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Friday, December 30, 2011

The Weather and My Life

The personal experiences of my life are recorded in my mind along with the weather. Yeah I'm a nut but so are most of us. That's beside the point so hush up.

I graduated from college in 1979 and the following year it was the hottest ever here:1980. My first son was born in a year with few storms, 1985. The next year hail tore up 75062. The big car wreck was in a year of very little work, so I know it happened in 1998. I had bought the inventory of Flintkote shingles from ABC Supply for a song and dance because the company was changing names to it's new parent, Genstar, and the wrappers would be obsolete.

The year I did nothing but work was 2011 and it is spilling over into 2012 too.

My point is that many of us would never remember what year we lost an ear unless we tied the incident to our jobs or school. I can't remember what year that dog I bit ripped off my ear because I wasn't in school. i didn't start crying until my mother freaked. Then I knew I was in trouble. They put my ear back on.

When I look back on my life I tag incidents to hailstorms, tornadoes, and droughts. Even this year a few things happened.

I'd like to take this moment to thank our customers and apologize to those we couldn't get to. We couldn't even answer the phone it rang so much. there will be very few new roofs to put on after the remaining roofs get replaced, unless the skies get angry again. That is why we also do siding, window replacement, and solar. This helps insulate us from the ravages of calm weather.

My best wishes to everyone. Have a safe and happy New Year. God bless. 


Jon Alan Wright
Jon Wright Roofing, Siding, and Windows
1915 Peters Rd., Suite 310
Irving, TX 75061
972.251.1818 Office
214.718.3748 Cell
972.554.8090 Fax
    Follow jwrightroofing on Twitter

Monday, December 26, 2011

Fake Roofing Companies

google has a policy that the location or map page of a business must be a legitimate place of business. I assume, because I'm that way, that Yahoo, Bing and the others do to. years ago it was okay and I went to a seminar that showed us how to just put a comma in the address line with the city hall zip code of the city you wanted to optimize in. I thought it was okay but looking back it was deceptive.

The thought police that run these search engines have done a good job of writing rules that stop people from committing these practices. I learned my lesson. I paid dearly as did a computer geek friend, Half Price Geeks, did. He put white letters over a white background that the all seeing spiders could see but mere mortals could not. "So why did I land here in this cyberspace location?" manipulation.

The mantra today is transparency and honesty. But it ain't happen' baby. Follow this:

First go to yahoo and google, er I mean yahoo, the words "Irving Roofer."
 The first address doesn't even exist. Some other locations use zip codes for Irving I didn't know existed. They are post office box zip codes.

Now go back to Google and try the same. do a little digging and put some of the address in the search bar with the word FedEx attached. Ah ha! A postal or mailbox center. No office there. At least three that come up in Google Maps are not there. Where are they? Their websites don't have physical addresses on them either.

Now go dig around their online comments. Notice anything strange? Rhythmic comments with the same writing styles, adjectives, and punctuation errors. maybe there were six comments in a week, twice, but not in between. Coincidence? How about the fact that the commenter has only made one comment in their online history. Dig back. Look.

These skills will help you find people who are willing to falsify comments that make them look good. Maybe you can find that nothing exists about them a year ago, including BBB recognition. That is why Angie's List is growing. Her success is so great that not only will there be copycats, there will be attempts to scam her site too. they do a pretty good job but if you build it, they will come. Every time.

So do your research. dig, snoop, and listen. Why not just call them and ask where their office is. That's pretty easy. That way before you sign away thousands of dollars in commitments, you can go see them. I would.

Jon Alan Wright
Jon Wright Roofing, Siding, and Windows
1915 Peters Rd., Suite 310
Irving, TX 75061
972.251.1818 Office
214.718.3748 Cell
972.554.8090 Fax
    Follow jwrightroofing on Twitter

Insurance Companies Dumb Down Roofs and Cheat GAF

By systematically paying for lower grade roofs than the homeowners have, insurance companies are saving millions and cheating homeowners and the manufacturers, primarily GAF.

