Florida Roofing - October 2021

Florida

October 2021

ROOFING A Publication of FRSA – Florida’s Association of Roofing Professionals

FRSA Tile Underlayment Testing Confirms Concerns Metal Roofing by the Sea Becoming a Manufacturer Certified Installer How Profit Fade Will Eat at Your Bottom Line A Silent Epidemic: Suicide in the Construction Industry Mullet’s Aluminum Products Receives First Place S.T.A.R. Award for Craftsmanship in Roofing

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Mullet’s Aluminum Products Inc.’s “High Tech Ranch” in Sarasota received the First Place S.T.A.R. Award for Craftsmanship in Roofing.

Contents 16 | FRSA Tile Underlayment Testing Confirms Concerns 24 | Metal Roofing by the Sea 30 | Becoming a Manufacturer Certified Installer 36 | A Silent Epidemic: Suicide in the Construction Industry 40 | How Profit Fade Will Eat at Your Bottom Line

FRSA-Florida Roofing Magazine Contacts: For advertising inquiries, contact: Lisa Pate at: lisapate@floridaroof.com (800) 767-3772 ext. 157 All feedback including Letters to the Editor and reprint permission requests (please include your full name, city and state) contact: Lisa Pate, Editor, at: lisapate@floridaroof.com (800) 767-3772 ext. 157 Florida Roofing Magazine, PO Box 4850 Winter Park, FL 32793-4850 View media kit at: www.floridaroof.com/ florida-roofing-magazine/

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ROOFING Available Online at www.floridaroof.com/florida-roofing-magazine/

October 2021

Any material submitted for publication in Florida Roofing becomes the property of the publication. Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility of the author(s) alone and do not imply an opinion or endorsement on the part of the officers or the membership of FRSA. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without permission from the publisher.

Florida Roofing (VOL. 6, NO. 10), October 2021, (ISSN 0191-4618) is published monthly by FRSA, 3855 N. Econlockhatchee Trl., Orlando, FL 32817. Periodicals Postage paid at Orlando, FL. POSTMASTER: Please send address corrections (form 3579) to Florida Roofing, PO Box 4850, Winter Park, FL 32793-4850.

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Joe Byrne

It is truly an honor to serve as the 100th President of FRSA. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Adam Purdy, Edwards Roofing Co. Inc., for his guidance and leadership this past year, as well as the Executive Committee who made all the tough decisions that were good for our members. Thanks also to our great staff of true professionals that keep FRSA running like a fine-tuned machine, lead by Executive Director, Lisa Pate, for whom I am grateful.

The Convention was a great success, especially in light of what we went through last year with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am truly grateful to all the vendors who contributed not only to the success of this year’s Convention and Expo, but also to those who rolled over their commitments from the previous year.

Governor Ron DeSantis was our guest of honor during the Officer Installation Dinner at the Convention and he delivered a great speech that had the crowd cheering. I would like to thank FRSA Lobbyist Chris Dawson and NRCA CEO Reid Ribble for making it happen. Hopefully, the Governor will return next year for our 100th Annual Convention taking place in Daytona Beach – the location of FRSA’s first organizational meeting and Convention in 1922.

I have selected the Tunnel to Towers Foundation as this year’s Charity of Choice. I chose them because of all the support they give to our heroes in the military, along with police and firefighters who bravely put our lives before theirs. Frank Steller started Tunnel to Towers in memory of his brother, Steve Steller, who was an off-duty New York City firefighter who, when he heard the call over his radio on September 11, went back to help those trapped in the towers and never returned.

In Pasco County, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation is creating a neighborhood built on donated land and

offering mortgage-free homes for catastrophically injured veterans, fallen military and the widows and children of first responders.

Vicki and I will be taking part in a Tunnel to Towers Walkathon on November 6 in Clearwater. We would be so grateful to anyone who would like to sponsor us to raise as much money as we can for these wonderful families. If you would like to donate, please visit Joe Byrne, FRSA President www.bidpal.net/t2t or Owner, Byrne Roofing Inc. contact Lisa Pate at 800-767-3772 ext. 157 or by email at lisapate@floridaroof.com. To learn more about this wonderful organization, please visit www.t2t.org.

Thanks to all who participated in the September FRSA Board of Directors and Committee meetings.

I encourage you to become active in your local and state roofing associations.

As always, may God Bless all of you.

Joseph R. Byrne byrneroof@aol.com

2022 FRSA Charity of Choice

www.t2t.org www.floridaroof.com | FLORIDA ROOFING

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FRSA LEGAL COUNSEL Cotney Attorneys & Consultants

The Infrastructure Bill Will Create Jobs — But Who Will Fill Them?

Trent Cotney, CEO, Cotney Attorneys & Consultants For many months, Americans have been hearing about the infrastructure bill. There have been questions about what would be included and what would not.

Politicians argued about whether all the projects were actually related to infrastructure. And everyone wanted to know how the country would pay for everything.

The infrastructure plan has lofty goals of rebuilding the United States and preparing this nation for our future. Everyone agrees that our roads, bridges and government buildings are in need of attention and there seems to be little time to waste in completing the necessary work.

According to data from S&P Global, the infrastructure plan could result in more than 880,000 jobs within the next ten years. On the surface, that seems like terrific news. But when you talk to contractors, there is another question: Where will we get the workers?

Labor Shortage

The infrastructure projects promise thousands and thousands of middle-class jobs, many in engineering and construction. Further, President Biden has indicated that a large number of opportunities will be union jobs and college degrees will not be required. However, according to U.S. Chamber of Commerce data from second quarter 2021, 88 percent of contractors said they could not fill the job openings they already have.

And of those, 35 percent stated they had turned down jobs because of the labor shortage.

Although some employees lost their jobs during the pandemic and others chose to leave their positions for new careers, construction may not be attracting workers who are available. Even if there is interest, many of these roles require training and licensing. Unfortunately, funding for expanding apprenticeships and training programs was not included in the bipartisan legislation. So, what options do contractors have?

Recruiting Strategies

If you are facing labor shortages, you may be tempted to scale back and if you are also experiencing material delays, you may have no choice but to reduce the number of projects you commit to. However, if you are willing to keep taking on new work, you may need to explore new strategies for growing your workforce.

One key option is looking in-house. Are members

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of your staff ready to take on more? Consider them as candidates even before you post new roles. Maybe they are willing to undergo additional training in exchange for increased responsibility and compensation.

Another suggestion is to review your incentives.

For example, are you in a position to offer signing bonuses? Or how about flexible schedules or increased vacation days? Perks like these may set you apart from other employers. Talk to your human resources professional and discuss ways you can stand out from the crowd.

When you are recruiting, be sure to look at every demographic. Sometimes contractors make the mistake of hiring the same types of workers over and over.

Think about the experience that older workers might bring to your crew and seek out women who are eager to make roofing a career. You never know what hidden talent you might find.

In addition, take a look at your current crew. What is the company culture like? Is there a healthy sense of camaraderie and a respect for the work you are doing?

If not, see how you can improve morale. When your culture is positive, your workers will want to stay on board and they may encourage others to join you.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.

Trent Cotney is Board Certified in Construction Law by the Florida Bar, an advocate for the roofing industry and FRSA General Counsel. For more information, contact the author at 866-303-5868 or go to www.cotneycl.com.

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FRSA LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL GrayRobinson

Legislature Readies for the 2022 Regular Session Chris Dawson, Attorney, GrayRobinson Law Firm The Florida Legislature is picking back up with legislative work in preparation for the 2022 regular session, which formally convenes on Tuesday, January 11. In advance of the annual session, Florida’s legislative leadership has announced revised committee chairmanships and will hold a series of six committee weeks throughout the fall. Dates for legislative committee weeks are as follows: Committee Week #1: September 20-24 Committee Week #2: October 11-15 Committee Week #3: October 18-22 Committee Week #4: November 1-5 Committee Week #5: November 15-19 Committee Week #6: November 29 – December 3 As of now, the expectation is that the Legislature will return to “normal” operations with the Capitol complex being fully open to the public for committee meetings and one-on-one meetings with legislators in the House Office Building and Senate Office Building.

Some COVID-19 enhancements and protocols may be announced at a later date.

Committee Leadership Shuffles

Legislative leadership recently announced several shifts in committee structure and chairmanships for the new legislative session. In the House of Representatives, the following changes were announced:

Representative Chuck Brannan (R – Lake City) appointed to Chair of the Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee.

Representative Fiona McFarland (R – Sarasota) appointed to Commerce Whip.

Representative Sam Garrison (R – Orange Park) appointed to Health and Human Services Whip.

Across the Rotunda, the Florida Senate recently announced changes as well: Senator Danny Burgess (R –Zephyrhills) appointed to Chair of the highly influential Judiciary Committee and the Select Subcommittee on Legislative Reapportionment.

Senator Ray Rodrigues (R – Fort Myers) appointed to Chair of the Committee on Reapportionment.

Senator Jennifer Bradley (R – Orange Park) appointed to Chair of the Select Subcommittee on Congressional Reapportionment.

With these changes in place, the Florida Legislature will kick into high gear on policy and appropriations issues. The stage is set for a productive fall committee Representative Tom Leek (R – Daytona Beach) appointed to Chair of the Redistricting Committee. schedule that will roll into the Regular Session early next year.

Representative Tyler Sirois (R – Merritt Island) FRM appointed to Chair of the Congressional Chris Dawson is an Attorney and professional Lobbyist Redistricting Subcommittee. for GrayRobinson’s Orlando office and is licensed to Representative Cord Byrd (R – Jacksonville Beach) practice law in both Florida and Alabama. He primarily appointed to Chair of the State Legislative focuses on lobbying and government relations for Redistricting Subcommittee. public and private sector clients at the executive and Representative Erin Grall (R – Vero Beach) legislative levels of state government. He is credenappointed to Chair of the highly influential tialed as a Designated Professional Lobbyist by the Judiciary Committee.

Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists. Chris Representative Danny Perez (R – Miami) appointed also holds two degrees in Civil Engineering and has to Chair of the Pandemics and Public Emergencies experience in construction litigation and design professional malpractice defense.

Committee and the Public Integrity and Elections Committee.

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Industry Updates Gulfeagle Supply Names Tim Slatt Director of Purchasing Tim joins the company with over 15 years of experience and a wealth of knowledge in enterprise resource planning software. He is based in Gulfeagle’s headquarters Branch Support Center in Tampa.

Bill Wilson will continue his role in Vendor Relations and as Vice President of Operations.

GAF to Acquire Underlayment Manufacturer FT Synthetics GAF, a Standard Industries company and the largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer in North America, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire FT Synthetics, a British Columbia-based manufacturer of synthetic underlayments for the steep-slope roofing industry.

In making this acquisition, GAF will invest in scaling operations and fueling sustained growth of FT Synthetics, while ensuring the continued delivery of the highest quality products and unparalleled service to customers.

“FT Synthetics and GAF share a deep commitment to the roofing industry,” said Jim Schnepper, CEO of GAF. “This acquisition will enable GAF to pursue our shared goals of continued innovation and explore opportunities for expanded product offerings that support the entire building envelope.”

FT Synthetics is well known for developing industry-leading underlayment products that meet the exacting standards of its customers, including some of the safest walking surfaces available in the industry.

The company will continue to operate as an independent business within the GAF portfolio. FT Synthetics CEO Gary Sandhar will retain a senior leadership position within GAF.

Tennsmith Announces Acquisition of Roll Former Corp.

Tennsmith is proud to announce the acquisition of Roll Former Corporation of Chalfont, Pa. Roll Former Corporation is a leading manufacturer of roll forming equipment for the sheet metal forming industry.

Roll Former Corporation becomes part of Tennsmith, joining Roper Whitney of Rockford, Ill. as one of the Tennsmith brands.

“This acquisition made a lot of sense for Tennsmith 10

FLORIDA ROOFING | October 2021

as roll forming equipment is a natural extension and complement to the sheet metal forming equipment our company manufactures. With this product line, our organization can provide one of the most comprehensive lines of forming equipment and solutions to the metal forming industry,” remarks Mike Smith, one of Tennsmith’s owners.

OMG Hires Pat Cherry as Adhesive Specialist, Christina Gonzalez as Product Manager

Pat Cherry has re-joined OMG Roofing Products as an adhesive specialist after spending the past couple of years as a regional manager with ICP Adhesives & Sealants.

In his newly created position, Pat is responsible for driving sales for the company’s growing line of commercial roofing adhesives, including its popular line of OlyBond Adhesives.

In his capacity, Pat will work with the field sales team, as well as marketing and product development to deliver superior solutions to OMG customers. He reports to Adam Cincotta, Vice President of the Adhesives & Solar Business Unit.

Pat has more than 23 years of sales experience in the commercial roofing industry, including 18 years with OMG, most recently as a Regional Manager. In addition to OMG and ICP, Pat has experience working for Johns Manville, Dimensional Metals and Roofers Mart of Mo. He is active with the Great Lakes Chapter of the IIBEC and holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University.

In her new role, Christina Gonzalez is responsible for developing sales and marketing opportunities for new and existing OMG discretionary products throughout the company’s extensive network of independent roofing distributors across the U.S. She also reports to Adam Cincotta.

For the past four years, Christina has been

an Associate Product Manager with the FastenMaster Division of OMG, Inc., where she led cross functional teams to help commercialize several new products annually. Earlier, she was in a management training program with Sherwin Williams. Christina holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Eastern Connecticut State University.

Atlas Roofing Corporation Partners with Mike Holmes and 3M

Atlas Roofing Corporation is excited to announce the release of Season 2 of its “Roof It Right” web series, as well as the chance for contractors to win part of $3,000 in cash and prizes.

Season 1 of “Roof It Right,” hosted by Mike Holmes Jr. and Sherry Holmes, son and daughter of professional contractor and TV host Mike Holmes, first aired in 2019 and documented the replacement of two ugly, streaky roofs using Atlas shingles featuring Scotchgard Protector by 3M. Each episode included interviews with the homeowners, as well as their AtlasPRO contractors.

“We are extremely proud of our relationship with 3M and Mike Holmes, as well as our shingles with Scotchgard Protector, which are a Holmes Approved Product,” says Stanley Bastek, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Atlas Roofing’s Shingles and Underlayments Division. “This year, along with the

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FLORIDA ROOFING | October 2021

reboot of the series, we are giving contractors access to the ‘Roof It Right’ Homeowner Resource Guide, which is a list of our best resources for leveraging the Holmes brand to help them build their businesses.”

Atlas Roofing is also putting contractors to the test to see how they “Roof It Right.” In conjunction with each week’s episode, Atlas will ask contractors to complete a simple challenge (e.g., sharing a photo on social media) that makes them eligible to win part of $3,000 in cash and prizes, including exclusive Atlas gear, Atlas Bucks, a custom 10x10 tent and other roofing materials.

ProVia’s New Metal Roofing System Receives Florida Certifications

ProVia, a leading manufacturer of professional-class exterior residential building products, announced its residential stamped metal roofing system is now certified for use in all Florida wind speed areas including Florida’s High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) and Non-HVHZ areas. ProVia’s residential metal roofing line is engineered to stand up to the most severe weather. Features include a unique four-way, multipoint locking system and 10 percent more galvanized steel.

With ProVia’s Florida certifications, dealers and installers are now able to meet Florida’s code requirements and expand product offerings with ProVia’s

new residential metal roofing system. For more information, visit ProVia.com/metal-roofing.

ABC Supply Co. Inc. Names 48 New Managing Partners

ABC Supply Co. Inc. recently promoted 48 branch managers to Managing Partners. As Managing Partners, these managers join ABC Supply’s National Branch Advisory Board and will provide senior leadership with feedback on various topics. There are currently 293 managers in ABC Supply’s Managing Partner Program.

To be selected as a Managing Partner, branch managers must meet rigorous requirements in the following areas: Associate development, customer satisfaction, branch performance, safety compliance and excellence in overall business practices.

“Our Managing Partners represent the best of ABC Supply. Their knowledge, exceptional leadership and diverse experiences are important pieces of our continued success throughout the country,” said Keith Rozolis, ABC Supply’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We’re proud to have each of these managers as part of our ABC family and thrilled to welcome them into our Managing Partner Program.”

This year’s new Florida 2021 Managing Partners include:

Quade Feeser, Dunnellon James Jurkas, Fort Myers Michael Campbell, Lake Worth Mitch Clark, Naples Thomas VanBerkum, Maitland Ryan McPherson, Pensacola Adam Hamby, West Palm Beach Brenton Binns, Haines City Rachael Thompson, Panama City Chris Tate, Jacksonville The new Managing Partners will continue to supervise their respective branches while taking on the additional responsibility of participating on the National Branch Advisory Board.

Those interested in learning more about the career opportunities at ABC Supply, such as delivery driver, inside sales associate and outside sales representative, can visit careers.abcsupply.com.

Firestone Building Products Names New Vice President of Sales

Firestone Building Products, LLC has named Jacob Speight Vice President of Sales, Americas. Jacob joined Firestone in 2015 and was most recently the Executive Director of Sales for the U.S. In his expanded role, he will take on sales leadership for Gaco, Sales Operations and the FSBP Canada and Latin America sales teams.

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“With more than 15 years of account management and sales leadership and six years dedicated to Firestone Building Products, Jacob’s background and expertise are critical to driving strategic objectives and growing our business in the Americas,” said Jamie Gentoso, President, Firestone Building Products.

“Jacob has led a data-driven approach to our sales organization, focusing on analytics that help us develop and execute strategies that win in the market. We look forward to his continued leadership as we build our business for the future.”

Prior to joining Firestone, Jacob spent over a decade at Moen Incorporated holding roles of progressive responsibility in account management and sales leadership in Moen’s wholesale, retail and e-commerce channels, respectively.

NWiR and NCCER Announce Collaboration to Promote Roofing Industry NWiR is pleased to announce an agreement with the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) to mutually support each other’s organizations as they both seek to promote the roofing industry. NWiR will communicate information about NCCER and its offerings to its Board of Directors and also to NWiR Council Leaders from across the country, encouraging Council Leaders to work with their local accredited organization and

training centers. NCCER will invite NWiR members to contribute to its Build Your Future blog, providing insight and information about careers in roofing to their audience.

“We know that representation matters when talking to people about why roofing is such a great industry and it particularly matters when trying to recruit traditionally underrepresented populations,” explained Brenna Driver, Area Sales Manager, Owens Corning and member of the NWiR Board of Directors and Chair of the Industry Recruitment Committee. “That’s why we are also embarking on a photography project called “Women on the Roof” so that we can increase our content of NWiR members working on the roof, on the jobsite and in their field and provide these photos to NCCER and other interested organizations.”

In addition, NWiR will support NCCER and other organizations through participation in the nationwide Careers in Construction Month (CICM), a campaign held every October to increase public awareness of construction careers, inspire the next generation of craft professionals and make an impact on the perceptions of a career in construction. NCCER recently partnered with the National Roofing Contractors Association to produce the second edition of NCCER’s Roofing Level 1 curriculum. NRCA and NCCER’s partnership increases consumer confidence that certified roofing industry professionals have the knowledge

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and skills required to do their jobs well. This roofing curriculum will also pave the way for NWiR local and regional councils to develop a relationship with their local NCCER training center.

“We are looking forward to working with NWiR on increasing awareness of the roofing industry as a career option and particularly reaching women to share available training, credentials and a fulfilling career pathway,” stated Holly Mathis, BYF Manager, NCCER.

RPM Names Spaulding President of the RPM Consumer Group

RPM International Inc. announced that Bill Spaulding, President of Rust-Oleum Corporation, will be promoted to RPM Consumer Group President. He will succeed Terry Horan, who retired on August 31.

