CertainTeed Corporation is helping the traditional roofing contractors in the Northeast transition into participating in the solar roofing market, through a series of solar roofing training sessions.

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. – CertainTeed Corporation is helping the traditional roofing contractors in the Northeast transition into participating in the solar roofing market, through a series of solar roofing training sessions. The sessions align with the rollout of CertainTeed’s EnerGen Photovoltaic Roofing System - the first system in the market designed specifically for use with traditional asphalt shingles.

“Right now, the roofing market is very competitive and contractors are looking for ways to expand and differentiate their offerings,” says Mark Stancroff, photovoltaic business manager for CertainTeed Roofing. “With these classes, we’re trying to make it easy for roofing contractors to transition into solar roofing and provide a broader range of roofing services to their customers.”

The first roofing products manufacturer to design a photovoltaic roofing system for use with traditional asphalt shingles, CertainTeed is using these classes to teach roofing contractors the skills needed to be successful in the solar roofing market. These skills include: how to install photovoltaic roofing systems, marketing themselves as a solar roofer and how to sell solar roofing. This year, CertainTeed trained over 400 contractors in four cities in the Northeast.

“The majority of the contractors in our classes grasp the solar roofing concept - they understand it and they’re excited about it,” Stancroff says. “After they finish the class, they’re ready to get out there and start bidding solar roofing jobs.”

Between April and June, CertainTeed has booked solar roofing training classes in five more cities - Denver; Greensboro, N.C.; Atlanta; Shreveport, La.; and Austin, Texas. For more information on when a class is coming to your area next, contact your CertainTeed Roofing territory manager.

Offered in pre-engineered kits containing all the components necessary for installation, EnerGen features thin-film UNI-SOLAR laminates, which integrate with traditional asphalt roofing shingles. The system’s lightweight design requires no rooftop penetrations, making it easier for contractors to install while maintaining roof deck integrity. The laminates lie flush with the roof, providing a streamlined, visually appealing appearance. Its flexible design allows it to be customized to meet a home’s specific energy needs and environmental conditions. For more information on EnerGen, visit www.certainteed.com.