Every year, the National Roofing Contractors Association organizes the International Roofing Expo (IRE). There, professional contractors, manufacturers of asphalt shingles and other roofing products from across North America discuss topics of interest to contractors and homeowners alike, such as trends in the roofing industry.
Changes have been made to roofing product standards and roofing expert and contractor Len Roofing Chicago North Shore say that it is essential that contractors around the nation need to get in line with the changes that are now at hand or else the industry may suffer as a result.
In the latest edition of the show, Roofing Contractor magazine sponsored a report on “the state of the roofing industry.” From sales to science to politics, 2017 is shaping up to be a very unusual year. At IKO, we thought we should share with you some of what we learned. Because, honestly, we were amazed to find out in how many ways the changing world we live in is affecting our business and you, as a homeowner.
According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), home construction in 2016 was estimated at 1.16 million, almost 5% more than the previous year’s total of 1.11 million units. Projections indicate that the construction of single-family homes will rise 10%, to 855,000 units in 2017, and 12%, to 961,000, the following year. Multi-family home construction remains at approximately 400,000 units, which is slightly faster than the 2016 pace.
The report further noted that the above-mentioned figure refers to new construction, while the majority of residential contractor businesses are based on roof replacement. Asphalt shingles for steep slopes continue to be the preferred choice for both applications while metal roofs are a long way off in second place.
These growth projections are good news for the residential roofing industry, but what are the implications if you are a homeowner looking to replace your roof?
Several factors must be taken into account. With so much anticipated demand, asphalt shingle manufacturers will need to increase production volumes. In IKO’s case, in 2016 the company pioneered a new 250,000-square-foot factory in Hillsboro, Texas to serve the Southwest.
As a homeowner, you need to ensure that the roofing contractor you are considering working with has timely access to a supply of the shingle color and profile of your choice. You should also be aware that perhaps reputable roofers will be busy, unless your roof is in urgent need of repair, consider that there will be a reasonable wait until time is available to schedule your project.
It is almost impossible to predict how this supply and demand will affect prices because there are many variables that are part of this equation. One of the many examples is the price of petroleum-based products used in the manufacture of asphalt shingles and whether they are domestic or imported.
All over the world, and also in our country, there is more talk than ever about the climate. “Global warming” is now known as “climate change”, in this way it includes the extremely cold weather and snow that is experienced in those countries whose winters are usually subtropical.
Extreme weather was a major factor in the increase in roofing sales and production numbers in 2016. Keith Lowe, IKO Vice President of Sales, stated that “this year we had the most storms in the last four years, and the demand for roofs was definitely higher. Our forecasts indicate that this will continue in 2017, as we do not expect the storms to subside”.
The storm statistics data provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Department * (NOAA for its acronym in English), agrees to highlight that in 2016 there were 20,237 major storms. While this number is slightly higher than 2015 (19,172), it represents the highest number in three years and was enough to disrupt the asphalt shingle supply chain.
If you are planning to replace your roof, please take into account the recent climatic changes in your area and select the appropriate asphalt shingles for those conditions.
Have you noticed that strong winds have become more common? Look for high-performance laminate shingles like IKO Dynasty ® . These shingles were designed to withstand high winds and are guaranteed to resist winds of up to 130 mph (210km / h).
Was this the first time your children saw snow? If temperatures drop more than usual, as has happened in many areas, you may want to include an ice and water shield as part of your total roofing package, also consider a heavier shingle that is flexible in extreme cold.
Finally, we will talk about extreme caution. It is very important that you do your research, check references, and hire a professional, reputable, and insured roofing contractor. You can start by searching for an IKO ROOFPRO ® professional contractor near you.
There are many reputable roofers who specialize in storms; however, there are those who will take advantage of those whose homes were damaged. They often go door-to-door in neighborhoods that were destroyed by a storm. They will pressure you by saying that they are redoing the neighbors’ roofs, and therefore can offer you the benefit of a volume discount if you do too.
They may be using substandard roofing materials or installing them incorrectly. Once they went in search of their next “victims”, you will never see or hear from them again, and forget that they are responsible for any damage they may have caused, that they return money if they owe it to you or that comply with the “guarantees”.
Your new roof is an important investment in your home. Take the time to do this wisely and make sure you are dealing with a professional and qualified roofing company.
Contact Info:
Organization: Len Roofing
Address: 1900 Techny Ct, Northbrook, IL 60062
Tel: 01 847 768 6000
Website: https://lenroofing.com/
