Looking back at 2008, Kate Baumann, Marketing Director for
Mule-Hide Products Co. Inc., said her company had “a very good year.” While
Baumann said experts predict that, when the final numbers are in for 2008, new
non-residential construction starts will be up just 5 percent in dollars - and
down 10 percent in square footage - she believes commercial new construction
and retrofit combined should be up.
Weather-related damage helped Malarkey Roofing stay on top
of its game during 2008, according to President Greg Malarkey. “Without that
infusion of business, I have no doubt that our industry would truly have
suffered greatly in 2008,” he said.
Last year was a solid year in terms of volume, but Bob
Delaney, Chief Operating Officer for Firestone Building Products, predicted
there would be numerous obstacles to overcome in 2009. “Last year proved to be
quite a ride for many people in the roofing industry,” Delaney said. “Overall,
it was a solid year in terms of volume, while price and cost movements were
very dynamic.
“2008 was an unprecedented year with material cost
increases, led by asphalt and petroleum price increases,” said Jay Butch,
Director of Contractor Programs for CertainTeed. “The big wild card in ’08 was
Mother Nature, and in several states, storms generated a lot of roofing
business.”
From supply and demand to storm activity, last year had some
surprises for the entire roofing industry, according to Keith Lowe, Vice
President of Sales for IKO.
Bill Good, Executive Vice President of the National Roofing
Contractors Association (NRCA), looks back on 2008 with mixed feelings. “I
think we were pleasantly surprised we did as well as we did - especially in the
nonresidential sector,” he said.
Chuck Chapman, Vice President of Central Roofing Co. of
Arizona in Glendale, Ariz., and President of the Western States Roofing
Contractors Association, noted that geography was a big factor in the
performance of roofing contractors in 2008, as some states saw the housing
market decline more than others while others saw a high level of storm
activity.
“Duct tape yourself to the saddle - it’s going to be a rodeo
ride,” said Chip Macdonald when asked about the economic outlook in 2009.
Macdonald owns Best Safety, a Cambridge, N.Y.-based company that offers safety
program implementation and management to companies of all sizes.
Mitch Reaves, President and CEO of N.B. Handy, is hopeful
that business will pick up in the last half of 2009, but he doesn’t expect
activity to be as high as it was in the first half of 2008, and he notes there
are no guarantees it will improve from current levels. “A lot of investors and
individuals are sitting on the sidelines waiting for the dust to settle,” he
said.
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