By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

Highlights from the 2021 Q4 survey on reroofing market trends indicate expansion and optimism in the industry. 

The Q4 results of the Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing are finally here! Roofing contractors and consultants gave their thoughts on the state of the reroofing market. For this survey, 73% of respondents were roofing contractors and 27% were consultants. In terms of market type, 88% of respondents stated that their business was low slope or a combination of low and steep slope and 12% reported they only work in steep slope. 

In this year's survey, the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) introduced two new features: the Project Contracts Index and the Customer Inquiries Index. The intent of these indexes is to provide members of the reroofing industry a number that can help them better understand the state of the market. 

The Customer Inquiries Index is based on a scale of 0-100. Any score above 50 indicates optimism or expansion and anything below 50 indicates pessimism or contraction. For Q4, the index number was 63.8 compared to 62.2 for Q3. 

The Project Contracts Index is based on this same scale and for Q4, the number was 61.1. Q3 had an index number of 59.4, so this is quite the increase! In terms of project backlog, 51% of respondents reported a backlog of three months or more as of January 2022. 

49% of respondents reported that the number of project contracts increased for Q4, with 33% reporting no change and 22% reporting a decrease. For customer inquiries, 49% reported that inquiries increased, with 31% reporting no change and 21% reporting a decrease. 

Interested contractors and consultants who want to participate in next quarter’s brief survey can sign up for a notification. 

Learn more about PIMA in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.polyiso.org. 

About PIMA  

For more than 30 years, the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) has served as the unified voice of the rigid polyiso industry, proactively advocating for safe, cost-effective, sustainable, and energy-efficient construction. PIMA’s members, who first came together in 1987, include a synergistic partnership of polyiso manufacturers and industry suppliers. Polyiso is one of North America’s most widely used and cost-effective insulation products. To learn more, visit www.polyiso.org.

The survey results indicate opportunities in the reroofing industry improved during the fourth quarter of 2021. 

A coalition of industry trade associations representing contractors, consultants and manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada has completed its Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing for the fourth quarter of 2021. 

The survey is an industrywide effort spearheaded by a coalition of trade associations, including the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, Chemical Fabrics & Film Association Inc., EPDM Roofing Association, International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants, Metal Construction Association, National Roofing Contractors Association, National Women in Roofing, Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association and Single Ply Roofing Industry. 

Survey participants included roofing contractors (73%) and roof consultants (27%). Most respondents indicated they primarily work on low-slope roof systems (47%) or provide low-slope and steep-slope roofing services (41%). All regions of the U.S. and most Canadian provinces were represented. 

The survey results indicate opportunities in the reroofing industry improved during the fourth quarter of 2021 when compared with the same quarter in 2020. 

Nearly half (49%) of respondents indicated their customer inquiries increased. Thirty-one percent of respondents reported no change in activity, and 21% indicated a decrease in customer inquiries. Project contracts increased for 44% of respondents, 33% of respondents indicated no change in activity and 22% reported a decrease in project contracts. 

Two new indices offer insight regarding customer inquiries and project contracts across market segments. The indices are based on a 0 to 100 scale. A score of 50 or higher suggests expansion or optimism; a score below 50 indicates contraction or pessimism. 

• The customer inquiries index score for the steep-slope reroofing market is 58.9, the score for the low-slope reroofing market is 66.8, and the score for the blended low- and steep-slope reroofing market is 61.6. 

• The project contracts index score for the steep-slope reroofing market is 58.0, the score for the low-slope reroofing market is 61.6, and the score for the blended low- and steep-slope reroofing market is 61.5. 

As of January 2022, 16% of roofing contractors reported no project backlogs, 39% reported project backlogs of one to two months and 23% reported project backlogs of three to four months. Twenty-two percent of roofing contractors reported project backlogs of five months or more. 

