Barrier Roofs brings father and son together in Somerset
By Christopher Harris Commonwealth Journal
It ’ s not unusual in the heartland of America for dads and sons to get out under the sun , lace up their boots , and get to work with their hands side-by-side on some project , spending quality time together .
Cody and his father Delynn Gibson would make a business out of it .
Barrier Roofs , a well-established Kentucky roofing business in central and southern Kentucky , has recently opened up an office in Somerset and the Gibsons are the ones guiding it .
“ We love working together ,” said Cody . “ We have both independently started and run our own business in the past but never together . This was a goal of ours and it is so awesome to see it play out in front of us !”
Barrier Roofs is based out of Lexington and also has a presence in the Williamsburg-London-Corbin area . Somerset is new territory for the roofing business , but the Gibsons have deep ties with the people behind the company ’ s history .
In 1983 , Delynn went to flight school with Tom Barrier , and the two would return to the Kentucky National Guard aviation unit together and become great friends . After both went through divorces in 1994 , they would get a house together in Versailles as they both worked in Frankfort .
Justin Barrier , the business ’ owner , and Cody would spend every other weekend together over the next few years . Cody , like Justin , was in the medical device field , and Justin eventually convinced Cody that roofing was a better life .
Delynn had just retired from Amazon aviation where he was a 777 pilot , and together , he and Cody brought a Barrier Roofs office to Somerset .
Though neither man has extensive experience in construction , they primarily handle the aspects of the business they do know — the behind-the-scenes functions that make it work .
“( I do ) the roof inspections and community engagement , while Delynn
Delynn Gibson
fields most of the calls and handles quotes and scheduling ,” said Cody .
“( I ) spent a majority of his professional career in sales , and Delynn in aviation ,” he added . “ We do have a desire to serve people and found a need for an additional roofing company in the area . We want to strive for professionalism and a great product at a fair price !”
The business currently offers not only roofing work , but also windows , gutters and siding . They handle shingle and metal roofs , both those flat and sloped .
They also strive to make the experience as simple and painless for the client as possible .
“ Before contacting us , it is wise to go ahead and locate your home owner ’ s policy to familiarize yourself with it in case the repair or replacement is claim worthy ,” said Cody . “ Everything else , we can easily walk you step-by-step through to ensure a smooth a timely transaction . Most houses we can complete in one day . Our crews run a week to two weeks out currently .”
Knowing the ins-and-outs of a complicated business is something the Gibsons specialize in ; Cody noted that one of the biggest challenges involved is with out-of-town insurance agents unfamiliar with things like Kentucky laws or local weather patterns . He suggested using a local insurance agent that you can communicate with easily for the situations
Cody Gibson
where these problems arise . On the flip side , “ the most enjoyable part of the business is working with each other , but also the ability to get to help and serve all different kinds of people in the Somerset / Pulaski county area ,” said Cody .
“ Like any business we have growing pains , but with our communication and work ethic , we are sure we can overcome just about anything ,” he added .
Also , with both having served in the Kentucky National Guard ( Cody 5 years , Delynn 32 years ), Barrier Roofs offers special rates for veterans and first responders .
“ We feel that service to the community is something to be admired , so we want to take special care of those folks ,” said Cody .
For more information , visit https :// www . barrierroofs . com .
Running a business together as father and son has been a special experience for both Cody and Delynn , and they hope to grow it into something to pass down to Cody ’ s son Jonah if he chooses to do it one day .
“ We honestly cherish our new business and the customers we have gained along the way ,” said Cody . “ We try to bring our family atmosphere to every business deal we do with our customers so they feel the comfort of working with someone familiar rather than a large out of town organization .”
Photos by Meredith Frye Photography
June 2022 SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky • 43