Seibold Construction Inc. // Leak Master

"I always strive to give customers practical solutions in resolving roofing problems. Many times what appears to be a roof leak can actually be caused by open flashing, improperly installed siding, windows, separation in flue tiles in a chimney or as in this particular case, worn out caulking on window trim. If it is an easy fix, I usually ask the homeowner if they would like to get their hands dirty and make the appropriate repairs, providing it is a walkable roof, a low pitch and they are adept at using a ladder. Some of my competitors think I'm crazy for investing my time, knowledge and gas money for nothing. When I leave, the customer is smiling because he just saved a boatload of money on a roof that didn't need replacing and can take that family vacation that was postponed. I will tell you if the roof needs replacing upon a visual inspection, ultimately you get what you need, not what you don't need. I really don't worry about the phones ringing, as a matter of fact, the phone is ringing right now. Sorry, have to go!"

""Not all roofs are created equal"- you can look at 2 different roofs side by side, and although they may appear to be the same, they are probably not. The ability of a shingle to withstand extreme weather conditions is more dependent on how and what kinds of materials were installed under the shingle,{the substrate} than the shingle itself. Roofing tiles were made to shed water {in the direction of gravity}. On most roofs, one could direct water using a garden hose, simulating wind driven rain, under the shingles, along chimney flashing, skylights etc. and cause a leak. This particular house experienced serious ice back-up caused from trapped heat and inadequate detailing of the roof edges. In essence there is much more effort involved in ensuring a water tight roof than just nailing on shingles.These customers are professionals in their own field of expertise and recognize quality work and ethics when they see it. Thank you for the good report! Respectfully, Michael Seibold"

"The member is about is about as nice a customer as I've ever had. Trust seems to be a major contributing factor, along with product knowledge and price in securing work as a contractor and then delivering on that "trust." Especially when one is alone, widowed, widower or thru divorce and lacks another voice in counsel to discuss the project at hand, it's important to talk with a contractor who expresses concern and understanding for their unique life-situation and takes the time to answer all their questions and options, without any pressure to make a decision, without creating any false sense of urgency, as in "this roof has to be done yesterday!" People in general appreciate being treated like a person, not just another sales quota that needs to be met. My wife has said in passing that I will never make a "good business man" because I care more about people than I do about "getting that job." Maybe she's right, but then again I re-sided her house 20 years ago and she liked it so much that she married me! Go figure."

"As a general rule of thumb, when securing estimates for a project, a home-owner usually discards the low bid and the high bid. A contractor that furnishes a cheap price, who is commonly referred to as a "low baller" in the trade, typically has to use short cuts or materials that are considered "Seconds"{less than adequate} to complete the job, that is, if the job is completed. Unless the high bidder can justify their quote, a customer generally goes with a contractor who has priced the job somewhere in the middle. Of course there are other points to ponder, how long has the contractor been in business? What do former customers have to say about the company? Are they financially solvent? What kind of certifications and qualifications do the employees possess. What kind of warranty is provided? In this particular case their was another bid higher than mine. In order to keep the closing on schedule without making changes to the original sales contract {, [between the low balling no-show and my bid},I suggested that the difference be paid from her personal account. She agreed and the house closed without a hitch. Another happy customer and I'm smiling!"

"In our current economic environment, some of my customers have to defer installing a new roof until a later date when their financing is in order. We then propose making the necessary corrections to mitigate water filtration at a fraction of the cost of an entire roof. This approach is not always able to be done if the shingles are too worn. We offer this alternative when possible."

"In this particular situation, we contracted with the customer to do part of her roof. The house has a hip roof, 4 sides in which we stripped , re-decked and installed a shingle that would match in color and design the remaining shingles. About 5 years later we returned to "button-up" the remainder of the roof which included 2 skylights, vent boots and flashing to protect against water filtration and ice back-up from an up-coming winter."

"This particular job required intensive detailing of the lower sections of the roof, side walls and an asundry of roofing techniques too numerous to mention. The existing shingle on the main house roof had plenty of life expectancy but leaked profusely through-out the winter months. The previous installer did a great job of installing the shingles but failed to protect roof edges and side walls susceptible to ice back-up. Our installation techniques which transcend manufacturer’s specifications are what separates us from the rest of the pack. We also stripped and roofed the garage with a similar shingle as the main house."

"I am not always able to answer the phone directly. I might be measuring up a prospective job, dangling over the edge of a roof inspecting a leak, answering another call etc. I'll always return your phone call unless the demand for service is so outrageous {as in the case of the October 13th storm} where we logged in aprox 1500 calls that week of which I can maybe handle ten. Some of my customers are waiting for me to hire a secretary, Somehow I can't justify spending more time with another women than my wife.I like being married and happily married. This job was a complete tear-down of the old roof, including installing the proper ventilation to the soffits, which is critical in establishing the correct flow of air which delineates ice formation and back-up. We also increased the amount of ice and water membrane due to a lower pitched roof. We added an extra gutter to the rear of the house at no charge. We always try to do something extra for our customers. Yes, some people will attempt to take advantage of our good will but overall, people are very appreciative."

