Cheers to Roofers World

Jen Spruit “Just Do it” is finishing up her last day here fulltime at Roofers World. It was a great pleasure working with everyone here. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn so much and participate in so many projects. I truly learned a lot about all segments of marketing/business and lessons/guidance from everyone here.

I hope someone keeps up my blog and social media baby. Cheers to 2011.

Little Red Screw Top

I thought it was funny when a roofer called me today from Montreal to get the scoop on why the Little Red handle screwed off at the top? He was having an argument with his boss on the jobsite and decided to get the truth by calling our number.

What do you think? Is it for a pipe extender or to store your prized possessions? We’re leaving up your imagination. What would you put in there?

Interesting Facts About the Red Ripper

Interesting Facts About the Red Ripper

Google “The Red Rippers” and learn the history of the famous squadron of fighter planes first commissioned in the early 1900s to fight many wars to come. The original Red Rippers flew strikes and flew through many battles. Today the fleet has evolved in improving its precision bombing, air control, and target accuracy. The Red Ripper Squadron was awarded for battle efficiency, outstanding and spirited fighting, and safety.

Let the Battle Begin

Like the merciless Red Ripper fighter planes, the Roofers World Red Ripper is just as feisty while flinging shingles.

Today the Red Ripper is up against the struggling steel shovel and heavy-weight back busting shingle shredders. Let’s see who will pack the most punches.

A square of shingles weighs between 235-425 pounds. So when you are pushing 56000 pounds of shingles on a typical 2400 square foot roof, a robust, lightweight, and ergonomic tool is lifesaving.

The Red Ripper

The Red Ripper tears shingles 30% faster & cleaner than its competitors. Recoup the costs of the tool is just one job. Think paying one guy $20/hour for 8 hours, working 30% faster = $50 labor savings.

The Red Ripper has dual action teeth to pry shingles and nails back and front. The patented beveled teeth reach nails and lift shingles in sheets rather than shreds.

The Canadian ash wood hand is durable and incomparably lightweight to pure steel shovels. The Red Ripper head is made with tempered powder coated steel to keep the robust power.

VS

The Shingle Shredders

The shingle shredders come in strong and mighty with their heavy weight pure steel design but this is only adding extra pressure to the back & arms.

Short teeth or large flat heads may lead some to think this will speed up the tear off but it provides minimal grip on the nails and requires more leverage.

These tools will outlast many but like a new oil change, a fresh tool is more efficient and economic.

Metal Roofing: Your Last Roof

Thumbs up for Metal Roofing

Metal roofing material has incomparable engineered strength, longevity, weather resistance and energy conservation to traditional asphalt shingles.

Metal roofing has evolved dramatically over the years. According to MRA president, “originally, metal roofing companies offered only vertical, roll-formed panels, which don’t really fit well into suburban neighborhoods. But today, there are products that resemble shingles, tile, slate, cedar shakes and any other product. It’s even possible to have the panels painted or treated to give the metal an aged appearance, so the “shakes” fit with the age of the home.

A few years ago, metal roofing was a hard sell but homeowners are becoming increasingly aware of the downfalls of the quick fix solution of asphalt shingles. In truth metal roofing is expensive when compared to the initial price of an asphalt shingle but it is a wise investment. Metal roofing actually costs less than asphalt roofing when life cycle costing is considered. 

source: decra.com

Recouped Costs

Homes upgraded with quality metal roofing typically see costs recouped at more than three quarters of the job cost. In some cases, home appraisers increase the sale price of home with metal roofs by $1.45 per square. Some insurance companies provide up to a 35% discount on home insurance due to the extra hail and weather protection of metal roofs.

Eco and Energy Benefits

Energy savings are strongly influenced by the solar reflective properties of the roofing material. Homeowners report on energy savings of 20% or more due to a reduction in attic heat gain and the sun’s reflection.

“For homes in warmer climates, pre-painted or granular coated metal roofing systems not only reflect solar energy but also cool your home by re-emitting most of what solar radiation is absorbed. Where annual cooling loads dominate, a highly reflective and highly emissive painted or granular-coated metal roof is optimal for reducing energy consumption and can actually re-emit up to 90% of absorbed solar radiation.” – Metal Roofing.com

 The steel in most metal roofing panels are made of 56% recycled material and can be installed over existing asphalt roofs, reducing landfill waste and supporting a quick installation.

 Quick Installation

Metal roofs are admired by homeowners and roofing contractors for their quick install. Each panel is approximately 4’ x 1’, and easily snap together. As mentioned earlier, tear off is not required in most jobs because metal roofing can be installed over asphalt and wood shakes.

