The agreement will enable contractors to deliver Stormseal’s patented protection to even more homes and properties across the U.S.

Stormseal, the game-changing storm response solution that provides powerful protection to homes and buildings until permanent repairs can be made, is pleased to announce it is now available through SRS Distribution, one of America’s largest building products distributors.

Partnering with SRS Distribution will ultimately help communities recover quicker from damaging weather events. “With over 440 Building Products locations across the U.S., contractors now have easy access to Stormseal for storm response work and making temporary repairs, no matter where in the country the storm damage occurred,” explained Stormseal CEO and founder Matthew Lennox. “When it comes to protecting properties and lives, only the highest performing products will do, and we deliver the ultimate protection for homes and buildings until permanent repairs can be made.”

Rick Rominger, SRS Distribution senior director of private label, said, “At SRS Distribution, we are committed to supporting our vendor partners with solutions that meet the urgent needs of contractors and homeowners. We are excited to support Stormseal and their line of temporary roof repair products, which provide reliable protection and peace of mind following a storm or significant weather event. Together, we are dedicated to helping communities recover quickly and safely.”

Stormseal is field proven and third-party tested for puncture resistance, wind uplift and fire resistance. It was developed and patented by Lennox after many years of frustration that came with temporary tarps that would fly away with the next strong wind. “We have years of development and testing, along with proven performance in the real world that this temporary protection system is unsurpassed,” he said. “We are thrilled to be able to offer this proven protection to even more properties through this relationship with SRS Distribution.”

About Stormseal

Stormseal is a strong polyethylene film that heat-shrinks to cover a damaged structure and stays put until permanent repairs are made. When Stormseal is installed on a damaged roof or wall, the application of heat shrinks the film, enhancing its strength and ensuring a perfect fit to the structure, without damaging any underlying materials. For more information visit www.stormseal.com.

About SRS Distribution

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in McKinney, Texas, SRS Distribution has grown to become one of the largest and fastest growing building products distributors in the United States. Since the Company’s inception, it has established a differentiated growth strategy and entrepreneurial culture that is focused on serving customers, partnering with suppliers and attracting the industry’s best talent. SRS currently operates under a family of distinct local brands encompassing more than 800 locations across 48 states. SRS Distribution is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Home Depot, Inc. For more information, visit www.srsdistribution.com.

By Emma Peterson.   

October has come to a close, but there’s still time to catch up on some of the biggest stories from RoofersCoffeeShop® (RCS) that came out this past month! 

October was a month of headlines and for many, hardship. In Florida, residents found themselves facing the double threat of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. But in the face of these natural disasters, we saw communities come together. Here in the roofing industry, we featured some incredible stories, such as GAF’s work with Second Harvest to provide thousands of meals to support community members after the storm. Or Adams and Reese’s legal advice and updates on information about the state of emergency and how to start finding your business’s footing again when the storm was over. From donated services on the ground to fundraising from afar, we saw communities come together to support those struggling to put their lives back together after the hurricanes. 

This month’s headlines also featured new growth in the industry. Polyglass completed their expansion of a manufacturing facility in Waco, Texas and S-5!® shared about their summer camp, Let's Build Construction Careers (LBCC) for girls. The week-long camp focuses on inspiring middle and high school girls to consider careers in the trades and construction. Shelly Higgins, architectural and national accounts director with S-5! explained, “We’re not just building skills. We’re building confidence, showing them that they can do anything they set their minds to.”  

The most popular article of the month combined these two trends, showcasing the work done on Si Robertson’s (Duck Dynasty star and Army veteran) roof. Northeast Louisiana Roofers thanked him for all his hard work by giving him a free reroof. And not only is his new roof made of quality materials (shoutout to Owens Corning for their partnership on the project) and craftsmanship, but it’s also an eye-catching red, white and blue pattern to honor his service and dedication to improving the lives of veterans. 

Here are the top articles for the month of October. 

Five honorable mentions: 

10 - Polyglass completes major expansion of Waco, Texas manufacturing facility 

9 - Try to outsmart the Schröder PBM and win big! 

