Residential Roofing

RoofViews

GAF recently launched a premium version of their bestselling Timberline HDZ® Shingles—Timberline® UHDZ™ Shingles. A reengineered version of GAF Timberline® UHD—Ultra High Definition—Shingles, these have all the features that have made Timberline HDZ® Shingles a popular choice for homeowners, but with a few extras—ranging from enhanced aesthetics to 10% Time-Release Algae-Fighting Technology. Here's an at-a-glance comparison of the benefits of both shingles to help you choose the best fit for the project and budget you're working with.Curb AppealBoth Timberline® UHDZ™ and Timberline HDZ® Shingles provide a stylish wood-shake look, for beautiful curb appeal that can help boost the value of a home. The difference with the new Ultra High Definition™ Shingles is, as their name suggests, their patent-pending Dual Shadow Line feature—which provides an ultra-dimensional, deeply defined look via a "sunset shadow effect" that's perceptible all day long. Timberline® UHDZ™ Shingles are also thicker, which adds to their enhanced dimensionality.CostTimberline HDZ® Shingles remain more affordable than their premium counterpart, making them a high-quality choice that's cost-effective. However, the extra features that come with Timberline® UHDZ™ could be well worth the slightly higher price that customers may be happy to pay if they understand the difference between the two products.WarrantyWarranties are a good way to offer customers peace of mind, assuring them they'll be covered in certain circumstances. The advanced technologies incorporated into both Timberline® HDZ® and Timberline UHDZ™ Shingles allow GAF to offer a 15-Year WindProven™ Limited Wind Warranty* on these shingles if they're installed along with the required combination of four qualifying GAF accessories. Unusually, this warranty has no maximum wind speed limitation.GAF Timberline® UHDZ™ Shingles also come with a 30-year StainGuard Plus Pro Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration** as they feature 10% more GAF Time-Release Algae-Fighting Technology (capsules infused with copper microsites that release copper steadily over time) than Timberline HDZ® Shingles. That said, Timberline HDZ® Shingles come with a 25-year StainGuard Plus Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration***—still extremely competitive. More information on both algae-protection limited warranty options can be found here.DesignBoth shingle types are available in an attractive range of colors, with the Timberline HDZ® line offering color blends and finishes like Charcoal, Birchwood, Hunter Green, and White. A full list of colors is included on the Timberline HDZ® product page.Meanwhile, the Timberline® UHDZ™ Shingles come in Pewter Gray, Charcoal, Barkwood, Slate, Weathered Wood, and Shakewood. While the color schemes are similar, Timberline HDZ® shingles currently have the edge on choice with a few more available options.InstallationBoth the Timberline® HDZ® and UHDZ™ Shingles come with LayerLock® Technology, which makes for easier and faster installation. Both products feature the StrikeZone® Nailing Area, helping your crews place the nails in the correct spot each time. So, no matter whether you use Timberline HDZ® or Timberline® UHDZ™ shingles, installation will likely be smooth-running.Finding the Right Choice for Your NeedsUltimately, the property owner will decide the shingle style and color—but armed with this information, contractors can provide clients with more options and allow them to make the optimal choice for their roof. Your expertise will be needed to explain the differences between Timberline HDZ® and Timberline® UHDZ™ Shingles, so it's important to understand the finer points of each.Interested in learning more about these products? Explore the Timberline® UHDZ™ Shingle and Timberline HDZ® Shingle product pages, plus you can reach out to your local Territory Manager for additional information.*15-year WindProven™ limited wind warranty on GAF Shingles with LayerLock™ Technology requires the use of GAF Starter Strips, Roof Deck Protection, Ridge Cap Shingles, and Leak Barrier or Attic Ventilation. See GAF Roofing System Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions. Visit gaf.com/LRS for qualifying GAF products. For installations not eligible for the WindProven limited wind warranty, see GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.**25-year StainGuard Plus™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration is available only on products sold in packages bearing the StainGuard Plus™ logo. See GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions and qualifying products.*** 30-year StainGuard Plus PRO™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration is available only on products sold in packages bearing the StainGuard Plus PRO™ logo. See GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.

Residential Roofing
What Are Ladder Hooks?

By Karen L Edwards

March 18, 2024
Residential Roofing
When Is the Best Time to Replace a Roof?

By Karen L Edwards

February 12, 2024
Residential Roofing
Securing a Roofer Salary for a Competitive and Worthwhile Career

By Karen L Edwards

January 12, 2024

Residential Roofing
When Is the Best Time to Replace a Roof?