Over the course of his 22-year career at the company, Spaulding has served in several key positions at Rust-Oleum, including President of North America and Executive Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing. Spaulding earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Indiana University Bloomington and an MBA from Northern Illinois University.

In conjunction with Spaulding’s appointment, Jeff Ackerberg, President of DAP Products Inc. will be promoted to President of Rust-Oleum. Prior to joining DAP, Ackerberg held senior executive leadership positions with global organizations such as Grohe

AG, ACCO Brands, Inc., Kohler Company, Bosch and Emerson Electric. Ackerberg earned a bachelor’s degree in Business from North Central College and holds his MBA from Northwestern University, J.L. Kellogg School of Management.

Additionally, Mark Heird, Rust-Oleum Executive Vice President of Sales in North America, will be promoted to President of DAP. Heird has held multiple leadership roles at Rust-Oleum over the course of his 21 years with the company. Previously, he served as a Sales Executive with The Clorox Company and Procter & Gamble. Heird earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from University of Maryland, College Park.

“I look forward to working with Bill in his new role as Consumer Group President along with Jeff and Mark in their new roles and the entire leadership team of the Consumer Group,” stated Frank C. Sullivan, RPM Chairman and CEO. “I am also incredibly excited that we have leaders with great experience and proven track records of success to carry our Consumer Group businesses to new levels of growth, success and profitability for many years to come. That we were able to fill these vitally important leadership roles internally speaks to the depth of talent and dedication we have across the RPM Consumer Group companies.”

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15

FRSA Tile Underlayment Testing Confirms Concerns Mike Silvers, CPRC, Silvers Systems Inc. and FRSA Director of Technical Services In the May 2021 edition of Florida Roofing magazine, I wrote an article titled Florida May Have a Flaw in Our Roofing Code Armor. The article went into some detail about a possible problem with tile underlayment consisting of a nailed D226 #30 with a self-adhering underlayment applied to it. Self-adhering manufacturer’s product approvals showed relatively low uplift resistance for these underlayment systems. The highest of those we found provided resistance of 45 psf with the safety factor of 2 accounted for. This means the product should have resistance of 90 psf during testing. The resistance stated in these product approvals would not meet the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 7-16 requirements in many areas of Florida.

FRSA was concerned that this prescriptive application was being used to circumvent the more

restrictive ASCE 7-16 compliant requirements of the 6th Edition FRSA-TRI Florida High Wind Concrete and Clay Tile Installation Manual. The manual has prescriptive methods for two ply hot mopped systems that include greatly enhanced fastening for the #30. For all other underlayments you need a product approval that meets the resistance values for your specific job based on the tables in the manual or engineering calculations that are based on ASCE 7-16.

In order to validate our concerns, the FRSA Education and Research Foundation provided funding, donated through an endowment by Bob Ferrante, that allowed us to conduct testing to verify the actual uplift resistance of this system. We began testing at the PRI facility in Tampa in April. Four different MiamiDade approved ASTM D226 felts and four different self-adhering membranes were tested using TAS 117B

Table 1 – TAS 117 (B) Fastener Pull-Through Resistance

C

D

16

FLORIDA ROOFING | October 2021

4

5

6

7

61.7

59.0

64.7

64.4

64.3

55.5

56.4

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

62.4

66.8

61.1

56.3

56.2

57.8

60.5

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

41.0

51.0

56.0

49.1

49.6

46.8

53.7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

40.9

52.6

36.2

44.8

44.5

45.9

44.7

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

42.4

41.2

52.0

48.0

45.8

52.5

48.4

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

49.3

47.6

52.0

43.2

44.7

50.2

44.3

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

81.9

84.9

91.9

86.8

83.9

83.7

80.9

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

82.9

78.6

83.5

82.4

89.7

86.8

83.9

St. Dev.

3

60.5

3.7 St. Dev.

2

46.9

5.5 St. Dev.

B

1

47.2

3.7 St. Dev.

A

Results – Maximum Load (lbf)

Avg.

TAS 117 Appendix B

Avg.

Fastener Pull-Through Resistance (lbf) 14 Specimens; 18” by 18” Test Rate @ 2in/min

Avg.

Test Method

Avg.

Sample

84.4

3.5

St. Dev St. Dev St. Dev St. Dev. St. Dev. St. Dev.

St. Dev.

Avg. Avg.

Avg.

Avg.

Avg.

Avg.

Avg.

Table 2 – ASTM D1876 T-Peel for pull-through and ASTM D1876 adhesion peel test.

Sample Test Method The best performing of each were installed on five T-Peel Strength test decks. The #30 with (lbf/in); best pull-through resis10 specimens; Results 1in x 12in; Test ASTM D1876 tance (Product D in Table Rate @ 10in/min; 1) and the one offering the Self adhered to best surface for adhesion anchor sheet (Product A in Table 1) were nailed using tin tabs/caps 1 2 3 4 5 and ring shank nails into 1.18 1.01 1.01 1.46 0.88 two decks using the stan1/A dard pattern of 6” o.c. at the 6 7 8 9 10 laps and two rows at 12” 0.93 0.86 0.70 0.83 0.74 0.96 0.22 o.c. staggered in the field (per RAS), with three others 1 2 3 4 5 using 6” o.c. at the laps and 0.54 0.42 0.49 0.39 0.46 three rows at 8” o.c. stag1/B gered in the field. The best 6 7 8 9 10 performing self-adhering 0.73 0.40 0.41 0.49 0.50 0.48 0.10 membrane for adhesion (Product 2 in Table 2) was 1 2 3 4 5 then applied to the two 0.36 0.26 0.37 0.35 0.35 different #30 on all five 1/C decks. Approximately thirty 6 7 8 9 10 days later, we tested them 0.36 0.32 0.45 0.35 0.48 0.37 0.06 to failure in a bell chamber.

The results were even lower 1 2 3 4 5 than we had anticipated and 0.53 0.57 0.59 0.62 0.53 very concerning. Tables 1-3 1/D will show the test results.

6 7 8 9 10 You can see in Table 3 0.58 0.47 0.56 0.53 0.45 0.54 0.05 (page 18), that the Passing Uplift Pressure (psf) col1 2 3 4 5 umn in yellow shows for 1.00 1.10 1.06 1.26 1.16 Specimen No. 1 and 4, 2/A which have the prescriptive 6 7 8 9 10 nailing patterns, the pass1.22 0.94 0.96 0.83 1.16 1.07 0.14 ing pressures are 30 psf.

When you apply the re1 2 3 4 5 quired safety factor of 2, it 0.19 1.23 1.34 0.95 1.12 results in a final resistance 3/A pressure of 15 psf. This is 6 7 8 9 10 very low and confirmed our 0.92 0.82 0.88 0.80 1.32 1.05 0.20 previous concerns. You can also see that with minimally 1 2 3 4 5 enhanced fastening and, 0.40 0.35 0.45 0.41 0.55 in one specimen, by taping 4/A the joints of the plywood, 6 7 8 9 10 it doubled the resistance.

0.41 0.41 0.47 0.52 0.40 0.44 0.06 But when the safety factor of 2 is applied, the 60 psf becomes 30 psf. This is still The failure mode shown in the green column in very low. These values were much lower than known Table 3 were fastener pull-through. The only place values for two-ply hot mopped systems, so the next we experienced fastener pull out was in the backnailquestion is why? ing where the self-adhering membrane being nailed www.floridaroof.com | FLORIDA ROOFING

17

Table 3 – Summary of Test Results (UL 1897-12) Specimen No.

Underlayment

Attachment

Passing Uplift Pressure

Failure Mode

1

2/A

Fastened in lap 6 in o.c.

2 rows in the field @ 12 in o.c.

30

Fastener Pull-through

2

2/A

Fastened in lap 6 in o.c.

3 rows in the field @ 8 in o.c.

45

Fastener Pull-through

3

2/A

Plywood joints taped1 Fastened in lap 6 in o.c.

3 rows in the field @ 8 in o.c.

60

Fastener Pull-through

4

2/D

Fastened in lap 6 in o.c.

2 rows in the field @ 12 in o.c.

30

Fastener Pull-through

5

2/D

Fastened in lap 6 in o.c.

3 rows in the field @ 8 in o.c.

60

Fastener Pull-through

Note: 1 – Specimen #3 construction details including taping of the plywood joints with AAMA 711 compliant seam tape.

through added to the pull-through resistance. The pictures below show the bottom or underside of a tested underlayment and the fasteners that remain in the deck. Notice how the #30 felt is ripped and the tin tabs are deformed. Previously tested two-ply hot mopped underlayment failures were typically fastener pull out. So, there is clearly a difference in how the felt and tin tab interact with self-adhered versus hot mopped systems.

After a great deal of contemplation and discussion, we formed a hypothesis which I will attempt to explain. A mop is used to apply hot asphalt over a #30 and a nail/tin tag combination asphalt runs under and is applied over the tin tag. Then a second layer of compatible asphalt membrane is immediately applied.

When the asphalt cools, the tin tag is sandwiched between these two asphaltic membranes creating a surrounding bond and, due to the rigidity achieved, helps to spread the fastener loading into the membranes. This bond locks the tin tag in and reinforces its resistance to tin tag deformation, as well as adding pull-through resistance to the interface. When using a self-adhering membrane, the adhesive does not solidify like asphalt, thereby leaving the tin tag #30 interface much weaker and, due to the flexible nature

18

FLORIDA ROOFING | October 2021

of the completed membranes, susceptible to single fastener loading and pull-through failure mode (see photos below).

Having a better understanding of the low resistance to uplift pressure that these prescriptive #30 and self-adhering membrane underlayments provide and why, we noted that almost all testing was done exclusively with nail/tin tag fastening. This may be one area where a stiffer cap nail may increase performance. Base sheets with better pull-through resistance and surface for better adhesion is another possibility. The vacuum chamber testing performed did not achieve high enough pressures to evaluate the adhesion properties of the self-adhering membranes.

