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ROOFS FOR TROOPS

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Matthew Housh

Our military servicemen and women have seen sights that most civilians can’t even imagine. They’ve been to countries torn apart by war, endured climates that feel unbearable at times, and faced the harshest of conditions while far from the comforts of home. When they return to their families and homes, they deserve in be in a safe, comfortable environment, and that’s why we want to introduce the Roofs For Troops program from GAF.

The program is intended for active military, veterans and retirees anywhere in the country, and provides a $300 rebate for a Lifetime Roofing System when installed by a GAF Factory-Certified Contractor. Each qualifying individual is entitled to one rebate between now and the end of 2012 for use on homes in the United States only.

As a GAF Factory-Certified Contractor, Arry’s Roofing is ready to help our Gulf Coast homeowners who qualify for the rebate. There are a few steps necessary once your new Lifetime Roofing System is installed, and they all involve the usual paperwork for these kinds of rebates. You’ll need:

The rebate form
Contractor’s invoice
4 UPCs from the products installed

The rebate form is available for downloading on the GAF website. If you want to mention Roofs for Troops to a qualifying friend in outside of the Gulf Coast, go ahead. The site makes it simple for your friend to find an approved contractor in his or her area.

You can get acquainted with the Lifetime Roofing System on the GAF website, then call Arry’s Roofing at (727) 938-9565 for a free, in-home consultation. Our team of licensed roofers will install your new roof with the same high standards for workmanship that earned us the privilege of being called a GAF MasterElite Contractor.

The Super Bowl Makes TV Viewing Active

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Matthew Housh

You may not remember what you did last Sunday, but it’s likely you’ve got a rock solid plan for this weekend. Super Bowl Sunday is kind of like a national holiday. In fact, 111 million watched last year’s big game, making it the most watched television event in history. Thanks to the launch of new TV commercials, we can certainly expect to see some memorable moments, even if the game between the Giants and Patriots turns out to be a dud.

One ad for a certain automotive company that will feature Matthew Broderick reprising his role as Ferris Bueller has been generating a lot of buzz during the week. Others may be less impressive, but each 30-second spot cost $3.5 million just for the air time. Paying actors like Broderick (or lesser known talent) costs a big chunk of change too and the production costs aren’t cheap either.

It’s one of the rare times you actually look for the commercials rather than ignoring them. As you watch the broadcast on Sunday evening—at home, at a friend’s house or your favorite Tampa Bay gathering place—you’ll know the hits and misses pretty quickly. You may even be surprised by a few of them.

The active way we approach ads on the day of this enormous television event can be a reminder to look more carefully at the messages we receive daily from advertisers. Often when we’re buying goods and services, we may become singularly focused on one aspect of the “sell”, such as the price of a product. That narrow focus can cause us to overlook key elements of the transaction, the so-called “fine print” we’re often warned about.

When you’re watching the big game on Sunday and evaluating the messages from major advertisers, try giving some thought to more than humor or surprise elements. Did the ad tease you but leave out vital information? Was the ad too creative that you forgot what was actually being advertised?

Consciously evaluating these multi-million dollar commercials can help you more effectively assess the messages you receive daily from Tampa Bay’s local stores and service providers. When you become an actively engaged consumer, you’ll ask more informed questions and make better decisions. Just be careful not to spill the nachos on your lap while you’re in “consumer training” on Sunday night.

For Improvement in Tampa, Find a Leader

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Matthew Housh

The Bucs did it. After a dismal 4-12 season, which saw them allow more points than any other team in the NFL, they went out and found a new leader. Former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano takes over as head coach in Tampa Bay, and the front office staff and fans are hoping he can turn things around here in the same way he did for the Scarlet Knights.

Ten straight losses to end a season must feel like a never-ending path of punishment. But mercifully, the NFL limits the number of games to 16 before the playoffs begin. It makes you wonder how much longer the team could have lost before changing the man in charge on the sidelines.

You may have experienced a long “losing” streak of your own recently. It might have involved the malfunctioning of an appliance, broken windows or a leaky roof, one at a time or all at once. The cost of covering multiple projects, even if you work on them yourself, can add up quickly.

