How To Choose A Roof System That Lasts

Your roof is not just what you see from the street, and that blind spot can get expensive fast. We sit down with Kelly Shepard of All Weather Tite Roofing, a roofer with 40+ years of experience, to break down what homeowners often miss when they’re trying to protect their home in Florida’s heat, humidity, and storm season. 

We talk about the biggest misconception in residential roofing: thinking the job is simply “pull shingles off and put shingles on.” Kelly explains how roofing has evolved into a complete roof system, and why a professional roofing contractor starts by listening to the homeowner, inspecting the full setup, and making recommendations that match the house. If you’re in Sarasota or Bradenton and you’ve felt confused by materials, estimates, or the pressure of Florida roofing insurance rules, this conversation helps you ask smarter questions and spot real quality. 

One key theme is roof ventilation and attic airflow. Kelly shares why poor ventilation can dry out shingles, weaken seals, and increase the chance of damage when hurricane winds hit. You’ll also hear why working directly with the owner can change the whole experience, from clarity and accountability to customer service. If you’re planning a roof inspection, roof replacement, or just want to understand your shingle roof, tile roof, or metal roof better, this is a practical place to start. 

Subscribe for more local business conversations, share this with a homeowner who needs it, and leave a review with the roof question you want answered next.

Transcript

Welcome And Guest Introduction

SPEAKER_00 0:03

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Virginia McConnell.

SPEAKER_02 0:17

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast Live. Are you in need of a roofing company? One might be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Kelly Shepherd, with All Weather Tight Roofing. How are you?

SPEAKER_03 0:32

I'm doing well. How are you, Virginia?

SPEAKER_02 0:34

I'm good. Thank you. Thank you, Kelly. We're excited to learn about you and your business. Can you tell us more?

SPEAKER_03 0:41

Absolutely.

A Lifetime In Roofing

SPEAKER_03 0:42

I uh I'm a third generation roofer. Um three generations of my family, so I I don't think I was going anywhere else. Um I've been roofing for 40 plus years. Um I've roofed uh everything from shingle roofs to metal roofs, tile flats, commercial buildings, um, and a long line of um, you know, been in business for 26 years, eight years here in Florida. Um, and we just like to uh put out professional uh roofing services to our Sarasota and Bradington clients.

SPEAKER_02 1:25

Awesome. And how did you get into that?

SPEAKER_03 1:28

Um well I got into roofing. Uh in my household, when you were a teenager after school, you went to a job site. Um, I was born and raised in Massachusetts. Uh my father was born and raised in Pennsylvania. They did roofing all day long, nine children. Um, so as I said, I I was groomed into it from a young age.

SPEAKER_02 1:53

Gotcha. All right. It's in your blood. Yeah. Um, okay, and so what are some of the myths or misconceptions in your industry?

Average Vs Professional Roofers

SPEAKER_03 2:04

Well, there's a couple different kinds of roofing companies out there in my eyes. Um, you have an average roofing company that, you know, um, someone in the business, they get in the business because it's a profitable business. Um, and then you have a professional roofing company that worries more about the project you're working on. Um, what we do here at All Weather Tight Roofing, we meet with our clients, uh, we go over what they want, um, we may give them some suggestions of what they can have, uh, and really try and set up the best uh roof system for that individual client.

SPEAKER_02 2:48

Okay,

Who They Serve And Why

SPEAKER_02 2:49

perfect. And we know that uh marketing is the heart of every business. Who are your target customers and how do you attract them?

SPEAKER_03 2:57

Um my target customers on a uh residential end would be anybody with a home. Um, we all know the insurance here in Florida with roofing and um trying to get a new insurance policy on a home. So um our sweet spot is that homeowner that uh doesn't have to be a million-dollar house. It doesn't matter cost to us. What we're looking for is the homeowner that really wants the best roof system for their home and they want it done correctly. With my company, um, you're dealing with the owner, not salesman, not uh anybody else. I'm in and out of jobs all day long, and the customers have a direct line right there.