6 - Shake off real shake worries 

7 - Rebuilding after the storm 

8 - GAF Valdosta and Second Harvest provide thousands of meals to support community members affected by Hurricane Helene and Milton 

The top five of the month:  

5 - Free classified ads for Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton response 

4 - Price Gouging Hotline activated to protect hurricane victims 

3 - East Coast port workers on strike 

2 - Building careers from the ground up 

1 - A star-spangled makeover for Duck Dynasty star Si Robertson 

By Karen Edwards.

Use the code HELENE or MILTON to place a free classified ad ($50 value). 

Looking for resources for storm response? Use The Coffee Shops’ classifieds for free with the codes HELENE and MILTON. Whether you are looking for workers, material resources or if you have equipment needs, classified advertising is free for contractors who are responding to damage caused by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.   

Contractors responding in any of the affected states are welcome to use the classifieds at no cost during this emergency situation. You can also use the Hurricane Helene forum or the Hurricane Milton forum for communications and may find value in the following resources: 

• EagleView – For more than 10 years, EagleView has been the gold standard for accurate property measurement data. Their always consistent and accurate property measurements are derived from high-resolution aerial imagery, which are calculated down to the individual pixel. 
• ICP Group Shockwave RTU - ShockWaveRTU is an EPA registered disinfectant, sanitizer and cleaner designed specifically for mold remediation contractors. ShockWaveRTU is designed to meet all your disinfecting, sanitizing, cleaning and deodorizing needs. 
• Southeast Labor Force – They are prepared with a workforce ready to work for your company when you need, short term help. Long-term agreements can be made also. You will feel the peace of mind to have enough manpower for storm response. 
• Stormseal - Stormseal is an innovative alternative to tarps that provides a better solution for roofing contractors, insurers and homeowners. Stormseal secures storm-damaged properties, resisting wind, rain and hail until permanent repairs are made. 

Blue roof contracts 

If you are responding with tarps, here is some important information from Trent Cotney about blue roof contracts: Blue roof contracts are a type of roofing contract designed to allow contractors to acquire any necessary supplies and equipment necessary to make temporary roof repairs, particularly installation of the blue, plastic sheeting, in support of emergency response operations. It allows you to help homeowners in need while growing your business at the same time. During disaster relief efforts, it is of the utmost importance to have existing blue roof contracts in place. For more information about Blue Roof Contracts, contact Trent Cotney at trent.cotney@arlaw.com. 

By Dani Sheehan. 

Hurricane season arrives unexpectedly every year. When a homeowner is unprepared or the weather proves too unpredictable, see how you can prevent further distress by providing relief. 

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, is projected to have increased activity with 14 to 21 storms likely. While not all storms will become full-blown hurricanes, and not all will reach land, the above-average season doubles the likelihood of a hurricane hitting the East Coast compared to other seasons according to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.  

In August, three tropical storms made landfall and Hurricane Idalia hit Florida as a high-end Category 3 hurricane. At the time of writing this, Hurricane Lee is expected to make landfall throughout New England mid-September. 

We may not be able to prevent hurricanes, but we can help mitigate the damage by informing homeowners with tips to prepare their homes. And if disaster has already struck, we can keep them at ease by offering the right support and products for their roof replacement needs. Here’s how you can go above and beyond to provide exceptional customer service to distressed homeowners. 

1 - Encourage homeowners to get multiple quotes for their repairs 

We all want to close the sale, but building trust with the homeowner is crucial to good business. Owens Corning provides a great storm damage checklist to provide homeowners in times of crisis. Unfortunately, some people will try to take advantage of disasters. Educate homeowners on these potential risks so they check that a contractor is licensed and insured before agreeing to any work on the home. More than likely, they’re going to call you first! 