The information available leads one to believe that a D226 #30 will not achieve adequate uplift resistance to be used as the base sheet in a two-ply self-adhered system. There is evidence that with the right base sheet and fastening – a two-ply system that includes a self-adhering top layer – a compliant underlayment system can be achieved. One important concern is the relatively high cost that will come with this option.

Regardless of why these underlayments don’t provide better overall resistance values, it is clear that we need to rectify the problem so that future editions of

the Florida Building Code can address the issue. The 6th Edition FRSA-TRI tile manual deals with this issue but unfortunately the Miami-Dade Roofing Application Standards (RAS) do not. The RAS are referenced in the code for use outside of the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ Miami-Dade and Broward counties). If we can address the prescriptive underlayment methods included in the RAS, we can rectify this problem. Many contractors, when working outside of the HVHZ, use underlayment applied direct to deck. These systems provide the highest uplift resistance at a cost that is less than the prescriptive option and even more cost effective when compared to conforming two-ply systems. As many of you know, direct to deck applications and fasteners without tin caps are not permitted for use in the HVHZ. The stance on the direct to deck application exists in conflict with RAS No. 118-20, 119-20 and 120-20 Underlayment Applications, E. Self-Adhered Underlayment (Single Ply). A single-ply underlayment system utilizing any Product approved self-adhered underlayment. The roof cover is terminated at approved metal flashings. Apply one layer of any self-adhered underlayment in compliance with the underlayment manufacturers approved/requirements.

As stated earlier, this is a cost effective way to meet the uplift resistance required by the code and should be acceptable in the HVHZ as well.

With all of this in mind, the FRSA Codes Subcommittee allowed the research project task group, which includes Manny Oyola, Eagle Roofing Products, Greg Keeler, Owens Corning and me to arrange a meeting with officials at Miami-Dade to discuss our test results and look for ways to deal with the problem. I am very happy to report that our task group met with Jorge Acebo, Jamie Gascon, Alex Tigera and Gaspar Rodriquez of Miami-Dade County in early September. FRSA appreciates their willingness to openly exchange points of view, concerns and possible solutions. It was a very productive meeting. The Miami-Dade group are currently discussing their options and we agreed to try and work together to find a good resolution. I will report on our progress in future articles. Keeping the dialogue open, building consensus and forming coalitions with other industry groups is of the upmost importance when proposing and making code changes. We will attempt to do so whenever our interests align.

FRM

Mike Silvers, CPRC is owner of Silvers Systems Inc. and is consulting with FRSA as Director of Technical Services. Mike is an FRSA Past President, Life Member and Campanella Award recipient and brings over 45 years of industry knowledge and experience to FRSA’s team.

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2020 FRSA-SIF Outstanding Safety Awards Winner for the Central Florida District Hamilton Roofing, Inc., Malabar

Kevin Lindley, FRSA-SIF Safety and Loss Control Consultant

consultation on safety concerns and pre-site inspections to ensure they are applying safety practices in the field. Without the personal buy in of the safety program by all team members, administratively and in the field, they would not be where they are today.

We congratulate the team from Hamilton Roofing, Inc. for a receiving this award and wish them continued success with their business.

Winner for the South Florida District Elite Roofing, Inc., West Palm Beach

Jorge Castanon, FRSA-SIF Safety and Loss Control Consultant George White, owner of Elite Roofing, Inc. in West

Tony Hamilton, owner of Hamilton Roofing, Inc., started his career in roofing under the watchful eye of his father at the young age of 10. At that time, he diligently worked in the sheet metal shop until he was 14 and then moved into the field with a labor hot tar crew.

Tony’s father started the company in 1968 in Detroit, Mi. Hamilton Roofing opened in Florida in 1984 with a large project at Patrick Air Force Base (PAFB).

To this day, they continue to maintain a great relationship with NASA, PAFB and Cape Canaveral.

Hamilton Roofing, Inc. has been a member of the FRSA Self Insurers Fund since 2000 and has improved their experience modification rating significantly during that period. Tony attributes the company’s safety culture to the safety program consistency by their management, employees and FRSA-SIF team.

They believe in safety and follow safety practices in the field. They also budget for safety training and safety equipment annually to make the job more efficient, organized and safer for all workers on the project site(s). All their field employees have completed OSHA 30 training as well as aerial lift, forklift, rough terrain forklift, signal training and rigging training. Personnel are also sent out to attend the EM-385, which is a 24-hour training class. They are proactive in obtaining information before starting each job to ensure their employees have all the tools and equipment needed for each project before they arrive to make them successful from day one. Hamilton Roofing, Inc. gladly welcomes their FRSA Self Insurers Fund Safety Consultant to provide safety meetings on a regular basis, conduct onsite inspections and regularly seek 20

FLORIDA ROOFING | October 2021

Palm Beach, possesses knowledge and passion for the industry and is the driving force behind Elite Roofing’s outstanding reputation, growth and success. Under George’s leadership, Elite Roofing has grown into one of the best, most highly-respected roofing companies in South Florida.

George started roofing in 1988 as a laborer on a tear-off crew during summer breaks while attending Florida International University. He went on to become a full-time roofer, learning all the aspects of the trade.

In 1999, he started his own roofing company and, since then, has become a leader in the business.

The success of Elite Roofing would not be possible without George’s continued commitment and dedication to workplace safety. Through his active safety program, he has established a means for the control and prevention of loss, giving him an outstanding loss history record that has earned him this esteemed award.

We congratulate the team from Elite Roofing, Inc. on winning the award and wish them much success in the future.

Winner for the North Florida District Total Quality Roofing, Inc., Tallahassee Matt Savin, FRSA-SIF Safety and Loss Control Consultant

Owner, Kevin Swartz, Total Quality Roofing, Inc., Tallahassee has stressed the importance of safety since day one but over the last few years he and his employees have made a full commitment to working safely.

They conduct regular toolbox talks, train all new employees and bring in their SIF Safety Consultant for comprehensive training several times a year. As a way of stressing the importance to his crews, they often have their SIF Safety Consultant audit their job sites, so their employees see that others are watching them, as well as a means of making sure they are working safely when management is not able to be onsite with them.

As one of his rewards for this safety commitment, Kevin has watched his experience modification rate (EMR) drop by 40 percent over the last 10 years. While it has helped the company win additional jobs by having such a low EMR, it is his employees who have benefited the most. All these added safety precautions ensure that each employee goes home at the end of the workday to their family and friends.

We congratulate Kevin and his staff on receiving this prestigious award.

FRM

www.floridaroof.com | FLORIDA ROOFING

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Metal Roofing by the Sea In 2010, 123.3 million people lived in U.S. coastal counties according to a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office for Coastal Management. That’s a lot of people who require a lot of residential structures, which need a lot of roofs. Faced with salt spray exposure and hurricane-force wind and rain, more and more seaside homeowners are choosing metal roofing due to its hardiness, longevity and proven track record along the coast.

NOAA also states that, annually, coastal counties produce more than $8.6 trillion in goods and services – the businesses producing this money are housed in commercial, industrial, agricultural or residential buildings, which also need roofs. With 22 states boasting saltwater coastline, the U.S. roofing market requires solutions that can stand up to this often-harsh environment. Here are areas to consider when bidding a metal roofing job by the sea.

Metal Types

Travis Lord, Product Manager for The Garland Company, said, “When on the coast, typically the go-to will be .040” or .050” aluminum. Stainless steel and zinc are also great options but tend to be more expensive. Aluminum is more cost-effective than stainless steel and zinc and still does a superb job at handling salt-spray environments.” He recommends avoiding galvanized steel as it can rapidly corrode in a coastal environment.

Drexel Metals’ Director of Sales, Ken McLauchlan, added that while aluminum is more corrosion-resistant than steel (and is lighter), it is also softer. The entire roof system will be less of a load on the structure but won’t stand up to the punishment of a severe hailstorm as well as steel.

Natural metals are often said to perform best, as shared by Robin Anderson, Technical Manager for Boral Roofing, who noted about each metal type:

Aluminum: Though highly corrosion-resistant, also does not have the strength of steel. Warranty and performance to winds may be lower than other materials. Patina of aluminum oxide will dull the bare color.

Zinc: Though highly corrosion-resistant, does not have the strength of steel. Warranty and performance to winds may be lower. Patina darkens the coloring and the cost is high.

Anderson also added that alloys can bring added benefits: Stainless Steel: Strong. Has some corrosion to fasteners of carbon steel.

Galvanized Steel: Strong. Shorter resistance to salt corrosion. Has setback requirements from the water.

Zinc-Alum Coated Steel (commonly known as Galvalume): Strong. Has a higher resistance to corrosion than galvanized.

Coating Options

Once a metal type is chosen, next on the list of considerations is the coating/finish. According to Lord, “It is important to utilize a coated metal when on the coast.

Bare metal is much more prone to oxidation, with nothing stopping the salt spray from interacting with it. A Polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF) coating is recommended to help keep the substrate metal free from oxidation. A two-coat coil-applied PVDF system will help resist the harsh coastal environment.” Another option is stone-coated steel, which can provide prolonged resistance.

Many coil coating companies make systems specifically designed to resist the issues that commonly plague coastal roofs. Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings offers Flurothane Coastal, “a two-coat system that uses an innovative thick-film primer to thrive in the most severe coastal environments.” This premium Copper: Though highly corrosion-resistant, copper fluoropolymer 70 percent PVDF system was created does not have the strength of steel. Warranties to deliver long-lasting protection for industrial, comand wind performance may be lower than other mercial or architectural projects within 1,500 feet of materials. Patina can stain areas of runoff. Has a the coastline. The system has been field-proven and high cost and is heavier than other metals.

24

FLORIDA ROOFING | October 2021

provides a high-performance finish, as well as the following unique benefits: outstanding resistance to UV rays, exceptional color retention and resistance to chalking from salt spray and harsh coastal environments. Flurothane Coastal coatings can be applied to a variety of substrates, including hot-dip galvanized (HDG), Galvalume and aluminum.

