Metal roofing dates back to about 1000 B.C. when a temple in Jerusalem was built with a copper roof. Later on in human history, metal roofs caught on in certain parts of the world, like the Virgin Islands, and were effective for several reasons. They were strong enough to resist earthquakes, dramatic heat, and tropical hurricane winds. They also had an appealing look to them, which as we know, is very important in the design of structures.

Most people don’t know that there are really two types of standing seam metal roofs: architectural and structural. Architectural are those you can see from the ground. They are aesthetic in design and intended to look good on the building.

Architectural Standing Seam Roof

Structural standing seam roofs are flat/low-sloped roof decks that are intended to be more functional than aesthetic.

Structural Standing Seam Roof, Before and After Duro-Shield Metal Retrofit Installation

Modern metal roofs are among some of the most practical and long lasting available. They offer great security and protection to the building, and they are usually a reliable and worry free long-term choice. However time catches up with everything and rusted roof decks and leaks may start to compromise the building’s integrity.

With over 60 billion square feet of metal roofing in place in the United States and two billion more installed each year, that adds up to a lot of leaks – and a lot of money spent fighting them. When the integrity of the structural metal roof deteriorates, membrane retrofit solutions can provide a better option than replacing the metal roof or continuing to repair it. Membrane retrofits are a cost-effective, single-ply roofing solution that can usually be installed directly over existing metal roofs.

Duro-Shield Metal Retrofit Roofing System

We offer the Duro-Shield Metal Retrofit Roofing System to protect the building against rain, temperature changes, interior drips, ice build-up, as well as rust and corrosion. Our prefabricated membrane is custom designed to fit the metal roof exactly, and is assembled in our factory, eliminating 80-85% of rooftop installation labor. This solution keeps Mother Nature outside, while your inventory, equipment, and workers stay safe and dry inside.

As we like to say, it’s the best three days in the roofing industry. Over 800 guests representing almost 200 roofing companies attended the Duro-Last National Sales Seminar, held in Clearwater Beach, Florida, January 29-31.

Our jam-packed agenda included general session presentations on our new Duro-Guard™ insulation product line, our re-vamped warranty program (we now offer 16), and updates to our marketing and sales activities. We were pleased to welcome featured speakers Robert Stevenson and Larry Winget to our general sessions as well.

Breakout sessions covered a variety of topics, ranging from business growth, to rooftop solar installations, to new EXCEPTIONAL® Metals product developments.

At our awards banquet, we were honored to present Parsons Commercial Roofing of Waco, Texas, with their sixth consecutive Contractor of the Year award. Congratulations Stuart Parsons and company!

In between, we managed to squeeze in some recreational activities, including our annual golf outing, beach olympics, a fishing trip in the Gulf, and our closing night, pirate-themed farewell extravaganza.

We chose our theme – “Beyond Boundaries” – because we’re proud of our history of breaking the barriers set by others in the roofing industry. Innovation, product portfolio, warranties – plus the roofing contractors that install Duro-Last products. Put them all together, and it’s not just good, not just great, it’s the best combination in the business!

We thank all our contractors for making the 2012 National Sales Seminar a terrific event, and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone at next year’s Seminar at the Manchester Hyatt in San Diego, January 27-29.

Closing Down the 2012 National Sales Seminar On Stage with the Pink Flamingos! (Click to enlarge.)

Duro-Last® Roofing, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of prefabricated roofing systems, is pleased to announce the addition of Bill Carroll as VP of Manufacturing, and Cory Gergar as Chief Financial Officer to its staff to support authorized Duro-Last contractors and provide the continued customer service that has made this company the leader in the roofing industry.

Bill has joined the JRB family of companies as the Vice President of Manufacturing and is based in the Saginaw, Michigan office. He is responsible for overseeing the plant operations of all four Duro-Last locations as well as, Plastatech Engineering®, Ltd.; Oscoda Plastics®, Inc.; EXCEPTIONAL® Metals;, and TIP-TOP® Screw Manufacturing. Bill’s responsibilities include oversight of production, quality, inventory, and safety, with the overall objectives of meeting customer delivery requirements and company sales and profitability goals.

Bill has over 25 years in leadership positions in multi-plant manufacturing environments, most recently as Plant Manager for Gardner Denver Thomas, a manufacturer of industrial pumps for the medical and environmental industries.

Bill is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh where he received both a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering.

VP of Manufacturing, Bill Carroll

Cory will be responsible for all accounting activities including financial analysis, strategic planning, policy development and implementation, compliance and reporting in support of corporate objectives for Duro-Last and its sister companies; Plastatech® Engineering, Ltd., EXCEPTIONAL^® Metals, Creative Impressions^®, Oscoda Plastics®, Inc., and TIP-TOP® Screw Manufacturing, Inc.

