search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
      • Enter Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
      • Enter the Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!

Tools of the Trade

By Tom Watts
May 1, 2010
Contractors are always looking for an edge, and when they find a product that helps them do the job better, faster or more efficiently, they usually embrace it. Roofing Contractor asked some contractors to share their insights on the tools that have helped their companies increase productivity.



Contractors are always looking for an edge, and when they find a product that helps them do the job better, faster or more efficiently, they usually embrace it. Roofing Contractor asked some contractors to share their insights on the tools that have helped their companies increase productivity.

Jason Berry is president of E3 Roofing, which specializes in providing national storm recovery assistance. He says the most important tool his company uses isn’t made of steel or rubber: it’s the EagleView Report by EagleView Technologies.

“EagleView invented the concept of measuring from the sky and developed its proprietary software, which provides detailed measurements that offer the highest accuracy and precision available,” Berry said. “With EagleView’s system, roofing contractors can significantly improve roof measurement accuracy which dramatically reduces cost and time while increasing profitability.”

Berry said EagleView Reports are the tool E3 Roofing, headquartered in Kansas City, Kan., depends on to deliver accurate loss summary estimates as the company works with insurance providers to expedite a customer’s repair process.

“No matter the size, 15 squares to 5,000 squares, we always pull an EagleView Report,” Berry said. “We have been with the company since the beginning, and it is the accuracy of their reports and our ability to promote that accuracy with our E3 national team that keeps accelerating our sales. The repeatable accuracy of their system combined with our repeatable process allows us to almost eliminate material shortages or overages from every installation.”

New computer technology is also helping contractors who install metal roofing systems. Teal Brothers Roofing in Sidney, Mont., does a lot of metal work, and Dexter Teal credits the Schlebach Quadro Cinco with greatly increasing production and installation efficiency on metal projects. Teal purchased the machine last summer from MetalForming as soon as it was available.

“We have machine No. 1,” he said. “The first one they delivered. The reason we made the investment was we needed to increase productivity on the job. The Quadro Cinco gave us the ability to cut angles, and the notching feature saves us a lot of time. The whole point was to make our process more efficient.”

The Computer Integrated Metal Roof Manufacturing (CRIM) System and TopView software make entering the data easy, noted Teal, which is especially helpful with oddly shaped roof sections with difficult angles. “On an average roof project, we have seven people on the roof - and two are cutting and notching. It replaces the task of two people, and it cuts down on waste. It’s also a good thing for our labor force. It’s attractive to younger people coming up in the business that want that type of challenge.”

The most notable tool used by Kearns Brothers Inc. for the past decade has been the Hitachi Roofing Nail Gun.

Durable and Reliable

Some tools are great because they stand the test of time. The most notable tool used by Kearns Brothers Inc. for the past decade has been the Hitachi Roofing Nail Gun. Shawn Dunnigan, vice president of Kearns Brothers in Dearborn, Mich., cited durability and low maintenance as reasons the company uses the Hitachi nail gun each day on the job. “With proper cleaning and lubrication they take care of themselves,” said Dunnigan. “From a durability standpoint, I have seen the tool slide off a roof and impact the ground. The roofer retrieved the tool and took it right back on the roof and started using it to install.”

Dunnigan, who has over 30 years of experience in the roofing industry, said the recoil on the Hitachi tool “is the best in the industry.”

“The recoil is the ability of the gun to set a nail and then reset the driver and shoot another nail,” he said. “The faster the recoil the more valuable the tool is to the roofer and the company.”

The nail gun is competitively priced and easy to service. “We can repair the tools ourselves and the parts are readily available around town,” Dunnigan said. “This cuts the downtime a tool will experience when it does need repair.”



Increasing Efficiency

Jeremiah Omer, President of Yorkstate Roofing Company Inc. in Buffalo, N.Y., credits the Roof Cutter from Garlock Equipment with speeding up installations by making it easier to tear off the existing roof.

“The cutter cuts in squares of 2-by-2 and can cut an area of 100 square feet every 3 to 5 minutes,” Omer said. “You can easily cut a 3,000- to 5,000-square-foot area in an hour. This then allows for quick removal with other equipment, such as a Rhino and Roof Carts.”

Omer said with 10 workers and the right equipment “you can tear off and lay back up water-tight anywhere between 20- to 100-square, depending on the system.”

