Stories of Good Roofers: The Navy Veteran Who Got a Free Roof After 50 Years

Photo: Nik Guiney / Unsplash

Not every roofing story is a horror story. This is the first entry in Stories of Good Roofers — our companion series to Roofing Rip-Off Horror Stories, covering real, documented cases of roofing companies doing right by their customers. Same standard as the horror stories: pulled from real news reporting and verified against the primary source before we publish it.

50 Years of Patches, Then a Real Roof

Ronald Parsons has lived in his Craig County, Virginia home for nearly 50 years. A Navy veteran whose service began in 1966 — time in Virginia Beach, later assignments tied to a fighting squadron and an aircraft carrier — Parsons had watched his roof get patched again and again as the leaks kept coming back.

The real fix was never cheap. The estimate to repair the damage properly came in around $34,000.

That's where Vinton Roofing, owned by Jason Webb, came in. The project came together through Purple Heart Homes, a national nonprofit that helps veterans, and Owens Corning, the shingle manufacturer that partnered on the effort. When the opportunity came up, Webb said his company didn't hesitate — they replaced Parsons' roof completely, at no cost to him.

"There's no words for it… it's a miracle," Parsons said.

For Webb, it wasn't just a job. He said the project reminded his team why they do the work they do, and what it means to actually give back to the community they work in — not just advertise that they do.

Source: Alexia Andrachik, WDBJ7, June 30, 2026.

Photo: Raze Solar / Unsplash

Why This Is What a Good Roofer Looks Like

• They showed up without being chased. No lawsuit, no complaint, no attorney general involvement — just a company that said yes when it mattered.
• They partnered with people who could actually help. Vinton Roofing didn't just discount the job — they brought in Purple Heart Homes and Owens Corning to make a full, proper repair possible instead of another patch.
• The owner was personally invested. This wasn't a marketing stunt run by a corporate office — it was the owner, on the record, explaining why it mattered to his team.

This is the version of the industry that doesn't make headlines as often as the scams do — which is exactly why this series exists.

Looking for a Roofer Like This One?

Want some examples of verified good roofers who won't rip you off? Here are three real, highly-rated contractors from our directory:

• Orlando Roofing Company — Orlando, FL
• Dallas Roofing Company — Dallas, TX
• Denver Roofing Company — Denver, CO

Don't see your city? Browse the full directory by state and compare ratings before you sign anything.

This is the right roofer. If you want a contractor who shows up, does the job, and treats you like Vinton Roofing treated Ronald Parsons, start with Find The Right Roofer.