In a year where roofing contractors sought out the latest information about how a global pandemic affected the roofing industry, Roofing Contractor was proud to be your go-to source.

As 2020 (thankfully) comes to a close, we took a look at what stories readers clicked on and read the most throughout the year. Unsurprisingly, many of them had to do with COVID-19, but a few entries showed that roofing contractors were still hard at work. We compiled these stories into the following list to take a look back at this unprecedented year.

10. Petersen-Dean Inc. Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Due to Impact of COVID-19

In one of the many business casualties that emerged from the pandemic, Petersen-Dean Inc. reported that it commenced a voluntary restructuring under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Its subsidiaries and affiliates include Solar 4 America and Roofs 4 America.

"Our clients and vendors should expect business as usual across our organization and we will stay steadfast on our collective goal of providing superior solar, roofing and battery installations that our clients have come to expect from our companies," said Jim Petersen, PDI’s founder and CEO.

9. $2 Trillion COVID-19 Stimulus to Help Roofing Contractors Stay in Business

When the federal government passed the $2-trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), there were a lot of questions abound on how roofing contractors could take advantage of what it offered. In this article, Cotney Construction Law CEO Trent Cotney broke down the details about the Paycheck Protection Program.

“The creation of the Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act, as well as the expansion of other key SBA programs, should help small businesses and contractors weather the COVID-19 storm,” Cotney wrote.

8. Photos from the IRE 2020 Show Floor

Before the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation and postponement of large gatherings, the 2020 International Roofing Expo (IRE) saw a record-breaking 17,060 attendance. As the official publication of the IRE, RC was on hand to cover the latest news and capture photos of the many attendees. Check out the slideshow to see if you recognize any familiar faces.

7. How Roofing Contractors Endured the COVID-19 Pandemic

In March, when the pandemic took hold of the country, roofing contractors had to figure out how to navigate the “new normal.” In speaking with multiple roofing professionals, RC learned how they coped through new best practices like social distancing and face masks while adopting technology that helped them communicate with customers.

“One thing we can do as leaders is to be calm,” said Steve Little, KPost Roofing & Waterproofing head coach. “We have to make good decisions, not hasty decisions. We have to make decisions based on long term and what’s best for our companies and our employees and our clients and our suppliers and our families.”

6. State of the Industry 2020 Report and Survey

A staple of RC’s coverage is its annual State of the Industry report and survey. This exclusive report, released in February, surveys roofing contractors around the country, and by sharing their insights, others in the industry can better prepare for the coming year.

Since the survey took place in 2019, the report didn’t account for the pandemic and its widespread impact. Be sure to visit roofingcontractor.com in 2021 to check out the 2021 report.

5. 5 Things About the Hard Rock Stadium Roof Before Super Bowl LIV

Thankfully, not all was doom and gloom in 2020. Early in the year, RC took a closer look at the stadium that would host Super Bowl LIV, the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. In this article, we examine some of the more interesting and unique aspects of the flexible roof, installed by SRG Roofing.

“We were faced with an extremely tight deadline as the roof had to be completed by the home opener (in September),” said Co-owner Kevin Kirkwood.

4. NRCA Spearheads Letter to Trump to Clarify Essential Workers During COVID-19 Crisis

2020 introduced a phrase that is now very familiar: “essential business.” The classification became important in determining what businesses could still operate during mandatory shutdown and stay-at-home orders. The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) communicated with the White House to clarify the definitions of essential industries and workers.

"We made the case clear that the roofing industry should specifically be cited in any guidance as essential," said NRCA CEO Reid Ribble.

3. Top 100 Roofing Contractors of 2020

This year marked the 12th consecutive year that RC published its Top 100 Roofing Contractors list. Every year, we seek submissions from around the country to determine which contractors are the best performers in the industry. The list is ranked on self-reported annual revenue, and has become an important marketing tool for contractors who make the list.

RC will soon begin collecting submissions for the 2021 Top 100 list, so check back often and fill out our online form.

2. GAF Unveils Timberline HDZ Shingles and No-Limit Wind Warranty

GAF made a big splash in 2020 when it announced the nationwide launch of its Timberline HDZ shingles. The shingles boast a 99.9% nailing accuracy thanks to its new StrikeZone nailing area, which is up to 600% larger than Timberline HD shingles.

1. Brace Yourselves, Coronavirus’ Impact on the Roofing Industry Will be Felt

It should come as no surprise that one of RC’s first articles about the COVID-19 pandemic was the most read story of 2020. Penned by Cotney Construction Law CEO Trent Cotney when there was a mere 1,000 cases in the U.S., the article forewarned of the impact the virus would have on the industry. Cotney has since become a regular contributor with RC’s Legal Insights video series.

“Since there is no current vaccine for the coronavirus and the number of infected individuals continues to rise every day, no one can say how long it will take for the virus to be contained and the economy to normalize,” Cotney said.