Articles by Tom Watts

I hope you had the opportunity to attend the Midwest Roofing Contractor’s Association (MRCA) National Conference Nov. 12-14 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center near Dallas. Not only was the venue the most beautiful resort you will ever be in; the hospitality offered by the MRCA staff was near flawless.

The MRCA’s motto is: A Commitment to Education is a Commitment to Your Company’s Future.” So it was no surprise that the estimated 1,000 people in attendance were treated to an array of educational programs and a trade floor full of the newest products in the roofing industry, including the continued push of advertising for “green” products.

No matter whom you talk to about a potential roofing project, underlayments are sure to be a big part of the conversation.

A trusted provider of malls, a genuine supporter of educational facilities, and a reliable booster of automotive plants, Royal Roofing Co. Inc. of Orion, Mich., clearly understands the importance of properly installing commercial roof systems.

The commitment to safety at Belcher Roofing Corporation runs from top to bottom. The Montgomeryville, Pa.-based company, which performs commercial and industrial work, has made a commitment to its employees to continually improve existing safety programs and create a safer working environment.

The current state of underlayments could be summed up in three words, “better than ever,” according to Tom Metoxen, Manager of Technical and Warranty Services for Carlisle Residential.

We are living in a time where Web sites and blogging is the way to communicate. How many stories do we read each day telling us that a certain company has upgraded its Web site or started a blog?

A prerequisite for installing a new roof on a Lapeer, Mich., church with a 24/12 pitch was that the finished product had to be spectacular, according to Ron Turkus, president of Roof Technologies Inc.

As the United States becomes more ecology conscious, Prospect Waterproofing Co. of Sterling, Va., is keeping up with advancements in green technology and securing its position as a leader in the installation and maintenance of vegetated roofs.

Contractors learn about installing shingles from a variety of sources, including on-the-job training, apprenticeship programs, manufacturer-sponsored seminars and educational opportunities at industry trade shows.