Roofing Contractor articles from July 2003

Roofing Contractor archives from July 2003

Editor's note.
July 1, 2003... Of all the various and sundry proposals floated in this column, this one will probably be dead on arrival. But I'm going to make it anyway, because we need to do something about shingle sample boards. Not to trivialize my own suggestion, it...

Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities. (Industry News).(conference)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The first North American Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities conference was held May 29-30, 2003. There were more than 30 exhibitors and nearly 500 people attended, almost twice the number expected. Sponsored by Green Roofs for...

RCMA introduces metal Tech Note. (Industry News).(Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association, Washington, D.C., announced the release and availability of its newest Tech Note on the subject of metal roofing. The new RCMA Tech Note has been published by the RCMA as a part of the continuing...

U.S. Tile celebrates 30-year anniversary. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... U.S. Tile, Corona, Calif., is celebrating its 30-year anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, the company has developed a CD demonstrating the company's national growth and quality roofing products through the past 30 years. The CD is...

Atas celebrates 40 years. (Industry News).(ATAS International Inc., )(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... ATAS International Inc., Allentown, Pa., is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Second generation owners and brothers Dick and Jim Bus continue to advance the company, just as their parents did four decades ago. An immigrant from...

Firestone expands manufacturing. (Industry News).(Firestone Building Products)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Firestone Building Products, Carmel, Ind., recently announced plans to increase investments in polyiso insulation and roofing accessory manufacturing capabilities. This year, the company will open two new plants and expand four of its 13...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2003... In the May issue, we listed the wrong dimensions for the new GenFlex Peel&Stick TPO products. The article should have stated that the TPO membrane is 37.5 inches wide, the curb flashing is 18.75 inches wide and the seam tape is 3 inches wide....

NRF elects new officers. (NRCA News).(National Roofing Foundation)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The National Roofing Foundation, Rosemont, Ill., recently elected new officers during its board of trustees meeting in Thcson, Ariz. Terms began June 1. Nelson Braddy, president of King of Texas Roofing Co., Grand Prairie, Texas, was...

NRCA releases Annual Market Survey. (NRCA News).(National Roofing Contractors' Association)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... NRCA has released the 2002-2003 Annual Market Survey exclusively on CD-ROM. The survey provides statistics and information about the roofing market, including commercial and residential roofing activity, roofing material usage, regional...

Tips to improve your business. (Measuring Up).
July 1, 2003... Question: For years, I did a lot of new construction. I grew tired of getting beat up on price, so I decided to diversify and do more work directly with homeowners. While the company is more diversified now, I do get frustrated with the cost of...

Litter vs. Glitter. (Smart Business).(roofing industry)
July 1, 2003... Last March, during my fifth trip to Germany, litter made the deepest impression. Discarded trash lined both sides of a two-lane country road for some 60 kilometers as our tour bus headed to a factory in the little hamlet of Grossheringen, in...

Metal roofing: penetrations and flashings. (Technical Details).
July 1, 2003... In all roofing systems, installation of flashings and penetrations are the most critical points of application. These areas typically account for nearly 80 percent of all reported roof leaks. Flashings and penetrations are particularly critical...

Metal roofing fall protection. (Safety Advice).
July 1, 2003... Regardless of how many workers are trained in safe work practices and increased improvements in fall protection equipment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports annually that fatal falls account for around 33 percent of construction fatalities...

Made to order.(metal roofing)
July 1, 2003... More than any other trade, roofers deal with a wide variety of materials. Venerable building components are mixed with the latest polymers on many roofs, while even the most advanced glass, steel and concrete would be recognizable to any...

Project profile: Mulgrave School.(roofing; Dekra Shakes)
July 1, 2003... Mulgrave School boasts one of the finest views of any learning institution in Vancouver, British Columbia. The 9,000-square-meter school sits nestled into a slope at the base of Cypress Mountain, overlooking the Lower Mainland with a view that...

Do you know where your employees are? The benefits of vehicle tracking systems.(roofing industry)
July 1, 2003... If you were the boss of any sort of non-roofing-related company like, say, the software-engineering firm in the movie Office Space, then you would be able to closely monitor your employees. You could see when they arrived, tell when they took...

Quickbooks Premier: Contractor Edition 2003. .
July 1, 2003... I begin this article by pleading guilty of being a longtime user of software produced by software vendor Intuit for all, of my personal and freelance business accounting. Diane Hageman of Greg's Roofing Inc., Ormond Beach, Fla., first...

Product profile: wireless technology.(Nextel Corp.)
July 1, 2003... Nothing is as valuable to-a construction company than the ability to communicate instantly with its mobile employees, suppliers, contractors and even customers. Today, most in the construction industry turn to a wireless phone to accomplish...

