It wasn't too long ago that winter's thaw meant the beginning of
the real roofing season. Manufacturers would move into high
production in March or April, anticipating new orders. Distributors
would build up inventories that had been intentionally depleted
during winter. And contractors would begin to see roof system
specifications and reroofing work cross their desks—including
the inevitable summer school work.
But the roofing industry no longer has the luxury of a three- or
four-month hiatus. Instead, roofing work is more or less continuous
for at least a couple important reasons.
First, roofing materials are more resilient now and less
dependent on warm weather. The effects of cold weather on workers
are probably more problematic than its effects on many
materials—with extremes, of course, being the exception. Even
our friends in Canada have figured out how to work during
January.
Second, the industry has learned the value of maintenance and
service programs. Many contractors operate full-fledged service
departments with employees dedicated solely to that effort.
Obviously, roof system repairs don't...
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