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
    • 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!
ColumnsEditor's NoteLow Slope RoofingSteep Slope Roofing

Tax Reform Could Increase Demand in Commercial Roofing

By Rick Damato
Rick Damato
April 4, 2018

I can’t help but notice that you’ve been a little busy lately. Some of you taking the time to read this column have been this way for four or five years.  but that doesn’t mean you get to rest on your laurels and just keep raking in the dough.

As the leader of your roofing business, you must constantly be aware of where your business stands today and where it will stand in the future. At least to the extent that you can predict the future, which is not a reliable science. Change, however, is something on which you may always depend.

Change is Here

Changes to the tax code signed into law at the end of 2017 layout a roadmap for personal and corporate taxes that may have some immediate impact on your roofing business now, and may also have a (perhaps lesser) impact in the decade to come as some of the tax breaks change or go away.

A significant change is the ability for some of your commercial roofing customers to get instant tax relief on their reroofing projects. And not just the small projects. I realize this is old news, but talking to roofing contractors at industry events over the winter tells me many of you are not up to speed on changes to Section 179 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code as it relates to roofing and certain corporate entities (taxpayers; your customers).

To learn more, read Joe Bazzano’s feature article in the February issue of Roofing Contractor or look it up online at www.roofingcontractor.com. Speak with your accountant to get further counsel on how changes to the tax code might benefit your customers. You may save your customers a ton of money on their taxes while scoring that reroof project they’ve been putting off, simply by pointing this out.

More Change is Coming

All of the above is the “good news.” The “bad news” is there’s always bad news around the corner. Cycles in the economy are as natural as sunshine and rain. The economy will, eventually, enter into recession. The roofing industry proved resilient during the Great Recession (2007 – 2013), as much of our work is retrofit and several major weather events served up things to do even as the housing industry came to a virtual halt. But keep an eye on the economy and be prepared to make changes to match your business with less work.

Speaking of storm work, there may not be any new storms next year. There may not be any more significant storms for the next five or ten years. Weather, like business, goes through cycles, and storm work presently represents a significant segment of the roofing industry. It hasn’t always been that way and probably won’t remain that way.

So long as the level of roofing business is brisk, I believe the best course of action is to roll with it; keep marketing and selling for the future; and do your best to keep it all under control so you can say at the end of the year that your bottom line grew along with revenues.

KEYWORDS: commercial roofing contractor taxes

Share This Story

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

Rick damato update
Rick Damato is the editorial director of Roofing Contractor. He has held a number of posts in the roofing industry since 1974 and has contributed to the magazine since its inception in 1981. He can be reached at 770-331-7858 or on Twitter @RoofsByRick.

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...
    Columns
    By: Paul Scelsi
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • 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

Agentes de ICE arrestaron a casi una docena de empleados de una empresa de techos en Lowell, Massachusetts. Los arrestos son parte de una redada federal más amplia contra la contratación no autorizada y las violaciones migratorias en Boston.

ICE Redondea a Equipo de Techos Afuera de Boston

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

Florida has become the focal point for construction-site raids, attracting national attention and altering labor dynamics throughout the industry.

Florida Emerges as the Epicenter of ICE Raids

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

  • Tax Reform

    How Tax Reform Could Mean a "BOOM" to Commercial Roofing

    See More
  • Damato of the Day Is ... "It Could Happen"

    See More
  • Damato of the Day Is ... "Could This Be The One?"

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • roofingconstructionestimatingrevised_web_1.png

    Roofing Construction & Estimating Revised

  • tcr.png

    The Complicated Roof – A Cut and Stack Workbook

  • 007145828X.jpeg

    Manual of Low-Slope Roof Systems Fourth Edition

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • April 17, 2025

    Homeowners Survey: A Roofing Customer’s Journey

    On-Demand Roofing contractors can use this information to better understand what factors influence a homeowner's contractor selection process. At the same time, they'll explore ideas to improve customer communication and operational efficiency that grow profits.
  • February 27, 2025

    2025 State of the Industry Report: Roofing Contractor

    On-Demand This webinar is a must-attend for all roofing contractors who are looking to understand market insights related to current and future installation trends.
View AllSubmit An Event
×

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