Roofing Contractor articles from March 2008

Roofing Contractor archives from March 2008

Value engineering.(Editor's Note)
March 1, 2008... The term "value engineering" is one I have heard spoken by commercial roofing contractors as long as I can remember. In this context it is a fairly straightforward process whereby a given design or specification for a roofing system is pulled...

Kesser named president of Stevens Roofing.(Industry News)
March 1, 2008... HOLYOKE, Mass. -- Peter A. Kesser was named president of Stevens Roofing & Geomembrane Systems. Michael L. Fulbright, chairman and CEO of JPS Industries Inc., in making the announcement said, "Peter brings a wide range of experience uniquely...

TRI offers contractors certification programs.(Industry News)
March 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Beginning this year, the Tile Roofing Institute (TRI) will expand its certification efforts by offering two separate one-day programs designed to meet the specific educational and professional development needs of its audience. The...

Englert and Soprema announce alliance.(Industry News)
March 1, 2008... LAS VEGAS -- Englert Inc. and SOPREMA Inc. (USA) have announced a strategic alliance to cross sell each other's product lines and to offer a single-source warranty that will cover all roofing systems sold and distributed by both companies. The...

3M Corona, Calif., plant is ISO 14001:2004 certified.(Industry News)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... ST. PAUL, Minn. -- 3M Industrial Mineral Products Division has long demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental health and safety (EHS) in its mining plant operations. In a very tangible demonstration of 3M Industrial Mineral Products...

ATAS founder passes away.(Obituary: Jacobus Bus)
March 1, 2008... Jacobus "Jack" P. Bus, founder of ATAS International Inc., died on Jan. 27, 2008. He was 80 years old. Before he entered the metal components industry, Jack served in the Dutch Army and fought in the Indonesian War. In 1951, he moved to...

Coolstar roofing products.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... CertainTeed Corp. introduces an energywise CoolStar[TM] reflectant surface for lowslope roofing that helps control energy consumption. The CoolStar technology was initially unveiled last fall on CertainTeed's Flintglas[R] Cap Sheet, but now...

Commercial roof ventilation at the eave.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... Metal-Era Inc. introduces the latest addition to the Metal-Era Airflow Solutions line: Hi-Perf Vented Fascia. The new product is designed to provide maximum airflow at the roof's eave by taking into consideration the unique demands of...

Combination protractor.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... Starrett's newest patented tool, the Starrett ProSite 5-in-1 Combination Protractor, has miter saw-specific scales and laser-engraved dials. It also features a quick reference guide to common roof pitches. The original ProSite Protractors have...

Cordless metal cutter.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... The Excalibur Model ECM 6114 Cordless Gen 3 Sheet Metal has been used extensively by roofing contractors in Australia for many years and is now available to the professional roofer for many cutting operations in and out of the shop. The...

Low-profile track system.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... Bird-B-Gone introduces Bird Jolt FlatTrack, a low-profile track system that emits a mild shock to birds as they land upon its surface. The shock will not harm birds, but will condition them to avoid the area. Bird Jolt Flat-Track can be used to...

Magnetic hex nut drivers.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... Klenk offers a magnetic nut driver with an adjustable shaft that lets contractors change the length of the shaft from 3 inches up to 6 inches. Pushbutton action releases the retractable shaft and locks it into position, allowing users to adjust...

Protective eyewear.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... Gateway Safety Inc. is introducing its new Luminary[TM] protective eyewear that is ultra-lightweight, making it more comfortable for all-day wear. Patent-pending translucent temple insets provide a new, stylish and comfortable look. Weighing...

Self-adhering membranes.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... The Garland Co. Inc. introduces its self-adhering (SA) roofing membranes. The new StressPly[R] SA roof system provides superior adhesive properties and exceptional tensile and tear strength, while offering a cost-effective and environmentally...

Heavy duty tether with tool hanger.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... Gear Keeper's[TM] unique and innovative, retractable gear attachment systems have continued to keep important items safely tethered and close at hand for those who work under dangerous and challenging on-the-job conditions. That's why the...

Shop shear and utility snip.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... Midwest Tool and Cutlery Company's new KNIFTI-CUT[TM] shop/electrician shear and utility snip is a compact, multipurpose snip that features needle-nose blades that provide ready access to confined areas and a full 2-inch cut length. Its compact...

Grating fasteners.(New Products)
March 1, 2008... With a full range of grating fasteners for steel bar grating applications, the innovative Hilti powder actuated and mechanical grating fasteners help save time and money while making your job easier. The new Hilti grating fasteners include the...

Mistakes can kill your business.(Smart Business)
March 1, 2008... 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...

Why cutting prices can be financial suicide.(Measuring Up)
March 1, 2008... 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...

Tile roof repair.(Technical Details)
March 1, 2008... 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...

Closing is incremental.(Leadership Selling)
March 1, 2008... 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...

Trailers on the jobsite, Part 1.(Safety Advice)
March 1, 2008... We can't work with them and we can't work without them. They're either twice as big as needed or just a foot too short. When they're full, they need to be emptied yesterday. When they're empty, it's time to hurry up and load them again. We...

Safety efforts can reduce your insurance costs.(Guest Column)
March 1, 2008... Given the danger inherent in the roofing industry as a whole, proper training and execution of best practices in safety should always be of paramount importance. Following best practices regarding safety procedures not only helps employees...

Beyond safety: Evans Roofing Company subsidiaries receive OSHA VPP award.
March 1, 2008... So you think you have a best-in-class safety program at your roofing company? No, you know your safety program is top-notch. You may have a good safety program, and you may even have a great safety program, but the bar has just been raised by...

Modified bitumen systems: proven, reliable and dependable, mod bit will survive.
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Polymer modified bitumen membranes have been utilized with great success all over the world for decades, and there's no reason to think things will change anytime soon, according to David Allen of BITEC Inc. "They...

Transformers metal machinery breaks the mold.
March 1, 2008... The versatility of today's metal forming machinery doesn't end with the shaping of metal. Fabricating architectural sheet metal into precision components has transformed the metal roofing industry into one of the most vertically integrated...

Insurance matters: experience-rating modifiers: what do they mean to you?
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A critical yet sometimes overlooked factor in determining a contractor's insurance premium is his or her own loss experience. Particularly in the world of workers' compensation insurance, premiums are greatly...

2008 International Roofing Expo: educational opportunities abound at the IRE.
March 1, 2008... It seemed that green products took center stage and solar applications provided the spotlight as more than 9,000 industry professionals converged on the Las Vegas Convention Center Feb. 21-23 for the International Roofing Expo. There were 442...