Clamps, Clips and Fasteners

After the metal type and coating are determined for the specific job, you must consider how to keep the roof on the building. Many coastal areas are subject to hurricanes, which can bring sustained winds from 74 mph to 157-plus mph. S-5! shared when considering metal roof types in coastal areas, an important factor is extreme wind forces that will try to tear any roof from its mountings.

Standing seam metal has a distinctive advantage over other membrane and asphaltic roof types because it serves as a “structural” covering, meaning it can be engineered to withstand almost any forces imposed by wind. Increasing the frequency of attachment, increasing the gauge thickness of the metal, decreasing the panel width and using an external wind clamp or any combination of the above, will generally increase the durability of the roof in a windstorm.

These remedies are not guesswork, but a matter of science, engineering and testing. The external wind clamp solution alone can increase wind resistance up to three-fold.

Rob Haddock, CEO and Founder of S-5! Metal Roof Innovations, explained: “Wind speeds are converted to negative pressure exerted on the roof; this pressure is often called ‘uplift.’ The conversion is a complex mathematical and geometric one governed by engineering standards (ASCE-7) or local code authorities. The transfer of the computed forces from the roof covering into the building’s structure involves a number of factors and components, including the strength of the seam itself, the strength of the clip’s attachment to the seam, the strength of the clip itself and finally, the clip’s attachment to the roof deck or structure (the clip screws). These components comprise a ‘load chain,’ which is only as strong as its weakest link. Because of the complexity of this load chain, most often its strength is determined by full-scale assembly testing.”

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Haddock suggested consulting with the roof system provider to ensure the assembly proposed is proven to meet the wind speeds specific to the project’s location and set forth by the code authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).

Regarding fasteners, Direct Metals Inc. President Andrew Mullen said, “A fastener is the common way the metal roofing panels are secured to a roofing system substrate. The selection and installation of roofing system fasteners and screws have a direct effect on the performance and service life of these systems.

Understanding how a fastener is chosen and performs within the roofing system is an important component of being a professional installer. It would be logical to assume that the roofing fasteners that come in a metal roofing package are expected to give corrosion-free performance for the life of the panel they are securing; that is not necessarily true. Many factors affect the corrosion resistance and holding power of a fastener (including selection of the proper fastener installation tool), but one of the main determining factors is proximity to highly corrosive coastal areas subject to yearly wind events.”

Mullen continued, “There are two main types of metal roofing systems: exposed fastener and concealed fastener. There are four typical substrates that

A residential metal roof located only three blocks from the Atlantic Ocean in Ponte Vedra Beach.

26

FLORIDA ROOFING | October 2021

these systems will be installed into. The choice of the correct fastener will be determined by a combination of factors, including the roofing system type, substrate, panel alloy and expected life cycle.”

Lord added that stainless steel fasteners should be used in coastal regions, even for concealed fastener systems. The stainless will work well with aluminum roof panel systems. The use of stainless steel fasteners is even more critical for through-fastened systems or exposed fasteners in general. If the fasteners that are designed to hold the roof in place rust and fail, it could potentially lead to a roof blow off. A less extreme scenario from oxidized fasteners could be simply that the roof leaks because the fasteners rust so much that they create voids in the connection, losing their watertight seal.

Atlas Building Products agreed that they would not recommend an exposed carbon steel fastener in a coastal/tidewater environment – this will lead to deterioration of the fastener and red rust at a more rapid rate. If the fastener is exposed, they suggested a zinc die-cast head fastener as the superior choice to prevent against red rust. Ultimately, Atlas felt the best option is to install standing-seam panels with stainless steel clips, along with concealed stainless steel fasteners.

According to Mullen, coastal areas and the proximity of structures to areas of saltwater fallout substantially increase the corrosion possibilities of roofing systems, including their fasteners. Installers of exposed fastener panels should be using premium corrosion-resistant fasteners and not just an everyday galvanized “economy” fastener. “There has been a great advancement over the past 20 years in longerlasting, premium exposed fasteners designed to provide years of corrosion-free performance, such as stainless steel cap head fasteners and zinc alloy capped fasteners. In coastal installations as near as 3,000 feet from the shore, the FEMA recommendation is full 300 series stainless steel in both exposed and concealed building fasteners,” he explained.

Regarding fastener and panel compatibility, Mullen continued, “The popularity of corrosion-resistant alloys, such as aluminum panel installations, has grown in coastal areas. It is important to understand the differences between metal alloys and how bare dissimilar metals in certain environmental conditions can have serious reactions that promote premature corrosion and degradation.”

“When working with aluminum panels, it is particularly important to understand the exposure to agitating factors such as proximity to saltwater fallout, moisture and air movement. The installation of exposed fastener aluminum panels should be done with an all-aluminum fastener to avoid dissimilar metal reactions. If aluminum fasteners cannot be found for the application, a best practice approach of predrilling a pilot hole slightly larger than the fastener diameter

and then sealing all edges of the hole with a barrier coating or sealant prior to fastener installation can lessen the chances of a reaction,” stated Mullen.

withstand extremely high wind uplift forces. Typically, a manufacturer proves this design through testing their assemblies and providing the results to either an approvals agency or the authority having jurisdiction in Underlayments that region or area. “A customer should expect a manLord said that underlayments are typically recomufacturer to be able to provide testing and approvals mended in metal roofing and a high-temp, self-stick, information to show that their roof system can handle the harsh wind uplift forces that that roof will endure,” self-sealing underlayment should be used whenever possible. This acts as just another layer to what should he said.

Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings conducts their be a “belts and suspenders” style of waterproofing.

Anderson added that the underlayment chosen should own weather testing, which has become critical in be tested for high winds and pass ASTM standards for preventing product failures. Innovation matters to the company, which continues to improve the perforD 1970 (nail seal-ability).

“It’s crucial to specify a metal roofing underlayment mance and durability of their coating systems through material that is designed to protect the structure from research and development: “A well-planned weathering test program could identify coating failure risks in extreme weather elements specific to the region advance. With this, new formulations are created and where the roof is being installed. This can include need to be tested to failure.” From their Weatherability water seepage caused by ice dams and wind-driven rains, as well as extremely hot or cold weather,” stated Matters literature, the potential failures they test for include: McLauchlan.

Gloss Retention: Gloss refers to a coating’s Codes and Testing ability to reflect light without it scattering. Direct UV Code compliance and product longevity are always on exposure can degrade the luster of the topcoat. While the list of things contractors need to consider when all types of coatings will lose some degree of gloss choosing products for each job. Mullen said, “Forces over time, lower quality paints will generally lose gloss that exact change can be small or large, such as the much earlier than superior coatings. force of hurricane winds – the same winds that necesChalking: Chalking is caused by degradation of sitate building codes and standards in Florida. Building the resin system at the surface of the finish due to codes promote the use of higher quality materials exposure to UV rays. As the resin system breaks expected to increase the structural rigidity and extend down, resin particles take on a white appearance and the life of the building. These standards are quickly embedded pigment particles lose their adhesion to being specified, adopted or mandated by many coastal the film. Chalking is tested by transferring the chalk cities, counties and insurance bodies to encourage to fabric or adhesive tape, then comparing it to a photographic reference standard (ASTM D4214). responsible building practices.”

The range is from 10 to 1, with 10 showing the least “Examples of code requirements and recommenamount of chalking and 1 showing the presence of dations include the 2014, 2017 and the 2020 code extreme chalking. versions of the Florida Building Code, which require Fading/Delta E: Delta E is a single number that corrosion-resistant fasteners for roof assemblies.

FEMA has written recommendations that coastal con- represents the distance between two colors. One struction and high-wind areas only use stainless steel color is always the standard – the starting point for the fasteners for roofing within 3,000 feet of a body of calculation. The second color is the weathered panel. saltwater. The Miami-Dade County Code Compliance The Delta E number will provide the color change that office has also implemented a fastener listing program is expected due to fade and loss of gloss after exterior that outlines additional corrosion-resistance and shear strength standards required for metal roofing fasteners, both concealed and exposed. If you are building in coastal or building code regulated zones, it is suggested that you determine if the fasteners in your system have certification listing numbers or meet building code guidelines and offer the corrosion resistance warranted by corrosive coastal environments.”

Lord added that certain areas of the country (Miami-Dade, Florida, Texas, etc.) have special requirements to be met in order for metal roof systems to be installed. Most of these requirements are deThe Sherwin-Williams “Test Fence” is the most rived from catastrophic hurricane events, such as accredited manufacturer’s test facility in the coil Hurricane Andrew in 1992. These requirements are coatings industry. essentially roofs that are designed and attached to www.floridaroof.com | FLORIDA ROOFING

27

verifies performance, application, weathering and appearance of sample panels. For natural exposure tests, panels are placed on inclined open racks orientated at the sun, usually at a 45-degree angle in a southerly direction (this angle ensures full UV exposure). For accelerated testing, special environmental cabinets and instruments are used to speed up the weathering process and measure its effects under extreme conditions.

The centerpiece of Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings’ exposure sites is a 6¼-acre facility in Fort Myers.

The new blue aluminum roof on the Bradenton Yacht Based on its subtropical location, this weathering Club in Bradenton, replaced an old, tired roof, giving site provides perfect conditions for natural exposure the building new life. testing. “The site has 100,000 panels on exposure and a laboratory staffed with experts to review results and exposure. The lower the number, the lower the amount complete accelerated weather tests,” the company of color change. The higher the number, the higher the shared. amount of fading.

Blistering: Blistering represents a localized loss of Warranties adhesion and the lifting of the coating film from the Lord commented that a good manufacturer will offer underlying surface. This is caused by heat, moisture not only a long-term waterproofing warranty but also or a combination of the two. This condition eventually a finish warranty for the paint finish on the roof. A leads to peeling and corrosion. Surface blistering can contractor should also offer a workmanship warranty sometimes be caused by improper drying or curing of for their installation. These should be in place so the the coated material. manufacturer, contractor and, most importantly, the Cracking or Flaking: Hairline fractures occur in customer all understand responsibilities and know the coating that then splits and eventually peels away who to turn to if there were to ever be any issues down from the substrate to cause cracking and flaking. the road.