2 - Use aerial imagery to inspect roofs after the storm 

Your safety and the safety of your crew are just as important as repairing the roof. With advancing technology, it is now possible to assess damage and take incredibly accurate measurements of a roof with drones. For example, TAMKO® and EagleView recently teamed up to provide drone services to contractors to quickly visualize roof damage. Nearmap similarly has aerial imagery solutions and recommends proactive post-catastrophe strategies that can assist in making the insurance claim process a breeze instead of a headache. 

3 - Provide temporary fixes to ensure the home is livable 

In times of disaster, it is not always easy to access the materials or time needed for a prompt repair. There are solutions that function as long-term, temporary protection, such as Stormseal, that can withstand future storms, unlike tarps which often blow away. Fort Myers, Florida is a perfect example of the need for these types of solutions. Amidst a new hurricane season, they are still trying to rebuild from Hurricane Ian in October 2022. 

4 - Consider obtaining a blue roof contract for your business 

While we want to be able to support communities in times of need, it’s also important to keep your business protected. Cotney Consulting Group suggest having an existing blue roof contract in place during disaster relief efforts. This will ensure you can provide ongoing support when your customers need you the most.  

5 - Offer durable solutions to reduce future risk of damage 

Metal roofing is the hot place to be! Hopefully you are already offering metal roofing solutions in areas prone to disaster to ensure their durability and longevity against high winds and other extreme weather conditions. Dupont™ Tedlar® film is particularly fitting for coastal areas, as one Roofing Road Trips podcast episode discusses.  

Still new to the metal industry? Sherwin-Williams' MetalVue Program has all the resources you need to get started. There are also additional roofing solutions to consider, such as synthetic roofing from DaVinci Roofscapes, or slate or tile systems. Ensuring that you have extensive knowledge of a variety of solutions can help you inform your customers to make the best decisions for their roof repair or replacement and further builds your relationship with them. 

Continue the conversation in our hurricane relief forum to share insights and get the most updated information this hurricane season.

By Stormseal. 

Stormseal has won the People’s Choice Award in the global non-profit competition, the 2022 QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge.

Led by the non-profit Leading Cities, and in partnership with QBE Insurance Group, this competition is designed to improve upon our cities, building them to be more resilient and sustainable. This is the largest challenge of its kind, designed to encourage entrepreneurs to rise to the challenges of the future and build products that improve the equity, resilience, and safety of urban centers. 

“We’re delighted Stormseal has been recognized for its immense benefits to cities and communities by keeping them safe after storm damage," said Stormseal founder Matt Lennox. “Stormseal is an absolute game changer, especially in cities where hundreds or thousands of homes and business can be damaged by a single weather event.” 

This year’s finalists were selected from more than 550 companies across 70 countries, based on their innovative solutions to answer cities’ most pressing challenges. 

“Challenges such as climate change, population density, cyber risk, and pandemics are hastening the need to build thriving, resilient cities and implement new solutions that will change the world,” said Mike Lake, President and CEO of Leading Cities. 

AcceliCITY lowers the cost of innovation for startups as well as governments by reorganizing the innovation and implementation cycles for Smart City solutions. Leading Cities’ AcceliCITY program connects startups’ smart solutions directly with business users and provides the proper channels, training, and knowledge to implement in cities. 

Learn more about Stormseal in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.stormseal.com. 

Original article source: Stormseal 

About Stormseal 

Stormseal is a strong polyethylene film that heat-shrinks to cover a damaged structure and stays put until permanent repairs are made. When Stormseal is installed on a damaged roof or wall, the application of heat shrinks the film, enhancing its strength and ensuring a perfect fit to the structure, without damaging any underlying materials. For more information visit www.stormseal.com. http://www.greenlinkengineering.com/ 

By Cass Jacoby. 

We are only a few months out from the deadly hurricane that hit Florida earlier this year, but this storm is exacerbating already present issues within the industry.  

Supply chain issues, skyrocketing material prices, labor shortages and now... hurricane impacts. Roofing’s newest obstacle is the impact of Hurricane Ian creating demand for immediate relief materials to rebuild damaged homes and further stressing supply chain and material issues and labor shortages. 