The complete results of the Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing are available to those who participate in the survey via an online dashboard that enables users to filter results by region and other metrics. Any contractor or consultant who wants to participate in next quarter’s brief survey can sign up for a notification at http://bit.ly/37ank7D. 

About NRCA

Since 1886, the National Roofing Contractors Association has been the home for generations of entrepreneurial craftsmen and enterprises who shelter and protect America’s families and businesses and each other. Our vision is the recognition of our members as professionals and to unite the industry to that purpose. NRCA is one of the construction industry’s most respected trade associations and the voice of roofing professionals and leading authority in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy. It represents all segments of the roofing industry, including contractors; manufacturers; distributors; architects; consultants; engineers; building owners; and city, state and government agencies. For information about NRCA and its services and offerings, visit nrca.net. 

The purpose of the survey is to take the pulse of the reroofing industry on a quarterly basis and serve as a regular barometer of the industry’s business conditions.

Roofing professionals are invited to join industry trade associations representing contractors, consultants and manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada in taking part in the latest Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing to evaluate business conditions during the fourth quarter of 2021.

The purpose of the survey is to take the pulse of the reroofing industry on a quarterly basis and serve as a regular barometer of the industry’s business conditions. By asking a handful of business questions and measuring responses across a number of demographics, the survey helps give an indication of the reroofing market’s strength and trajectory. 

The results of the Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing are made available to survey participants via an online dashboard that enables users to filter results by region and other metrics. 

For the previous survey that measured business activity during the third quarter of 2021, 58% of responses came from roofing contractors and 42% came from roof consultants. The results indicate opportunities in the reroofing industry improved or held steady compared with the same quarter in 2020. 

The survey is an industrywide effort to collect information about the reroofing market spearheaded by a coalition of trade associations, including the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, Chemical Fabrics & Film Association Inc., EPDM Roofing Association, International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants, Metal Construction Association, National Roofing Contractors Association, National Women in Roofing, Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association and Single Ply Roofing Industry. 

The quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing is available at bit.ly/RoofingSurvey. Survey responses may be submitted through Friday, January 21. 

Since 1886, the National Roofing Contractors Association has been the home for generations of entrepreneurial craftsmen and enterprises who shelter and protect America’s families and businesses and each other. Our vision is the recognition of our members as professionals and to unite the industry to that purpose. NRCA is one of the construction industry’s most respected trade associations and the voice of roofing professionals and leading authority in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy. It represents all segments of the roofing industry, including contractors; manufacturers; distributors; architects; consultants; engineers; building owners; and city, state and government agencies. For information about NRCA and its services and offerings, visit nrca.net. 

A coalition of industry trade associations representing contractors, consultants and manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada has completed its Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing for the third quarter of 2021. 

The survey is an industrywide effort spearheaded by a coalition of trade associations, including the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, Chemical Fabrics & Film Association Inc., EPDM Roofing Association, International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants, Metal Construction Association, National Roofing Contractors Association, National Women in Roofing, Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association and Single Ply Roofing Industry. 

Survey participants included roofing contractors (58%) and roof consultants (42%). Most respondents indicated they primarily work on low-slope roof systems (50%) or provide low-slope and steep-slope roofing services (41%). 

The survey results indicate opportunities in the reroofing industry improved or held steady during the third quarter of 2021 when compared with the same quarter in 2020. 

Nearly half (46%) of respondents indicated their customer inquiries increased. Thirty-one percent of respondents reported no change in activity, and 22% indicated a decrease in customer inquiries. Project contracts increased for 43% of respondents, 35% of respondents indicated no change in activity and 23% reported a decrease in project contracts. 

Data comparing business during the second and third quarters of 2021 revealed a downward trend for customer inquiries and project contracts: 

• Customer inquiries increased for 35% of respondents, did not change for 45% of respondents and decreased for 20%. 

• Project contracts increased for 39% of respondents, did not change for 39% of respondents and decreased for 22%. 