Many property owners often are focused on a quick fix and saving a buck, which is understandable. But cutting corners can cause them to overlook the lasting value of quality materials and superb workmanship. That’s the difference between and fix-it-and-forget-it philosophy and truly investing in your home maintenance and repair needs.

A home improvement leader will look at your home as a place that needs to be safe and comfortable. Also, a leader will understand the importance of protecting the value of a home. In addition, a leader will always conduct business in a professional manner, demonstrating both an expertise in the field and the courtesy a customer always deserves.

When you’re hiring a home improvement contractor in Tampa Bay, don’t settle for anything less than a true leader. For roof repair and roof replacement, Arry’s Roofing is that leader. As a GAF MasterElite Roofing Contractor, we’ve bring the highest standards to every project. Find out more at www.arrysroofing.com or call us at 727-938-9565 to schedule a visit and free estimate.

Arry’s Roofing Earns Coveted Award Once Again

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Matthew Housh

For the seventh consecutive year, Arry’s Roofing has earned a highly coveted national award for its exceptional service. The 2011 “Super Service Award”, given by Angie’s List, is bestowed upon service contractors and doctors whose commitment to customer service consistently meets or exceeds expectations. Of all the businesses appearing on Angie’s List in more than 500 service categories, only a mere five percent of them will be named “Super Service Award” recipients.

As the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews, Angie’s List maintains high standards for its annual service award. Recipients of the Super Service Award have met “strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their clients and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.” Reports include comments related to a project as well as a grade for price, quality, responsiveness, punctuality and professionalism.

Unlike websites that offer a “pay-for-play” mention to businesses, companies cannot pay to be on Angie’s List. Also, its users are not anonymous; they come from real people who review the contractors and doctors featured on the site. In fact, members submit more than 40,000 new reviews each month. At the moment, more than two million consumers turn to Angie’s List to take advantage of reviews from real people that can lead to more informed buying decisions.

This prestigious award is one more way that Arry’s Roofing demonstrates an unwavering dedication to serving residential and commercial property owners in and around Tampa Bay. With more than 25 years in business, and a production team consisting of only licensed roofers, we’re like no other home improvement company along the Gulf Coast. When you’re looking for excellence in roof repair or roof replacement in Tampa, St. Pete and beyond, discover why more and more of your neighbors trust Arry’s Roofing to get the job done right.

Floridians Deserve a Factory-Certified Roofer

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Matthew Housh

If you’re one of those people who researches everything, it’s likely that you’ve visited the website of each manufacturer who created a product that you bought. Nothing gets by you. But there a great many people who bypass these kinds of details, and in doing so, may miss some bits of critical information. One detail that would serve a property owner well is learning whether or not his or her roofer of choice is factory certified.

The GAF website makes it easy to determine if a contractor in your area has been certified by North America’s largest roofing manufacturer. You simply enter your Zip Code and the results in your area will appear. Enter a Tampa Bay area Zip Code and you’ll see Arry’s Roofing as one of your results.

Not only does this site help you better determine the certification status of a particular roofing contractor, it provides many more ways to get a clearer sense of the value of each contractor. One way that’s possible is by checking out a kind of roofer report card based on reviews by real homeowners. The reviews are used to “score” a business based on both sales and installation experience. Another aspect of this ScoreCard is related to the overall results, asking a customer if the project met all expectations and would that customer recommend the contractor to others.

As of this writing, Arry’s Roofing has received 122 reviews with scores close to or at the maximum level in every single category. The decision to hire a contractor based on these scores can be further bolstered by examining GAF Awards and Certifications, listed nearby. On our page, you’ll notice an Installation Excellence Award among the five featured icons.

So as you’re preparing for an upcoming roof repair or replacement project at your Gulf Coast property, take a few minutes to visit the GAF website. There’s no need to memorize large amounts of technical information about roofing. Just look for a contractor that’s factory certified and that alone will narrow your search while raising your expectations of what a genuinely qualified roofer can do for you.

Find a Factory-Certified Roofer

Reaping the Benefits from an Insured Florida Roofer

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Matthew Housh

It’s a beautiful January mid-afternoon and the roofing contractor you hired is making progress on your new asphalt roof. Suddenly a worker near the chimney slips and falls off the roof. He lands on the ground and breaks several bones, including his neck. It’s a terrible accident, but luckily he survives. Then you find out the contractor you hired doesn’t carry any insurance. How lucky do you feel?