I'm not sure of the statistics but I do know that since the 1980's forward, the middle grade of three architectural shingles, last know as a 40 year, was the mainstay of roofing materials. As hail hit roofs, people replaced their roofs with like kind and quality. when they put the new roof over another roof, especially wood shingles, they tended to install the 40 and 50 year versions of the product.

I'm using 2001 to 2010 language here.For the most part, before the 2011 warranty change, 25 year shingles weighed 250 lbs per sq., 30 year weighed 300, and 40 year weighed 340. Easy to remember 25=250, 30=300, and 40= more than 300. the point is, most homes with laminates that were built before 1985 or roofed after that, had 300 lb. shingles.

Until this year, the insurance companies were paying correctly, for the most part. That has ended. They now say all laminates are the light weight version, the 240 lb. In fact, we have to continually explain to them that the language changed in 2001 so  that a 25 became a 30, a 30 became a 40, and a 40 became a 50. They've used lab reports and shingle gauges and other flimsy wiggledly wham methods, including stalling, to cheat the homeowners.

And the mushroom roofers who pop up after hail storms are more than willing to put on a 30 and bill for a 40. until recently we thought all 40 years were gone but  State Farm, in an exhaustive project, found a material that was classified as a 40 but weighs only 165 lbs. We never even knew it existed.

So GAF, which was huge before it took over the massive Elcor, Elk shingles for those of you from the real world, Tamko, and Owens Corning, who all discontinued their 40 year version, are out of the game and State Farm, the biggie in the insurance biz, is sending it's clients down a path to lesser products.

The insurance companies always talked weight in the past but they keep squirming until they find a way to keep costs down. They say "it's always been that way" or "I've never heard that." Shut up and speak up once you know something other that dumbing down. It really turns my stomach how they don't care about their customer's homes but advertise they are friends and neighbors.

Every week or two they come up with something and claim it has always been that way. I've been here for 32 years selling roofs and was an installer for years before that. They don't know jack. I left off the last half the word.

Do you think it is fair to put a shingle that weighs 71 to 88% less? You might even think it was good for the environment but these new roofs won't last a long.
Jon Alan Wright
Jon Wright Roofing, Siding, and Windows
1915 Peters Rd., Suite 310
Irving, TX 75061
972.251.1818 Office
214.718.3748 Cell
972.554.8090 Fax
    Follow jwrightroofing on Twitter

Monday, December 12, 2011

Interesting Article on Corrrupt Roofers

Here''s an interesting article written by Jim Strickland of WSBTV2. It came to me via email plagiarized by an insurance adjusting firm employee for a seemingly in house email. But it escaped into the public and didn't just stay with his staff. Roofing industry stalwarts have been circulating the story amongst themselves as if it were written by someone else.
The original link is directly below. The email is after that.


http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/officials-sting-shows-roofers-creating-storm-damag/nFjb2/