Weather Resistant & Protected
 
The average roof life of a shingle or wood shake roof is less than 17 years requiring a full replacement in every 10-15 years. Metal roofs last up to at least 40 to 60 years due to the intelligent engineering of the product. Metal roofs are stand up to 120mph winds, have superior corrosion resistance, and additional UV protection in the stone chip finish to prevent fading. So if your roof lasts for the 40 years, it will have maintained its appearance to term.

Most importantly to a roofs life is proper ventilation. Metal roofing panels have a non-porous surface which prevents the freezing and thawing effect in the cold climates. Also, they are made with Class A material that will not curl, crack, warp, break, or split. Be spared from fire with the benefit of fire protection.

When getting metal roofing installed, ensure the roofing contractor is qualified to install this material and it is appropriate for your roof type. Any roof that is installed right the first time will last for years without problems.

The Truth about Asphalt Roofing

The majority of Canadian homeowners’ install asphalt roofing because it is the cheapest roof material, simple attractive design, and has a manufacturer claimed lifespan of 15 – 30 years. In fact, in most cases asphalt shingles are not coming to terms or even close to the warranty.

CBC Market watch did a broadcast on shingle warranty claims in January 2010 showing that warranty claims are just as thin as their shingles.  “We find in 12 years they are falling apart. This roof is supposed to last 25 years. This shingle looks to me like garbage.” – Contractor at Cavanaugh Roofing. When a homeowner went to claim a 25 year warranty on a 10 year old roof, he found out about the “limited” section.” A new roof would cost him $6000 and he will only receive $600 worth of shingles toward his roof. 10 years ago, this homeowner forked out $3000 for a new roof. He bought 25 year shingles.

click photo for CBC marketplace video

However, the lifespan of a shingle depends on environmental impacts. The average asphalt shingle is only made of wood and paper fibers, so once the granules wear away the exposed shingle begins to breakdown and curl. In fact, asphalt roods need to be replaced 4 – 8 times before a metal roof.

When installing new asphalt shingles, most roofing companies must strip old shingles before laying down the new ones. The typical cost to for a shingle roof tear off is up to $150 per square. Each year, asphalt roofs are being stripped and reinstalled causing a huge landfill build-up as non recycled shingles take 100-300 years to decompose.

More homeowners are making the shift to metal roofing.

Strategic Product Placement

“As competition increases, vendors and distributors are becoming more aware of the importance of correctly merchandising their products. That awareness is leading to better point-of-sale displays & planograms.”

Increase Sales

• Increase space productivity with assured product placement
• Tighter inventory control and a reduction in stock-outs
• Encourages JIT supply chain management
• Simple product replenishment
• Increase sales with a strategic and attractive visual display

Strategic Product Placement Tips

• You may use an expensive software to develop a planogram, or small and independent retailers often use word processors or paper and pen to create a shelf layout
• If you have additional selling aids or collateral, be sure to include placement for this material
• The most profitable products should have the most facings at eye level
• Planograms will change over time as you introduce new products or reposition products that are in season

 

Sales history proves that positioning like products together will increase sales. Would you be more likey to pick up a roofing tool if it was in the same section as the shingles and roofing nails? Or do you have time and interest to travel to the tools section of the store to browse new products? Not likely. Rona (our most recent distributor) is the first retailer to consolidate our full roofing tools line into planogram in the roofing shingles section. They recognize that contractors don’t have time to spend alot of time in the store, so they are making it easier for them to find what they need and check out.

We are currently running a promotion for stores to “Show Your Roofers World”. Consolidate our products into a 2’ or 4’ planogram & monitor the results. If you are a hardware, LBM or roofing dealer, please contact us at 1-800-352-6147 for more information on the program.

Now….contractors/roofers, what is your opinion on having roofing tools in the store? Where do you like to buy your materials and why?

Gift Ideas for Contractors

Many people are realizing today that there are 5 more days til christmas and only 5 more days to shop. You’ve made a list, checked it twice and now you are looking for those last items.

I find the hardest person to buy for on my christmas list is my dad the contractor. I have no idea how and what tools to buy, he always buys what he needs, and he has a TON clothes (because that is what he gets for his birthday and christmas from my sister and I and his wife).

This year and every year I ask him what he WANTS or NEEDS. His response this year is I don’t want anything that comes in a box, he wants an experience of a night on the town with his girls. So that’s what we got him a night on the town at Lonestar.

Every year people are getting caught in this consumerism stressful mess trying to hunt for the perfect and best gifts. And just when you think you are almost done and your credit card is almost maxed, you feel remorse that you didn’t buy enough so you buy some more. But what really matters to most people is sharing memories and great food with family/friends. The gifts are unwrapped within seconds but memories last forever.

But the Christmas tradition of gift giving is still alive so let’s make this mission easier by working with some ideas of what to buy the “handyman” or “handywoman” on your list if you don’t have a clue about tools.

