New developments in roofing materials have brought new
installation challenges. Roof systems introduced to the roofing
market relatively untested make plenty of room for imaginative
installation techniques. It seems market demands generally are
oriented to short-term roofing solutions. There remain a few
building owners interested in constructing roof systems to provide
long-term service (20 years or more), but their ranks appear to be
shrinking. In a way, that's good news for the roofing contracting
community—Detroit has been at it for years. The name of that
game is "planned obsolescence," or we get to replace roof systems
more often with more short-term roof system options. As the Gulf
Oil dealer says, "Pay me now, or pay me later."
The short-term attitude, the move to more purchasing agents
buying roofs at the absolute lowest price and "auction" roof
purchasing have caused more than a little consternation for roofing
contractors. As the complications created by these methods manifest
themselves, we may see a reversal in attitude from end users of
roof systems—especially those who own their facilities for
the long term. In the meantime, roofing contractors from the "old
school" who have been building long-term roof systems with pride
throughout the years sooner or later must realize market demands
have changed and they must change with the market, change their
market or be doomed to extinction. So with more than a little
reluctance, we modify our mindset and develop new talent to deal
with changing market demands. These observations for your
consideration are an attempt to call attention to potential
application and business problems and deprive lawyers of at least
some of their livelihood. The caveat remains veritable—you
get what you pay...
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