Why Choose Us

Michael J. Brazil is the third generation roofer in the Brazil Family.  

 

“My Dad always had us working in the yard and with chores, and on the weekends or during the summer he would take us on his roof projects.  Over time I learned the joy of hard work and doing a quality job.  It’s something that every human should experience.  There is amazing gratification in completing a task well.  After high school I started working full time and worked with my Dad and Brothers for over 23 years full time.”

“I worked from the ground up.  Literally, I started off cleaning the grounds, running magnets, painting flashings in the warehouse, driving a forklift, doing inventory.  Then I was moved to cleaning off roofs with an old 1970’s Ford Dump Truck.  I was then taught to final walk the roof by inspecting all the facets of the completed roof and making any minor adjustments.  For example, in new homes the window cleaners loved climbing on the roof to clean the windows and I would have to fix all the damages left behind.  I also did pre-walks and made sure all the materials were available on-site so you had to know all the flashings and materials to make sure nothing was missing.  I loaded materials with trucks, and loaded roofs with tile and shingles.  I roofed shingles, and concrete and clay tile.  Later, I learned to estimate new home production and re-roofing as well as repairs.  I developed custom bid sheets so that my estimates are not “average price per square” but an accounting spreadsheet allows me to quote your roof for what YOUR roof needs.  I’ve also had a great privilege of working with builders and architects to help “value engineer” homes.  Whenever we worked with architects we always tried to eliminate crickets and hog valleys, and we tried to keep roof lines simpler so they are easier to work on and maintain.  I also have attended seminars with TRIA and (no doubt to their annoyance) have drawn many custom details for the installation manual.  (Not that they accepted many of them)  The details I have created such as “Side Wall Flashing for Non-Parallel Walls” is something that has repaired countless leaks in our area.  Also, our “Tile Rake Tile Pan Nosing” flashing we developed has helped countless homeowners and condo HOA’s thousands and thousands of dollars in dry-rot repair.  I’ve also developed a simple ventilation calculator so that all my roofs can have their attic ventilated properly. Our experience with low slope roofs, and the dreaded 3/12 slope tile roof sections and dealing with foamed attics under low slope sections… we have seen and done a lot.  We haven’t done it all but we have done a LOT including re-roofing 300 year old clay tiles and real slate, 2pc clay, etc.  I have worked with large HOA’s, new construction builders, contractors, General Contractors, remodelers, apartment complexes, hospitals, and standard comp shingle roofs as well as tile roofs.  We have also built structures, and designed patio covers, and worked with engineers to repair framing after we have torn roofs off.  We have repaired damages from earthquakes and winds and managed firewalls and WUI code installations and found the best gutter screens(in our opinion).  Draw on our experience.  You won’t regret getting a free estimate from us.

 

I’ve learned some valuable lessons.  For example: when I would do my pre-walks on a roof I had to make sure that ALL the roofing materials were on-site so that the roofer had the materials they needed to complete the roof correctly.  This required lots of double checking and counting of materials, and sometimes this was done in 100 degree heat or in the rain.  As I have done roof repairs and found leaks for homeowners, I have noticed that the difference in quality is that our company had materials available for the roofers so nothing was missed.  I just did a leak inspection for a homeowner in Elk Grove and the kick out flashing was missing on the chimney.  The right side of the chimney had the flashing installed properly, but the left side the flashing was missing.  It was probably missing on the job – the roofer installed the tile and walked away, the stucco guy stuccoed the wall, and the painter painted it and the building inspector signed it off and everyone walked away… and 15 years later after the house is out of warranty a $8.00 kick out flashing is now a large repair that requires stucco and roof work and dry-rot repair. One of the big parts of quality is having the materials on-site and available so the roofers can install it.  So much of quality has to do with organization and proper installation details and training of the installers so they know to not cover anything and that if something isn’t on-site, we will bring it!  Being organized is a huge part of quality installations.

 

We really care as a company to do the work right.  Take advantage of a free estimate and see the difference that three generations of experience passed down can do for your home. We look forward to working with you!  Contact Us Today.