According to Insider Engage, Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in Cayo Costa, Florida, as a Category 4 storm on September 28, dropped 14.4 inches of rain and produced a storm surge of more than 12 feet in some areas. The storm made a second landfall near Caines, South Carolina, as a Category 1 hurricane on September 30. 

"This storm has magnified everything,” Brittany Pregliaso with Classic Roofing and Construction tells ABC Action News. The current issues the industry faces are only going to be exacerbated with the impact of Hurricane Ian. The Jacksonville Business Journal reports that even before the storm, a double-digit surge in construction costs due to supply chain shortages and rising labor expenses had created challenges for many developers in South Florida. 

“Almost without exception we are experiencing unreliable timeframes in obtaining building materials, if you can get them at all, and labor is facing similar problems,” CEO of the Florida East Coast chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors Peter Dyga told the Journal.  

Further, putting the Sunshine state back together will require a huge number of laborers. Considering the pre-existing labor shortage in the industry, we can expect a delay to rebuilding, with the backlog of the repairs rippling out and impacting commercial projects across the country. Construction Dive reports that the hurricane will only increase demand for those workers now that Ian has created the need for more construction projects. 

Additionally, Hurricane Ian is likely to drive up the cost of critical materials across the south-eastern U.S., with inflation already affecting prices. 

“It’s a perfect storm with the lack of skilled labor, plus supply chain challenges getting the materials and the components to build a project,” Associated Builders and Contractors Florida Gulf Coast President Steve Cona tells BisNow. “This is something that we really haven't seen before.” 

Luckily, solutions like Stormseal exist. Stormseal is a temporary roofing alternative to tarps that heat shrinks to the home to protect it until repairs can be made. Stormseal can last for a year or longer and can keep properties watertight and protected from rain, wind, hail and future hurricanes, so you can deliver on keeping homes safe no matter what is happening with the construction industry. 

Stay up to date with the latest roofing industry news when you sign up for the RCS Week in Roofing eNews. 

About Cass  

Cass works as a reporter/writer for RoofersCoffeeShop, AskARoofer and MetalCoffeeShop. When she isn’t writing about roofs, she is putting her Master degree to work writing about movies and dancing with her plants.

By Stormseal. 

Stormseal offers residents hit by natural disasters the ability to stay in their homes by providing superior temporary roofing. 

Homeowners hit by natural disasters like Hurricane Ida have something to celebrate as a USACE pilot trial with Stormseal proves to be a success.  Under the current program, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are banned from affixing temporary roofing onto surfaces as it might damage them. However, tarps simply don’t work on tiled, slate or metal roofs.  

The pilot program trialed Stormseal as a solution for homes that are not eligible for the Blue Roof Program as a way to provide more secure temporary roofing.  Stormseal film offers an exceptional alternative to tarps. After a 120-day installation report, the USACE are happy to report to FEMA that Stormseal is certifiably effective. 

“I’ve been talking with USACE for the past five years outlining the benefits of Stormseal,” says Matthew Lennox from West Palm Beach, Florida-based Stormseal. “I’m so thrilled we could assist Operation Blue Roof and those affected by Hurricane Ida.” 

The shrink wrap pilot program involved installing Stormseal’s product over a damaged roof, secured at the perimeter with furring strips. A contractor then uses heat to shrink the material and create a water-tight seal. The home selection process was done using the Center for Disease Control’s Social Vulnerability Index, to determine areas that needed the most support. 

Homeowner Diane Gros, in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, said she had exhausted all of her options to make the necessary repairs to her home and didn’t have insurance. “Thank you all for what you are doing,” she said. “Until you called, nobody was willing to help me. What you are doing is pretty amazing.” 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis District and Hurricane Ida Recovery Field Office commander, Col. Zachary Miller, says he’s optimistic about the new program. 

“This is a game changer for survivors needing a temporary roof following a major storm event,” he said. “Disasters can devastate a region but being able to stay in your home while you recover is a win-win for the survivor and the community.” 

USACE and FEMA will have evaluated the program and decided it can be used to help people affected by future natural disasters. The Stormseal trial with USACE / FEMA has been a success. 