1. A chair massage cushion. I picked up a couple from Winners this christmas for $16!! Of course you have to give these gifts a testrun before you give them away to make sure they work. Amazing! Perfect for the labourer that is shy about getting a professional massage.

2. Cooking to the Heart. Make a basket of his/her favourite foods. My dad is a HUGE soup lover (everday in his lunch) so one year I made him a huge batch of french onion soup, fresh loaf of homemade bread, and throw in a brick of cheese and soup cookbook into the basket. Be creative and make it personal.

3. Innovative Multi-Purpose Tools. Each year there are some interesting new tools coming into stores. You will see them in trade magazines like Mike Holmes, on HomeHardware commercials or featured in newspapers. Chances are the contractor on your list has run to the store to buy them. Look for multi-purpose tools with loaded benefits. The Little Red Ripper is a great example of a tool that can be used for all interior and exterior demolitions.

4. Morning Kick Start. Living with a landscaper, I recognize that coffee is very important to some people to get their morning kick start. A great idea for these guys/gals is an automatic programmable coffee maker. Set up the coffee to brew the night before, plug the time and your coffee is freshly made for you in the morning before you head out the door. Add some travel mugs, thermos, and jar of coffee to make the gift complete.

5. Lasting Experiences. Like I said earlier some things you can’t buy in a store – experiences. You can spend the big bucks and buy tickets to a hockey game or concert. Spend a little less by getting a gift card for dinner or night out on the town (and set the date) with family/friends.

Generic stereotypical gift ideas are just a start but buying gifts really comes down to the person. My dad doesn’t want clothes but my landscaping boyfriend may be desperately in need of some new shirts and long johns. If you can get a response on what they need/want – that is great! But if not, then sit and think about a gift from the heart.

Best of luck to all on their dash of christmas shopping. A few tips of advice – make a list before you go, bring it with you, don’t be in a rush, wear comfy shoes, leave your scarf and mitts in the car and avoid group shopping if possible (it slows you down).

Please share your comments and ideas of what are buying that handyman/woman this year.

Purpose of Roofing Safety Regulations

The discussion I started on roofingtalk.com - “roofing safety for old-school roofers” – is getting pretty heated. There is a battle between whether roofing safety is common sense or a rebellious gamble with fate.

It is true that part of roofing safety is about your awareness on the roof. Your balance on different slopes, awareness of who/what is around you, and ability to multi-task. But you are playing the odds if you rely only on your senses. There are some things that you have no control over like neglecting to see the rotton spot on the roof, the hose behind your foot or a sudden unbalance in your footing. Safety is a choice. You can choose to play the odds or eliminate the risk.

“When I am trying to educate construction workers on safety, I tell them “Safety is what you do when no one is looking”. If you take safety seriously, then you are going to do your work safely whether there are rules or not.”

The purpose of safety regulations is not to bully you, question your experience or slap a big fine - it is to decrease the fatality statistic. “Falls in construction account for about 1/3 of all fatalities in construction work every year. Roofers and iron workers are the two trades that account for the majority of fatalities due to falls.” This applies equally to the experienced and new roofer.

“It is not true that green horns are the ones getting hurt. One fatalitiy that I investigated was a 29 year old roofing foreman who had 10 years of experience. He became complacent about his need for fall protection and fell 32 feet to his death. He left behind a young wife and child. His fall protection harness was in the job box on the roof. He never put it on which was a violation of a company rule and an OSHA regulation.”

Fall protection laws is like the law to wear your seat belt. Before it was a note to wear at your caution. When the law was first implemented, it was easy to forget to buckle up. Now it is second nature. Once you break the rules once and get away with it, it is easier to do it the next time and develop a habit. There are more pros to developing the positive habits.

“Let me ask you which is safer. Doing a roof tearoff with ropes and hoses on the roof or falling to the ground because you have zero fall protection? One slip or trip and you’re gone! I don’t care how long you have been working on roofs without fall protection. It is just a matter of time before you become a statistic. That’s reality and the only way to prevent that is to properly use fall protection equipment. Many roofers have never been properly trained to use fall protection equipment in the first place.”

The resources are there. OSHA has a comprehensive safety manual, in-house safety programs, and comprehensive safety programs.  Right now, the NRCA is offering free online course on fall protection for new (or experienced) roofers.

What are your thoughts and experiences on this topic?

Required Roofing Protective Gear

You have your  roofing tools, and safety gear but are you dressed for the part? These roofing protective wear requirements were provided by Washington State of Labor & Industries. 