As of October 2021, 11% of roofing contractors reported no project backlogs, 45% reported project backlogs of one to two months and 29% reported project backlogs of three to four months. Fourteen percent of roofing contractors reported project backlogs of five months or more.

The complete results of the Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing are available to those who participate in the survey via an online dashboard that enables users to filter results by region and other metrics. Any contractor or consultant who wants to participate in next quarter’s brief survey can sign up for a notification at http://bit.ly/37ank7D. 

About NRCA

Since 1886, the National Roofing Contractors Association has been the home for generations of entrepreneurial craftsmen and enterprises who shelter and protect America’s families and businesses and each other. Our vision is the recognition of our members as professionals and to unite the industry to that purpose. NRCA is one of the construction industry’s most respected trade associations and the voice of roofing professionals and leading authority in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy. It represents all segments of the roofing industry, including contractors; manufacturers; distributors; architects; consultants; engineers; building owners; and city, state and government agencies. For information about NRCA and its services and offerings, visit nrca.net. 

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

Join Heidi in a riveting conversation with leading executives in the roofing industry about quarter three and what to expect in the future.  

On Season 3, Episode 3 of Coffee Conversations, sponsored by Johns Manville, RoofersCoffeeShop® partner Heidi J. Ellsworth is joined by industry leaders across the industry for an in-depth look at 2021’s third quarter.  

CEOs and executives Adam Oaks of Estimating Edge, Deryl Kratzer from National Roofing Partners, Will Lorenz of General Coatings and Jennifer Ford-Smith of Johns Manville all give the inside perspective on the industry at current and predictions into the future.  

Amid a pandemic with a light at the end of a dark tunnel, the conversation begins with good news, data tells us bids are on the rise and the industry is predicting a strong third quarter.  

Director of Product Management Marketing at Johns Manville Jennifer Ford-Smith says, “We see a very strong Q3 and we are seeing strong growth well into 2022 based on what our contractors are telling us.” 

“It's always surprising to see the bids keep going up with all the economic fluctuations that are happening, but this is normalized data, and this is specific commercial roofing bids,” adds Adam Oaks, CEO of Estimating Edge. 

Vice President at General Coatings and a President of the Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association Will Lorenz adds, “Everything is strong on demand. I think that's the great news for all of us. I think the challenge is that demand continues to outs strip supply.” 

The panel addresses the challenges of the supply shortages and how they expect it will affect the third quarter. Deryl Kratzer with National Roofing Partners highlights how despite the obstacle of supply shortages, the industry remains resilient.  

“Partners are actually collaborating together and being able to come up with solutions is something I've never seen it in years in the industry. So, it's pretty exciting to see competitors even helping each other to make sure that we're able to get the supply that we need.” 

Read, Listen or Watch the entire Coffee Conversations to gain more expert insight about the state of the industry and learn what these leaders predict for 2022.

Roofing coalition launches large scale survey of industry.

A leading coalition of roofing associations is launching a second annual series of Quarterly Market Index Surveys, designed to provide a barometer of the industry’s business conditions. The one-of-a-kind poll follows a successful effort late last year and early this year, drawing on the views of contractors and roof consultants who are then provided with exclusive access to the results. Roofing professionals can participate in the Survey for Reroofing at http://bit.ly/roofindexsurvey and submit responses from Monday, October 4 through Wednesday, October 15.

“This is a great opportunity for anyone in the roofing business to contribute to our knowledge about the industry, and to have access to that knowledge once the survey is complete,” said Ellen Thorp, Executive Director of National Women in Roofing, speaking on behalf of the coalition. “We encourage all of our roofing contractor and roof consultant colleagues to participate. The more responses, the better the results, the more we will all learn.”

This year’s survey launch builds on the momentum of the coalition’s initial effort that measured perceptions of business activity in 2021 Q2. More than 300 respondents completed the eight-question survey during a two-week period this past July. Two-thirds (67%) of the responses came from roofing contractors and one-third (33%) were submitted by roof consultants. The results indicated that despite the Covid-19 pandemic and material and labor shortages, opportunities in the reroofing industry have improved or held steady when compared with business in the same quarter of 2020.

