Commercial building owners and property managers are starting to expect that roofing systems not only provide thermal and moisture protection, but also perform in terms of reflectivity and emissivity. Being "sustainable and recyclable" or "resistant to wind and hail" are also important. This is good news for the roofing industry, in my view, since all of this translates into a higher quality product for our consumers and a higher return for contractors on a job-to-job basis.
Building owners and managers have price and performance expectations, but do understand that the roofs on their buildings are more than just a waterproofing membrane over insulation. They generally understand that the key components of their buildings-including the roofing system-demand routine maintenance to optimize performance and longevity. In fact, nearly 80 percent of building owners and managers responding to a survey by Roofing Contractor and Buildings magazines agree that scheduled maintenance is "not a waste of time."*