Learn more about Stormseal in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.stormseal.com/us. 

Original article source: Stormseal 

By Cass Jacoby. 

RCS interviews Stormseal LIVE! at FRSA for a conversation on why their product is a superior alternative to tarps. 

RoofersCoffeeShop’s COO Karen Edwards interviews Matt Lennox from Stormseal about why their polyethylene film is a great alternative to tarps. Stormseal is designed specifically to protect properties from subsequent storms, keeping the home safe and dry and reducing headaches for contractors and homeowners alike. 

Stormseal is a solution to tarps built from the frustration that can come from tarps blowing off easily and creating more work for the contractor.   

“It all started back in Australia many years ago and as a general contractor looking after a major storm in Australia. We had two and a half thousand tarps on roofs,” says Matt. “What I found was subsequent storms that came through, blew the tarps off and created more damage for the insurer and anxiety for the homeowner...We were using good resources after resources to actually put the tarps back on instead of fixing the problem.” 

Matt’s solution was to develop a film that would succeed in all the places that a tarp would fail, and from that Stormseal was born! Stormseal is a strong and lightweight film that heat-shrinks to protect and weatherproof damaged structures. Tested in some of the most severe elements, Stormseal can withstand hail storms and winds up to 150 mph without ripping, tearing, leaking, blowing off or collapsing. 

“We believe it's a better system than tarping,” says Matt. “The product is UV rated for one year and it also has a fire retardant.” It seals in the property and the home from subsequent storms, winds and tornadoes that come through, making sure that no further damage occurs following severe weather events.  

“As long as you're getting it put on by an accredited installer, we've had great success with letting people get on with their lives, and waiting for the insurance claim to be processed,” says Matt “It's been really rewarding to see people not have to worry about the blue tarp flying off.” 

Learn more about Stormseal in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.stormseal.com/us. 

About Cass  

Cass works as a reporter/writer for RoofersCoffeeShop, AskARoofer and MetalCoffeeShop. When she isn’t writing about roofs, she is putting her Master degree to work writing about movies and dancing with her plants.

By Stormseal. 

Stormseal is the perfect alternative to tarps given the island’s tropical storms and strong winds, which gives Ohana Construction a competitive edge. 

Ohana Construction was started by James Murray and Matt Barberi in 2012. With the intention of becoming the premier, one-stop-shop for roofing, painting and home improvement in Hawaii, Ohana Construction flourished — they were even named the number one fastest-growing company by the Pacific Business News in 2018. After years of building trust with their community, Ohana Construction wanted to provide them with something better than inefficient tarps when it came to long-term, temporary roof protection. When the company learned about Stormseal and how it was being used on the U.S. mainland, they knew that getting this product to the island would be a gamechanger.  

“We saw a huge opportunity not just for us, but also for the residents because of what it can do in terms of helping after a hurricane or a bad tropical storm hits,” explained Barberi. As a company that works in insurance claims, Ohana Construction has felt firsthand the frustration of using tarps for temporary protection.  

“So here on the islands, we have continuous medium to high winds,” explained Barberi. “Normal tarps are very difficult to maintain. You put them on and the next day you have to put them back. Sometimes they last a week and sometimes they last three days.” 

The long-term performance of Stormseal is a game changer says Barberi. “When you’re talking about keeping the contents and the interior of people’s homes dry, you really want something that you can depend on. Obviously, the application of Stormseal with its one-year warranty really does set us apart from the rest of the contractors that don’t have the ability to install Stormseal.” 

Stormseal founder Matthew Lennox flew to Hawaii to provide the training for Ohana Construction’s team and certify them as installers. The company’s goal is to train as many of their installers as they can, so that if they experience a strong storm event, they can deploy teams to the entire island. “Because of how fast it goes on and the utility of it, we believe that if there was a natural disaster, the island itself now is better equipped with this product,” concluded Barberi. 

Learn more about Stormseal in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.stormseal.com. 

