(Credit: Hatfield Township)
North Penn grads Alex Zebluim and Gregg Messina of North Wales's Penn Pro Roofing are raising the roof on what it means to be reliable, local, and insurance-savvy — especially when storms hit home
When storms roll through Montgomery County – such as the recent hail and high winds experienced in the past week – hometown heroes Alex Zebluim and Gregg Messina of Penn Pro Roofing are already on the move.
As North Wales natives and proud North Penn High grads, they have built more than just roofs — they have built trust.
With deep local roots, rapid response times, and a sharp eye for navigating homeowner’s insurance, this duo is turning storm season into an opportunity to strengthen their community, one roof at a time.
“We’re lifelong locals. Between Lansdale and North Wales Borough, we grew up here. In third grade, Gregg and I became best friends and we have been locked in ever since,” said Zebluim, president of Penn Pro Roofing, who was busy running around the area providing free estimates on wind damage. “After going through different industries, we came back together.”
With both having a combined more than 20 years of experience in roofing, and with Messina’s main background in HVAC, Messina and Zebluim teamed up as trustworthy partners to open Penn Pro Roofing in 2022. Then, nearly a year later, Messina, in response to numerous calls from loyal customers wanting advice from a reputable expert, would start Penn Pro Heating & Cooling, bringing on Leo Nesci, also a North Penn graduate.
“Our main focus, aside from being local, is truly trying to find a solution for the customer, whether it is financially or for an emergency repair,” Zebluim, 37, said. “The biggest thing is always trying to find a way to get insurance to pay to help the customer.”
Penn Pro Roofing’s coverage area spans like a sturdy roof – offering solid coverage wherever storm clouds roll in for properties in Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Philadelphia, and Bucks counties and into New Jersey. Zebluim said the company likes to keep a response time to within a two-hour window.
For example, at present, Penn Pro Roofing is doing a $350 referral bonus for property owners in Media, Swarthmore, Brookhaven, Ridley Park, Glenolden, Folcroft and Folsom, where homes were recently damaged by large hail and wind.
After free inspections, Zebluim works his magic in working with the insurance companies in these special cases; in most instances, an entire roof and siding will be paid for by insurance, regardless of age.
Penn Pro Roofing typically deals in the regular asphalt singles, but specialty shingles are not foreign to them. For instance, Penn Pro Roofing recently completed the metal roof of the Hatfield Auto Museum in Hatfield Borough.
“What’s crazy is,” Zebluim said, “I love the helping aspect than the roofing. People don’t truly enjoy doing roofing; my true motivation is helping and finding a solution more than anything.”
Penn Pro Roofing Owner and CEO Alex Zebluim speaking at the Hatfield Commissioners meeting upon receiving the Heroes award. (Credit: Hatfield Township)Zebluim said there are many people out there taking advantage of a very lucrative industry in the worst ways possible, leading to loads of skepticism.
“When I tell a customer that insurance will come out and pay for the roof, that end moment, when they can’t believe it, and then they tell their neighbors – that’s the best for me,” he said. “That’s huge. I’m showing them that the proof’s in the pudding.”
Yet running a roofing business comes with its struggles, specifically competition.
“Massive corporations have been around forever, like Volpe, and after Covid, everyone and their uncle started a roofing business, it seems like,” Zebluim said. “The problem is facing guys that send out crews and then don’t show up to manage the project. They don’t care if they make $1,500 and send out some random crew. There’s no consistency in that.”
Focus entirely on the money, and you lose deals, he said.
“By keeping integrity, you don’t lose face and you know where your margins have to be,” he said. “You have to respect what the work quality is and your time.”
Competition does not cease to exist at an HVAC level either.
“The margins are way different,” he said. “There is a sense of urgency when someone needs you. You need to be there immediately. It is super important to be knowledgeable and understand what the proper solution is versus just a Band-Aid.”
Zebluim and Messina believe that sense of local pride is what sets them apart in the local industry.
“It fuels us in a sense where we are truly proud to be driving around our own neighborhoods for service and to have a sense of direction for you about where you want to put your business in the area,” Zebluim said. “We keep scaling up to a point where we can be just a main resource. Today, we do roofing and siding and HVAC, but a year from now, we want to be able to offer more. We want to focus on what we do so people can trust us, and trust us with new services that we know. Growing our name is key.”
Thus, Penn Pro Roofing throws itself into community events and sponsorships. Last fall, it collected and drove supplies to Asheville, North Carolina to help those hit hard by Hurricane Helene. Penn Pro Roofing was named a Hatfield Hero for its efforts as well.
“We thrive on that sense of community,” Zebluim said. “Having grown up here and seeing other existing companies in parades and other social events, we want to be that company. This is home. We’re trying to build something up, so if our kids want it, they can take it over and be proud about it.”
Check out Penn Pro Roofing’s website here. The business offers financing options for customers. Instant quotes are available online as well.
Penn Pro Roofing is at 103 N. Second St. in North Wales Borough. Contact them at 267-990-9190 or info@PennProRoofing.com.
