As I was saying ...

It's March, which marks two important occurrences in the U.S. The first is the beginning of spring training for major league baseball players, our annual demonstration of hope and encouragement and assurance that all is right in the natural balance of the universe.

The other is the beginning of the roofing season, which generally is accompanied by the introduction of new products, marketing plans, budgets ... and uncertainty.

Chicago Cubs fans, in particular, understand uncertainty. Across the street from Wrigley Field, an apartment building owner displays a running tally of the number of years since the Cubs have won their division, National League pennant and World Series. For the latter, the number this year will be 98.

Unlike the Cubs, the roofing industry had a good 20th century. And with the optimism of spring, there is much to be hopeful about this roofing season. Despite all the talk of the housing bubble bursting—or even hissing a bit—we'll be adding close to 2 million homes to the national inventory this year. And sales of homes (new and existing combined) will be at the third-highest level ever.

Commercial building owners, coming off three solid years of profitability, are investing in plants and equipment. Experts expect to see double-digit increases in hotel and office building construction this year. More medical facilities are needed and will be built. And state governments have surpluses again after some difficult years, which means we'll see more spending on schools, prisons and hospitals.

Perhaps even more important, building owners and government officials are paying more attention to the energy and environmental values of their roofs. The best roofing contractors, consultants and design professionals are prepared to talk to their customers about life-cycle costing, building code requirements for R-value and possible tax credits, among other things.

Of course, the eternal optimism of Cubs fans always must be tempered by an understanding of the real world. Rising interest rates generally mean new construction will slow. Work force issues make it difficult for contractor operations to expand. Logistics issues, especially delivery schedules, put even more demands on contractor business management.

But the Cubs have a leadoff hitter. The bleachers at Wrigley Field are remodeled. Let's have a great season.

Bill Good is NRCA's executive vice president.