Knoxville business replaces widow’s roof for free after contractor declared bankruptcy

LENOIR CITY, Tenn. (WATE) — A widow in Lenoir City is grateful to a Knoxville roofing company for its generosity. There is a new roof on Donna Maloney’s house. She is thrilled because her new roof is guaranteed not to leak, and she doesn’t have to pay a penny for it.

The contractor she hired last summer went out of business, but the new roofing company that is doing the work for free is going to be around for a while.

For the second time in nearly a year, Maloney is getting a new metal roof. The old panels were removed at the beginning of this week. Her roof had been leaking for more than half a year and she was desperate when we first spoke with her in late January .

After seeing her story, Tucker McGuire, of McGuire Roofing and Construction, called. He wanted to help Maloney.

“When he came out and told me what they were going to do, I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I did not believe that someone would do this for me.”

“It’s a really good roofing system that we are putting on here. I don’t want her to have to worry about it the rest of her life. It should be a one-and-done for her,” said Maloney.

Maloney’s original roof created a great deal of concern.

“It’s just a mess at this point. I’m afraid, it’s backing up into the house,” said Maloney in January.

She had every reason to worry about her five-month-old roof in late January. We found lots of water dripping from the soffits.

“I’m basically worried about it backing up into the house, coming through the roof in the house, the ceilings,” said Maloney in January.

The leaking water had spread about four feet under her front porch.

Maloney employed United Veteran Builders of Knoxville last August . She hired them because her late husband was a Navy Veteran and he trusted vets to do the job. UVB charged Maloney just over $19,000 and she had no complaints at first. Then, multiple leaks were discovered after a heavy rainstorm in December. The contract said there was a two-year workmanship warranty.

However, when she contacted the company, no one got back to her because UVB was no longer in business. The office was cleared out in late October, according to the landlord. United Veteran Builders filed Chapter 7 Bankruptcy liquidation on January 9, 2024.

Once McGuire Roofing got Maloney’s job on their busy schedule, they went to work.

“With her husband passing away right after this happened and the nightmare started, we just really wanted, we felt like we should help out here,” McGuire said. “So, we partnered with True Metal Supply who helped with the material.”

The new metal roof should be good for nearly half a century and that pleases Maloney.

“I just feel so blessed. I am amazed that a company would come forward and do this for me,” said Maloney.

McGuire said that when he sees a need, he does what he can. Not too long ago, his crew installed a new roof for free on a VFW building in Alcoa .

If your home needs a new roof, hire a local company that’s been in business for five years or more, and check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed. In addition, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance is also a good place to check up on complaints. There are many good roofers in East Tennessee who guarantee their work and won’t disappear tomorrow.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.