Timothy “Tee” Bullis has spent more than 20 years on rooftops across Metro Detroit, and he’s got a simple message for homeowners: stop waiting until it’s too late, and stop settling for contractors who don’t pick up the phone.
Bullis, founder of Michigan Home Restoration, appeared on Live in the D during the show’s Home Improvement Week, bringing candor to a conversation about one of home ownership’s most neglected expenses.
He opened with a warning that most homeowners don’t see coming: granule loss. Those tiny particles embedded in roof shingles act as a protective layer - like sunscreen, Bullis explained - and when they start washing into gutters and downspouts, the clock is ticking. Shingles that look shiny are another red flag. By the time water is actively dripping through a ceiling, the damage has usually grown far beyond a simple patch job.
Bullis recommends inspections every two years, and a full replacement roughly every 30 years.
On cost - a sore subject for most homeowners - he’s equally direct. His company offers zero-down financing with low monthly payments, because, as he put it, nobody wants to pay $25,000 for a roof all at once.
What sets Michigan Home Restoration apart, Bullis said, is a hands-on approach that starts before the first nail is driven and doesn’t end until the homeowner is satisfied. He noted, only half-joking, that he’s spent roughly one hour at his office desk in the last five years.
He also urged homeowners to hold the industry to a higher standard when vetting contractors - and wasn’t shy about why that bar exists in the first place.
“It’s crazy to me how low the bar has been set. People don’t answer the phone. People don’t do research. And you’re spending a lot of money protecting your home.”
Bullis actively encourages customers to get multiple estimates - not as a formality, but as a test. He wants clients who chose him because they trust him, not because they didn’t look anywhere else.
And once the job is done? He’d rather not hear from you again - in the best possible way.
“I hope to see you this one time and I hope to never see you again.”
More information is available at MHRRoof.com.