Category: <span>Roofing</span>

Category: Roofing

Roofing Technology Think Tank Announces Innovator of the Year

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Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), a group of progressive roofing professionals focused on technology solutions for the roofing industry, awarded the Innovator of the Year award to Curtis Sutton of Carthage, Tennessee-based Rackley Roofing. The award was presented at the 2019 Best of Success Conference in Miami.

“We had many great nominations and it was very hard to narrow the field down to just one,” stated Anna Anderson, Award Task Team Leader and RT3 Board Member. “We selected Rackley Roofing because they embrace technology and have demonstrated that they are early adopters when it comes to implementing new innovations.”

In an interview after the presentation, Reid Ribble commented on the importance of innovation in roofing, saying, “Given the workforce demands and the changing technology, the companies that are innovating are going to be winning. Innovation really matters if we are going to reach out to that new, young 18-, 19- or 20-year old worker who still sees roofing as something hot and dirty and not something technologically advanced.”

Curtis Sutton, President of Rackley Roofing commented on winning the award, “It’s an honor because innovation is one of our six core values. Innovation is driven in our company. Innovation to us also means being open to change. We lead everything with technology in the decisions we make in our company.”

Sutton brings a respect for the traditional craftsmanship of a professional roofer and passion for the latest technological innovations. Under his leadership, Rackley has introduced industry-leading technologies like Rackley RoofCheck and Rackley RoofView. They have implemented the use of virtual reality safety headsets that allow everyone to experience being on a roof and learn best safety practices. The company is beginning the use of in-ear translators that can translate speech into any language and dialect.

As a founding sponsor of National Women in Roofing and a member of RT3, the company is committed to always innovating and learning about new technologies and solutions that will help advance the roofing industry overall.

About Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)
Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) strives to find innovative technology solutions to be used within the roofing industry. RT3 provides insights from progressive thought leaders both inside and outside the roofing industry along with practical resources for implementing potential solutions successfully. The organization will encourage and enable contractors to embrace technology as they seek to grow their businesses. With a commitment to disseminate technology advancement information, RT3 will help build the professionalism and appeal of the roofing industry. Learn more at www.rt3thinktank.com.

Photo: (L-R) Jill Bloom, Publisher, Roofing Contractor; Michelle Boykin, COO, Rackley Roofing; Curtis Sutton, President, Rackley Roofing, Anna Anderson, CEO, Art Unlimited; Charles Antis, CEO, Antis Roofing.

RT3 Members present and receive recognition at Best of Success Conference

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By Karen L. Edwards, RT3.

RT3 is made up of progressive, forward-thinking roofing industry thought leaders who are passionate about the advancement of the roofing industry. They frequently use their own time and expenses to travel to conferences to present and share their knowledge to help improve the industry overall.

In its 15th year, the Best of Success Conference is an intensive two-day conference that presents new and improved ways to run roofing businesses for both commercial and residential applications. We were excited to have RT3 member Jill Bloom from BNP Media as the conference host as well as eight members on the stage throughout the event, sharing their knowledge and experiences.

Presentations from members included:

  • Doing Well by Doing Good – Charles Antis, CEO & Founder of Antis Roofing & Waterproofing
  • From Google to Approval – Anna Anderson, CEO, Art Unlimited and Ryan Groth, Founder & CEO of Sales Transformation Group
  • Smart Growth: avoiding the Legal Pitfalls when Scaling Your Company – Trent Cotney, Cotney Construction Law
  • Your Image and the Power of Marketing – Victor Smolyanov, CEO/Owner, Victor’s Roofing
  • Panel: Career Wins and Losses – featured panelists included Steve Little, President/Head Coach, KPost Company and Gregg Wallick, President & CEO, Best Roofing

Roofing Contractor Magazine’s Roofing Contractor of the Year was awarded to RT3 member Ken Kelly and his company, Kelly Roofing. The Contractor of the Year award is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement that honors contractors who are committed to giving back to their community, have outstanding leadership, and bring innovation to the industry.