Improper application, spreading paint too thin, poor FRM surface preparation or improper paint selection for Editor’s note: Keep in mind that cutting or slitting of coatthe environmental conditions can all cause cracking or ed steel panels exposes raw unfinished steel. This will flaking in a coating system. eventually lead to rusting in these locations regardless of The company takes two approaches to weather how good the coating may be. Permission for reprint as testing: long-term natural exterior weather exposure published in Metal Roofing Magazine, August 2020. and laboratory accelerated weathering. Each approach

Advice From a Seasoned Professional Rob Haddock, CEO and Founder of S-5! Metal Roof Innovations, Ltd.

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When it comes to marine environments, the metal roofing playbook is very different from inland applications. This is due, in large part, to the way oxide layers do (or don’t) react with each other on the roof and also in the presence of sodium and chlorides (salt). To add complexity, chloride levels vary within different seas and areas within the same ocean. Volcanic atmospheres in many coastal and island environments can exacerbate corrosive effects as well. And “wet” chlorides are more corrosive than dry ones. “Wet” chlorides are more prevalent in cool, damp climates like Maine and the Pacific Northwest. All metals oxidize over time when exposed to air and moisture. Notably, these resulting oxide layers may have very different galvanic properties than the parent metals that created them.

Although we think of “corrosion” in a negative context,

FLORIDA ROOFING | October 2021

technically, oxidation is a corrosion process. Other synonyms we sometimes use are “aged,” “weathered,” “patinated” or “pre-patinated.” Most often, oxides act to seal and protect the base metal, retarding or preventing further corrosion, so it’s a good thing. Oxide layers are why, for example, in a normal environment, stainless is compatible with aluminum, although they are distant on the galvanic scale. Stainless oxide is electrolytically compatible with aluminum oxide, although the parent metals are not. While the oxidation of any metal happens naturally, it can also be induced and accelerated artificially in production. Often stainless oxide is induced by passivation and aluminum oxide by anodization. What alters this oxide protection process in a severe marine environment depends on how the specific metal oxide reacts with chlorides

from ocean spray; the oxide layer may never fully form because it is continually boiled away by acids. Now two potential issues may exist: the corrosive nature of the acid on the oxide or its parent metal, as well as saltwater acting as an electrolytic agent and accelerating dissimilar metals’ corrosion – assuming there are dissimilar metals. To aggravate the foregoing, blowing sand is frequently an added issue on oceanfront properties. Blowing sand can cause mechanical damage, abrading the oxide layer, paint layer or the base metal itself. So, what is the best way to dodge the salt-spray bullet? The first move is a physical one – build further inland if possible. The prevailing wind direction also comes into play with respect to how far salt spray and sand are carried – just 30 feet can make a huge difference.

Significantly more severe problems can occur on roofs 20 feet from breaking surf when carried by prevailing winds versus 50 or 100 feet away. Regardless of the metal roof type, be sure it is freely drained (a slope of 3:12 is a suggested minimum). All metals in salt environments are prone to accelerated corrosion if this criterion is not met. This also means that using non-metallic soffit materials is well-advised as water lingers on flat soffits – both inside and out.

It is also helpful to rinse the roof of salt deposits and other debris, such as pine straw and deciduous fallout.

When these residues collect on the roof, they retain and trap moisture against the roof surface. While this is true of any metal roof type, with the heightened corrosive effects of saltwater over time, the salt retained may cause unsightly staining or corrosion of the roof material when it lingers. Depending on the severity of other factors, the frequency of rinsing can vary from every two weeks to several months or more. The greater the rinsing frequency, the longer the roof life and aesthetics will prevail. Bottom line, a metal roof by the seacoast will last measurably longer if rinsed often.

Use a standing seam, double-folded profile regardless of material type with concealed clips (stainless is strongly recommended) and conceal all other fastenings from direct exposure to salt spray. Lap-seams, snap-seams and exposed fastenings complicate metals’ compatibility, risk potential infiltration and create other issues. If these materials are used, then expect a significantly shorter roof life. Adding a small bead of butyl copolymer sealant within the seam and moistening the clips into it as the roof is installed will help further prevent subsurface moisture, which can cause corrosion and galvanic corrosion.

Metal Types and Their Use In Coastal Applications

Coated Steel: Referred to as Galvalume, 55 percent Al-Zn-coated steel is still a favorite for these applications. This material will carry an exclusion in its warranty for a specified distance from breaking surf (usually 1/4-mile). Despite this and the availability of

better options, the price tag to upgrade presents a significant difference that many choose not to invest in. In normal environments, this material will carry a 25-year warranty and an expected life of 70-plus years.

In severe marine environments, it may serve up to 25 years or more, even within the distance disclaimed by the warranty. Expect a shorter roof life as the proximity to the coastline and headwinds decrease. Use bare, mill-finish material, not prepainted, especially in direct salt spray. In this environment, paint coatings actually exacerbate corrosive effects at cut edges, minor scratches and severe radius bends.

Aluminum: .032” or .040” unpainted sheet aluminum will generally do somewhat better than coated steel and yield a 20-30 percent service life improvement. It may also cost 20-30 percent more. Again, with prepainted material, the aforementioned problems exist so the precautions are the same.

Titanium Zinc: The oxide layer that forms on zinc sheeting in a salt environment is chloride rather than hydroxide. This material demonstrates good performance in marine environments. Although manufacturers provide only limited warranties, historic performance is significantly better than coated steel.

Expect a service life of about 80 years. Talk to the manufacturer for additional recommendations with regards to surface finishes.

Copper and Tin-Zinc Coated Copper: Bare sheet copper will obtain a green patina (which represents oxide layers) much faster in seacoast environments than inland. The expected life of this material in coastal environments is in the range of 75-100 years for 16 oz. material and slightly longer for 20 oz. material.

Warranted life from manufacturers may be only 25 years or less, but the material will far outlive its warranty. The tin-zinc coated product will not perform as well as bare copper, primarily because of earlier degradation of the coating that will present some objectionable cosmetic issues. This may happen only after extended years of exposure or it may happen much sooner, depending on the nature and severity of the contaminants and the proximity to breaking surf.

Stainless Steel: Stainless steel sheeting is available in a number of different alloys. 316-L is a “marine-grade” with lower carbon content than other alloys. It is better suited for coastal applications and provides significantly better performance than coated carbon steel, but at a higher price tag as well. Stainless should render a service life in excess of 100 years in coastal applications. Remember though, it is stainless, not stainproof.

Lead Sheet: The best of the bunch but fallen from grace and commercially unavailable.

Rob Haddock, the inventor of metal roof attachment solutions, is an award-winning roof-forensics expert, author, lecturer and building envelope scientist and has worked in various aspects of metal roofing for nearly five decades. For more information, visit www.s-5.com. www.floridaroof.com | FLORIDA ROOFING

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Benefits of Becoming a Manufacturer Certified Installer Kathi Miller, Architectural National Accounts, McElroy Metal Manufacturer certification programs can be a source of confusion. Most often, the confusion stems from using words like “certified,” “approved,” “authorized,” and “qualified” interchangeably. While they may mean the same thing to architects and building owners, those terms often mean completely different things to manufacturers and contractors.

For this article, let’s assume that “certification” means an installer has completed system-specific installation training by the metal panel manufacturer.

With that definition established, let’s focus on discussing the benefits of being a “certified” installer for your next project.

Better Quality Installs

While we all know there are no guarantees in life, being a certified installer on your next metal roofing project certainly increases the odds of a better-quality installation. For starters, attendees are exposed to the various system components during the certification process. Successful attendees also learn how the roofing system pieces fit together and proper installation techniques. And equally important, good training programs also address common errors to avoid.

Consequently, becoming a “certified” installer leads to greater confidence in your work, builds your reputation and ultimately helps you gain repeat clients as well as referrals.

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FLORIDA ROOFING | October 2021

Weathertightness Warranty Requirement

While the expectations vary by manufacturer, it is quite common for manufacturers to require contractor certification for weathertightness warranties. Problems can occur when the specifications don’t require contractor certification, yet it’s a requirement for warranty issuance by the manufacturer. When the installing contractor isn’t certified, the manufacturer can refuse to issue the warranty. As you can imagine, this is especially problematic when it’s not identified until after your installation is complete.

Consequently, if you plan to offer a weathertightness warranty with your project, the first step should be to consider the warranty type required and the manufacturer’s requirements for warranty issue. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to have a manufacturer’s representative review the architect’s plans and specifications to ensure you’re covered. While that may feel like an extra step to you, it can save untold confusion, missed expectations and change orders.

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General contractors and architects routinely place a high value on the commitment that becoming a “certified” installer requires. It’s important to note that you are also committing to a partnership with the manufacturer.

Those types of commitments typically indicate professionalism and a desire for craftsmanship, leading to higher quality installs as well as more and better jobs.

Becoming manufacturer certified can also be a perk to employees Commitment and a way to retain them in a tough staffing market. By While becoming a manufacturer-certified installer isn’t having crew members become certified, you’re showan impossible process, there are most certainly hard ing a commitment to them as well. and soft costs involved. The hard costs include things like course registration fees and travel expenses. But in the tight labor market, the soft cost of taking one or Manufacturer Contact Wouldn’t it be nice if you could “phone a friend” for two key crew members out of the field for a couple of questions that come up during installation? While not days is often the more significant of the two costs.

Consequently, becoming a certified installer typical- guaranteed, there’s a good chance that becoming a certified installer means just that. Manufacturers ly means you are committing to the trade of installing that offer training programs to certify roofers are metal roofing and learning the proper techniques. committed to having their products FRSA Credit Union Equipment Loan installed correctly.

Consequently, the folks As a not-for-profit credit union, our member business who teach the certifiowners benefit from competitive rates and low fees. cation classes present a wealth of knowledge.

Apply today. Visit www.FRSACU.org.

By spending time with the trainers during that certification process, relationships between the manufacturer and class attendees routinely develop.

And perhaps most importantly, contact information is usually exchanged.

