Finding a Top-Notch Roofing Service for Your Ann Arbor-Area Home


A good roof is your home’s first line of defense against the elements, and there’s no place in the U.S. where that fact hits home harder than Ann Arbor, Michigan. Our winters are brutal, a fact you’re well aware of as we’re just a couple of weeks into one of them as of this writing! In fact, as we speak, it’s a “balmy” 17 degrees in Ann Arbor, but enjoy it while you can because local forecasters are calling for single digit high temps for the next couple of days. Yes, it’s definitely January in Ann Arbor! Brrr!

Although most of us mid-westerners are hardy souls, snow, sleet, winds, and freezing temperatures all seem to conspire to put our roofs to the test with each passing winter day. And even though we all look forward to spring and the warmer months to follow, if you’re from this neck of the woods you know full well that your roof will continue to take abuse in the form of heavy rains, high winds, hail-bearing thunderstorms and more, regardless of the season! That’s why it’s so important to have a good, properly installed, high-quality roof protecting your Ann Arbor-area home.

What Makes a Good Roof?

A roof is more than just a layer of shingles. It’s an entire system of components that work together to keep moisture out, warm (or cool, depending on the season) air inside where it belongs, and water draining off your home and away from your foundation, siding and shrubs. The significance of recognizing that your roof is a system of components makes it easier to understand that if one thing is amiss — say the gutters or downspouts are clogged, for example — it can cause problems with other parts of your roof. Consider that your roof has a “skeleton” — in the form of rafters, trusses and a deck. Then there’s roof insulation, an underlayment, the roofing material itself (e.g. shingles or metal), gutters, downspouts, flashing, etc., and any one — or several — of these components can be damaged or defective. In other words, there are lots of things that can go wrong with a roof besides just the shingles or membrane. A good roofer knows every one of them, what danger signs to look for and how to fix them to make your roof whole and “healthy” again.

Using great materials by companies like GAF or CertainTeed helps, but good materials are only part of the story. You also need a crew of adept roofing professionals — people who understand every aspect of a roofing system and know what to look for when performing an inspection. (Anyone who’s handy with a hammer and nails can slap down some shingles, but that doesn’t make him a roofer! Roofing is a specialized trade that requires years of training and certifications, not to mention licensing.)

How to Find a Reliable (and Capable) Roofing Company

With dozens of companies competing for your roofing business, how is it possible to narrow down your search and ultimately find the best roofing company for your money? Going with a local company is usually a wise decision because it’s easier to check their credentials and maybe even get some valuable word-of-mouth feedback from neighbors or coworkers who’ve used them in the past.

What Makes a Good Roofing Company “Good”?

Experience counts for a lot, and so does a solid reputation. But the most important thing of all is a company that focuses on just one thing — roofs — and nothing else!

There are a lot of companies for whom roofing is a sideline to other business pursuits such as remodeling (i.e., another way to make money). A company that does roofing — and only roofing — and has years of experience along with a good local reputation is almost always your best option if you want a roof that can stand up to the sometimes wild weather conditions found in the Ann Arbor region of Michigan, not to mention one that looks great and enhances your home’s curb appeal!

Along with plenty of experience and a solid reputation, you’ll want to make sure that the company you ultimately choose to repair or replace your Ann Arbor roof is licensed and insured — two important details that too many homeowners fail to verify, sometimes to their own detriment. A state license tells you that the company is actually legitimate, and liability insurance protects you legally in case one of the roofers suffers an accident while working on your property. Here are some other important qualifications to consider …

  • Will you have access to the owner, should a problem arise or you have a question about your roof?
  • Do they offer a warranty, and if so, what does it cover? Materials? Workmanship? (A company that’s confident in its skill won’t hesitate to offer a good warranty. If the company you’re considering hiring doesn’t do that, it’s time to cross them off your list of potential bidders!)
  • Do they offer 24/7 emergency service? (Roofing problems like leaks don’t follow a Monday through Friday 9-5 schedule, after all!)
  • What about versatility? Can they handle multiple slopes, flat roofs, shingles, clay tiles, metal roofs, and more? Specifically, are they experienced with working on the type of roof that’s on your home or business?
  • How long will the job take?. (They should be able to give you a ballpark time frame and it shouldn’t have the word “weeks” in it!)
  • Are they trying to charge you for an inspection so they can have the privilege of quoting you a price? If so, they’re probably not a roofing company you should be considering.
  • Can they help with your insurance claim if your roof needs repair or replacement as the result of storm damage or for anything other than the fact that it’s outlived its expected life span? (Those insurance forms can be confusing and tricky to fill out, and having a little professional help can save you a lot of time and stress!)

Meet A2 Roofing of Ann Arbor!

We know how tough Ann Arbor weather can be on a roof. We’ve seen all sorts of weather-related damage on all kinds of roofs in the region, and we can confidently assert that there’s no roofing issue that we can’t handle with ease. That’s because our team of professional roofers know roofs inside and out and have the certifications and licenses to prove it!

Our owner’s right here on the premises and ready to speak with you whenever you need him — a rarity in the roofing business, and an important detail that sets A2 Roofing apart from its competitors!

We also have extensive experience in replacing or repairing all sorts of roofs from flat commercial roofs with different types of roofing membranes, to complicated, steep or otherwise unusual roofs on both homes and businesses all over the Ann Arbor region. There’s never any guesswork where our team of professional roofers is concerned. They’ve seen — and worked on — every type of roof imaginable, and always with the same quick, reliable, professional results that you’re rightfully expecting to get for your money! (And by the way, we can install most roofs in just one day, so you don’t have to worry about a crew that shows up on Friday and doesn’t come back until sometime next week to pick up where they left off! Who needs that?)

We’re always on call, so if your roof starts leaking during a rainstorm at 3 a.m. on a Sunday, we’ll be there when you call. We understand that you don’t want to wait when rainwater is coming into your home, staining your ceiling and generally freaking everybody out! (We wouldn’t want to wait either, if the same thing was happening in one of our homes!)

We Guarantee Our Work

When A2 Roofing repairs or replaces your Ann Arbor roof, we guarantee that it won’t leak when we’re through! If it does, you’ll get your money back. No kidding. We also warranty our materials and our workmanship for the expected life of your roof. If there’s ever a problem with a roof we’ve installed, we’ll repair or replace it for free. No hassles, no haggling. We can afford to offer such an amazing warranty because we use the best materials available and employ only the very best fully trained and certified roofing professionals in the business.

Let us Inspect Your Roof and Provide an Estimate — All at No Charge!

There’s never any obligation for you to buy anything when we come to inspect and provide an assessment and a free quote. (We won’t try to sell you a new roof if all you really need are a few key repairs, either. One of the reasons we’re a well-known and well-respected roofing company is because we’re honest. We value our honesty and integrity and appreciate the fact that our customers respect — and expect — those qualities from A2 Roofing. We wouldn’t have it any other way!)

So if you suspect that your roof might be failing — or at least needs a little TLC — don’t hesitate to give us a call at (734) 548-9915 any time. (Or if you prefer, you can contact us online instead.) We’ll be happy to inspect your roof, let you know its true condition, and offer our recommendations — even if you ultimately decide to pass on our services. No job is too small — or too big — for the professionals at A2 Roofing to handle. We know Ann Arbor roofs, and we can handle anything from repairs to re-shingling, to a complete roof replacement — no matter what type or style of roof you have. That’s our promise, because our number 1 priority at A2 Roofing is always — and has always been — our customers’ complete satisfaction!