The RT3 Innovator of the Year inaugural award was awarded to RT3 members Curtis Sutton and Michelle Boykin of Rackley Roofing. This award was created to nationally recognize a Roofing Contractor that has contributed to the advancement of the roofing industry through technical innovation and/or product development.

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RT3 member Ken Kelly named Top Contractor of the Year

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Kelly Roofing, a roofing contractor dedicated to serving their industry and state with care, consistency, and communication, received recognition as a Top Contractor of the Year by Roofing Contractor Magazine.

“Ken has a great roofing story, from being thrust into leadership at such a young age to navigating a family business through ups and downs over decades,” said Roofing Contractor Publisher Jill Bloom. “But beyond his business success, he’s the kind of guy you want to surround yourself with because he’s organized, motivating, and inspirational.”

Roofing Contractor Magazine awarded Ken Kelly, President of Kelly Roofing, the 2019 Residential Contractor of the Year award at this year’s Best of Success conference in Miami, Florida, on September 16. The Contractor of the Year award is a once in a lifetime achievement that honors contractors who are committed to giving back to their community, have outstanding leadership, and bring innovation to the industry.

Every August, Roofing Contractor Magazine compiles The Top 100 Roofing Contractors list comprised of the most successful roofing companies in America. This list has been compiled yearly for more than a decade. The rankings are based on self-reported revenue from roofing contractors in all fields across the United States. These companies also share their reasons for improvements — or failures — to help others become more successful. Out of this list, Roofing Contractor Magazine selects the top Residential and Commercial Contractor of the Year.

Kelly Roofing’s commitment to outstanding workmanship, raising leaders within the company, and using cutting edge technology has put them at the national forefront. By combining old-world values and cutting-edge technology, Kelly Roofing has earned recognition as an innovator in the roofing industry. They have been awarded the 2015 Visionary Award at Microsoft Convergence and have the distinction of being on the Top 100 Contractors list yearly since 2003, continually rising in the ranks to now sit at 52.

About Kelly Roofing

Kelly Roofing is a family-owned company, serving Naples and the surrounding areas since 1972. Serving residential and commercial property owners with customer-forward thinking has been their goal from day one. Kelly Roofing has consistently made the Top 100 contractor list since 2003, demonstrating their customers appreciate their dedication to offering only the highest quality products. All Kelly Roofing employees live by the core values of Care, Communicate, and Consistency, allowing them to provide outstanding workmanship using the most advanced methods. To learn more about Kelly Roofing, go to
www.kellyroofing.com .

 

Fighting the labor shortage means a dedicated recruiting program for this contractor

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By Karen L. Edwards, RT3.

The roofing industry and the trades in general are facing a labor shortage of epic proportions and it doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon. When the recession of 2008 hit, the construction industry lost 600,000 jobs. According to GlobeSt.com a recent report from the Associated General Contractors of America shows that 79% of construction companies want to hire more employees this year, but the industry is only estimated to grow its workforce by .5% annually for the next 10 years. This means competition for workers is fierce.

Developing a hiring pipeline.

Baker Roofing, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, has implemented an aggressive program to recruit the labor they need. Brendan Hale, regional operations officer and former director of career development and recruiting explained that they had to shift their approach to recruiting. “We used to only advertise when we had open positions,” explained Hale. That method turned out to be challenging and they recognized that they needed to try something different. Like a sales pipeline, they realized they needed to create a hiring pipeline in order to have a pool of candidates in the funnel when positions opened.

To build that pipeline, the company increased their online activities. “We’ve got a heavy presence online through social media, staying on top of the latest trends,” said Hale. “We are on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Snapchat with the goal of publishing content that could be of interest to younger people.”

Baker Roofing maintains a strong presence on job boards too, with hiring ads rolling throughout the country to create awareness of their company and the opportunities. They also rely heavily on word-of-mouth from current employees, friends and family. These referrals are important for the company. “People choose to come here because they have confidence in the types of people who work here,” stated Hale.

Partnering with local schools and colleges.

“We do a lot of outreach with local high schools, especially in Raleigh,” explained Hale. “We sponsor Shed Day where all throughout the state, the trade classes build these sheds that they auction off and our head of recruiting is on the board. We donate time, materials, and money and talk to the kids broadly about construction but more specifically about a career at Baker Roofing.”

