While industry veterans have seen just about anything made into roofing, they have also seen metal roofing made into just about anything. That flexibility is creating new markets for roofing contractors.

In 2002, approximately one million new homes were sold, but that remains a hard market for roofing contractors to tap into, unless it’s a skilled job like metal. Coupled with a more affluent homeowner and low interest rates, roofing contractors also have a good shot at the 5.5 million existing homes sold last year. Residential projects can be tackled with the same choices available to commercial projects, except homeowners generally have a greater concern for appearance.