With extensive experience in financial management, budgeting, coordination between multiple departments, costing systems, and continuous improvement processes, Cory will be a strong contributor to the achievement of the financial goals of all companies.

Cory is a graduate of Michigan State University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Accounting. He received his Master of Science in Finance degree from Walsh College, School of Accountancy and Business Administration.

Cory will be based in Duro-Last’s Saginaw Michigan office.

Chief Financial Officer

You wouldn’t know it by the signs of the winter we have been experiencing this year in Michigan, but Christmas is just a few days away. Last week we had a sunny day that was just about 50°, not typical for us Michiganders. We are used to clouds, cold, wind, and snow – lots of snow.

We may not be celebrating a “white” Christmas, but we are celebrating a successful year manufacturing “white” roofs at Duro-Last^®. As the year ends, we have many things to be grateful for. We are so fortunate to have such great customers, some that have been with us for over 30 years. We are thankful for their loyalty and congratulate them on their success in 2011. We truly treasure the relationships we enjoy with our customers and our employees who manufacture, sell, and support the “World’s Best Roof”^®.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and much success in the New Year from the Duro-Last Board of Directors.

It’s that time of year again: Duro-Last® is finalizing plans for our 2012 National Sales Seminar, to be held in Clearwater Beach, Florida, Sunday January 29^th through Tuesday, January31^st.

This year’s Seminar theme is Beyond Boundaries. Going beyond boundaries is what Duro-Last is all about. Since our very beginning, Duro-Last has broken down barriers in the commercial roofing industry, through product innovation and the exceptional relationships we enjoy with our customers.

As in previous years there will be plenty of educational sessions, excursions, and of course the ever popular Roofers’ Challenge, that pits teams of contractors against each other in a contest of installation speed and aesthetics.

Our Seminar agenda always includes nationally-known speakers who deliver motivational presentations that inspire our guests to set and achieve goals, as well as improve their business operations. This year is no exception, and our featured speakers are Robert Stevenson and Larry Winget.

There will also be several interactive breakout sessions during the day, presented by Duro-Last staff.

We will recognize our authorized contractors’ 2011 sales achievements, plus honor our Contractor of the Year at the awards banquet. This evening is a highlight for all of us at Duro-Last, as we share the thrill of success with many long-time friends and new members of the Duro-Last contractor family. It will truly be a night to remember.

We’re excited about kicking off the year with our National Sales Seminar, and getting energized about taking our business beyond boundaries in 2012!

“Energy” and “schoolchildren” are terms that can possibly be used interchangeably, as the latter often seem to be personifications of the former. That was certainly the case on December 1, as I was privileged to witness the groundbreaking festivities for the “Safari” – the initial facility to be built in the Green Schoolhouse series. The ceremony was held at the Roadrunner Elementary school in Phoenix, Arizona.

The kids were clearly enthusiastic about this landmark construction project, and the visit from the “dignitaries” representing the companies that are participating in the project. They sang a song called, “It’s easy to be green,” and provided tours of their current facility. They were also moving around a lot to keep warm in the chilly, 45-degree temperature. I didn’t have a lot of sympathy, as my original flight to Phoenix was cancelled due to a blizzard in mid-Michigan.

In this case, another connection between energy and kids applies. These school buildings are being constructed to achieve LEED platinum status – which means energy savings and a whole lot of other environmental benefits for the students. In the case of the Safari design, the energy savings – at least in part – are being delivered by the highly-reflective Duro-Last® Cool Zone® roofing system.

Duro-Last is proud to be a part of this initiative, as we have long been roofing industry leaders when it comes to sustainability. In this specific case, it gives us the opportunity to keep those students’ energy moving in a safe, sustainable direction!

Groundbreaking for the “Safari” Roadrunner Elementary school in Phoenix, Arizona

Between 1950 and 2000, there was an unprecedented student population boom and school districts erected thousands of portable classrooms.

There are now more than 300,000 trailer-like portables in use at K-12 schools across the nation, many of which have been in place for 30 to 40 years. They have served well beyond their expected lifespan.

Funded entirely through corporate partnerships, in-kind donations, and charitable contributions, the Green Schoolhouse Series is a unique collaboration bringing together corporations, foundations, school districts, municipalities, communities, media outlets, and volunteers to build high-performance, environmentally sustainable, LEED-Platinum designed Green Schoolhouses at Title 1, low-income public schools. Every Green Schoolhouse replaces four to ten aging portables with a permanent, multipurpose facility, ranging in size from 6,000 to 15,000 square feet.