The trainers can often be a great source for product-related questions once crews are on the jobsite. Over time, they have seen For more information, contact Adrienne at apaul@frsacu.org unique conditions you can only imagine, 407-657-7212 | www.FRSAcu.org 32

FLORIDA ROOFING | October 2021

identified problems and solutions and developed best practices. All of this means that when someone on the project team (architect, contractor or your superintendent) has a question, you’ll likely have an existing relationship with an expert when you have become a certified installer.

Quicker Install

The chances are good that every owner you work with wants their project finished on the project schedule, if not before. In a perfect world, that’s a reasonable expectation. But we all know that construction is a messy business. Delays occur on materials from other trades, mistakes and re-work happen and schedules often fall by the wayside early in the project. While becoming a certified contractor can’t work miracles with your project schedule, certified installer crews routinely install products quicker than their noncertified counterparts.

This doesn’t mean non-certified contractors are bad, but they often lack familiarity with manufacturers’ specific products, parts and pieces. So instead of taking time to learn the system on a project, certified installers arrive at the site with the experience that allows them to reduce the install time and get projects done more quickly.

Key Considerations for Achieving Manufacturer Certification

While the benefits of manufacturer certification are numerous, there are some key considerations when including this selling point on your projects.

Programs Differ. While the term manufacturer certification is used interchangeably through the metal roof and wall panel industry, certification programs vary widely between manufacturers. Some manufacturers conduct their programs in a conference room at a local hotel where participants are taught only through PowerPoint or by reviewing install manuals for one or two hours.

Other programs are much more robust, lasting one to two days and include contractors physically working with tools, panels and accessories to learn handson how to install the product properly. Additionally, the more robust programs typically require attendees to take and pass an exam after the training, where a passing score is usually necessary to obtain certification.

Some manufacturers also include basic credit checks as a part of their certification processes. While the approach varies, manufacturers often look at how long a company has been in business, payment history and an asset to debt ratio to ensure financial strength as part of their certification process. Some manufacturers also research the contractor to ensure there isn’t any open litigation pending.

www.floridaroof.com | FLORIDA ROOFING

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(or may not, in many cases) be familiar with our system. Consequently, we can no longer indicate that ABC Roofing is a certified contractor.

■ Bob, a long-time superintendent for ABC Roofing, attends our certification program and passes all requirements. A few months later ABC Roofing wins a bid for a project that requires a certified installer, but Bob is working on a project across town, so another foreman at ABC Roofing, Jack, handles the install. Since Jack didn’t complete our certification process, we have no way of knowing his skillset or familiarity with our systems and consequently can’t certify him as a certified installer.

Bidders Can Be Limited. While becoming a certified installer can help ensure the benefits previously discussed, it’s important to note that project specifications requiring certification limit the bidding pool.

Depending on your perspective, fewer bidders on a project can be a good or a bad thing. Architects often want more bidders to ensure competitive numbers, while contractors typically prefer a smaller bidding pool to limit the madness on bid day and bid shopping before a project is awarded. Consequently, the requirement for certified installers can be a double-edge sword. It can effectively keep your competitors out, but if you aren’t certified with the specified manufacturer, it can also prevent you from bidding on the project in a couple of ways:

Bottom line: If you’re going to the trouble to obtaining contractor certification, don’t forget to ensure that the actual crew on the roof is certified by the manufacturer. Without this step, you’ll likely struggle to achieve the benefits we’ve discussed and, perhaps more importantly, a manufacturer may refuse to issue a weathertightness warranty.

Certification Expires: Once achieved, manufacturer certification typically lasts for a limited time frame.

Once the established time passes, contractors are required to complete a recertification process. This process varies widely by the manufacturer and is often impacted by the contractor’s quantity and quality of work during their initial certification window.

From your perspective, it’s most important to understand that certifications can (and do) expire.

Consequently, if installer certification continues to be important to you, it’s imperative that you maintain certification status.

Always have a copy of your contractor certification available for anyone who requests it. Being able to offer skills as a certified installer on your next standing seam project offers a host of benefits; understand them and use them to differentiate yourself from your competitors and secure your next project.

FRM

Kathi Miller is in charge of Architectural National Accounts at McElroy Metal. She can be reached at 1. You may be able to get certified but can’t do so kmiller@mcelroymetal.com. Since 1963, McElroy Metal within the time frame the project requires. has served the construction industry with quality prod2. You simply may not be able to meet the manufacucts and excellent customer service. The family-owned turer’s specified criteria. components manufacturer is headquartered in Bossier Know the Specifics of Your Certification. While City, La. and has 13 manufacturing facilities across the there are some variations, most manufacturers certify United States. Quality, service and performance have the individual who attended the training program been the cornerstone of McElroy Metal’s business instead of the company that employs them. While that philosophy and have contributed to the success of the approach is a slight nuance, it is important and often company through the years. As a preferred service prooverlooked. Consider these examples: vider, these values will continue to be at the forefront ■ Bob, a long-time superintendent for ABC Roofing, of McElroy Metal’s model along with a strong focus on the customer. More information can be found at attends our certification program and passes all www.mcelroymetal.com. requirements. But a few months later, in a tight labor market, DEF Roofing steals him away to work for them. The remaining crew at ABC Roofing may 34

FLORIDA ROOFING | October 2021

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A Silent Epidemic: Suicide in the Construction Industry and How Employers Can Help Brad Bush, Senior Vice President, HUB International Florida

For more than a decade, headlines across Florida have been sounding the alarm on mental health.

■ 61 percent of adults with mental illness haven’t received treatment ■ 3.3 percent of adults in Florida have had serious thoughts of suicide ■ 90 percent of Florida counties reported more suicides than homicides ■ The state is in 43rd place in terms of per capita support for mental health services.

Clearly, many Floridians are sufferings. When it comes to the construction industry, including roofing contractors and their employees, the picture gets even worse. Young adults – those most likely to work in construction – are those most at risk for depression and other mental illness and also the group most at risk for death by suicide.

the culture inside your roofing organization and make a difference to your employees.

Typically, construction employers have a reactive response to an employee suicide, with counselors made available for a short period to help co-workers work through their grief.

This may be helpful in the moment but does very little to prevent suicide.

Begin with Education

Share information in an authentic, meaningful way.

This likely isn’t appropriate as a formal presentation at your annual training meeting. Rather, think small group formats or a break-out session. If you aren’t comfortAn Industry Under Strain able handling the topic yourself, work with a third party The epidemic is raging beneath the surface, so few to create an appropriate training for your employees. are even aware of it. Even if they have been personally You can even reach out to your insurance broker for impacted by a suicide, most roofing employers aren’t resources. aware of the ways the work itself can contribute to The trick is to empower your employees, not scare the problem. Work is seasonal, money can be tight. them. This isn’t just about raising awareness, although Roofing is stressful, a job in which one wrong step can that certainly helps. It’s about bringing your team literally make the difference between a normal day at together to look out for each other and support each work and a dramatic fall that can lead to broken bones other during the difficult times. and a lifetime of health issues.

Topics should include signs of stress, observable What’s more, these health issues don’t even have symptoms of depression and suicide awareness. to stem from a fall. Roofers’ bodies are under tremenApproximately 70 percent of those who die by suicide dous strain just from the work itself, standing all day in make direct or indirect statements that send a signal. extreme heat, walking carefully on a sloped roof all day This is not about diagnosing but identifying a concern long. In order to stay safe, it’s imperative that workers and reaching out to your coworker or notifying human stay alert and keep their wits about them. resources for guidance. The risk factors and warning In addition, the industry is overwhelmingly male, signs need to be openly discussed. They include: which means mental health is a problem that goes largely ignored. Men often prefer not to discuss their Risk Factors problems or reveal their mental health issues, so they ■ A family history of suicide or a history of trauma may be less likely to ask for help, either from a friend or a professional.

■ Suffering from a serious physical illness

Make a Change

It’s hard or even impossible to change the culture of the entire world, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept it. You can take active steps to change 36

FLORIDA ROOFING | October 2021

■ Having attempted suicide ■ Financial or relationship pressures ■ Lack of support networks ■ Cultural stigma over mental health

Indicators of Mental Stress ■ Weight and appetite changes ■ Chronic headaches ■ A tight chest ■ Anxiety and indecision ■ Loss of motivation ■ Increased sensitivity ■ Low self-esteem ■ Increased smoking and drinking ■ Withdrawal or aggression

mental health do better when they feel they have a “village” that supports them. If you can create that village at your organization, you and your employees will benefit.

Progress doesn’t even have to introduce a financial strain on your organization. In fact, most employers already have a tool to assist with this issue: the employee assistance provider (EAP). Yet very few employees even know it’s available. As part of your awareness training, task every employee to enter the number for your EAP in their cell phone contacts.

Mental health requires the help of a professional and this is no exception.

FRM

■ Reckless behaviors ■ Difficulty concentrating Despite the financial and emotional strain, roofing employers must create a supportive, open environment for their workers. Those who struggle with

Brad Bush is a Senior Vice President in the Jacksonville region for HUB International Florida. Brad works throughout the Southeast and specializes in construction, working with contractors on both their surety and insurance needs.

What to Do About Animal or Insect Infestation in Roof Spaces Liza Barth, GAF Animals or insects like to find a safe haven in the attic or roof spaces of a home – and these unwanted visitors can wreak havoc for homeowners. That is when they will likely call on a contractor to help fix the problems caused by infestation.

The first step is to know the typical points of entry so it’s easy to find the trouble spots: ■ Gaps or missing pieces of fascia or soffit ■ Openings in exterior cladding or siding ■ Open or ajar gable vents or windows ■ Openings at the ridge or ridge vent ■ Open or uncapped chimneys.

These areas and any other openings in a home’s exterior shell should be properly sealed to prevent animals and insects from migrating into a home. For example, if the top of the chimney is open, this may allow birds to escape the elements by nesting in the flue.

