Slate is one of the oldest and most durable roofing materials. It’s also one of the most beautiful. Slate roofs have crowned landmark buildings for centuries, and some of these roofs have lasted hundreds of years.
Planning ahead for a challenging year was the central theme among contractors at the 2009 International Roofing Expo, which was held Feb. 3-5 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Stopping leaks is part of any roofing contractor’s job description. Other common tasks include securing edge metal and repairing cuts and failing seams in a variety of low-slope roof systems. Chris Margarites, the president of EternaBond, says his revolutionary roofing tape can be the answer to all of these problems - and then some.
Residential reroofing remains a viable profession despite the turbulent economy and the sudden dip in demand for new home construction in many parts of the country.
Our industry has been blessed with multiple years of prosperity. The stars have been aligned. The number of properties has been growing, which supports continued reroofing, repair and maintenance growth.
The fourth quarter of 2008 was a tumultuous
time. A presidential election was taking place. Commodity prices were volatile.
As the economy was in turmoil and bailouts and loans seemed the only ways to
salvage the financial and automotive sectors of the economy, Roofing Contractor
turned to contractors to take the pulse of the roofing industry in an exclusive
survey sponsored by GAF Materials Corporation.
There is one thing manufacturers and industry leaders agree
on as 2009 gets under way - it won’t be “business as usual” for the roofing
industry this year. The economic environment is unprecedented and the
uncertainty created will likely force the residential and commercial roofing
sectors to become more efficient and innovative.
Looking back over the last decade, 2008 was an overall
average demand year, according to Sheree Bargabos, President of the Asphalt
Roofing Manufacturers Association and President of Roofing and Asphalt for
Owens Corning.