Hale said the company tries to have a corporate presence throughout the schools in their service areas and assists the local offices with building the relationships when they can. “We’re a big company with 22 offices. Right now, we’ve got a presence in the high schools in Charleston, SC, Raleigh, NC, Asheville, NC and Richmond, VA. Every year we try to grow that a little bit with the staff that we have and the resources we have.”

Baker Roofing is a big believer in internships for college students hiring interns throughout the company in accounting, recruiting, construction management and estimating. The students work for Baker Roofing over school breaks and the company has programs in place where if they are interested, they can be hired full time.

“We are a growing company and we know that people are your most precious resource; if they spent the time with us and we feel they have the right cultural expectations, morals and ethics we can typically find a spot for them here,” stated Hale.

Veterans are a resource for recruitment

Baker Roofing has also turned to the pool of veterans who are looking for work after leaving the service and reserves. “We have a large number of our employees who are veterans,” said Hale. “We have a registered apprenticeship program so we try to appeal to veterans where they can get started with us, learn the industry from the ground up and utilize their GI Bill benefits.”

When Baker Roofing hires a veteran and places them into the registered apprenticeship program, the veterans can receive money from their GI benefits in addition to the paycheck that they are receiving as a Baker Roofing employee. “As they are getting promotions and moving up within the company, the GI benefit begins to taper off. By the time they complete the three-year program, the idea is that they would be on their feet in a stable and long-term position,” explained Hale.

Starting a strong recruitment program

Hale says it’s tough to share advice on how to start and build a strong recruitment program because there isn’t one simple answer. “For smaller contractors it’s going to be harder. There isn’t a silver bullet out there that will solve all the problems,” said Hale. “It takes a variety of strategies. For a smaller contractor who may have a smaller team, it’s difficult to assign these kinds of tasks to someone who already has a FT job doing something else.”

“Ideally if a company has the capability, they need a champion who does this, and it needs to be their full-time focus. In order to sustain it someone has to constantly be working on it and thinking about it,” stated Hale.

Benefits are important too. Hale says that Baker Roofing employees have access to company benefits including health insurance, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, a 401K that offers a match. They also offer a clear guide for employees, so they understand what it takes to advance within their career, and they understand what the opportunities are within the company.

If a contractor doesn’t have the manpower or resources to do it on their own, it’s possible to get involved with the many other organizations who are already looking at recruiting into the trades. SkillsUSA and Keep Craft Alive are two initiatives that may offer an opportunity for a roofing contractor or someone on the team to volunteer and help introduce the youth involved to the idea of a career in roofing.

Another area to think about tapping into for recruiting is the female workforce. There are a very small number of women in the roofing industry and National Women in Roofing wants to change that. They recently surpassed 1200 members and one of their efforts is the recruitment of women into the industry. They are exploring initiatives that partner with organizations serving women in crisis to help those women get back on their feet and show them what a career in roofing could be like for them.

Slip on a steep roof leads inventor to build remote inspection robot

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By Karen L. Edwards, RT3.

When Mike Slawinski was living in Atlanta, a friend of his asked him to help do some roof inspections. Mike wasn’t a fan of heights but agreed to help. They were in a subdivision that featured multimillion-dollar, large homes with very steep roofs.

“I got up on the front of the house and went over to back side, which was four stories because it was a drop-off lot, and I started sliding down the roof,” Mike explained. “In my mind I got to two feet from the edge and there was a concrete patio down below. In reality, I was probably more like 20 feet from the edge. I scrambled over to a valley and got off that roof, swearing I’d never get on another roof again.”

Being an inventor and innovator, Mike decided to try out some tools and technologies that he might be able to use for completing roof inspections from the ground. Nothing he tried worked so he found a partner to do the coding and created the Roof Rover, a robotic roof inspection device. The first model that they developed was bulky, weighing 25 pounds and wasn’t easy to get on the roof. He waited a few years and as technology improved, he developed the model that is available today.