Product spotlight: GenFlex Roofing Systems.
July 1, 2003... There is definitely something new and innovative happening at GenFlex Roofing Systems, Maumee, Ohio. The company, which offers EPDM, TPO and PVC, has just introduced the industry's first peel-and-stick TPO. The membrane comes with a pre-applied...

Energy Star shingles. (New Products).(GAF Materials Corp.)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2003... GAF Materials Corp., Wayne, N.J., announces that its shingle product lines (Sovereign Series three-tabs, and Timberline Series laminates) have received the EnergyStar label on white shingles. These products exceed the requirements set by the...

Prepainted metal. (New Products).(Follansbee Steel)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2003... Follansbee Steel, Follansbee, W.Va., introduces a prepainted roofing metal called KlassicKolors. Available in 22 designer colors, the product is prepainted with Valspar's Floropon SR solar reflective paint coatings. The coatings will give the...

Gutter insert. (New Products).(Advertisement)
July 1, 2003... Rain Flow LLC, St. Clair Shores, Mich., offers Rain Flow, a new solution for clogged gutters. Made from recycled plastic milk containers, the product fills the gutter with a porous, synthetic fiber material. Shingle grit and other tiny bits of...

USA ladders. (New Products).(Advertisement)
July 1, 2003... Werner Co., Greenville, Pa., recently announced the launch of the FiberGraphix Technology Series for use across a variety of duty ratings. To inaugurate the series, the company is rolling out a new USA-themed red, white and blue ladder....

Cordess impact drivers. (New Products).(DeWalt)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2003... DeWalt, Baltimore, has introduced a new line of 9.6-, 12-, and 14.4-volt cordless impact drivers and impact wrenches. They deliver nearly three times more torque than traditional cordless drills, while measuring up to 35 percent shorter and...

Metal retrofit. (New Products).(Duro-Last[R] Roofing Inc.)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2003... Duro-Last[R] Roofing Inc., Saginaw, Mich., offers Duro-Shield[TM] roofing for metal retrofit. The prefabricated, single-ply system can be installed right over an existing metal roof without an expensive tear-off. It is a cost-effective,...

Application manual. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... CertainTeed Corp., Valley Forge, Pa., unveils the all-new sixth edition of the Shingle Applicator's Manual (SAM), fully illustrated and containing the most up-to-date information on shingle roofing installation. The manual features application...

Rolling scaffold. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Waco Scaffolding and Equipment, Cleveland, announces the market introduction of Quik-Scaf, a new manually propelled rolling scaffold. The new tower provides fast, versatile access for a wide range of applications and features all- steel...

Rooftop pipe support. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... The Rubber Triangle Co., Twinsburg, Ohio, introduces the Rubber Triangle rooftop pipe support. Made of EPDM, this device is impervious to weather and can handle pipe sizes from 3/4 to 2 inches. With special ordering, the product can accommodate...

Algae-Resistant Roofing System. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... 3M Industrial Mineral Products Division, St. Paul, Minn., offers a technical solution to the roof algae problem. When Scotchgard Algae Resistant Roofing System is uniformly distributed across the surface of the shingle in combination with...

Lift truck. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Combilift, Cleveland, has introduced the C8000 long-load-handling lift truck. The C8000 is an 8,000-pound capacity, four-directional vehicle with an LP gas engine. A low-profile load platform ensures load stability during travel in rough yards...

Polyglass, Fernley, Nev., offers an online specification tool called Polyglass Spec Generator. (Software Focus).
July 1, 2003... Polyglass, Fernley, Nev., offers an online specification tool called Polyglass Spec Generator. Located at www.polyglass.com, the program offers a service that enables specification writers the ability to create specifications online by filling...

Stevens Roofing Systems, Holyoke, Mass., announced two new technology-based services. (Software Focus).
July 1, 2003... Stevens Roofing Systems, Holyoke, Mass., announced two new technology-based services. Stevens CAD is a computer-aided design program developed exclusively for Authorized Stevens Applicators. The program allows contractors to turn rough sketches...

Digital Facilities Corp., Acton, Mass., announced the release of Version 3.0 of InfoRoof Professional, the company's asset-management program. (Software Focus).
July 1, 2003... Digital Facilities Corp., Acton, Mass., announced the release of Version 3.0 of InfoRoof Professional, the company's asset-management program. The program's enhancements include a new, faster database engine; an InfoRoof Wizard that automates...

True North Estimating Systems Ltd., Toronto, offers software exclusively for the roofing industry. (Software Focus).
July 1, 2003... Since 1989, True North Estimating Systems Ltd., Toronto, offers software exclusively for the roofing industry. RoofWareEstimating[TM] creates roof estimates complete with materials, labor, other expenses, markup, overhead and more. RoofCAD[TM]...

SI Systems, Clearwater, Fla., offers SI 2003 job costing, accounting and service software. (Software Focus).
July 1, 2003... SI Systems, Clearwater, Fla., offers SI 2003 job costing, accounting and service software. The system has all of the features and functionality a roofing contractor requires: detailed job costing with "explore down features" on screen, service...