If every day was sunny, mild, and a pleasant 75 degrees, there'd be little reason to wonder about the best time to replace a roof. Of course, not everyone lives in areas with ideal weather conditions, as climates vary greatly across the country.So if a client ever asks, "When is the best time to replace a roof?" your answer will likely vary based on where they live and what each season is like. However, you can share some general pointers in response. Here's what to consider for each season to help answer the question, "when is the best time to replace a roof?"SpringSpringtime is traditionally recognized as the kickoff of roofing season, as outside temperatures begin to warm and activity increases. Thanks to melting ice and snow, it's also the time of year that homeowners may want to have their roofs checked out for damage.While spring offers outdoor temperatures that are more friendly for workers, the season also typically comes with an increased chance of severe thunderstorms (and potentially tornados, depending on the region). Spring is usually a good time to schedule a roof replacement if you just monitor the weather forecast for major events to help reduce the chance of delays.SummerWith spring showers in the rearview, most areas of the country see longer stretches of nice weather during summertime, which lends itself well to working outside. Accordingly, summer tends to be the most ideal time for installing a new roof.But with potentially hot days, when is the best time to replace a roof in the summer? Workers will need to start as early in the day as possible because temperatures are usually cooler in the morning. Depending on the forecast temperatures, the job may need to be spread over a few days, so most of the work can be done in the morning hours before it gets too hot. It's also wise to remind customers that workers will need to have breaks in the shade and access to water to stay hydrated.FallThe autumn months can be an equally good time for a roof replacement as summer, as the hot and hazy days have passed, and severe weather isn't as common. The only exception to this is if you're working in an area prone to hurricanes. Hurricane season runs through the end of November and can cause project delays.In addition to the favorable weather, fall is a popular season for roof replacement because many property owners want to fortify their homes and buildings with a new roof before the winter months.WinterIn some areas of the country, it may be possible to continue roofing installations year-round, including during the winter. In southern regions, for example, roofing replacements can often be completed in the winter, as there's less chance of inclement weather. Temperatures may drop, but not as drastically as in areas that see ice and snow more regularly. Of course, it's still important to reference the relevant local forecast when scheduling upcoming work.Sustained stretches of very cold weather does not constitute suitable weather for the installation of asphalt shingles. All self-sealing shingles must be exposed to warm, sunny conditions for several days before they completely seal. Before sealing occurs, shingles are vulnerable to blow-offs and wind damage. Shingles installed in fall or winter may not seal until the following spring. Shingles that are not exposed to direct sunlight, adequate surface temperatures, or that are not fastened or installed properly may never seal. Failures to seal, blow-offs, and wind damage under these circumstances result from the nature of self-sealing shingles, and are not covered under most manufacturer's warranties. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper installation. While most provide guidance about cold weather installations, it will ultimately be up to you to exercise discretion about when to move forward with an installation vs. postponing the work until more favorable weather conditions are present.Other Factors That May Affect Project TimingWhile weather is likely the leading factor that can disrupt scheduled roofing work, if you want to best answer your client's question of "when is the best time to replace a roof?" you'll need to take other factors into account when setting timeline expectations for property owners. One such consideration is the lead time needed for materials. If your customer chooses an uncommon color or a specialty product, it may take longer for materials to arrive.Another factor to weigh is your own backlog. If your production calendar is booked weeks out, clearly communicate the timing to your customers with the knowledge that weather events could impact the schedule. Regularly communicating with customers and setting accurate expectations are key to a positive experience.Looking to learn more roofing best practices and further expand your knowledge base? Check out GAF's CARE Contractor Training Center to help build your skill set and receive valuable training.

By Karen L Edwards

February 12, 2024
Residential Roofing
Securing a Roofer Salary for a Competitive and Worthwhile Career