The new robot weighs six pounds and is equipped with sensors and two cameras – one is very high-resolution inspection camera and another camera is used for driving. “The way you use the robot is typically by just moving the cameras around,” said Mike. “The cameras move and record from up to 60 – 80 feet away, so you just move the cameras and scan the surfaces. If I see anything of interest, I can drive over there and take a closer look.”

The robot is equipped with lasers that can measure within one millimeter or less than the thickness of a penny. It can measure thickness of shingles and even distinguish between a blister and hail dent. An accelerometer measures pitch and roll of the roof and the optical encoders allow for measurements while driving within a fraction of an inch. Edge detection sensors keep it from rolling off the edge of the roof.

“It has a surface temperature gauge on the bottom, and I can tell you that when I was using it in Atlanta, we recorded two temperatures of 250 degree on the roof,” explained Mike.

The Rover uses a 22-foot telescoping pole that raises it to the roof. A platform attaches to the gutter allowing the robot to drive on and off the roof. The rover is operated using a windows tablet and a joystick and a 40-square roof can be inspected in less than 20 minutes.

The robot requires little to no maintenance. The treads will need to be replaced every three to four months and it’s a good idea to keep a second rechargeable battery on hand so they can be swapped out. The Roof Rover includes the Windows tablet and controller and is easy to learn how to use – just watch a 15-minute video and the operator is ready to begin inspecting.

This is an excellent example of introducing technology onto the rooftop that doesn’t replace a worker, it just changes what that worker does and keeps them safer.

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How technology is improving safety conditions for roofers

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By Kate Foster, AccuLynx.

Construction sites can be dangerous. The hot sun, large machines and high surfaces all combine to create a potentially hazardous environment. Luckily, advancing technology is providing roofing companies with numerous tools to improve safety conditions for their crews. Everything from virtual reality to slip and fall sensors, technology is changing the way roofers conduct business.

Here are some of the types of technology that is helping keep roofers safe.

Augmented and Virtual Reality

While augmented and virtual reality are not new inventions, their use in the roofing industry is more recent. Augmented reality allows roofing contractors to create detailed safety plans and impose them directly over the layout of the construction site so that they are accurate and easily understood. Augmented reality is also useful for training. Employees can be trained on real sites with augmented hazards, so that real life experience can be gained without the danger element.

Another application of augmented reality is to help with gathering aerial measurements. No need to get up on the roof and risk a slip or fall when you can take measurements from the ground. This ability to take measurements without being up on the roof improves safety greatly, as the risk of falling is cut down to zero.

Virtual reality also improves safety conditions for roofers. Virtual reality has been used for training across all fields, from the military to the medical field, and can be used for roofing as well. Employees can be safely trained to perform skills such as operating heavy machinery without the risk of potentially dangerous mistakes.

Wearable Technology

Another way technology is improving safety conditions for roofers is through wearable technology, or wearables. Wearables can be built into PPE safety equipment that is already used on the jobsite, such as construction helmets or vests, making it an easy element to add to your safety protocol. Wearables can include useful technology including biometric devices, GPS or location trackers, voltage detectors, and slip and fall sensors.

Biometric devices can monitor respiratory rate, skin temperature, and heart rate, helping to identify fatigue and heat illness early. Biometrics can also be used to tell if someone is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or other substances that could stand as a risk on the jobsite.

GPS and location trackers can be used to provide a workers location if they have fallen and hurt themselves or passed out from heat illness. GPS and location trackers can also be used to designate certain areas as hazardous or restricted and sound alarms or notifications when a worker comes too close to the area. Voltage detectors can provide warning if an area is charged and unsafe to approach, helping workers avoid potential electric harm.

Slip and fall sensors are a particularly important component of wearables. The leading cause of death in construction is falling, so a sensor that can provide immediate notification that a worker has fallen is invaluable in the field. This rapid notification of the event combined with biometric information and GPS location can help make sure the injured worker can get quality help as quickly as possible. When used all together, the many applications of wearables combine to ensure roofers do not have to over-worry about safety while on the job.

