Paul Dow

In late 2013 the roof installed by Paul Dow Construction 5 years earlier was leaking and the leak damaged the ceiling in the great room. I had 2 separate contractors inspect the roof and they independently stated that the main reason that the roof was leaking was that the shingles had been installed incorrectly. The installed shingles are Corning Oakridge 25 year shingles. I contacted Paul Dow Construction in Nov 2013 and requested information on any warranties for the roof and whether they would like to come and check the roof to provide an opinion on their workmanship. I spoke directly with Paul Dow and he said that he had personally been on the work site during the work, but that he was busy at that moment and would call me back with the information. I never heard back from Mr. Dow. Thus, in early Feb 2014 I sent Paul Dow Construction a registered letter containing the following information: 1. A roof Paul Dow Construction installed in 2008 with 25-year shingles was leaking and causing damage to internal structures 2. That 2 contractors indepently inspected the roof and concluded that the shingles were installed incorrectly 3. That Paul Dow Construction could come out and inspect the roof at their convenience 4. Requested any warranty information and whether Paul Dow Construction felt any responsibility for incorrect installation of a roof. I did not hear back from Paul Dow Construction, rather his attorneys sent me a letter that I received on March 1 2014, informing me that "In Indiana, the statutory warranty for a home improvement contract concerning workmanship or defective materials for the roof or roof system is four years. Therefore the warranty would have expired on or about July 15, 2012." While I appreciate the information received from the attorneys for Paul Dow Construction - I am at a loss to understand the integrity of Paul Dow Construction. They showed no interest in learning about the incorrect shingle installation (to avoid this major error in the future), to take any responsibility for a leaking roof that should have lasted not 5 years but 25 years, or for taking responsibility for poor workmanship involving something as simple as shingle installation - that took only a glance by 2 independent contractors to state that the work was done incorrectly. In addition, rather than provide me with information, they felt compelled to have attorneys write a letter, rather than calling or writing me directly about the roof. While Paul Dow Construction may feel comforted that their poor work is protected by statutory regulations, they do not have integrity, they do not accept responsibility for mistakes (and we all make mistakes), and based on this experience, it appears that customers should expect that roof work done by Paul Dow Construction should last about 4 years.