Duro-Last is proud to be a partner with the Green Schoolhouse Series in the inaugural project, the Safari Schoolhouse, built at Roadrunner Elementary School in Phoenix, Arizona. Duro-Last will be contributing roofing materials to assist in building a healthy, high-performance school.

Ground breaking on this first school is scheduled for the end of November and Duro-Last Marketing Communications Director, Fred Sitter, will be there. Watch in the coming weeks for a follow up article with photos from the event.

Photovoltaic (PV) systems have been around for a while now, but the growth of rooftop PV installations has increased dramatically over the past few years. What is causing this surge?

There are many reasons PV systems make sense now and for the future. Energy costs will continue to escalate, and supply will continue to be chased by demand. Expanding the use of renewable energy sources such as PV can help meet some of the demand and relieve some of the cost pressures on electricity.

Rooftops are a good place to locate PV systems because they are typically little used and are free from obstructions that can hamper PV performance. Utilizing rooftops can also reduce land use, making it available for other purposes, or simply as green space.

PV is a clean, unobtrusive energy source, meaning that it does not pollute while it produces energy; eliminating the environmental issues associated with many other forms of electricity generation. The question arises as to whether the net benefits from PV electrical generation outweigh the monetary and environmental costs associated with production, installation, and disposal of a PV system. That analysis has not been done, but it could prove interesting.

Incentives from federal, state, and local governments and from utility companies can ease the financial burden of an investment in PV, plus encourage its introduction and the development of more cost competitive PV technologies. A good source of information on incentives is the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency at www.dsireusa.org.

Increased use of PV can help reduce some dependence on foreign sources of fuel, leading to less potential for hardship due to supply disruptions.

While improving energy efficiency in buildings is essential (by way of reflective coatings, better insulation, high efficiency windows, day lighting, etc.), it cannot be the only component in pursuing Zero Net Energy Building design. Sources of renewable energy are necessary to supplement conventional sources.

Finally, as the cost of conventional energy sources goes up and availability goes down, the cost of solar electrical production is approaching parity with most conventional sources.

PV systems can be expected to last 20 years or more, so they should be paired with a roof system that doesn’t require much routine maintenance and has a similar lifetime.

Selecting and getting involved in a construction association can help get your name out and is a great way to streamline the networking process. There are many organizations specific to the construction industry that provide opportunities to market and promote roofing products and services. Most of the following organizations have local chapters: American Institute of Architects (AIA), Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA), and Roofing Consultants Institute (RCI). These professional associations provide opportunities to meet and interact with specifiers, architects, consultants, engineers, contractors, facility managers, product reps, manufacturers, and other experts in the construction industry.

I found it made sense for me to get involved with the CSI both locally and throughout my region. CSI’s member base includes suppliers, architects/specifiers, general contractors, and building owners. To me, it’s the kill-multiple-birds-with-one-stone analogy. Where else can I meet with several different architect firms at one time over a luncheon or evening program?

In addition to CSI, several other associations are worth a shot. AIA meetings are typically attended by the designers, principals, and owners of the firms. Many local AIA trade shows can be beneficial because of the number of key architects who attend. BOMA is a great place to meet people who own or manage property. RCI chapters are usually located in mid-to-large metropolitan areas and can be an opportunity to identify key consultants involved in re-roofing projects.

In summary, getting involved in a construction association can be a great way to network for business opportunities. It will take time to decide which ones make the most sense to participate it, but the reward for being on the front end of a project can be the difference in making that next sale.

Like most things in life, the more involved you are, the more you get out of it through business opportunities, education, credibility, and name recognition.

“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” So said Mark Twain more than a century ago. Despite the recent and well-publicized demise of Solyndra, the photovoltaic industry might echo Twain’s remark, given the rousing attendance at this year’s Solar Power International (SPI) show in Dallas. More than 1100 exhibitors displayed their wares to an estimated 20,000 attendees at the Dallas Convention Center, October 17-19.

The Duro-Last booth was busy, as we demonstrated to visitors how the Duro-Last roofing system is “solar-ready,” with prefabricated flashings that easily provide a watertight fit around PV mounting racks and other rooftop penetrations.

We were joined in the booth by Duro-Last independent sales reps Daniel and Leah Lakstins (West Texas) and Buddy Wilson (East Texas). Also dropping by on my watch were representatives from Duro-Last authorized contractors Jaco Roofing & Construction (Clute, Texas) and LaFerney, Inc. (Kingsport, Tennessee).