    Home>  News>  LocalPosted: 3:17 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, 2011Officials: Sting shows roofers creating storm damagecomment  (10)SharefavoriteVote  (0)View Largerroofer sting photoBy Jim StricklandATLANTA —State agents are working hard to enforce a new law passed following a Channel 2 Action News investigation into unscrupulous roofers, and recently invited Channel 2 cameras to take part in an elaborate sting.Roofers are no longer allowed to pay storm victim's insurance deductibles or file claims on their behalf following an investigation by Channel 2 consumer investigator Jim Strickland.Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens said he wanted to send a message and asked to use Channel 2 cameras to help. Undercover state agents targeted Ronnie Baker and several other roofers on orders by Hudgens. State officials say Baker advertised a promise that sent up immediate red flags, "Storm victims pay zero deductible.""We're trying to get the bad actors out," Hudgens told Strickland.To set up the sting, the state rented a house and first brought in a certified inspector. Channel 2 and the Fraud Squad with the Insurance Commissioner's office had separate hidden cameras."It's in good condition. There is no hail or storm related damages," certified inspector Frank Domonousky told Strickland after he looked at the house."Over here there is no damage, not a single mark," Domonousky said on top of the roof.When Baker arrived, cameras showed him doing more measuring than inspecting. He claimed the house needed a new roof and offered to a bargain. "Don't tell them I'm paying your deductible or they'll just deduct that from us. Legally I can't do that," Baker told the undercover agents.Baker returned later to photograph the supposed damage. Channel 2 was there and recorded the front and back of the house and watched as Baker dug his finger into the shingles. Baker did it over and over again, each time ending with a chalk mark for the insurance company. Baker even took a bolt from the TV antenna on top of the house and used that to twist into a shingle and manufacture damage.RELATED VIDEO: Whistle-blower helping state with roofer stingThe roof deemed hail free by an inspector suddenly appeared to be a peppered and pelted mess."You can see how big that area is and it is where the granules have been scraped away," said Billy Sullivan, lead agent of the undercover operation.Baker insisted the damage was there and he was only making it easier to see."I'm not a crook. I don't have to. I don't have to commit a crime to get paid," Baker told Strickland as he was being handcuffed by undercover agents. "I think it's outrageous." Baker said.Baker was not the only one."Man, I'm just glad you're covering this damn deductible for me," said an undercover agent to one of the roofers."Oh yeah, that is no problem, man," said Daniel Barry, another roofer who showed up for an inspection.Barry and Kenneth McKenzie work for American Roofing Co. Barry actually used a penny to scratch off the granules on the shingles."That's where the granules on the shingles actually took off the copper off the penny. It's manufacturing hail damage," an agent showed Strickland afterward.When agents moved in, McKenzie denied manufacturing storm damage."What's your reaction to your arrest?" Strickland asked McKenzie."I have no idea. It's quite a surprise to me," replied McKenzie.When asked what they were doing on the roof and why the used the penny, Barry replied, "I saw the damage there and I was trying to open it up to where it was more visible."Domonousky told Strickland it is more like vandalism."He actually rubbed right through the shingle to the fiber backing on the bottom half, and basically damaged this shingle for life," said Domonousky.Hudgens told Strickland felony fraud charges against all three roofers caught allegedly roughing up the roof will stand."When it's not prosecuted the message doesn't get out and it says it's perfectly OK to defraud an insurance company. Well it's not," Hudgens said.Three roofers whose inspection did not warrant arrest will get warnings for the promises to pay the deductible.In addition to the three arrested for felony insurance fraud, investigators are still gathering evidence against a fourth roofer.The insurance commissioner's office told Strickland that 12 to 18 percent of the money homeowners pay in premiums goes to cover the cost of fraud.

Now here's how it was emailed to me:

Advanced Claims Concepts
November 23, 2011
Field Staff, 


ATLANTA -
State agents are working hard to enforce a new law passed following a Channel 2 Action News investigation into unscrupulous roofers, and recently invited Channel 2 cameras to take part in an elaborate sting.

Roofers are no longer allowed to pay storm victim's insurance deductibles or file claims on their behalf following an investigation by Channel 2 consumer investigator Jim Strickland.

Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens said he wanted to send a message and asked to use Channel 2 cameras to help. Undercover state agents targeted Ronnie Baker and several other roofers on orders by Hudgens. State officials say Baker advertised a promise that sent up immediate red flags, "Storm victims pay zero deductible."

"We're trying to get the bad actors out," Hudgens told Strickland.

To set up the sting, the state rented a house and first brought in a certified inspector. Channel 2 and the Fraud Squad with the Insurance Commissioner's office had separate hidden cameras.

"It's in good condition. There is no hail or storm related damages," certified inspector Frank Domonousky told Strickland after he looked at the house.