The roofing industry can provide a reliable and rewarding living with potential for growth. As the industry faces an unprecedented labor shortage, pay rates are increasing, and the industry has expanded offerings for training and certification programs to elevate roofing practices across the board.How Much Do Roofers Make?A roofer salary will vary based on a number of factors, including whether the work is residential or commercial. Residential roofing is more straightforward and can usually be completed in a short time.Commercial roofing, on the other hand, may require more specialized training. The jobs are also much larger—sometimes lasting weeks or months, depending on the size and complexity of the roof.The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in the top five states with the highest employment level in roofers, the average annual salary ranges from $42,000 to $63,000. Depending on where in the country you work as a roofer, the annual salary can be as high as $87,000 per year. In 2022, the median roofer salary was reported to be $51,910 annually or $24.96 per hour.What Makes Roofing a Rewarding Career?The roofing industry can deliver a rewarding career with plenty of opportunities for advancement. Being able to work outside every day with amazing views from the rooftop inspires many craftsmen to consider a career in roofing. Often, workers start as an installer and then advance their way up to roles with more responsibility such as project manager, superintendent, estimator, or sales. Some even go on to start their own roofing companies.Working in the roofing industry is typically stable. According to the US Census Bureau, there were roughly 144 million homes across the country as of July 2022. Every one of those homes has a roof that will need to be replaced at some point. On the commercial side, the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey estimated in their most recent report from 2018 that there are 5.9 million commercial buildings in the US. These commercial buildings will require regular maintenance, repairs, and eventually a new or restored roofing system.What's Elevating the Modern Roofing Industry?Working in roofing was not always seen as a professional, reputable line of work, but organizations like the National Roofing Contractors Association have worked hard to elevate the reputation of the industry. They have established the Training for Roof Application Careers (TRAC) program to provide training for commercial and residential roofing installation as well as prepare workers to become successful foremen and managers.In addition to the TRAC training program, the NRCA has started a ProCertification® program that allows experienced roofing installers to demonstrate their knowledge and skills and become certified in the installation of specific roofing systems.How Can You Get into Roofing?If you think that a career in the roofing industry might be a good fit for you, there are plenty of opportunities. In the past, many installers could only learn on the job. Today manufacturers, including GAF, offer programs that prepare workers to enter the industry.The GAF Roofing Academy is held in locations across the country and offers one- or two-week hands-on training programs that arm you with the skills you need to start your career in the roofing industry. Learn about the experience from recent graduates, and explore upcoming courses in your area.

By Karen L Edwards

January 12, 2024
Residential Roofing
Looking to Boost Employee Retention? Launch a Rewards Program

Good employees are key to building a successful contracting business—but recruitment and retention don't happen all on their own. Employee rewards and recognition programs can help you foster workplace loyalty and strengthen employee retention, and there are many ways to reward your staff and crew for the work they do every day. Why It's Important to Reward Employees It's crucial to create an environment that prioritizes rewarding and acknowledging employees—without them, you wouldn't be able to sustain your business or serve customers. Paying someone a salary is great, but establishing a workplace culture where people feel that they're valued for their contributions is just as important. Building a successful company comes with a lot of sacrifices, and not just for you as an owner. Your employees work long hours, deal with challenging projects, and provide great service to customers even when they may test their patience. This loyalty is worth acknowledging. But rewarding employees is more than just its own reward. There's also a more practical reason: incentives have a concrete impact on employee recruitment, morale, and retention. According to SHRM, nearly 10% of employees who quit their jobs do so because of compensation and benefits, which includes rewards and incentives. Staff turnover is expensive. Studies have found it costs between six and nine months' salary to replace and train a salaried employee. During this time, other team members may have to assume more responsibility, which only hurts your company's productivity, efficiency, and profitability. Bonuses Everyone desires financial stability, and bonuses can provide an additional way for your crew to support their families. In addition to rewarding staff and crew, though, developing a bonus incentive program can be a tool to reach quarterly or annual goals. The key to an effective bonus incentive is to align it with performance metrics. For instance, you might reward a crew for finishing 90% of their projects on time or ahead of schedule. Or, your office staff may earn a year-end team bonus tied to marketing goals and customer satisfaction targets, such as if they achieve a year-over-year increase in customer referrals, win a record number of positive online reviews, or bring the company's social media following to a certain number. Financial incentives can be a huge motivator for employees, but they also demonstrate that you appreciate their efforts to drive better results for your business. Profit-sharing You can also recognize employees' loyalty by letting them financially share in your company's success. With a profit-sharing program, you set a goal for your annual revenue and net profit. If the company achieves its goals, all team members get an equal share of the profit at the end of the year. This approach gives every employee an equal stake in the company's future and overall performance. It also boosts employee retention, since profit-sharing can foster collaboration and camaraderie—everyone is working toward the same goal. Rewards & Gifts Acknowledgment may come in the form of smaller gifts and rewards. This could be as simple as giving your office manager a $25 gift card for providing exceptional service to a homeowner throughout a challenging project or handing out sporting event tickets to your crew after they complete a huge roofing project. While bonus and profit-sharing programs come with a more formal structure, giving small gifts throughout the year is a casual way to say thank you to employees for all the little things they do every day to make your business thrive. Recognition Sometimes the most effective way to show employees you appreciate them is to just say so. Employee of the month programs and staff appreciation awards offer a way to publicly praise employees throughout the year and highlight their contributions. Sending a company-wide email detailing how they made an impact can show employees how much you value them. Keep in mind that you don't have to call these recognition programs by their traditional names—if "employee of the month" sounds trite, then lose the name and keep the spirit of recognition. The most important thing is to find a way to highlight your employees' contributions and show your gratitude on an ongoing basis. How You Can Fund a Rewards Program While you can fund your rewards program out of the revenue coming into your business, you also can leverage existing programs such as the GAF Rewards program. Forty-six percent of contractors in the GAF Rewards program use the rewards they earn from buying qualifying GAF residential roofing products to give back and reward employees. You can redeem GAF rewards for gift cards, merchandise or even a vacation—both of which you can pass on to deserving employees. Through GAF Rewards*, GAF Master Elite® contractors earn 2.5%, GAF Certified™ earn 2%, and Non-certified contractors earn 1.5% just by simply submitting a valid purchase receipt or invoice containing qualifying GAF residential roofing products. Submitting your invoices to earn points will take you a step closer to reinvesting back into your business, or rewarding your employees! It's as simple as 1 – 2 – 3. Submit. Earn. Redeem. Whether you take advantage of the GAF Rewards program or create your own bonus, profit-sharing, or awards initiatives, it's important to thank employees for their loyalty, dedication, and hard work. Making this effort shows employees that you don't just recognize them—you recognize how indispensable they are to your success. *GAF Rewards is open to individuals and professional roofing contractor, builder and remodeler companies. U.S. only. Points earned may vary based on membership tier. GAF reserves the right to audit all claims. Cannot be combined with any other promotion or offer unless specified by GAF. Visit gaf.com/rewards for complete terms and conditions, special offers and qualifying GAF products.