Protective Gear	Built-Up Roof	Single-Ply Roof	Shingle Roof	Sheet Metal Roof	Modified Bitumen Roof
Long pants with cuffs that don’t cover top of the boot	x	x	x	x	x
A long-sleeved shirt, buttoned at the cuff	x	x			x
Boots with thick rubber or composite soles	x	x	x	x	x
Gloves with fitted cuff	x	x	x	x	fitted cotton or leather
Goggles or safety glasses	x	x		x	x
Full face shield when handling heat equipment	x				x

Few more tips:

• Wear a hard hat where there is a hazard above.
• Use rubber gloves when working with chemicals, sealants or adhesives

Something as simple as neglecting to wearing eye goggles causes more than 10,600 eye injuries each year (Source: The CPWR). Protect yourself and know the eye hazards on the job site.

Did you know there is a legislation for hard hats?! “All the helmets must be conformed to the ANSI Z89.1-1997 standards for Industrial Protective Helmets.” Hard hats are designed to protect workers heads through the exterior (repel impact) and interior (shock absorber) structure. There are different classes for exposure to electricity.

Can you share any more specific guidelines that aren’t listed here?

Issues Using Roofing Safety Harnesses

This post was influenced by my dad’s rant of how he thinks these tough roofing safety regulations are non-sense. He is what you consider an “old-school” roofer who has worked in the construction industry for over 25 years using homemade roof brackets, wearing workboots, a tool belt and rarely a safety hat. That’s it. My sister and I holler at him all the time for it but he claims he is comfortable and more alert working this way.

He has recently come into trouble with the “safety police” with warnings to wear compliant safety gear. He has heard different rules from different officers and is stuck with what’s right and what’s wrong? He has started to wear safety glasses, a hard hat and safety harnesses on his most recent jobs and has already had a few close calls tripping over the harness. When doing some research, I realized he is not alone in his boycott for safety harnesses – there is a whole market of “old-school” roofers that are sharing their thoughts on this.

 

Do safety harnesses slow workers down and hinder their safety? Here are a few comments from members of the Roofers Coffee Shop “Rope Study?” Forum and the Roofing Talk “Roofing Safety for “Old-School” Roofers” Forum.

YAH

• “Anybody know of a study ever done on roofer output being fully fall protected vs. unprotected. My guess is that it slows things down about 20%. In fact, the only way I could see it not slowing production would be if you had a worker that could channel the anger generated by the rope into working faster.”
• It adds 10-15% to the time. Setting up takes time. Tearing down does too. Not just lost time stumbling around the stuff.
• You also have to figure the ropes and harnesses are only good for X number of jobs and have to be regurally replaced to be fully compliant. Figure another $150. per job/day for wear and tear.
• I’ve tripped over the safety ropes and nearly fallen off the roof countless times. Put 2 guys on a 5sq flat roof and add a couple of ropes and harnesses and a couple of LPG hoses for the torch burners, there going to be a tangle up no matter how careful you are.
• 6 Rope laying all over the roof, while you are trying to install. It’s Dangerous…

NAH

•  They’ve tripped many a person too.  Positioning harnesses speed work up.
• On very high & steep slopes, it hasn’t hindered our production. If fact, it may improve it through nothing more than worker safety confidence.
• On lower slopes, it most definitely slows things down. However, it’s just a cost of doing business (kinda like the WC/labor burden thing).

The question asked “do safety harnesses slow workers down and hinder their safety” actually answers itself. Yes, workers safety will be threatened if they don’t slow down. Contractors that have been in the roofing trade for many years could run up and down a roof in their sleep. They get into a rountine process and anything new can totally throw them off (even literally).

Whether it’s safety gear or another worker – it takes times to get used to a new object and surroundings. Like everything new, it takes some time to get used to a new process but eventually you will master it. Stepping out of your comfort zone is hard but in the end you will shrug at your initial struggles.

Second, as concluded from the majority of the comments, the major concern with safety equipment is A. cost and B. time=cost. “Figure another $150/job for wear and tear”. “It takes 10-15% more time”.  Rather, consider the cost of a life. You may be able to run the roof like a marathon but there be hidden roof damage that causes your fall. Or a roofing safety fine in the range of $50,000 for fall hazards.

We can’t do anything about these roofing safety rules so how will we deal with them? A great resource to start for beefing up your fall protection knowledge is OSHA – straight from the source that will be handing out the tickets.

Fall harnesses save lives. You have a choice and options. Safety harnesses come in a variety of styles to compliment sizes, comfort and working habits. Try on a few to see what feels best. Comfort is key to wearing safety gear as a habit.

Accidents happen – “In 2009 According to the National Center for Injury Prevention Non-Intentional falls were the number one source of non-fatal injuries for 2009 with over 8,765,597 injuries ranging in all categories.”

Do you as – the experienced professional roofer – have any real-life advice for how to get used to safety harnesses and other equipment?