indemnity's employees are licensed public adjusters.
Lombardo is also proud of the fact that Gold Standard is active in its local community.
Employees regularly clean three parks in Lake in the Hills and this year Gold Standard is participating for the first time in the "No Roof Left Behind" effort. This is a nationwide program that gives people in local communities a way to help their good neighbors who have fallen on hard times.
The "No Roof Left Behind" program provides local contractors with the framework to provide a new roof at no cost to a deserving homeowner in need. Gold Standard will donate a roof to a deserving homeowner in McHenry or Boone County who has fallen on hard times and is in need of a new roof. Members of the public are encouraged to nominate themselves or a neighbor, friend or family member and once all of the nominations are in, local residents will be encouraged to vote on the winner using social media.
"There are no hidden fees. You don't have to file an insurance claim. This will be a totally free roof for someone who needs it," Lombardo said.
To enter, visit www.noroofleftbehind.com, click on Illinois, fill out the application and upload some photos. Nominations will be accepted through Sept. 1.
Gold Standard Restorations can be reached by calling (847) 559-0776 or visiting www.goldstandardrestoration.com.