Belmont, MA Aluminum Shingles Review: Updated Interlock Roof Service, Chimney Repair, and Installation Quality

Based on my original review below, Interlock reached out and was explicit about wanting to know what needed to be done to receive a better review. My experience with Interlock since that point has been excellent.

First, the customer service person (Jen) became very responsive. The technician (who I had positive things to say about below) continued to be knowledgeable and focused on doing the job right. The technician applied new caulking around the chimney, alerted me to issues with the chimney cap (not in scope), and completely re-installed the flashing where our original house meets a lower roof (what was the issue resulting in significant exterior, structural wall damage). The technician explained that installation methods for the Interlock product have changed over the years and what was installed originally is no longer the way flashing is installed today.

This latest set of interactions with Interlock gives me greater confidence that we would continue to use Interlock for any additions to the house needing roofing (e.g., a portico over the front door, an addition over the garage). If their current technician in the Boston area is an indication of current install quality, then you will have no issues or complaints about the product. I just feel badly for all the folks with older Interlock roofs, like me, where installation methods were unacceptable.

Original Review:

We bought a house with an Interlock roof. I really want to like Interlock. It seems like a nice product. Unfortunately, the roof installation cut proverbial corners and getting service for the roof has been extremely difficult.

For the sake of giving credit where due, their roofer that collaborated with our solar installer was competent. Sadly that is not universally the case.

When we first moved in, one of the first things I noticed was that the metal roof installation, over an existing composite roof, makes the unfortunate assumption that the flashing under the old roof is in good shape and will continue to operate. As such on one section of roof that abuts the main house, the flashing was fastened to the side of the wood siding, allowing rain running down the side of the house to go behind the flashing down to, theoretically, the original roof and flashing. Another roof that abuts the main house was installed by Interlock without flashing by shoving it up under the wood siding. This has expedited wood rot of the siding and has not prevented water leaks that completely rotted a significant portion of the exterior wall of the main house. It is crazy to me that anyone would install a roof without ensuring it is flashed properly.

Beyond that, trying to work with Interlock to collaborate with our solar installer was a very painful process. Due to Interlock not reading the solar installation plans or passing them along to their roofer, they were not prepared to help with the solar rail installation, leading the solar installer to have to eat the cost of a crew of 8 people that could not do the install as planned as the right roof flashing was not available. Thank goodness the Interlock roofer was willing to not proceed without the right flashing, but it would have been better had the right preparation been made.

There is now a leak around the chimney of the house. I have been trying to schedule service with Interlock for over a month and a half. Their “system” has been down for over two months so they cannot find records regarding the roof on my house. They have also been unable to schedule me for service, consistently passing messages along to a local affiliate of some sort that keeps telling me that they can’t schedule for service until their system comes back up.

I hope I can eventually update this post with some good news, but as of right now I have a list of reasons you should avoid this company.