Roofing Businesses Thrive After Winter Storms

A bitterly cold winter filled with storms has many people anxiously awaiting springtime, but Chris Wery said the winter weather has given him a reason to look up.

That’s because Wery is a roofer, and business is booming.

“We are more busy right now than we have been in the last six or seven months,” he said.

This time of year is usually a slow season for roofers, but the weather has blasted roofs throughout the region. Steve Smith knows that all too well. He had to have his roof repaired just last week.

“Just miserable conditions,” he said. “I'm ready for some spring time weather.”

Just weeks ago, Smith’s neighborhood -- and his roof -- was covered with ice and snow.

“The ice will actually, it will build up on your roof and it will actually run back underneath your shingles, breaking the seal,” Wery said. “Once the seal is broken, there is nothing you can do with it.”

Nothing, that is, except call a roofer.

Wery said roofers have been hurting for work in recent months, so this spout of jobs has been particularly helpful. He said tough economic conditions have meant fewer construction projects.

“I'd say [it’s been] at least five or six years [since I’ve been this busy in February],” he said.

Wery said that, until now, his business had suffered quite a bit.

“When the phone is ringing, that's a good thing,” he added.