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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.

It was a relatively good year for the roofing industry in 2008 despite the volatility of raw materials and escalating distribution costs.

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.

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.

Commercial roofing had a strong year in 2008, according to Rob Reale, Manager of Marketing Communications for Carlisle Construction Materials.

“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.