Installing a chimney cap is a good way to prevent them from moving in. Other types of animals and insects to look out for include bees, bats, squirrels, raccoons, mice and rats. Each of these unwanted pests could cause serious problems, including damage to the roof, attic structure and electrical wiring, the spreading of disease and the added risk of fire.

Contractors should ask the homeowner if they’ve noticed any of these common signs of infestation:

■ Scurrying and scratching sounds ■ Signs of gnawing on wood and electrical cables ■ Signs of animal or bird droppings ■ Signs of urination ■ Smells ■ Hives or nests present Here are some tips contractors can share with homeowners to make sure their home is critter-free: ■ Inspect the exterior of the home to make sure any openings or gaps in the exterior cladding or siding are sealed ■ Make sure all areas of the fascia and soffit are tight and sealed with no gaps or openings ■ Make sure the chimney flue is capped or closed off when not in use ■ Take note of any new or odd animal behavior in your yard, like squirrels traveling across the roof or electrical wires ■ Trim trees and surrounding foliage to prevent easy access to the roof ■ Perform regular inspections of the attic areas.

FRM

www.floridaroof.com | FLORIDA ROOFING

37

COTNEY CONSULTING GROUP John Kenney, CEO, Cotney Consulting Group

How Profit Fade Will Eat at Your Bottom Line Profit fade for roofing companies is always an issue, but with rising material costs and stiff competition, it becomes an even greater problem during these trying times. Profit fade occurs when a company’s profits are less than expected due to the dynamic nature of the roofing business. A company’s initial calculations for extraordinarily complex and time-consuming projects may not match up in the end, leading to profit fade.

Sometimes profit fade is linked to external factors; like many businesses are currently experiencing, such as price increases in materials. Other factors can be wrong estimates, poor subcontractor performance or unbillable changes. Even unpredictable weather can cause profit fade if there is not a good contingency plan in place.

Monitor profits and costs during the length of a project. Work with your project managers and accountants collaboratively and adapt to issues as they arise.

Some Causes of Profit Fade ■ Early downward cost estimate adjustments. Take time to review project costs to gain more control and achieve greater consistency in construction costs.

■ Aggressive upfront bidding can lead to underestimates of costs, job delays and poor execution.

■ Change orders can be costly if a client decides to delay or change some aspects of a project. Avoid this by allowing the client to select all features of their project upfront.

How to Prevent Profit Fade

First, know the common causes of profit fade, especially those that can affect your revenue-earning operations. Recall past experiences and previous projects. This can give you a list of ideas. Knowing and understanding common incidences can help you prioritize pressing threats to maximize your return on investment.

Examine the most pressing threats to estimate how they can impact your revenue-earning operations.

Estimate the impact of potential threats by using a combination of your previous experiences coupled with an understanding of the business environment.

This allows you to devise numerical estimates to identify the amount of time and effort you will need to mitigate such threats.

Establish a thorough review process to accomplish,

detect and manage profit fade. This will help you assess your finances and improve your business process moving forward.

Evaluate your estimating procedures and have another managementlevel employee review bids to ensure all costs are covered. Review your projection methods on a regular basis to ensure you are getting the best results.

Review various types of projects representing a cross-section of your business and review estimates by comparing figures to actual costs. This will help you determine if your proposed gross profit is attainable.

When reviewing estimates, be sure you have included man-hours and materials and make allowances for inclement weather.

Consider these questions before going out to bid and eliminate profit fade: 1. What methods are you using to allocate overhead to jobs?

2. What situations could cause job delays?

3. Are you accurately assigning job costs?

4. Are you spending an appropriate amount of time reviewing bids?

5. Are there recurring problems with jobs?

6. How will change orders affect your overall profitability?

7. Are you analyzing why your profits are less than anticipated?

Seek help from a third party if you are unsure about how to assess the current environment and the perils it may present.

Put Expertise on Your Team

Due to the complexities of so many construction projects, you need general contractors and project managers with the experience and expertise to oversee your operations and produce accurate estimates.

You need leaders who can put their estimates and your plans into action, who know well the expenses and costs of each project. It is pertinent that your team Continued on page 42

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Supreme Roofing and Construction: Going Above and Beyond

In our extreme South Florida weather, the importance of a structurally sound roof cannot be understated.

One Miami Gardens roofing company is setting the standard for service and showing how important it is to cover your community.

Supreme Roofing and Construction has been owned by Deric T. Smith, a Miami Gardens native, for over 15 years. Their products and services include shingles, low slopes, rubber, tile and metal roofs serving Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

“The heart of Supreme is not a business for us: it’s that we love our community,” Smith said. “I have a love for the elderly ladies and the children in our community.” Recently, Supreme fixed the roof on Pink and Blue Children’s Academy in Miami Gardens.

“The roof was bad and they had babies in there,” Smith said. So, while the typical bill for that type of

service would have been close to $23,000, his company fixed the roof free-of-charge.

Smith believes philanthropy is his responsibility as a business owner. “My company motto is, we do it right because we love to sleep at night.” That’s why the company regularly participates in food giveaways, donating school supplies, sponsoring local events and helping the elderly.

Supreme is also involved in charity events including school supply drives, a Thanksgiving food and toy drive for homeless shelters in Miami-Dade and Broward, and a hurricane prep seminar. They’ll also provide meals at a workshop teaching the elderly how to avoid uncertified contractors and scammers. And throughout the pandemic, the company was able to donate personal protective equipment, water and sanitizer to those in need.

A Business Administration major in college, Smith never thought he would get into roofing. His mother, who was a roofing sales rep for a large company, was his inspiration.

His business has held strong for almost two decades and has survived the COVID-19 pandemic. Supreme saw demand increase as people made home improvements, and now, during the middle of hurricane season, demand continues to grow.

Smith said he doesn’t advertise much; he just keeps his business at the pulse of community affairs.

“Ninety-two percent of my business is through word of mouth, which speaks to the quality of service we provide,” he said.

Offering a word of encouragement to future business owners and community members, he said, “Encourage kids to not only play sports, but to be involved in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). We have to educate and do things for ourselves and our communities. We need to do better for our communities.”

FRM

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FLORIDA ROOFING | October 2021

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Profit Fade, continued from page 38

be able to forecast where you may experience profit fade and find ways to compensate for those losses or increase revenue elsewhere.

Be sure to keep an open dialogue with your project managers and their team, as this will be beneficial when it comes time to look for ways to cut costs. Work closely with your accounting team during each project to make sure you are on budget and funds are used in the most optimal way.

A good project manager will manage costs and people on the job efficiently to avoid profit fade. Your estimator can also be a source of profit fade if their bids are too optimistic or too aggressive. Look at whether low bids are the reason for any lack of acceptable profits.

Consider a Gain-Fade Analysis

A gain-fade analysis is an excellent tool for specialty trade contractors to analyze job performance. Most companies prepare work-in-progress schedules to determine where a project stands on profitability.

Conduct a gain-fade analysis to evaluate gross profit trends on your projects over multiple periods for a more in-depth look. The analysis focuses on the yearto-year differences in total estimated and actual costs for each job. It helps you determine if there are any

substantial patterns. Seeing the differences in your gross margin from year to year helps avoid profit fade.

Remember, a high-profit fade can diminish confidence with lenders in your ability to estimate and manage jobs, so it is essential to analyze your potential for profit fade by ensuring your estimating process is in great shape and all costs and risks are assessed before you submit bids. If you need help, reach out to a third party with the expertise to analyze your risk and potential threats that can drag you down.

FRM

John Kenney has over 45 years of experience in the roofing industry. He started his career by working as a roofing apprentice at a family business in the Northeast and worked his way up to operating multiple Top 100 Roofing Contractors. As CEO, John is intimately familiar with all aspects of roofing production, estimating and operations. During his tenure in the industry, John ran business units associated with delivering excellent workmanship and unparalleled customer service while ensuring his company’s strong net profits before joining Cotney Consulting Group. If you would like any further information on this or another subject, you can contact John at jkenney@cotneyconsulting.com.

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULATION (Required by USC 3685) 1. Publication title: Florida Roofing Magazine; 2. Publication No. 0191-4615; 3. Filling Date 10/1/2021; 4. Issue Frequency: monthly; 5. Number of Issues: 12; 6. Annual Subscription Price: $24; 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 3855 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL 32817; 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: 3855 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL 32817; 9.

Full Names and Complete Mailing Address of Publisher, Editor and Managing Editor: Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association Inc., 3855 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL 32817; Publisher: Lisa Pate, Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Association Inc., 3855 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL 32817; Editor: Lisa Pate, 3855 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL 32817; Managing Editor: Lisa Pate, 3855 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL 32817; 10. Owner: Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association Inc, 3855 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL 32817; 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders: None; 12. Tax Status-The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months; 13. Publication Title: Florida Roofing Magazine; 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: October 1, 2021; 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: 15a.

Total Numbers of Copies: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 5,000; 15a. Number of copies of Single Issue Published Nearest Filing Date: 5,000; 15b. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution: b.1. Outside-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: None; b.2. In-County Paid/ Requested Mail Subscription Stated on PS Form 3541: None; b.3. Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid or Requested Distribution Outside USPS: None; b.4. Requested Copies Distributed by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS: None; c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 5,000; 15d. Nonrequested Distribution; d.1. Outside-County Nonrequested Copies included on PS Form 3541: None; d.2. In-County Nonrequested Copies Included on PS Form 3541: None; d.3. Nonrequested Copies Distributed Through the USPS by Other Classes of Mail: None; d.4. Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail: None; e. Total Nonrequested Distribution: None; f. Total Distribution: 5,000; g. Copies Not Distributed: None; h. Total: 4 None; i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 100%; 16. Electronic Copy Circulation; a. Requested and Paid Electronic Copies: None; b. Total Requested and Paid Print Copies + Requested/Paid Electronic Copies: None; c.

Total Requested Copy Distribution + Requested/Paid Electronic Copies: None; d. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: None; 17. Publication of Statement of Ownership for a Requestor Publication is required and will be printed in the October 2021 issue of this publication.

42

FLORIDA ROOFING | October 2021

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