SPEAKER_01 3:47

That's nice because not a lot of companies offer that. Um so having you know a direct plug to the owner is amazing.

SPEAKER_03 3:58

Um we're not looking to grow to a giant company, we're looking to grow steadily to who we can handle and service correctly. We're very high on customer service.

SPEAKER_02 4:10

Yeah, doing it right. Um, okay, so earlier you you before we we got on, you were talking about you had a podcast

Roofing Education And The Roof System

SPEAKER_02 4:19

before. Can you tell me more about the podcast you had?

SPEAKER_03 4:22

Um, I worked with a company, probably put out 10 or 15 um episodes. It it wasn't so much um my podcast. I had hired a company that that did it every, I believe it was every week, that was several years ago. Um, but now we're looking to get more into that. You know, a lot of people out there don't know much about roofing. And, you know, when I talk to customers that are calling in for an estimate, a lot of them don't even know whether they have a shingle, a tile, what kind of roof system is on their house. Um, you know, so we try and um get a little more information to the public uh about roofing out there.

SPEAKER_02 5:09

Yeah, I think education is I mean, absolutely necessary in every industry, but uh yeah, I mean, roofing, not a lot of education is out there. So that's that's a cool idea.

SPEAKER_03 5:24

Yeah, and that's that's what we do. We we go through and we evaluate the ventilation system, we get into the attic, you know. If if the complete roof system isn't functioning properly, you don't get longevity out of it, you don't get uh, you know, a good strong roof. If a shingle roof isn't ventilated adequately, especially here in Florida, they dry out so quickly because there's just pressure from both sides from the sun and from the humid pressure in the attic. So, you know, that's what we really concentrate on is doing a complete roof system.

SPEAKER_02 6:03

All

Life Outside Work And Maine Coons

SPEAKER_02 6:04

right. And so outside of work, what do you do for fun?

SPEAKER_03 6:08

Um, I on the side I actually breed Maine Coon cats. Uh so we uh we sell Maine Coon, purebred Maine Coon kittens. We just had a litter this week. Um, you know, a lot of family time, uh, some fishing, just out trying to get that release.

SPEAKER_02 6:29

Yeah, awesome. I actually grew up in Maine, so those cats are huge. They're uh they're so cool.

SPEAKER_03 6:35

Oh, yes, they are.

SPEAKER_02 6:38

Um all right, Kelly.

What To Remember And Why Ventilation

SPEAKER_02 6:40

Uh, can you please tell our listeners one thing they should remember about all weather tight roofing?

SPEAKER_03 6:45

Um, when it's gotta be done right, call all weather tight. I mean, you're talking with the owner, with my experience. You know, you had asked me earlier about what is the difference and what kind of roofing companies are out there. Um, my roofing company, you know, I love my dad, worked with him for many, many years, but back in those days it was more of a pull shingles off, put shingles on a roof. Um, you know, in the past 30 years, roofing has come so far. Um, you know, with us, that's what you're getting is the full roof system. You're getting that customer service, and um, you know, it's gonna be the right system for your home that works correctly. Down here, if you don't have a good ventilation system, your shingle roof is gonna dry out within 10 years. When that dries out, your seals let go. That's when a hurricane comes through and starts ripping those shingles off.

SPEAKER_02 7:49

Ooh, that's a bad situation.

SPEAKER_03 7:53

It is. I agree.

How To Contact And Nominate Businesses

SPEAKER_02 7:55

Um, so how can our listeners learn more about all weather tight roofing?

SPEAKER_03 8:00

Call me. I am happy to, you know, if you're interested in uh a roof estimate, I am happy to go over before we even come out there, answer a lot of your questions. It's good for me because at least I know when I get out there what your expectations are so I can build off of that for your system.

SPEAKER_02 8:22

Perfect. All right. Well, Kelly, I really appreciate you being on the show. We wish you and your business the best moving forward.

SPEAKER_03 8:29

Thank you so much. I appreciate the time, Virginia.

SPEAKER_00 8:34

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNP Sarasota dot com. That's GNP Sarasota dot com or call nine four one.