CertainTeed, Valley Forge, Pa., offers RoofWrite Proposal Software. (Software Focus).
July 1, 2003... CertainTeed, Valley Forge, Pa., offers RoofWrite Proposal Software. The program enables the contractor to customize proposals, adding company logos, digital photos, etc., and to incorporate CertainTeed specifications, technical data sheets and...

Quality One, Pasadena, Calif., offers Sales Development System 4.0, a contact management tool to help simplify sales and marketing. (Software Focus).
July 1, 2003... Quality One, Pasadena, Calif., offers Sales Development System 4.0, a contact management tool to help simplify sales and marketing. Complete, ready-to-use, pre-written templates can be customized to an individual business. The software produces...

Advanced Estimating Systems Inc., Delray Beach, Fla., has released The Edge Estimator Version 8. (Software Focus).
July 1, 2003... Advanced Estimating Systems Inc., Delray Beach, Fla., has released The Edge Estimator Version 8. The program has been rewritten to ensure that a contractor can be up and running in two days. The database is ready to go from day one. For...

AppliCad USA Inc., Jupiter, Fla., introduces the Tablet PC with AppliCad software. (Software Focus).
July 1, 2003... AppliCad USA Inc., Jupiter, Fla., introduces the Tablet PC with AppliCad software. The hardware comes as two separate units. The PC is small and lightweight enough to carry or it can be left safely stowed in a vehicle. The LCD tablet screen...

The Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, Alexandria, Va., and the National Roofing Contractors Association, Rosemont, Ill., offer RoofWise Version 2.0. (Software Focus).
July 1, 2003... The Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, Alexandria, Va., and the National Roofing Contractors Association, Rosemont, Ill., offer RoofWise Version 2.0, an interactive software application that provides a graphical method for...

Computer Ease Corp., Cincinnati, announced the availability of its new ComputerEase accounting and management software demonstration CD-ROM for Version 3.0. (Software Focus).
July 1, 2003... Computer Ease Corp., Cincinnati, announced the availability of its new ComputerEase accounting and management software demonstration CD-ROM for Version 3.0. Featuring on-the-job perspectives by company management and other key personnel, the CD...

CMSN, Hyannis, Mass., offers eJOBBID +, a complete management system for product-based installation companies. (Software Focus).
July 1, 2003... CMSN, Hyannis, Mass., offers eJOBBID +, a complete management system for product-based installation companies; and FieldPAK, a TabletPC-based estimating and proposal generation that downloads into eJOBBID +. The system allows you to estimate...

GAF Materials Corp., Wayne, N.J., offers the Smart Choice[R] Solutions CD, containing packages of cutting-edge business building tools for certified contractors. (Software Focus).
July 1, 2003... GAF Materials Corp., Wayne, N.J., offers the Smart Choice[R] Solutions CD, containing packages of cutting-edge business building tools for certified contractors. The standard package offers "Smart Visions," a software program that enables...

Englert Inc., Perth Amboy, N.J., announced appointments in its Denver office. (People).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Englert Inc., Perth Amboy, N.J., announced appointments in its Denver office. Ken McLauchlan has been promoted from Denver branch manager to Western regional manager. He is responsible for sales and customer service for 15 Western states...

Malarkey Roofing Products, Portland, Ore., announced the addition of several new team members. (People).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Malarkey Roofing Products, Portland, Ore., announced the addition of several new team members. In the sales division, Andy Pocock has been recruited as regional sales manager, Southern California. Pocock has extensive management experience and...

Terry Aten, RRC, has joined Dalco Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., Plymouth, Minn., as vice president, Roof Services. (People).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Terry Aten, RRC, has joined Dalco Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., Plymouth, Minn., as vice president, Roof Services. He will be responsible for corporate marketing, sales and managing the firm's service department, including roof maintenance...

CARE, The Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence, Wayne, N.J., announced the addition of John Arellano as its new national Spanish-speaking training manager. (People).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... CARE, The Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence, Wayne, N.J., announced the addition of John Arellano as its new national Spanish-speaking training manager. Arellano will be training Spanish-speaking crews and foremen nationwide on...

Members of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers Local 210, Erie, Pa., recently completed an intensive training program provided by The Garland Co. Inc., Cleveland. (People).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Members of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers Local 210, Erie, Pa., recently completed an intensive training program provided by The Garland Co. Inc., Cleveland. The all-day session included instruction in lab, plant...

Donald J. Ambrose has joined the Johns Manville Roofing Systems Group as Eastern region sales manager. (People).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Donald J. Ambrose has joined the Johns Manville Roofing Systems Group as Eastern region sales manager. In this capacity, Ambrose will be responsible for roofing system product and system sales from Maine to Florida, as well as Puerto Rico. He...