In Florida, non-insured roofers are more common than you may realize. Even an apparent roofing pro with a sparkling company logo on the side of his company vehicle may not carry adequate (or any) insurance. If it’s a topic you’re not discussing before a project commences, finding out after the fact may create a whole lot of issues that will catch you by surprise, such as the issue of liability if a worker falls on your property while uninsured.

As part of an initial inspection meeting, asking to see the contractor’s certificate of insurance helps you more effectively qualify a Gulf Coast roofing contractor. And the type of insurance coverage is important too. Does the contractor carry general liability? Does the contractor carry workers’ compensation? A brief discussion at the beginning of the process can reduce the risk from trouble later. You can even take it a step further and ask for proof of insurance from the actual insurance company, rather than merely taking the word of the contractor.

You may have encountered and even hired non-insured roofing contractors in the past. Perhaps it was a new company without insurance or a part-time contractor. You may have saved some money going this route. Yet hiring a single contractor or a company that is not insured is a risk that should be avoided. At the end of the day (or the end of the project), you don’t want to be financially responsible for an error or negligence on the part of your contractor.

In Florida, insured and licensed roofing contractors are available for roof repair and roof replacement. Seeking them out saves you an unnecessary hassle later. As a GAF MasterElite Roofing Contractor, Arry’s Roofing maintains an adequate level of insurance, and remains committed to operating with licensed roofing professionals only. Tampa Bay property owners can learn more by visiting www.arrysroofing.com or by calling 727-938-9565.

Before Tampa Bay Bids Adieu to 2011

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Matthew Housh

2011 is almost behind us. Before we officially send it off, we’d like to take a few moments to reflect on what we’ve accomplished over the last 12 months. But we can’t do it alone. We need some feedback from you.

As one of the Gulf Coast’s premier contractors, Arry’s Roofing has traveled all over the area every week to improve homes and businesses, repairing or replacing failing or faulty roofing systems in Tampa, St. Pete and beyond. Whether you’re a residential customer in Clearwater who upgraded from asphalt to metal roofing or you’re a commercial customer in Palm Harbor who relied on us for roof cleaning, we thank you for trusting our experience and expertise when making your decision.

If you were one of the property owners in Florida who turned to Arry’s Roofing for residential or commercial services in 2011, we want to hear from you. Last time, you likely called our toll-free number, 727-938-9565, to contact us. But this time, we invite you to share with us in writing how our team made a difference in your life in the past year. Whether it was a big project or a little one, we welcome any stories or comments about the ways we enhanced your home.

Testimonials, like the one you can provide, allow potential customers to make more informed decisions and discover the benefits of turning to a GAF MasterElite Roofing Contractor. So think about your experience. Was it your first time using Arry’s Roofing? What impressed you most? What pleasantly surprised you during the process?

We encourage you to share your comments or stories below this blog. Whether you write a hundred words or just a few, your personal perspective is welcome. Thanks again for considering us for your residential or commercial roofing needs in 2012. Your continued patronage is always appreciated.

Tampa-St. Pete’s “A-Team” in Roofing

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Matthew Housh

It’s an ideal time of year to thank every valued team member at Arry’s Roofing. The dedication and expertise of our “A-Team” are the reasons we’re able to satisfy our customers all around the Gulf Coast. Some of them you see in person; others you may only talk to on the phone. But each one of them makes our overall operation run at an exceptional level.

You don’t get to stay in business these days by accident. One advantage at Arry’s Roofing is hiring only licensed roofing contractors to work on residential and commercial roofs. Our production team includes a host of roofing professionals. Having more than 20 years of roofing experience is not a rare feat among this crew. These are lifelong roofing professionals who came to Arry’s with solid credentials and impressive work ethics. For each one of them, we are grateful.

Every successful company has a dedicated sales force and Arry’s Roofing is no different. Well, actually we are a bit different. Our sales staff knows roofing inside and out. These professionals go far beyond square footage measurements to guide a commercial or residential client through the roof replacement process with an expertise that’s second to none in this area, including one sales pro with nearly two decades as a state-certified roofing contractor. We are blessed to have each one of them on our team.

