The use of lightweight concrete as a roof decking and insulation system has expanded in the past five years. Increased usage can be attributed to the recent industry-wide insulation shortages and delamination deficiencies. The increase can also be attributed to the economic and environmental advantages that lightweight insulating concrete (LWIC) provides in roof assemblies. The increased use in specific regions of the country has spawned new technology to meet the demands of the market from the economic and environmental standpoints. Advances in pumping equipment and mixing ratios have provided materials that are consistent in compressive strength and density.
Even after years of excellent growth, there is still a lot of room for metal roofing to expand. According to the National Roofing Contractors association’s most recent annual survey, in 2005 the overall share of metal roofing was 4 percent of low-slope new construction, while the share for new steep-slope installations was 28 percent. While metal can be found on virtually any roof, it still takes an investment not only to buy it, but to sell and install it as well.
With the variety of roofing material options available, like asphalt, composite, metal and tile (to name just a few), homeowners are often overwhelmed when choosing the best product for their new roof or roof replacement. According to a recent survey, more than half of homeowners opt for asphalt roofing materials, but as they search for more durable, low-maintenance options, composite shingles are quickly gaining in popularity.
We wanted to see if things had improved since our last survey. So, in November of 2006, we conducted a follow-up study. The survey was mailed to 1,300 property owners representing an even geographic dispersion nationally. About 94 percent of the respondents were owners of single-family homes and had purchased a replacement roof within the previous three years. What do the results of the survey indicate? In the big picture, the industry is improving. That’s the good news. The bad news is that there is still a long way to go.
As the son of a roofer and the founder of two roofing companies, Ken Hendricks had always found dealing with roofing distributors frustrating. He couldn’t find one business that could meet all of his needs, and the level of service he and his father received was often poor. Seeing a chance to succeed in a highly fragmented industry, he decided to go into the distribution business himself. In 1982, he formed American Builders and Contractors Supply with the ultimate goal of creating a nationwide chain of one-stop shops for roofing professionals that would thrive by delivering the type of customer service he and his father never received.
St. John the Evangelist Church in Greece, New York, is a uniquely designed building that features two rooftops - a lower-level roof that covers the main entrance and an upper-level roof that sits atop the church’s large sanctuary. Both rooftops wrap around a central tower that extends high into the air, but the lower roof is low-sloped while the upper one is drastically steeper.
“No!” This word stands between you and everything you want. No wonder it is such a tough word to hear. But if you are going to survive in this industry, you are going to have to learn to hear the word “no” for an answer!
I’m not being pessimistic. The truth is that if you can hear “no” and not go home and put your head under your pillow, you will make it to the next “yes!” Everything is sales, my friend. To get good at sales, you need to get comfortable with “no.”
As Fletcher-owned DECRA Roofing Systems Inc. commemorates its 50th anniversary in 2007, the company has plenty to celebrate. Sales of DECRA’s stone coated steel roofing products are on the upswing, keeping folks busy at the company’s 104,000-square-foot UL registered ISO 9001:2000 manufacturing facility in Corona, Calif. The company recently opened a brand-new Indianapolis warehouse and moved its Arlington, Texas, warehouse to expanded facilities last October.
Asphalt represents a significant investment on the part of contractors and manufacturers. Beyond equipment and infrastructure, the attachment to asphalt is almost emotional because it has served its calling so well and done it with such longevity. Its versatility and dominance may be unmatched in the roofing business. From self-adhered underlayments to mineral surfaced cap sheets, asphalt can be found in just about any layer of a roofing system, and companies continue to spread the word about its benefits.
Automation Alley was established in 1998 to bring together Southeast Michigan businesses, educators and government officials. Its goal is to accelerate commercialization of new technologies and services for its 680 member organizations. In the fall of 2004, Automation Alley opened its new 11,000-square-foot headquarters in the Detroit suburb of Troy, Mich. Housing a Technology Center, International Business Center and the Great Lakes Interactive Marketing Association, the structure is visited by over 500 business owners, facility managers and residential consumers every month.
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