From Hurricane Ian to Eight Crew Members: The Skyway Story
How a small local gutter company in Sarasota grew into a full-service exterior team after the 2022 storm season, and what still guides every job.
Key Takeaways
5 quick answersSkyway Gutters was established in 2021 as a small gutter company that intended to stay local.
After Ian in fall 2022, the need for gutter services grew quickly, and Skyway grew with it.
Because most of the crew had decades of experience, Skyway added fascia and soffit services.
Today the team has eight members and three rigs on the road daily.
Showing up on time, communicating, and leaving every home cleaner than we found it is still the standard.
"After the last storm, I called four gutter companies. Two never called back, and one quoted me over the phone without even looking at the house. I just want someone local who'll show up when they say they will. Who do people in Sarasota actually trust for gutters?"
Most homeowners aren't looking for the biggest gutter company. They want a local gutter company in Sarasota that picks up the phone, shows up on time, and does the job right. That's the kind of company Skyway Gutters set out to be when it started in 2021. A hurricane just made it grow faster than planned.
Here's the short version of the story.
Starting Small on Purpose
Skyway Gutters was established in 2021 as a small gutter company with a clear intention: stay local and stay small. Our founder, Derek Almy, was born in New Hampshire, but Sarasota has been home for more than 20 years. His goal was to build a crew that truly enjoys the work and brings that to every doorstep.
Then Came Ian
In September 2022, Hurricane Ian came ashore near Cayo Costa as a powerful Category 4 storm, and its impact reached across Southwest Florida. In the months that followed, the need for gutter work grew exponentially, and Skyway grew right along with it. Staying small stopped being realistic when neighbors needed help.
Growing Into Fascia and Soffit
Most of our crew members already had decades of experience in the trade, so adding fascia and soffit services was a natural next step. Today we can plan the gutters, fascia, and soffit together as one roofline, with one crew instead of separate trades. That keeps colors matched and lines level all the way around the house.
Years of storm-season work are also why we talk so much about prevention, from spring hurricane season gutter prep to knowing how often to clean gutters in Florida. A little maintenance usually costs a lot less than a rebuild.
What Hasn't Changed
Today Skyway has eight team members and three rigs on the road every day. Keep an eye out, and give us a honk. The way we work hasn't changed: show up on time, communicate, give flat written estimates with no upsells, and leave every home cleaner than we found it. The goal on every job is to leave knowing we went beyond what the homeowner expected. Every step of the seamless gutter installation process gets the same care, from handcut miters to tight hangers.
Conclusion
Skyway grew because of a storm, but it stayed local because of the people it serves. We work on the same Suncoast streets our customers drive every day, and our reputation depends on it. That's the part we never plan to outgrow.
Whether you need a quick repair or a full roofline refresh, our gutter, fascia, and soffit services cover Sarasota, Bradenton, and communities across the Suncoast. Contact Skyway Gutters for a free, no-pressure estimate.
FAQs
Yes. Skyway Gutters is a locally owned company based on 15th Street in Sarasota, established in 2021 by founder Derek Almy.
Seamless gutter installation, gutter replacement, gutter repair, gutter cleaning, aluminum gutters, soffit and fascia installation, custom roofline finishing, and hurricane-season prep.
Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Venice, North Port, Parrish, and communities across Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Charlotte counties.
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