Site Sensors

Site sensors are another way technology is improving safety conditions for roofers. Site sensors can be placed all around your construction site and provide you with valuable information about the environment. They can measure heat, noise levels, particulates in the air, and the presence of volatile or hazardous compounds. This information allows your crews to limit their exposure to harmful environments and remove themselves from a site that suddenly becomes unsafe.

Another benefit of site sensors is that they can ensure your worksite complies with OSHA regulations. This way you can be sure that your worksite is up to code and have the numbers to prove it.

Worksite safety should always be a priority. Technology has helped make it easier to keep your workers safe from harm, allowing them to be trained more easily, monitored, and notified of hazards. By implementing these technologies, you can provide precautions against injury and create a safe workplace for yourself and your crew.

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Source: AccuLynx. 

From military boots to Beacon Roofing Supply

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By Karen L. Edwards,

RT3 member Beacon Roofing Supply developed a recruitment strategy that focuses on members of the military who are re-entering civilian life.

Beacon Roofing Supply Senior Recruiter Brian Link came to the roofing industry from his role as a recruiter for the National Guard. He was on active duty from 2003 – 2016 and is still active today but on a reserve basis. He spent his last few active years as a recruiter for the Guard so his transition into a recruiting position at Beacon was a natural fit for him. He interviewed for his position at Beacon with Dana Bamvakais who was a military spouse for many years.

Photo: Above and Beyond Award from ESGR. Left to right: Dana Bamvakais (Vice President of HR West Division), Governor Mike Parsons, SFC (Sergeant First Class) Brian Link (Military Program Manager), 2LT (Second Lieutenant) Brian Hughes (Market Dispatcher)

After Brian joined the Beacon team, he and Dana began planning a program that would focus on recruiting newly discharged members of the military. “The military in general is a blue-collar type industry where you form strong relationships with people of similar backgrounds and experiences; people who work hard and do what it takes to get the job done,” Brian said. “When you leave the military, you miss that camaraderie.”

He knew that Beacon was the kind of company that could deliver some of those things that those in the military were used to having: that strong team, a stable company with the option to have a long career, the ability to provide for their families and an environment that cared about them. He and Dana worked together to develop the outlines of a military recruiting program that would target those transitioning to the civilian life.

They put together flyers that targeted the Transitional Assistance Program (TAPS) that all branches offer to those leaving to let them know there was a place for them at Beacon. The programs help the military members create a LinkedIn program, develop a resume and teaches other skills that will help make the transition smoother.

Brain cited an example of a person he had met two years previously who was in the military in Florida. He wanted to move back near his family in Michigan and Brian was able to find him a position with the company in that area.

The military recruitment program has the full support of the company, from the Board of Directors to the leadership team and to the employees.  They are currently in the process of trying to get their Drive program approved as an apprenticeship so that employees can use their GI benefits toward earning their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). “If someone has experience driving large vehicles in the military, they will be able to complete a form detailing their experience, taking it to their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles and only have to take the written portion of the CDL exam,” explained Brian.

It’s evident that Beacon is committed to supporting the military by the recognitions that they have received. The Employer Support of Guard and Reserve, the lead U.S. Defense Department program promoting cooperation and understanding between civilian employers and their National Guard and Reserve employees, recognized Beacon with their Above and Beyond Award with the Governor of Missouri presenting them with the award. They also recently received the Military Times award for Best for Vets.

“We really support our guard and reserve troops when they are deployed,” said Brian. “We send them care packages and let them know that they will have a job when they return from deployment.”

If you are a recently discharged member of the military or even if you’ve been out for many years, Beacon wants to talk to you. See all of their career opportunities or contact Brian Link at blink@becn.com.

Source: RoofersCoffeeShop.

RT3 member KPOST puts safety first at new Texas Rangers stadium

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By Karen L. Edwards.

With more than 2,000 workers on the project, the general contractor is requiring monthly safety meetings with RT3 member KPost Roofing and Waterproofing hosting the March meeting.

Groundbreaking for the new Globe Life Field was September 28, 2017. According to the Texas Rangers’ website, “the roof at Globe Life Field will be the first of its kind in baseball. With portions made of a transparent material, Rangers fans will enjoy outdoor ambience in air-conditioned comfort. The roof will retract in a matter of minutes, bringing the great outdoors to the ballpark experience.”

