The roofing industry in North America is in a state of change. That invariably brings some degree of caution, given some of the challenges of the previous year.

Even as economic factors like tariffs, regulatory changes, and policy shifts in immigration emerged in 2025, the industry showed extraordinary resilience and maintained strong optimism about robust demand for roofing services. Through those challenges, roofers are also experiencing a unique time of transformation and opportunity. With that sense of optimism in the roofing space right now, RC is facilitating a candid discussion about the roofing industry’s outlook in a special General Session presentation to kick off the 2026 International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas.

Trent Cotney, partner with Adams and Reese, and NRCA CEO McKay Daniels will join RC Publisher Jill Bloom, Editor-in-Chief Art Aisner, and myCLEARopinion Insights Hub Co-CEO Mitch Henderson to present the research in a way that helps present contractors with actionable information for the year ahead.   Join us for an illuminating exploration of the key insights, emerging trends, breakthrough products, and game-changing innovations that are shaping today's dynamic marketplace. 

“We look forward to doing this research every year and believe it’s a way for roofing contractors to stay ahead of the curve and position themselves for success in an industry that’s thriving on several fronts,” Bloom said.

The panel will break down the meaningful data from this year’s survey and synthesize what it means for contractors in their day-to-day. They’ll take a look at the trends moving the industry forward, and what they believe roofers should concentrate on to drive future success. In addition to an interactive presentation of the survey results, attendees will also get first-hand insight from industry experts on market performance, emerging trends, and much more.

Roofing Contractor's comprehensive annual survey of roofers and industry stakeholders provides the data used as the basis for the 2026 State of the Roofing Industry Report, which is part of the Contractor of Year print edition available at the RC Booth # 3965 and at other locations on the IRE show floor.

The full report will be analyzed during a data-driven State of the Industry webinar hosted by RC, its research partner myCLEARopinion Insights Hub, sponsored by the law firm Adams and Reese at 2 p.m. (EST) on Feb. 18. Register now here.

Roofing contractors and other industry professionals from all segments of the industry can get a preview of the opening day session leading up to the opening of the International Roofing Expo Show Floor door. RC asked both Cotney and Daniels to provide to glimpse of what they think about the year ahead, and what they hope roofing contractors walk away with as they head into the industry’s largest trade show. Here’s what they had to say:

RC: Can you give me a few words to describe 2025 in roofing, and why?  

TC: Transformative. Disciplined. Uneven.
 2025 is a year where roofing moved out of a volume-driven environment and into one that rewards operational discipline. Demand still exists, but it’s uneven by market and sector, and contractors are being forced to pay closer attention to labor, backlog quality, and cash flow than they have in years. AI and robotics will transform the industry even more in 2026.

MD: Segmented. Headwinds. Resilient.

How 2025 went depends, in part, on the type of work someone did, where they did it, and how professional they were in their operations. The industry was navigating headwinds and contractors were on the front line of it...but their resilience, pragmatism, and expertise carried them through. 

RC: What do you see as the industry’s most-pressing issues, and how are we addressing them? 

TC: Labor availability and collections remain the most pressing issues. On labor, there is no quick fix. Contractors need to double down on compliance, retention, training, and lawful workforce strategies while continuing to advocate for realistic immigration solutions. On collections, contractors must stop treating payment enforcement as an afterthought and instead build it into their contracts, processes, and culture. Cash discipline is no longer optional.

MD: Workforce difficulties and the overall economic landscape continue to impact virtually every contractor. There are short-term, mid-term, and long-range measures to take in order to address workforce, and remaining prudent and resourceful to ensure success in any economy is vital for all roofing companies. 

RC: What do you hope roofing contractors and other industry professionals get out of attending the general session?

TC: I hope attendees leave with a clearer, more realistic understanding of where the industry is headed and what they can control. Attendees will also be able to hear about future predictions of market demand for roofing systems.

MD: That they learn more about where we’ve been as an industry this past year, where we’re at today, and where we’re likely to go in the year ahead. 

RC: How unique of a situation is the roofing industry in now, and what opportunities does it present?

TC: What makes this moment different is that multiple structural shifts are happening at the same time. Technology, particularly AI and automation, is changing how work is estimated, managed, and documented. At the same time, the workforce is becoming more generationally diverse, with different expectations around career paths, flexibility, and technology use. That creates friction, but also opportunity. Contractors who invest in systems, training, and leadership development can operate more efficiently with smaller teams and attract talent that might not have considered roofing in the past.

MD: Many of the issues aren’t new, but the speed that they’re changing, the level of uncertainty and variability today for business seems unprecedented. For example, 14 months ago, federal solar credits were expected to be a jolt for the residential market for a decade to come, and the industry began to invest and prepare and go after that business. Less than a year later, they’re entirely eliminated. Combine that with tariff uncertainty and what that does for prices, inflation and customer demand, as well as the impact on interest rates, and it makes our industry’s customers nervous and uncertain. In an uncertain environment, the safest thing for someone to do is pause and delay that expansion, that new building, delay reroofing the house or facility.  

RC: What is your overall outlook for the state of the industry in 2026? 

TC: I’m cautiously optimistic. While 2026 will still present challenges, contractors who adapt by tightening operations, embracing useful technology, and managing risk proactively will emerge stronger. The opportunity is there for those willing to adjust to a more disciplined, professionalized market.

MD: Our people remain are our biggest strength. Contractors can navigate the good or the bad with their ingenuity, entrepreneurship, and resilience, but there’s some aspects in play that should make 2026 better than 2025. Interest rates continuing to decline should provide some tailwinds for the industry. Projects that have been delayed due to financing costs should begin to move forward, and loan costs for contractors should decline with lower rates.

We need consumer spending to remain stable and robust, and AI investment to not fall off a cliff. If those two things happen, combined with the likely increase in storm activity in 2026 compared to 2025, this year can be a very good year for roofers. Last year was the "Everything, Everywhere, All At Once" year. If we can get rid of just one of those, it’ll be a good 2026.

WHAT YOU WILL GET

• Explore how contractors can successfully overcome current and future industry challenges
• Get a better understanding of industry expectations for residential and commercial sales in 2026 and beyond
• Gain market insight related to current and future trends on products and services
• Learn about emerging technology and how to incorporate new tools into operations
• Hear ideas to improve customer communication, productivity and operational efficiency that grow profits.