The craft work you do requires paying attention to hundreds of little details. Nobody’s perfect, but competent contracting companies make relatively few mistakes when it comes to working with the tools of their trade. What’s more likely to go wrong are communications breakdowns that lead to problems in the field.
Through the years I have discussed the need to raise prices and that setting too low of a price is the No. 1 cause of contactor failure. In tighter economic times, maintaining margins is more important than ever. A slower housing market, less rain and an overall change in consumer buying attitudes can cause contactors to panic and slash prices. Such random cutting of prices can lead to financial suicide.
Tile roof application is prominent in residential construction in the Southeast and Southwest regions of the United States. Tiles provide significant advantages on steep-slope applications. They provide distinctive architectural aesthetics because of their color, texture and the play of light and shadow. They are naturally fire-resistant. Other distinct advantages include durability and longevity. They are able to withstand harsh environments and, when properly maintained, could provide 50 to 100 years of service life.
Perhaps no aspect of the sales process has been more misunderstood than the skills of “closing.” The word itself implies an end to the process when, in reality, it should signify the beginning of a relationship. Closing is “opening,” and the process of successfully closing a sale need not be mysterious nor as combative as many salespeople have been taught in their careers.
Ken Hendricks, perhaps more than any of the upper-echelon leaders in the roofing industry, really knew, respected and understood the roofing contractor. He was one. He never forgot where he came from and never veered from his vision to do the very best he could for the people in the industry that he grew up in and loved. His perspective was at once crystal clear and unique - truly one of a kind.
When properly applied, coatings can provide significant advantages to a roof system. Coatings have been documented to expand the service life of existing roofs, improve a building’s energy efficiency, resist degradation from chemicals and ultraviolet radiation and eliminate the formation of small cracks associated with these degenerative conditions. Improper coating application leads to premature coating failures, which could lead to the demise of the roof system.
The late 1990s were the best time ever for the airline industry. Seats were packed elbow-to-elbow and the airlines made more money than ever before. United Airlines, then the nation’s biggest carrier, saw its stock price jet to more than $125 a share. United’s biggest hub is in my hometown of Chicago. They go almost everywhere out of O’Hare Airport and their fares are usually among the lowest, so I fly them a lot. What I remember most about traveling in that prosperous era was the rudeness and arrogance of United employees.
Rule No. 1 in the roofing business - We don’t put new roofs on houses, we put roofs on homes. There is a big difference between a house and a home. A house is a project, a physical entity, which is built and remodeled according to schedules with ladders, scaffolds and materials. A home is a place that neighbors admire and where families raise their children. Adhere to Rule No. 1 and you will already have distinguished yourself from the competition.
Company leaders consistently tell me that their No. 1 priority is safety. For the most part, I believe this is the case. This being said, the reality is that our safety talks to Latinos very frequently fall short of the level of importance and priority we affirm. I would like to help you with your safety talks with Latinos. I am speaking specifically here about the presentation of the actual safety talks. There are three key words that will point the way as it relates to delivering information on the subject of safety. They are clear, consistent and compelling.
One indicator of a contractor’s success is the literal allocation of safety liability on the multi-employer jobsite, either through contract language or on-site practices. Ignoring these hidden liability traps during bidding and contract negotiation has landed many contractors in court without much of a clue as to why they’re there. When it comes to multi-employer projects, pay attention or pay up.
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