The survey is an industry-wide effort to collect information about the reroofing market spearheaded by a coalition of trade associations, including the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, Chemical Fabrics & Film Association Inc., EPDM Roofing Association, International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants, Metal Construction Association, National Roofing Contractors Association, National Women in Roofing, Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association and Single Ply Roofing Industry.

By Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA). 

Second 2021 Quarterly Market Index Survey reveals reroofing opportunities have improved.  

Over 300 participants across North America, including Canada, shared their opinions and thoughts on the state of the reroofing industry this past July. The second Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing is part of an industry-wide push to collect more data on the reroofing market.  

This push for more information comes from trade associations, including IIBEC, the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, Chemical Fabrics & Film Association Inc., EPDM Roofing Association, National Roofing Contractors Association, National Women in Roofing, Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association and Single Ply Roofing Industry.  

Participant profile 

Participants in the survey included contractors (67%) and consultants (33%) whose firms’ annual gross revenues ranges from less than US$1 million (21%) to more than US$100 million (4%). Most respondents either provide a blend of low-slope and steep-slope roofing services (46%) or work on low-slope roofs exclusively (42%).  

All regions of the United States and most Canadian provinces were represented (there were no respondents from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, or Newfoundland and Labrador). 

Key findings 

Overall, the survey results suggest that opportunities in the reroofing industry have improved or held steady when compared with business in the same quarter of 2020: 

• More than half (54%) of respondents said that the number of customer inquiries to their firm had increased; 29% indicated that they were fielding the same number of inquiries, and 17% said inquiries had declined.  

• Project contracts increased by more than 25% for 16% of respondents and rose between 5% and 25% for another 38% of participants. About one-fourth (28%) of the 294 individuals who answered this question reported no change from last year, and 17% said they had fewer project contracts this year. 

Data comparing business in the first and second quarters of 2021 revealed similar patterns:  

• Customer inquiries increased for 53% of respondents, did not change for 31%, and declined for 16%. 

• Project contracts were up for 53% of participants, did not change for 33%, and were down for 15%. 

The final survey question addressed project backlogs as of July 2021. Roughly one in five respondents (19%) reported no project backlogs. The rest reported backlogs of one to two months (37%), three to four months (20%), five to six months (14%), and more than six months (9%). 

Sign up to receive email updates about future surveys today.  

Learn more about PIMA in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.polyiso.org.

Data collection on this scale never previously attempted in the roofing industry.

Roofing professionals are invited to join industry trade associations representing contractors, consultants and manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada in taking part in the new Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing.

The purpose of the survey is to take the pulse of the reroofing industry on a quarterly basis and become a regular barometer of the industry’s business conditions. By asking a handful of business questions and measuring responses across a number of demographics, the survey helps give an indication of the reroofing market strength and trajectory.

During the previous survey timeframe that measured perceptions of business activity in 2021 Q1, nearly 300 respondents completed the eight-question survey during a two-week period in April with 62% of responses coming from roofing contractors and 38% coming from roof consultants. The results indicate generally improving market conditions for the roofing industry in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey is an industry-wide effort to collect information about the reroofing market spearheaded by a coalition of trade associations, including the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, Chemical Fabrics & Film Association Inc., EPDM Roofing Association, International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants, Metal Construction Association, National Roofing Contractors Association, National Women in Roofing, Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association and Single Ply Roofing Industry.

The quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing is available at https://www2.ari-surveys.com/run/mktindexreroofing. Survey responses may be submitted Wednesday, July 7 through Monday, July 26.

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

How Western Colloid provides ongoing profitability for roofing companies through excellent products and stellar customer support. 

