Retired veteran Jim McHugh has lived in a log home on the west side of the Bitterroot Valley for 16 years.
This week, a veteran-owned company, Havoc Roofing, put a new roof on the Sheafman Creek cabin, free of charge.
“It feels fantastic, I feel special,” McHugh said. “It’s awesome that those guys do this.”
McHugh served in the Air Force for 23 years as an aircraft mechanic. He was stationed in Afghanistan, Iraq and “all over the world” as he puts it. After retiring in 2008, he worked at Neptune Aviation in Missoula before he “found the Bitterroot Valley.” He lives in the log home with his wife, Christine, and daughter, Gia.
The house, built in 1979, had a leaky roof at some point before McHugh bought it in 2008. The previous owners put another layer of shingles on top to stop the leak, but the buried underlayers can trap heat.
He described the roof as “really old, bulging with no ventilation.”
“We’ve been living with a very hot upstairs every summer,” McHugh said.
On Monday, Havoc scraped off the old shingles, put ridgeline vents at the top and installed the new shingles.
Skylar Hawkins, owner of Havoc Roofing, said he is motivated to serve those who served. Hawkins served over four years in the U.S. Marine Corps himself, and started roofing five years ago.
“I am a vet myself,” Hawkins said. “One of the reasons I started the company is to help people, especially veterans. We offer a 10% discount to all veterans. This is a new idea I have and from now on, we will do a free veteran’s roof once a year. I want to help where I can.”
Hawkins said that when he mentions that he’s purchasing material for a free roof for a veteran, some suppliers give him a discount. This year the ecofriendly “Green Circle Certified” shingles have been donated by Malarkey Roofing. Hawkins has volunteered the time and labor.
“I have four workers and so five, including me, come to every job,” Hawkins said. “We’re making sure everything is going the way it is supposed to go.”
Hawkins said he contacted American Legion Corvallis Post 91 President Ike Slaughter and asked the Post to select a veteran for the project.
“I’m actually a member of Post 91 now,” Hawkins said. “They are an active group; they are a step above and a good community. I told them to give me options on veterans who are in need. I didn’t have to choose. They gave me a name, I took a look, reviewed his scenario and it was a perfect fit.”
McHugh joined the American Legion In 2008 and has been a member of Post 91 in Corvallis since 2012 where he serves on the honor guard.
“We do community events, parades and all the funerals in the Bitterroot Valley for families that request military honors,” McHugh said. “I’m staying active.”
Havoc Roofing is based out of Clinton, but does work from Darby to Polson to Phillipsburg.
“We travel a lot,” Hawkins said. “It is usually places where homeowners can’t find anyone to do roofing work. It’s got to get done.”
For more information on Havoc Roofing, visit havocroofingllc.com.
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