By Satta Sarmah Hightower

May 20, 2022
Residential Roofing
How Advanced Roofing Technology Can Boost Your Business Efficiency

In business, time is money. With advanced roofing technology, you can save time, improve your team's efficiency, and boost your company's bottom line all at once. Ranging as widely as business management systems that streamline productivity and digital measuring tools, here are a few roofing products and solutions to incorporate into your business so you can work smarter rather than harder. Drone Photography and Video Getting aerial footage of customers' properties is a great way to show homeowners what their roof looks like before, during, and after work is complete. Drone photography and video can also save time and streamline how contractors service their customers. For example, you can safely investigate and document storm damage in less time—and without having to go up and down ladders or walk on potentially dangerous structures to perform manual inspections. During the inspection process, homeowners may be able to receive images via the drone's app. You can also show customers different visualization tools to demonstrate what their new roof would look like. Accurate, Fast Measuring Reports When a customer decides to repair or replace their roof, they want a speedy estimate. With GAF QuickMeasure, contractors get accurate roof measurement reports for single-family homes within an hour for as little as $18*. Once your customer confirms the job, you can make ordering materials a breeze by using the included materials page. Project Management Systems To organize photos, inspection reports, incoming leads, and in-progress jobs, you need a reliable, user-friendly project management system. GAF Project ** offers an all-in one solution to help teams stay on top of documentation, streamline sales presentations, and schedule job estimates and installation alike. This tool has a built-in digital signature process for contactless agreements as well as the ability to share your screen with others on your team. You can also integrate GAF Project with certain other software platforms your company may already use. Cordless Nail Guns and Innovative Roofing Materials Lightweight, cordless roofing nail guns can bring new efficiencies to labor-intensive installation. Many models feature an adjustable depth guide, comfortable grips, and single-action side load canisters for easy, safe use. When nails are not placed correctly, shingles could rust or leak due to delamination. Jobs go much faster when you have a larger nail zone and better nail placement accuracy. The GAF Timberline® Shingles with LayerLock™ Technology feature the industry's largest nail zone—the StrikeZone™ Nailing Area—allowing you to install roofing shingles more quickly and accurately. Shingle- Starter Strips Add another time-saver to your roofing kit with precise, pre-cut Starter Strips from GAF instead of cutting up 3-tab asphalt shingles to make a starter strip. This product features properly positioned adhesive, reducing the risk of shingle blow-offs at the rake and eave edges. They also enable your crew to create clean, finished roof edges. Just tear the strips at the factory-made perforations, and you're ready to install. Plus, pre-cut starter strips offer more coverage per bundle compared with manually cut 3-tab shingles. Storm Trackers You can go beyond the weather app on your phone when it comes to helping your team target customers who need your services. GAF WeatherHub ***can show you which properties have recently been affected by severe wind or hail storms. With this insight, your team can generate new roofing leads. Advances in roofing technology not only help boost your business but also make roofing more efficient. GAF offers several connected tools to help contractors manage jobs. For additional business support, visit www.gaf.com/getthere or contact your local Territory Manager. *Terms and conditions apply. Prices vary based on contractor and report type. Visit quickmeasure.gaf.com for details. ** Subscription required. Terms and conditions apply. Visit gaf.com/project for details. *** Subscription required. Terms and conditions apply. Visit gaf.com/weatherhub for details.

By Wendy Helfenbaum

May 09, 2022

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