"Over here there is no damage, not a single mark," Domonousky said on top of the roof.

When Baker arrived, cameras showed him doing more measuring than inspecting. He claimed the house needed a new roof and offered to a bargain. "Don't tell them I'm paying your deductible or they'll just deduct that from us. Legally I can't do that," Baker told the undercover agents.

Baker returned later to photograph the supposed damage. Channel 2 was there and recorded the front and back of the house and watched as Baker dug his finger into the shingles. Baker did it over and over again, each time ending with a chalk mark for the insurance company. Baker even took a bolt from the TV antenna on top of the house and used that to twist into a shingle and manufacture damage.



The roof deemed hail free by an inspector suddenly appeared to be a peppered and pelted mess.

"You can see how big that area is and it is where the granules have been scraped away," said Billy Sullivan, lead agent of the undercover operation.

Baker insisted the damage was there and he was only making it easier to see.

"I'm not a crook. I don't have to. I don't have to commit a crime to get paid," Baker told Strickland as he was being handcuffed by undercover agents. "I think it's outrageous." Baker said.

Baker was not the only one.

"Man, I'm just glad you're covering this damn deductible for me," said an undercover agent to one of the roofers.

"Oh yeah, that is no problem, man," said Daniel Barry, another roofer who showed up for an inspection.

Barry and Kenneth McKenzie work for American Roofing Co. Barry actually used a penny to scratch off the granules on the shingles.

"That's where the granules on the shingles actually took off the copper off the penny. It's manufacturing hail damage," an agent showed Strickland afterward.

When agents moved in, McKenzie denied manufacturing storm damage.

"What's your reaction to your arrest?" Strickland asked McKenzie.

"I have no idea. It's quite a surprise to me," replied McKenzie.

When asked what they were doing on the roof and why the used the penny, Barry replied, "I saw the damage there and I was trying to open it up to where it was more visible."

Domonousky told Strickland it is more like vandalism.

"He actually rubbed right through the shingle to the fiber backing on the bottom half, and basically damaged this shingle for life," said Domonousky.

Hudgens told Strickland felony fraud charges against all three roofers caught allegedly roughing up the roof will stand.

"When it's not prosecuted the message doesn't get out and it says it's perfectly OK to defraud an insurance company. Well it's not," Hudgens said.

Three roofers whose inspection did not warrant arrest will get warnings for the promises to pay the deductible.

In addition to the three arrested for felony insurance fraud, investigators are still gathering evidence against a fourth roofer.

The insurance commissioner's office told Strickland that 12 to 18 percent of the money homeowners pay in premiums goes to cover the cost of fraud.
 Sincerely,

Cliff Goodson

Advanced Claims Concepts, Inc.
Cliff Goodson, CFO

Office: 888-251-7448 Ext. 701
Cell: 386-334-8467
Fax: 407-641-9777


"Large enough to do your claims work nationwide, but small
                                enough to care about it"
Cliff Goodson should be ashamed of himself. Plagiarism is theft and against the law.



Jon Alan Wright
Jon Wright Roofing, Siding, and Windows
1915 Peters Rd., Suite 310
Irving, TX 75061
972.251.1818 Office
214.718.3748 Cell
972.554.8090 Fax
    Follow jwrightroofing on Twitter

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Dallas Roofing History

The first big roofer I remember was Gideon Roofing. He had a complex of stores over off Cayuga Drive in Dallas. Besides his roofing company he had a sheet metal shop, a fastener store, and a roofing distributorship. My first babysitter lived on that street too. Good old Mrs. Oneal is long gone now.

He went down leaving room for Latham to take over numero uno. As his company went down the Lon Smith, Needham, and Hollingsworth dynasties began.

Today there are lots of roofing companies in Dallas, as there always has been but a dominate company no longer exists. Some guys do a lot of business but no one company overshadows the region.

