Our Industrial Roofing Crew I Chaffee Industrial Roofing

Family Owned

Family Owned and Operated for Over 115 Years

Our family business was founded in 1908, over 115 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!

Rhode Island’s Go to Industrial and Commercial Roofers for over 115 Years

_{A century is longer than one might think. Our family business has endured and prospered for over 115 years right here in Rhode Island while servicing the rest of New England, with ownership and operation staying in the hands of the Chaffee family the entire time. You could say roofing is in our blood.}

_{Our family’s original entrepreneur, Thomas K. Chaffee began ‘The Thomas K Chaffee Company’ offering “Chaffee’s Mill White” products to the many local textile mills as an alternative to whitewash. Over the years, he expanded offerings to include roofing materials. Merely selling roofing supplies to businesses looking to perform their own roofing projects, Thomas Chaffee’s business was sourcing inventory from New Jersey using a horse and team as transportation!}

_{As the years went on, and younger generations came to learn the ropes of the family business, Chaffee expanded into roofing production – offering installations of the Chaffee products and, over time, other products as well. Thus Chaffee Industrial Roofing was born. Want the full Chaffee story? Check out the Chaffee Legacy and read about how each generation of Chaffee took the mantle of company president and made their own unique impact on the business.}

Why We Stand The Test Of Time

_{Chaffee Industrial Roofing is Rhode Island’s go-to commercial and industrial roofing company that prioritizes customer satisfaction and the highest quality workmanship. Four generations of the Chaffee family have worked for and led the company for over 115 years, surviving the ages by way of hard work and dedication to service.}

_{Our services include roof replacements, roof repairs, emergency services, roofing designs and estimating, and roofing inspections. We work closely with our customers to make sure they have the roof they want, with the specifications they need. Our team guides our clients through the roofing process hand-in-hand, we ensure transparent communication, provide top tier craftsmanship, and exceeded expectations.}

_{We only use top-rated roofing materials that will withstand the elements and the test of time after our team installs them. Cheap products and discount supplies are not the mark of a trusted roofing company. We use materials from vendors like Carlisle, Johns Manville, and GAF, as well as other top brands that have earned high-quality classification in the roofing industry.}

_{We also take a consultative approach when helping clients with local commercial roof repair and replacement. Our team makes every effort to help inform our clients about the conditions of their roof and how to take necessary corrective actions, the realities of roof solutions and the comparison of their pricing, and expectations for project completion timelines. We want our customers to know that we have their best interests at heart, and will do everything we can to set them up for success.}

_{From flat roof solutions to pitched roofing, Chaffee is the contractor to call when you absolutely need your roofing project done right the first time. Each one of our crew members have deep experience working on every major type of low-slope roofing system, and each Chaffee installer attends training annually to reinforce best practices and develop knowledge of the newest and best techniques in the industry. Our company is licensed, bonded, and insured, so you don’t have to worry about the safety pitfalls of some less-reputable roofing contractors when you choose Chaffee.}

_{Anyone who claims they know construction knows that a roofing company won’t last more than a few years unless they back up their claims of high-quality production and thorough service. We’ve made it 115 years so far – and each generation did it by laying their reputation on the line.}

_{That’s why today you won’t find a Chaffee roof project that Peter Chaffee, our company’s current president, will drive by and feel disappointed. From the top-down, pride in craftsmanship and a deep desire to ‘wow’ customers with an incredible value is a requirement to be a part of our team, and you can count on Chaffee to do everything in our power to make your project right for you.}

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.