One of the more extraordinary events at the 2011 International Roofing Expo (IRE) was held Tuesday when a group of show attendees volunteered their day performing repairs on the homes of two elderly veterans.

Brandi McElhaney, IRE senior conference manager, said it was the second year the IRE has offered attendees the unique opportunity to volunteer for a day in partnership with the local affiliate of Rebuilding Together.

“In 2009, NRCA inquired about our interest in giving back to the New Orleans community during our 2010 International Roofing Expo,” McElhaney said. “We jumped on the chance to give back to the New Orleans community.”

The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) has a longstanding partnership with Rebuilding Together and encourages its members to volunteer and contribute to the vital work of providing home repairs to deserving homeowners, many of whom are on a fixed income and unable to afford costly repairs. This year, the IRE reached out to Rebuilding Together Southern Nevada (RTSNV) who embraced the idea of a community service day for the IRE.

Therese Elliott of RTSNV arranged to pair the IRE with homeowners Jack and Patricia Brown and Bruce Dahlin.

Elliott said the process of qualifying homeowners begins with a review of the Rebuilding Together program followed by analysis of the construction needs and a “wish list” by the homeowner. Elliott said a sponsor is then sought to adopt the project, providing funding and volunteer labor.

The 2011 IRE Community Service Day was sponsored by Sika Sarnafil, who made a significant financial contribution to RTSNV.

In addition to being elderly veterans, Brown and Dahlin are both disabled. The Brown home was riddled with roof leaks for a long period of time, putting the rest of the structure at risk. To insure that the roof would be installed according to local standards a professional roofing contractor was sought to replace the roof.

In advance of the Community Service Day, local roofing contractor Commercial Roofer’s, Inc., who was named Roofing Contractor magazine’s 2009 Contractor of the Year, installed a new roof on the Brown residence. Commercial Roofer’s has been a contributor to Rebuilding Together for a number of years.

Michelle Shetrom, Commercial Roofers’ sales administrator, served as “house captain” for the Brown residence. Using a crew of two to three roofers the re-roof took nearly a week.

The structure is roughly 45 years old and had numerous leaks so the process was very time consuming. Following completion of the roof, gutters were also installed by Commercial Roofers. The shingles were donated by Owens Corning and the delivery was handled free of charge by Las Vegas Roofing Supply. No ordinary roof, the Brown home is topped with Owens Corning’s Oakridge Shasta White, a cool shingle that carries the Energy Star label.

 

Of the re-roof, Therese Elliott said, “If the IRE had not stepped up, Rebuilding Together Southern Nevada could not have done the Brown’s roof.” She went on to share with us that they realize just how vital a good roof is on an older structure and that many of the interior repairs they make are frequently the result of roofs that have leaked for years.

Hard-working volunteers spent the day performing a wide variety of home repairs, painting, and landscaping.

Other sponsors on for the Community Service Day include First Choice Tree Service, Par 3 Landscaping, and Port of Subs.

Next year the IRE will be held in Orlando, Fla.

“We plan to again hold the Community Service Day on February 12, 2012,” McElhaney said. “We have already reached out to Rebuilding Together Orlando and they are very excited about the opportunity to work with us.”