“A roof over your head” is synonymous with having a home. A roof not only protects the house from rain and snow, but it also functions as a part of the home’s ventilation system, and it can add a striking quality to the home’s beauty.

But when a roof starts losing shingles, or granules shower off the downspouts, the roof needs attention. That’s when area homeowners reach out to Brown Brothers, the company that’s been keeping roofs on homes in Dedham, Norwood, Westwood, and many local communities for the past 90 years.

“We also do siding, gutters, gutter guards, windows, and masonry,” says Lisa Nugent, owner of Brown Bros. Roofing, “but roofing is the heart of the company.”

Just as most of a roof’s work goes unseen, most of the work in roof installation goes unseen. “There are many layers to a good roof,” says Nugent. “Before our guys lay the roof shingles, we take several steps to make sure your roof will provide the best protection. There’s underlayment paper, starter strips, and ice and water shielding. All that happens prior to installing the shingles. Without those unseen layers, the roof isn’t going to last.”

When a homeowner detects signs of a failing roof, the first step is to call Brown Bros. A team member schedules a visit to take measurements and climb onto the roof to assess the shingles and the ventilation, and possibly inspect the roof boards from inside the attic. They use that information to write a personalized formal estimate. Once the contract is signed, Brown Bros. obtains roofing permits, orders the material, schedules delivery and the project is good to go.

“Our customers know a good roof is more than choosing the color,” says Nugent. “We talk them through the different grades of CertainTeed shingles. I’ve heard contractors claim these steps are unimportant because they’d rather spend the money on a nice fireplace or upgrade the kitchen cabinets, but keep in mind, a roof should last thirty years. We do it right, so we can offer you the best warranty on the market.”

Customers find peace of mind in knowing their roof is the best possible. Nugent says, “Installing a good roof pays off for the homeowner. It pays off when you don’t have to call back your roofer for leaks. It pays off when proper venting keeps your heating and cooling systems effective.”

Brown Bros. was founded in 1932.  Nugent’s grandfather joined the eponymous Brown Brothers as the first employee in their fledgling business. Years later, Nugent’s father purchased the company from the Browns, and now, three generations later, Lisa Nugent is the owner. She laughs, saying, “I’ve been a part of this company since age sixteen, so you could say roofing is my life. We have a history in this area. Some houses, we’ve gone through three full cycles of roofing. Every few decades, they call, and we go back.”

With eight employees, Brown Bros. feels like a family away from home. “It’s important to be a good team,” says Nugent. “My team members trust one another, and I think that helps our clients trust us. Even better, we have an office in town that you can just walk into. A lot of roofers don’t give an address, but our clients will step inside and say, ‘Hey, can you drop by and check out my gutters?’ It’s important to us that we’re a part of the community.”

Nugent says, “Our customers tell me they keep coming back for peace of mind. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to put on a good roof. We give the customer what they need, and we don’t take shortcuts—and our customers rely on us for that.”

As with a roof, so with the roofing company: the most important parts are the things that aren’t visible from the outside, whether it’s underlayment paper or a ninety-year-long commitment to the community.

You can check out Brown Bros. Roofing at brownbrosroofing.net, on Facebook @brownbrothersroofing or by calling 781-329-2895.