First General Services installed a new roof on our home. 14 months later, wind ripped off several sections of shingles. (All other roofs in the neighborhood were fine.) The shingle manufacturer, Tamko, determined that the shingles had not been installed per their instructions, which are printed on every package of shingles. So, Tamko’s warranty related to wind damage was void at installation—forever. Two men from First General arrived unscheduled and unannounced to fix the roof. We were leaving on vacation. They finished after we left.Two years later, wind ripped off a second area of shingles—about 21 square feet. (Again, all other roofs in the neighborhood were fine.) First General’s office staff was great: “We can’t just keep repairing the roof. We need to install it right.” A First General estimator found more loose shingles: “I’d like to see a new roof up there.”First General supervisor: The labor/installation warranty doesn’t transfer to a home’s new owner. (We bought the house two months after installation.) Supervisor would not send a copy of that warranty, then agreed to send it to satisfy our BBB complaint; never received. Per supervisor, a subcontractor installed the roof. The subcontractor being anonymous, FGS’s name is associated with the installation. We hired a different company to repair the second instance of wind damage.Ripped shingles are jagged and dense. When they blow off, they fly far. We’re concerned they’ll hit something—or someone.When we sell the house, we’ll have to disclose these “wind events” and that parts of Tamko’s warranty is void, per Tamko, due to improper installation.It’s likely that we and First General have the same goal—a worry-free roof and positive reviews—and could identify the same root cause: the subcontractor. As it is, we have a roof that’s subject to wind events (and liabilities), a void manufacturer warranty, and an obligation to disclose these issues at sale. And in balance, First General Services has this negative review.