Nick Post, marketing and brand assistant at KPost Roofing and Waterproofing, told us that Manhattan Construction Group, the general contractor on the project has done a great job enforcing safety procedures and hosts a mandatory monthly safety meeting. “KPost was allowed the opportunity to run the monthly safety meeting because we were nominated as the Safe Contractor of the Month for the month of March,” said Post.

KPost’s Safety Director, Luciano Perez, and Director of Special Projects, Thomas Williams, were the speakers and they discussed distractions in the workplace such as cell phones, side conversations, music.

The new stadium is set to open for the 2020 baseball season. You can get more fun facts about this project at the Rangers website.

KPost is no stranger to working on large, complex projects. They opened their doors in January 2004 with a core group of eleven roofing professionals that together had more than 250 years of combined construction experience. Today the team consists of over 400 employees, including more than 60 specialized crews, totaling over 5,000 years of experience.

Since inception, KPost has completed over 1200 projects, valued at over $525+ million including high profile contracts such as the Perot Museum of Science and Nature, The Statler Dallas, JP Morgan Chase Headquarters, Facebook Data Center – Fort Worth, and AT&T Stadium. They have added more high caliber projects to the list this year in Charles Schwab Campus, Pioneer Natural Resources, and the Texas Rangers Stadium – Globe Life Field.

They are also the official roofing contractor of the Dallas Cowboys. The stadium will be the featured project for the Roofing Alliance’s student competition that is taking place at the International Roofing Expo held February 4-6, 2020 in Dallas.

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Source: RoofersCoffeeShop

Emerging smart roof technologies can work to combat climate change

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By Karen L. Edwards, RT3.

Cool roofs are often specified to reduce the urban heat island effect and help keep building interiors cooler in warm climates. But what about in cities that have cold winters? Reflective roofs don’t absorb heat so this could lead to colder interiors, increases in heating costs, and higher electricity consumption – not very friendly to the environment.

Our planet is getting warmer. This graph by NASA illustrates the “change in global surface temperature relative to 1951-1980 average temperatures. Eighteen of the 19 warmest years all have occurred since 2001, with the exception of 1998.”

The challenge of managing extreme climate change isn’t going away anytime soon, if the recent heatwave that gripped most of the country is any indication. Anchorage, Alaska hit 90 degrees for the first time in recorded history. New York City experienced a power outage in the middle of the heatwave leaving 50,000 without the ability to run their air conditioners.

So, what role can the roof play in climate change? A lot more than you might think, according to a recent article in Architect Magazine that discusses new smart roof technology that can adapt and respond to conditions. New York-based United Environment and Energy has developed a “bio-based thermochromic material that can selectively reflect and absorb solar heat.” Funded through a Department of Energy grant, the principal investigator, Ben Wen, coated asphalt shingles with a waste cooking oil substance that features an ingredient that makes it change color when it’s hot.

Another new technology was developed by scientists in Zurich that allows the roof surface to sweat similarly to human skin in order to cool the surface down. Once the target temperature of 90-degrees F is reached, a thermo-responsive gel releases stored water between a polycarbonate membrane and PVC foil, cooling the roof. Rain ‘recharges’ the cooling system.

In Portugal, researchers are focusing on roofing tile, which typically retains between 85 and 95 percent of the solar energy they receive. They have created smart ceramic tiles that use a material similar to that found in smart windows, that allows infrared light to pass through, but blocks it once the temperature goes above 120-degrees F.

Engineers at the University of Boulder evaluated smart roof technologies and published their findings in Science Direct. They evaluated whether a “potential solution to preserving high cooling load savings without accruing a large heating load penalty is to implement a switchable roof reflectance technology; allowing a low reflectance roof during the heating season and a high reflectance roof during the cooling season.”

These examples are just the tip of the iceberg. New technologies are emerging every day that will improve the performance of each and every building and home around the world. Expect to see some of these technologies on the rooftop in the very near future.

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