Original article source: Stormseal

By Cass Jacoby. 

What to do after the storm now that Hurricane Ian is here! 

Hurricane Ian is making landfall as we write this, but luckily RoofersCoffeeShop® is here to help you respond to the storm! We’ve gathered some resources for contractors as well as those of us landlocked miles away reading about the storm on our smartphones. 

After the storm 

After the storm has passed, you can help homeowners assess if there is any damage to the roof. By documenting the damage, noting the severity and taking photos, you are providing information that will be critical in the event they need to file a claim to help cover repairs. 

Keep in mind that your phones will likely be ringing off the hook, especially following massive storms like we saw with Hurricane Ian. Consider an answering or virtual receptionist service like Ruby, that can help you manage the volume of calls.  

You also might want to set up a dedicated email address that can help you manage the flow of inquiries for emergency response and repair service. An email address can be set up in minutes and can be forwarded to whoever on your team is handling the inquiries. Use something easy and memorable, like roofdamage@yourcompany.com. 

Prioritizing your response

You also will need to put a plan in place to prioritize service calls. Many imagery providers like EagleView and Nearmap will provide before and after photos, often at no charge on their websites, following catastrophic storms. This can be useful in identifying which properties sustained the most damage and helpful to your company in determining which properties to visit first.  

EagleView released the following statement relating to Hurricane Ian: 

EagleView is closely monitoring conditions with Hurricane Ian and we are standing by to help. We hope that all of those in impacted areas stay safe. Our aircraft will be in the air as soon as it is safe to do so and all new imagery and data for the impacted areas will be expedited. As contractors and insurers mobilize to help homeowners resolve claims and start rebuilding after the storm, EagleView will be staffed and ready to expedite the process with high-resolution aerial imagery and property data, including roof measurements. 

Check here for the latest information on EagleView’s post-storm imagery captures and disaster response for insurance carriers and adjusters. For the latest information on the path and landfall of Hurricane Ian, check here.  

As a contractor, you are a key resource for property owners and a first point of education for helping them further protect their homes and buildings from storm damage. Help them plan ahead and prepare for future hurricanes, stay up to building code and navigate insurance claims. Remind them that should any more damage happen you are ready to help. 

If your repair backlog is stacking up or you are struggling to get materials, consider offering your customers a long-term temporary solution like Stormseal, that heat shrinks to the home or building and won’t blow off like blue tarps. It lasts for up to a year or more and can keep properties watertight, protected from rain, wind, hail and future hurricanes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed Stormseal on homes in Louisiana following Hurricane Ida and it withstood future storms. Remember that you must be certified to purchase and install the system and you can learn more here about becoming certified.  

Talk to your peers

At RCS, we provide a Hurricane Relief Forum that allows you to post messages, see what others are talking about, ask questions and find what you need to start the rebuilding, repair and recovery process. It's free to use and can be helpful in hearing how other roofing contractors are responding to their local communities. 

If you need resources, workers, equipment or more to help you respond to the damage, RCS is offering free classified ads for any contractor looking for help. Just use the code IAN at checkout and your ad placement is free, up to $100. 

I am not affected, but would like to help... 

In response to impacts from Hurricane Ian, Volunteer Florida has activated the Florida Disaster Fund. The Florida Disaster Fund is the State of Florida's official private fund established to provide financial assistance to our communities as they respond to and recover from times of emergency or disaster. In partnership with public, private, and other non-governmental organizations, the Florida Disaster Fund supports response and recovery activities. 

Donations to the Florida Disaster Fund are made to the Volunteer Florida Foundation, 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and are tax-deductible. To contribute, please visit FloridaDisasterFund.org or text DISASTER to 20222. 

Stay up to date with the latest roofing industry news when you sign up for the RCS Week in Roofing eNews. 

About Cass  

Cass works as a reporter/writer for RoofersCoffeeShop, AskARoofer and MetalCoffeeShop. When she isn’t writing about roofs, she is putting her Master degree to work writing about movies and dancing with her plants.   

Photo credit: NPR