The big suppliers of yesteryear like Burris and Dallas Wholesale have been replaced by at least 20 stores. ABC, Southern, Shelter, Bradco, Home Depot, and Gulf Eagle all have multiple locations.

But there are some behemoths in the industry: the manufacturers. GAF, Certainteed, Tamko, Gerard, Owens Corning, IKO, and the evil ones: Atlas and Malarkey, have gobbled up all the mom and pop shingle factories. Gone are Elk, Celotex, Fry (showing my age), GS, Genstar, Flintkote, Georgia Pacific, Allied, Masonite, Johns Manville roofing shingles, and Dura-Loc while Bird has been pushed into the northeast.

Many of their product names still exist like the presidential, once a Celotex product and now by Certainteed, or Flintlastic modified, from Flintkote to Genstar to GS to Certainteed.

Boy did we love  to yell "get the Bird pookie" and watch the homeowners freak

Jon Alan Wright
Jon Wright Roofing, Siding, and Windows
1915 Peters Rd., Suite 310
Irving, TX 75061
972.251.1818 Office
214.718.3748 Cell
972.554.8090 Fax
    Follow jwrightroofing on Twitter

Monday, December 5, 2011

The initiation of Jon as a Roofer.

Children believe that history began with their own consciousness. Even though we grow to know better when we have our own little rug snatchers, we feel like they were always with  us. Maybe it has something to do with String Theory and multiple dimensions and possibilities. Naw. It is just the arrogance of man. Anyway I'm going to narrate the history of roofing through my eyes.
Chapter 1:
Just kidding.

One morning my father got me out of bed. There was this big huge giant pile of stuff in the driveway and my father told me that my job was to get it on the roof. Come on! This was going to be worse than the summer I had to break up a patio cover with a sledgehammer and wheelbarrow it to a trailer in front of the house. How I longed to just sit and separate the screws, washers, nuts and bolts of hundreds of kinds that was another task when daddy brought home several footlockers full of them. He has enough for generations.

So I go outside and I can't even budge the package. My father has me start with a fraction of a package. Soon the little stones are sliding down my back and into my underwear and socks. Thank the Unmoved Mover that this was pre-fiberglass times.

Due to the youth of an 8th grader, I didn't get sore the next day. I piled more destruction on my body and when the soreness came on the third day, the sea parted from the land. Dad didn't let me off and wasn't going to on the 7th either.  This is the role model that Newt is talking about. Pharaoh!

When my ancient uncle showed up, and I never saw him before or afterwards, the real toil began. I tell you, a plank one by twelve deck really holds a nail. And there where three layers!!! Cccount themmm.

Once this epic task was completed we were ready for the forty days and nights. And so was another uncle that I knew well. I never knew he was such beast. He had procured me by right of blood to toil in his quarry, his parking lot, and his roofs. He was a man of many hats but had no sons. So, thus having completed the first job so well, I was sent off to never be heard from again.

Yeah, I did come back but soon discovered that people actually got paid for doing this work. food and shelter no longer sufficed.

When i went to college I looked for jobs and could only find work in bars and sweaty sheet metal shops. Then it happened. I met a roofer with the need for help. Imagine in the 1970's being 19 years old and making $150.00 a day. Thought about dropping out as we all know 19 year olds are immortal and time does not pass.

I watched my new boss measure roofs in his peculiar way while he asked me to spell "tear off" and "valley." So I changed from a science major taking Spanish to Political Philosophy and Italian, speculating that the upcoming wave of Italian immigrants would take over the roofing labor force.

Once I graduated from the University of Dallas, I couldn't find a job as a philosopher making my required $150.00 per day, so roofing was it. Besides I got to hire a lot of those students and teach them the value of an education.


Jon Alan Wright
Jon Wright Roofing, Siding, and Windows
1915 Peters Rd., Suite 310
Irving, TX 75061
972.251.1818 Office
214.718.3748 Cell
972.554.8090 Fax
    Follow jwrightroofing on Twitter