"The customer is a fire fighter, he's used to being up on roofs and is quite fearless of heights. Owning his first house with a young family, I remember how hard it was myself years ago tackling the bigger jobs. The roof was leaking around the vent pipes so I left him a partial bucket of roofing cement to seal the boots in place. There was no exchange of money but at his request I wrote an estimate for complete replacement as the shingles were quite dilapidated, exceeding their life-expectancy. To my surprise, about a month later, the phone rang and he gave us the go-ahead."

"I appreciate when a customer recognizes the nuances and detailing when installing a roofing system. Actually, like snow flakes, there is no one roof a like, They each embody their unique set of challenges and implementation of a variety of techniques that only comes with experience. The shingle manufacturers and suppliers can offer guidelines in regards to the installation process, but a true professional factors in the type of climate,style of home and its location and most often goes above and beyond the manufactures specifications. In a sense, for those who take it seriously, it can come close to being an art-form. Thank you for noticing! Respectfully, Michael Seibold-owner"

"This is a very busy time of the year and I am not always able to respond in a timely manner due to the sheer volume of calls My business is operated with one crew of four men. Each job is executed with precision and care. We can strip a roof and complete the shingle installation usually within a day to a day and a half. Repair work is completed between full roof installations. It might take a few days for us to get to you but I guarantee it's worth the wait!"

"One of the best perks in this business is all the nice people I meet. This customer had just lost her husband about 6 weeks prior and was trying very hard to take care of things around the house, make important decisions without her husband. I spent a bit more time with her to make sure she understood roofing terminology, even spoke with her son on the phone who lived out of state. We were about 6 weeks out with work yet to be completed. The eve in the rear of the house was exposed due to winter damage so I decided to move her up the list . In about a week it was completed, taking about a day and a half, completely water tight and pretty as a peach, plus one less thing to worry about."

"We contracted this job just as the nasty weather was about to arrive. There was significant flashing involved to the brick, tons of potential ice back-up areas. We're always moderately priced yet our workmanship is pretty near impeccable, we do our very best to protect against extreme weather. If you haven't noticed, it seems like every year the storms are getting more severe. We go the extra distance in buttoning up a roof, takes a little extra time but it's time well spent."

"Solving this particular water filtration problem required significantly more time in developing a stategy. This customer had a one story roof, 5\12 pitch, cathedral ceiling connected to a vertical wall, housing a window and chimney with a jutout. The siding was t1-11 wood which was installed before the soffit and facia installation. In addition, there were recessed light fixtures in the ceiling which contributed to the build up of ice in the winter thru loss of heat. Instead of tearing off the entire roof area and starting over{the shingles were still in excellent condition} I presented her with a much lower cost effective solution. Ensure that the roof rafters were baffled and soffit vents open, to provide an adequate flow of air. Carefully dismantle the eves and remove the wood siding. Install a high grade ice and water membrane from the roof line up and over the complete backwall, install a "filterflash" wall vent to remove stagnant hot air and put everything back together again as if it was never removed.No small challenge, but the problem was solved and for considerably less than complete replacement."

"Credibility, reliability and trust are essential components in any business relationship. Several of my new customers have had this "trust" violated by poor workmanship performed by a previous contractor. In order to re-kindle customer confidence, I sometimes will complete the agreed project and defer payment at a later time untill the customer has had an opportunity, for example, to experience the new found joy of a roof that doesn't leak. Some of my contractor friends balk at me for not getting "cash in hand,"but I remind them of the old adage "what you sow is what you reap." Another way of saying it, "smiling is alot easier than frowning", good will is contagious.Ther's nothing like a satisfied customer!"

"Having a background in building consulting, 33 years of field experience coupled with a sensitivity to the impact of an economic crunch for most customers, {limiting their disposable income}, we offer several different solutions when resolving a water filtration problem. Although most of our time is spent engaged in complete tear-downs and re-roofing projects, there are many instances when this is not required. Case in point- most of their roofing tiles were in excellent condition with an approximate life expectancy of 15 years. Only the rear quarter needed attention. My philosophy- only address what is essential , where as most companies would reccommend complete replacement. As far as calling a customer and informing them that were running an hour behind, this is just demonstrating common courtesy. I can't tell you how many hours I've waited for the phone company or cable company to show up, it really ticks me off. My time is valuable and so are my customers."