Kelly Lea, Director of Operations for K Post Company in Dallas, said one of the most important tools his company uses is the SkyTrak forklift.

“We use it to load roofs and move and organize materials,” Lea said. “We currently have nine SkyTraks that vary from a reach of 36 feet, 42 feet and 54 feet. These are basically extendable forklifts that have a clear height reach.”

K Post Company can run up to 30 projects at any given time, and they use the SkyTrak lifts to move debris from roof surfaces, unload supplier trucks and stock material to each roof surface.

“We even use this equipment in our sheet metal and waterproofing operation by utilizing a safety basket for employees to work on side of buildings,” Lea said. “The use of this equipment is so important to us we are in the process of adding two more units to our fleet. We utilize a number of different pieces of specialty equipment and tools, but the SkyTrak is one piece of equipment we use on the vast majority of all our jobs.”

Dave Matson is the second-generation owner of Matson’s Roofing and Remodeling in Washington Courthouse, Ohio. He’s been in the roofing industry 16 years, and the tool that has helped him increase productivity the most is the Rapid Roof Remover. It’s an American-made lightweight pneumatic tool that removes shingles with a 30–inch blade. It was invented by Duke Willis.

“A year and a half ago a big storm went through here, and Duke was asking roofers to try out his product,” said Matson. “He dropped by the jobsite and said we could use one for the day. By the time that day was over we’d bought two of them.”

Matson said the product greatly increases the productivity of his residential crews. “One guy on the roof with that machine can replace three guys with shovels,” he said, noting he also uses the unit to remove flooring. “It’s durable,” he said. “The best way to use it is to abuse it. I’ve never even needed to have it serviced.”

Tools that increase worker safety are always a great investment, said George Riddiford, President of Riddiford Roofing in Arlington Heights, Ill. He said the new AES Raptor Fall Protection System is an easy means for ensuring fall protection.

“Great equipment,” Riddiford said of the Raptor. “Hondas and trays make life easier for the men to move materials and debris around the roof areas.”

Riddiford also said the Comet Tracker GPS-based wireless business solution software is the way to go to track worker’s time. “Scan in and scan out on the jobsite,” he said. “It is fair to the workers and fair to the company.”

Lawrence J. Tansey, vice president of Tans Quality Roofing Inc. in Chicago, said Milwaukee and Makita tools are two of his favorite brands, but he still has a preference for day-to-day operations.

“My favorite tools are my computer and BlackBerry phone,” Tansey said. “It keeps me connected to our customers, employees, suppliers and contacts.”

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Tom Watts is the associate editor of Roofing Contractor. He can be reached at 248-244-1738 or wattst@bnpmedia.com. 

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor Group Publisher Jill Bloom

    Physics, the Power of Authenticity and You

    In February's Publisher's Note, Jill Bloom describes a...
    Editor's Note
    By: Jill Bloom
  • The Family Food Fare supermarket in Midland, Mich.

    ‘Rooftop Ninja’ Discovered Living on Roof, Inside Grocery Sign

    A bizarre tale out of Midland, Mich.: a woman dubbed the...
    Roofing News
    By: Bryan Gottlieb
  • A before and after heat measurement comparison

    How Hot is Too Hot in the Attic?

    If the ventilation is working, how hot should the attic...
    Steep Slope Roofing
    By: Paul Scelsi
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • An overhead view of a residential block
    Sponsored byCBIZ CompuData

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: How Roofing Companies Can Transform Financial Operations

  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

  • A hand holding a wooden block that reads 'EVOLVE'
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Embracing Change: A New Era for the Roofing Industry

Popular Stories

QXO closed its acquisition of Beacon Building Supply on April 29, 2025.

QXO Closes Beacon Acquisition, Rebrands Immediately; Jacobs to Ring NYSE Bell

New executive orders signed by President Trump will likely further constrict an already tight labor market for the construction industry.

New Executive Orders Will Further Squeeze Labor Force

QXO CEO Brad Jacobs will share the company’s strategic vision today at the Wolfe Research Global Transportation & Industrials Conference in New York following its acquisition of Beacon Roofing Supply..

QXO’s Brad Jacobs Charts Growth at Wolfe Research Conference

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • Making Roofing Safer and Easier Level Rite Ladder Safety Tools Help Contractors on the Jobsite

    See More
  • The Best of the Best

    See More
  • 2008 Roofing Contractor of the Year Commercial: The Royal Treatment

    See More
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing