Maybe we’ve hit bottom and things are on the upswing after all. 

 The year 2011 saw the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration taking an increasingly aggressive stance in using all available information to curb the hiring of unauthorized workers and to penalize employers who do. 

Roofing Contractorasked a variety of industry insiders and other professionals to share their insights on key trends they’ve indentified in the commercial and residential roofing markets and offer advice on the key problems facing contractors in the year ahead. 

 What began as a short blog for Roofing Contractor magazine on technical tips for TPO membranes quickly took on a life of its own.  

 The 52-story Georgia-Pacific Center is a landmark on the Atlanta skyline.  

 The folks Deer Park Roofing in Cincinnati recycle just about everything: asphalt shingles, EPDM, TPO, PVC, steel, aluminum, copper and insulation.  

 The science behind a “cool” reflective roof is simple: Light colors reflect solar radiation and dark colors absorb solar radiation. 

The Walgreens distribution facility in Windsor, Wis., was originally built in 1980 with a standing seam steel roof offering an R-value of 9.5. Owners decided it was time to improve the energy efficiency of the distribution center and hired RRK Associates, Ltd., to carry out the project.

Two questions for you, Mr. or Ms. Roofing Contractor: 1. How do you define a “sustainable” roofing system? The stumbling economy and the noise of owners clamoring for any way they can to save money should not distract us from continuously improving our products and profits.