When 35 years of roofing expertise meets the deepest love for family.

Kenny Daffer has spent 35 years on Idaho rooftops, but the most important roofing decision of his life wasn't about a customer's home — it was about his family's legacy.

As the co-owner of Hawaiian Built Roofing and the only certified CertainTeed Solstice installer in Idaho, Kenny could have chosen any roofing system for his family's home. Instead, he made a decision that went far beyond shingles and solar panels — he made a choice about the kind of future he wanted to leave behind.

The completed solar roofing project translated into $1,350 saved by reduced cooling bills.
Photo: Certainteed

Beyond The Roof: A Father's Master Plan

"This was never about showing off new technology," Kenny reflects, standing in the home that will one day belong to his daughter, Nani, and her twins, due this September. "This was about making sure my grandchildren inherit opportunity, not burden."

The master plan began in 2022 with Thermal Shield installation — Kenny's strategic first move in preparing their home for complete energy independence. By 2023, that single decision was saving the family $1,350 annually by reducing their HVAC and air conditioning workload. But Kenny was thinking decades ahead.

"Every decision we make about this house, we ask ourselves, 'How will this impact Nani's family in 20 years? In 30 years?'" Kenny explains. "We're not just building a roof; we're building a foundation for our grandchildren's financial freedom."

The Weight of Legacy Thinking

After 35 years of seeing how roofing decisions play out over decades, Kenny understands something most homeowners don't: the choices you make today echo through generations.

"I've repaired roofs where families cut corners 20 years ago, and now their children are dealing with leaks, replacements, and massive unexpected expenses," Kenny says. "I've also seen homes where the previous generation invested in quality, and their kids inherited a home that just works—no surprises, no emergency repairs, no financial stress."

With Nani working from home and twins on the way, Kenny's vision became crystal clear: create a home that generates its own power, protects itself from weather, and frees his daughter's growing family from the burden of rising energy costs.

A Master's Perspective On Generational Wealth

Kenny's expertise revealed something profound: true generational wealth isn't just about leaving money — it's about leaving assets that continue generating value long after you're gone.

"Traditional inheritance might help with a down payment or pay off some debt," Kenny explains. "But a home that generates its own electricity? That's a gift that keeps giving for 25+ years. That's money staying in our family instead of going to utility companies."

The Emotional Weight Of Forever Decisions

For Kenny and his wife Sandra, this wasn't a business decision—it was deeply personal.

"When I think about Nani's twins growing up in this house, I want them to inherit security, not stress," Sandra shares. "I want them to have opportunities we never had because they're not spending hundreds of dollars every month on electricity bills."

Kenny's voice carries the weight of a father's love: "Thirty-five years of roofing taught me that the cheapest option today often becomes the most expensive problem tomorrow. But when it's your own family's future, you don't take shortcuts — you build something that lasts."

Why Solstice? A Master's Technical And Emotional Choice

Kenny's decision to choose CertainTeed Solstice wasn't just about technical superiority — though his expertise confirmed it was the right product. It was about alignment with his deepest values.

• Technical Excellence: "Solstice shingles integrate with the roof structure in ways that bolt-on panels never could — better wind resistance, superior weather protection, optimal energy generation. It's engineered for longevity."
• Warranty Confidence: "CertainTeed has backed their products consistently throughout my career. When they warranty both roofing and energy generation for 25 years, that's confidence I can pass down to my family."
• Legacy Integration: "These aren't solar panels that might complicate a future sale. Solstice shingles are the roof. When Nani's children inherit this house, they're inheriting premium roofing that happens to generate electricity — not a separate system to worry about."

Beyond Technology: A Love Letter To The Future

Standing in the home that represents his life's work and his family's future, Kenny's perspective transcends roofing expertise. This is a grandfather's love letter to children not yet born.

"When those twins take their first steps, they'll be walking in a home powered by the sun. When they graduate high school, they'll understand that energy independence is possible. When they inherit this house, they'll inherit freedom from utility bills and the security that comes with true energy independence."

Sandra adds, "This isn't about us being the first to install Solstice in Idaho — it's about us being the family that thought far enough ahead to give our grandchildren advantages we never had."

The Solstice roof installation is designed for homes to achieve complete energy independence and provide savings for years to come.
Photo: Certainteed

A Master's Message To Other Families

After 35 years of roofing and a lifetime of family-first thinking, Kenny's advice is simple but profound: "Don't just ask what a roofing decision will cost you today — ask what it will give your children tomorrow. Ask what kind of foundation you're building for the next generation. Ask yourself, 'What legacy am I leaving behind?'"

Kenny pauses, looking toward the future where his grandchildren will play in a home powered by the sun.

"When I'm gone, this house will still be generating power, still saving money, still protecting the people I love most. That's not just good roofing — that's good grandfathering."

The Legacy Lives On

As Idaho's only certified Solstice installer, Kenny Daffer could have chosen any home for the state's first installation. Instead, he chose the one that mattered most — the home that will shelter his family's future.

In a world of temporary solutions and short-term thinking, Kenny's choice represents something rare: a master craftsman using his expertise not for profit, but for love. Not for recognition, but for legacy. Not for today, but for forever.

When the expert chooses Solstice for his own family's forever home, that's not just an endorsement — that's a promise to the future.