About Us - Chaffee Industrial Roofing

Family Owned

Family Owned and Operated for Over 100 years

Our family business was founded in 1908, over 100 years ago. That’s quite an accomplishment, considering the average contractor stays in business for only 2 years. Since we were founded in 1908, four generations of Chaffee’s have owned the company, and four generations have worked at Chaffee.

For more information on our history, see The Chaffee Legacy

Installation Crew Experience

Our crews have extensive experience working on every type of major flat roofing system available. Some highlights of our installation crews include:

Our crews have installed every type of roof system using every installation technique and every type of insulation more times than they care to admit.
Every Chaffee installer attends training at least annually to stay updated with the latest manufacturer’s requirements and roofing products.
The crews that installed any of the roof systems mentioned throughout our website will be the same crews working on your building.

Awards

Awards and Recognition from Industry Leaders

At Chaffee Roofing, we aren’t just certified with the major manufacturers, we are praised by them. The major manufacturers in the roofing industry have given us numerous awards for our high quality installations. See our awards here.

For more information, see awards.

Dedication

Once we start production, we don’t stop until the roof is installed

Many contractors will stock a job, start a small section, collect their first paycheck, and then disappear. Then, you are left with the task of calling them repetitively to get them back to work on your job. Less reputable contractors may never return to your roof.At Chaffee Roofing, once we start a job, we don’t stop until the job is completed. We typically stock a job in advance to get the project prepared for production. But, once we lay down the first section of your roof, we will be back every work day the weather allows until your new roof is installed.

Insurance

Should a problem occur on your roof, what happens if the contractor you chose doesn’t have enough insurance? What if they don’t have any insurance? If you go with Chaffee Roofing, you can rest assured that if the worst should happen, you are covered. A copy of our insurance certificate is in every proposal we deliver, so take a look for yourself!

The Chaffee Legacy

Thomas K. Chaffee

President and Founder, 1908-1943

Thomas K. Chaffee opened the business to supply oil-based paint, “Chaffee’s Mill White,’’ as an alternative to whitewash. His customers were the numerous textile mills, then common in this region. As soon he added roofing products, he adopted the slogan “Make it White, Make it Tight with Chaffee.’’ Barrels of paint were brought up by barge from New Jersey, and then moved to the warehouse at 87 Globe Street, Providence, by horse and team.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the Family Photograph Collection of Thomas K. Chaffee III

Henry N. Chaffee

President 1943 to 1978

In 1943, Henry N. Chaffee took over for his father and continued to build on the product line, serving the needs of facilities managers throughout the eastern United States. By 1958, Chaffee’s customers began doing less roofing internally with there own maintenance crews, and began hiring local contractors to apply the Chaffee product. Chaffee formed alliances with the best contractors and started offering installed work.

Steven H Chaffee

President 1978 to 2018

In 1978, Steven H. Chaffee took over for his father, and started installing single ply roof systems, which at the time were a new alternative to Built Up Roof Systems. Shortly after Steve took over, Chaffee Roofing installed its first single-ply membrane roof at Narragansett Brewing Company in Cranston, Rhode Island. Single Ply took off fast at Chaffee Roofing, and by 1989, Chaffee Roofing had installed 5 million square feet of single ply roofing alone.In 1998, Chaffee Roofing was named to the Stevens Roofing Systems Hall of Fame for the third year in a row, and received numerous awards for high quality installations. In 2000, Chaffee also received Carlisle’s Centurion award for surpassing 100 perfect roof installations.By 2001, Chaffee had installed nearly 15 million square feet of re-roofing work. Chaffee received its first Carlisle ESP Achievement Award, one of the most prestigious endorsements in the roofing industry. Since 2001, Chaffee has received this award every year, including this year. See Awards for more information.

Peter Chaffee

President 2019 to Present

Peter joined Chaffee Roofing in 2010 after graduating from Northeastern University with a degree in business. Having grown up surrounded by roofing experience, this choice came naturally. He began working on the labor crews, installing and flashing roof systems. Peter then took over the operations department, managing all active crews. Then, Peter moved into Project Management and Sales.By 2017, Peter was made Vice President of Chaffee Roofing, and began assisting Steve with his gradual transition into retirement and consulting.In 2019, Peter bought Chaffee Roofing from Steve, beginning the fourth generation of family ownership. Presently, Chaffee Roofing installs TPO, PVC and EPDM systems, as well as Modified Bitumen, Shingles, Metal Roofing Systems and Coatings. Peter has continued to grow and expand the service department throughout the New England areas.

Chaffee’s Working at the Company Today

Steve Chaffee (Left), Rick Chaffee (Middle) and Peter Chaffee (Right) stocking Fenway Park.

See their profiles on the meet the team section.