More than they asked for: Making the house a home again

By Dani Sheehan. 

This local roofing company partnered with TAMKO and other local distributors to surprise a retired roofer and veteran with a new roof and siding. 

The roofing industry is a close-knit community that truly looks out for one another. A local roofing company in Tulsa, Oklahoma recently had the opportunity to give back to their community with the support of other industry leaders and Meals on Wheels. We sat down with Jim Lindsey of A. Fricker Roofing and Angela Anderson with TAMKO Building Products for the inside scoop. 

A. Fricker Roofing is a family owned business that cares about the work they do in the community and when they went out for an inspection of an elderly couple’s home, they knew exactly what needed to be done. They announced to the family on October 9, 2023, that they were not receiving a few shingles to repair their roof, but an entire roof replacement. James Kimball and his wife Ruby could not believe it when they were told the news. James is a retired roofer and a Korean War Veteran who had reroofed several homes in the immediate area well into his 80s. 

Jim said the decision was easy the moment he met the couple. He wanted to make it a surprise for them, so while they were coordinating all the details, he explained, “They have an old three-tab shingle roof from another brand on their home... and there is no way to find any three-tab shingles. They just don’t exist anymore. So, I’ve been calling every Monday and just letting the homeowner know that we’re still on the search for these elusive shingles that don’t exist.” Meanwhile, James and Ruby were searching for any spare shingles they might have to help the repair process. Jim shared, “And even at one point they said, ‘Well, we have some shingles in the garage from some 20 years ago that we might be able to use from a project that we worked on.’”  

Little did these homeowners know that Jim was working with Angela at TAMKO to secure Titan XT® shingles for the project and sorting out all the details to announce the roof replacement at his next inspection. As Angela explains, “Titan XT shingles feature a 160 MPH wind warranty and a Class 3 impact rating, a shingle designed to help weather extreme conditions.” It’s the perfect shingle to protect this couple’s home from potential weather events and they can enjoy retirement without worrying about home repairs. When asked what he was most looking forward to about revealing the gift to the couple, Jim says, “I get a little choked up just thinking about it... They need the help and I’m floored by what we’re going to be able to do and that I get to be even a tiny little piece of it.” 

Angela says TAMKO, which has been in business since 1944 and is the manufacturer of Titan XT shingles, is proud to be working with A. Fricker Roofing on this project. The roofing contractor has only been in business for the last four years, but she shares about Austin, the owner, “That man is driven by community, and you can tell that he loves what he does and that he loves the people of his community that he serves. It’s a passion I have not seen much in this industry.” 

In coordination with TAMKO Building Products donating the Titan XT roofing system, a local branch of Beacon Roofing Supply is donating the roofing underlayments and accessories for the job. The project will also include a full siding replacement that has been donated from a local distribution branch of ABC Supply. It is expected to be completed in the next couple of weeks. 

Photo source: News on 6