Ogdensburg resident invents a cost-effective solution for roof repair

OGDENSBURG — “There’s gotta be an easier way.”

We’ve all said it, but few take the time to follow up and figure out an easier solution. Not true for Pipe Vent Shield inventor Jim Lame who labored through the tedious process of replacing the rubber portion of pipe flanges to fix roof leaks during his 22-year career as a roofing contractor.

“I don’t know what drove me to do it,” the long-time Ogdensburg resident said. “I just knew there had to be an easier way.”

Before the Pipe Vent Shield, a roofer had to remove the shingles around the pipe vent, remove and replace the faulty flange, and replace the shingles. If the shingles are damaged during removal, which is often the case, the roofer is stuck trying to match shingle colors on the roof — wasting both time and clients’ money.

“All you need to do now is put mine over the top [of the vent],” Lame said.

The perforated rubber opening is easily able to be cut to the most common pipe sizes and the product slips over the top of the vent pipe and sits flush with the roof, eliminating both the roof leak and the water damage it is creating in the home.

The history behind the Pipe Vent Shield

Lame, the owner of Above & Beyond Contracting, has been a professional roofer for the past 22 years. Also an Ogdensburg Police Patrolman since 2000, Lame is happy the borough’s three-day on and three-day off rotation allows him time to continue roofing.

“I was going to give up roofing,” Lame said, “but the schedule has worked well for my business.”

While he admits the prototype of his invention didn’t look much like the final product, Lame credits his high school job at Danforth’s for teaching him how to mold and allowing him to turn his idea into reality. The current version of the Pipe Vent Shield is currently made in a U.S.-based facility in China, there is a plan in the works to begin making in the N.J. facility.

On the market since early September, the Pipe Vent Shield has already sold more than 300 units. The product can be purchased online for $24.95 plus shipping, or can be purchased directly from Lame by calling 973-936-9071 or visit PipeVentShield.com. In either case it comes with a three-year manufacturer’s guarantee and is available to be painted in a variety of colors to compliment the color of the home’s roofing shingles.

With easy-to-follow installation instructions, the average homeowner is able to install the product themselves in most cases.

“The Pipe Vent Shield is one piece and doesn’t require any special tools to install,” Lame said. “Anyone who is comfortable going up on the roof can install it.”