This article Reprinted from Western Roofing magazine, January/February 2007, Volume 30, number 1

 

 

Making Wishes Come True

San Diego RCA Works Together to Donate Roof

by James Robyn, executive director, San Diego Roofing Contractors Association

 

In October 2006, the SDRCA was approached by Patriot Roofing, Carlsbad, Calif., to become involved with the CBS Morning Show’s “Week of Wishes.” The SDRCA board of directors unanimously approved the project. Ian and Carrie Davies of Lakeside, California were selected by the CBS Morning Show to receive an addition to their modest home. As foster parents to infants, the Davies take in the youngsters at a moments notice and provide love, care, and attention until a suitable home is found. The addition to the house will double their square footage and make the caring for these infants an easier task.

                  Charco Construction, San Diego, Calif., was responsible for donating the room addition and the SDRCA was coming in to donate a roof for that addition. In mid October, Kirk Bowman, Patriot Roofing, and I met with Charco at the job site. We found a very small house, a very small, detached garage and a room addition that was taking shape. After further inspection of the property, Bowman and I agreed that the SDRCA should also reroof both the house and the garage to match the addition.

                  Having our task in front of us, Bowman and I made a presentation at the SDRCA October dinner meeting. Our presentation consisted of the video clip from the CBS Morning Show’s “Week of Wishes.” You can view this video clip at http://www.charco.com/cbs-davies.html. I encourage you to watch the video but make sure you have some tissue nearby. After our presentation we solicited our audience for the materials and labor we needed to complete this project. As usual, our membership came through with no hesitation.

                  Kevin Shields, ABC Supply, San Marcos, Calif., raised his hand and said he would donate materials; Greg Kiphen and Todd Schwaba of Construction Metals, Inc., Escondido, Calif., followed by donating all the metal work and gutters; Bowman announced that they would provide as much labor as needed; Scott Widdes of CertainTeed, Valley Forge, Penn., said he would provide shingles; Javier Vasquez and Ric Morales of Tarah Asphalt Products, Palm Desert, Calif., jumped in and donated the underlayment; Wayne Sorensen, Top Line Roofing, San Diego, Calif., donated a shingler; and David Susi, RSI Roofing, San Diego, Calif., said his company would install the gutters. Wow, in just a few minutes we had everything we needed, we thought. After discussions with Charco, they were not prepared to perform the tear-off on the existing structures but they would do any carpentry repairs after a tear-off. I put in a call to Aaron Preman, A. Preman Roofing & Pro-Prept Tear Off, San Diego, Calif., and in minutes, we had the tear off.

                  On Friday, November 17, 2006, Pro-Prept arrived at 7 am and provided the tear-off needed. They left the jobsite spotless according to Roger Barnett, project manager, Charco Construction. Charco performed the carpentry repair the following Monday through Wednesday and covered the roof for the Thanksgiving weekend. Everything was on schedule. On Monday, November 27, the ABC Supply truck was right on time, pulling the tarp and loading the materials on the deck. With inclement weather approaching, the roof was covered and the Patriot crew went home.

                  Needless to say, Mother Nature cooperated thereafter. The following day, a Top Line shingler dried in the roof. In the following few days, the Patriot crew installed the system. The roof was completed on time and in a very professional manner. Gutter installation was all that was left. The Davies have a $9,500 roof system along with the addition to their home.

                  As co-chairman alongside Kirk Bowman, this was my first opportunity to be so involved in a Build-A-Roof Program. Thank you to our board of directors that have many of these projects under their belts and the words of wisdom and encouragement they gave us. Thank you to all the manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors that made this all possible for the Davies family. •••