Our next group of professionals may be behind the scenes much of the time, but they’re always delivering well above expectations. The Administration Team is a vital part of our operation, keeping us on track daily, setting our sights higher and higher, and finding more exceptional people to join us. Even without stepping foot on a customer’s property, their influence can be felt throughout the entire process of a roofing project in Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater and beyond.

We look forward to putting our collective efforts into your roofing project in 2012. Visit us at www.arrysroofing.com or call 727-938-9565 to schedule a free roof inspection and estimate. From the entire team Arry’s Roofing, Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Tampa Bay Roof Repair in 2012

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Matthew Housh

The gift-giving that accompanies the holiday season usually provides a few good mysteries, presents that provide no obvious clue about what’s inside until you unwrap them. You may eye a particular gift sitting under the tree for days and wonder what delight awaits you. These are the heartwarming mysteries of the season, unlike the mysteries at home that will follow in 2012.

One of those mysteries is how much your home improvement and repair projects will cost you over the next 12 months. There are some point of references available online related to overall maintenance and repair costs related to a new or older home. You may see figures like 1-2% or 3-4%. Usually a higher percentage of a home’s original purchase price is tied to the anticipated costs of annual repair. New homes and homes in the 5-10 year-old year-old range tend to cost less to maintain annually. But this “ballpark” figure does not do much to help you determine the cost of roof repair or replacement should it become necessary in 2012.

Due to the extensive variables related to roof repair, there is no way to easily pinpoint a cost on your own. A professional contractor can give you an estimate based on type of roofing material, square footage, pitch, and other factors including hours of labor. So while your neighbor’s roof repair may cost $12,000 next May, your roof repair the following month might cost more or less.

So how do you prepare for a figure that’s best determined by an experienced roofing contractor? One approach is to avoid being conservative in your estimation of all potential repairs. If your review of 2011 reveals that your actual improvement and repair expense was 2.5% of your home’s original purchase price, move your 2012 estimate to 3.0%. Another aspect to consider is the age of your current roofing materials. If those 20-year shingles on your home were installed well over a decade ago, replacement will become necessary very soon. Also, consider the potential damaging effects of weather here along Florida’s Gulf Coast, which can experience everything from tropical weather to hurricane force winds in a given year.

Once you’re ready to find a reliable roofing contractor in Tampa Bay, choose among the premier professionals with proven track records of service in this area. As a GAF MasterElite Roofing Contractor, Arry’s Roofing stands above the competition by providing superior workmanship, a team dedicated to ongoing training, and a fully licensed and adequately insured operation. Free in-home consultations and estimates are available by calling 727-938-9565, and more information about Arry’s Roofing is available online at www.arrysroofing.com.

Habitat for the Holidays

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Matthew Housh

As a past participant in a Habitat for Humanity project, Arry’s Roofing has seen the benefits of lending a hand to someone to in need. With more than 25 years of service here in Tampa Bay, helping homeowners live more safely and comfortably is what we do best. Now we invite you to help your local Habitat for Humanity this holiday season.

Three Ways to Help Tampa Bay Habitat Programs
Volunteer
You don’t need to be a roofing expert to make a difference. Even without knowing what apron flashing is, you can help in a big way by volunteering your time. Most Habitat programs have an online application that makes it easy to get started. Let them know if you have technical skills, such as experience with drywall, electrical, plumbing or flooring. Perhaps your area of expertise is filing, bookkeeping or data entry. Those are valuable assets too.

Donate
If time is too limited, a monetary donation is always an easy way to support your local Habitat for Humanity organization. Your cash, check or online donation helps cover the essentials of any project. Even a small donation is appreciated. Just consider, $10 could help buy a box of nails; $35 helps buy roof shingles; $75 means a window can be purchased; $100 helps buy the kitchen sink.

Feed
If your area of expertise involves cooking, baking or preparing meals, imagine the appetite that a volunteer crew works up during a day on site. Contact a Habitat program, such as the West Pasco organization, and offer to make breakfast or lunch for the crew. Feeding the people who are diligently working to build a much-needed home for a family is a great tradition to start this holiday season and carry forward throughout the coming year.

Thanks for being a great neighbor this holiday season. Let us know how we can help you with your roofing needs now or in the future. Visit us at www.arrysroofing.com or call us at 727-938-9565.

West Pasco Habitat for Humanity

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