In Season 3, Episode 32 of Roofing Road Trips, RCS President Heidi J. Ellsworth visits with Greg Hlavaty from Western Colloid to discuss his philosophy of putting the contractor first, which has become a hallmark of Greg’s leadership and Western Colloid's reputation in the industry. Through their high-quality, fluid-applied reinforced roofing systems, training programs and exceptional customer service, Western Colloid helps contractors take their business to the next level. 

Greg Hlavaty is an original supporter of RoofersCoffeeShop® being one of the first advertisers when the Coffee Shop was still a newspaper called Roofers Exchange. Greg is the president of Western Colloid, which is a leading fluid applied manufacturer based in Southern California.   

Greg was introduced to roofing at the age of seven when he joined his father at work for a roofing distribution company. Starting around the 1960s, his father recognized a boom in demand for roof coatings as well as a need for contractors who knew how to apply them. 

“My dad and some contractor friends of his started a small side company that applied roof coatings for roofing contractors only,” said Greg. “I started putting on roof coatings in my teens and I probably installed every type of roof coating that was manufactured.” 

Greg eventually took over both the distribution and the application side of the business before diving into manufacturing his own products.  

"I've had a rounded experience along the 50 years,” said Greg. “Western Colloid was one that I handled as a distributor in the early days, so I've applied it for many years. It's been around since the early '70s and I've been associated with them either in application or selling their products ever since.” 

Throughout his career, Greg became the executive director of several roofing contractor associations including the Central Valley Roofing Contractors Associations and the Empire Roofing Contractors Association. He also served as president of the Roofing Coating Institute and the Roof Coating Manufacturers Association.  

“I believe in being part of the industry and providing value and knowledge and quality to keep the industry safe and productive,” said Greg. “I believe in adding value to the building owners and contractors in the United States."  

Greg’s tried his hand at nearly everything one can in the roofing coatings industry: from application to selling to manufacturing and even the chemical and technical side of the work.  

“There's a lot to learn in this industry and it's always moving forward,” said Greg. 

Listen to the entire podcast to learn more about Greg and how Western Colloid supports their contractor customers through great products and unwavering support. 

The purpose of the survey is to take the pulse of the reroofing industry on a quarterly basis and become a regular barometer of the industry’s business conditions.

Roofing professionals are invited to join industry trade associations representing contractors, consultants and manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada in taking part in the latest Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing to evaluate business conditions during the second quarter of 2021. 

The purpose of the survey is to take the pulse of the reroofing industry on a quarterly basis and become a regular barometer of the industry’s business conditions. By asking a handful of business questions and measuring responses across a number of demographics, the survey helps give an indication of the reroofing market’s strength and trajectory. 

The results of the Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing are made available to survey participants via an online dashboard that enables users to filter results by region and other metrics. 

For the previous survey that measured business activity during the first quarter of 2021, nearly 300 respondents completed the eight-question survey with 62% of responses coming from roofing contractors and 38% coming from roof consultants. The results indicate generally improving market conditions for the roofing industry in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

The survey is an industry-wide effort to collect information about the reroofing market spearheaded by a coalition of trade associations, including the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, Chemical Fabrics & Film Association Inc., EPDM Roofing Association, International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants, Metal Construction Association, National Roofing Contractors Association, National Women in Roofing, Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association and Single Ply Roofing Industry. 

The quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing is available at bit.ly/roofindexsurvey. Survey responses may be submitted through Monday, July 26. 

About NRCA

Since 1886, the National Roofing Contractors Association has been the home for generations of entrepreneurial craftsmen and enterprises who shelter and protect America’s families and businesses and each other. Our vision is the recognition of our members as professionals and to unite the industry to that purpose. NRCA is one of the construction industry’s most respected trade associations and the voice of roofing professionals and leading authority in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy. It represents all segments of the roofing industry, including contractors; manufacturers; distributors; architects; consultants; engineers; building owners; and city, state and government agencies. For information about NRCA and its services and offerings, visit nrca.net.