Briefings

Manufacturer news

Garland opens training facility

Cleveland-based The Garland Co. Inc. recently opened its new Soliday Center training facility in Cleveland. The facility is named in honor of Elmer Soliday, one of seven men who helped revitalize The Garland Co. in 1974.

"The new center includes state-of-the-art audio and video equipment and a new application lab, allowing our sales representatives, contractors and other members of The Garland Co. team new opportunities for classroom and hands-on learning," says Scott Craft, director of recruiting and training for The Garland Co. "With this new facility, The Garland Co. can continue to aspire to ever-higher levels of training."

Duro-Last® expands headquarters

Duro-Last Roofing Inc. is renovating its headquarters in Saginaw, Mich. The project will include an expansion of about 18,000 square feet (1672 m²) of office space and renovations of the existing façade and offices.

"Based on our projections, we anticipate the addition of 61 new positions at our headquarters facility over the next 12 to 24 months," says Tom Hollingsworth, Duro-Last president.

Construction is scheduled for completion by the end of this month.

Elk receives award

Elk Premium Building Products Inc., Dallas, received an "A" for quality by David Weekley Homes, the second largest privately held home builder in the U.S.

Elk Premium Building Products received a "Partners of Choice Award," a distinction voted on by David Weekley Homes team members in its National Trading Partners Survey. The survey is sent quarterly to more than 175 team members and tests suppliers' responsiveness to team members' needs. Companies are rated on a scale from "A" to "F" based on quality, services, product training and supplier relations.

"David Weekley Homes sends a powerful message to its customers by driving quality, starting with the manufacturers and continuing through the home building process," says Curt Barker, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Elk Premium Building Products. "This award is shared by all Elk employees."

APOC adds new center

APOC,® a division of Gardner-Gibson,® Long Beach, Calif., has announced a new distribution center in Hayward, Calif., which supports APOC and Gardner-Gibson's West Coast expansion plans.

Gardner-Gibson also announced the recent transition of its current Berkeley, Calif., operation to the Hayward facility Sept. 1. The new center will offer a full range of APOC and Gardner-Gibson products provided by facilities in Long Beach and Vernon, Calif.

Hunter Panels gains representation

Hunter Panels, Portland, Maine, recently announced Market Makers Inc., Houston, will represent Hunter Panels' full product line. Market Makers will be responsible for all sales and marketing efforts in the Houston area in addition to San Antonio; Austin, Texas; Corpus Christi, Texas; Laredo, Texas; and Brownsville, Texas.

Up the ladder

OMG Inc. has named John Ashe vice president of sales—FastenMaster.

Joe Marchionni has been appointed regional sales manager—Rainwater Products by Rheinzink America Inc.

Contractor news

Winding Roofing has merged

NRCA member Winding Roofing Co. Inc., Wauwatosa, Wis., and W.J. Butzen Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., Franklin, Wis., merged Sept. 2.

Former W.J. Butzen Roofing & Sheet Metal personnel now are part of the Winding Roofing staff, and the roofing and sheet-metal shops are housed in Winding Roofing's Wauwatosa location.

"Adding the architectural sheet-metal and panel capabilities of W.J. Butzen Roofing & Sheet Metal to the current in-house capabilities of Winding Roofing Co. greatly will enhance our ability to service all our customers' needs," says Donald W. Schaefer, president of Winding Roofing.

Advanced Roofing wins award

Advanced Roofing Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has received the annual GAF System Protection Excellence Award that recognizes dedication to educating property owners about roofing options.

"Advanced Roofing is one of the 'best of the best,'" says Bill Collins, president and chief executive officer of GAF Materials Corp., Wayne, N.J. "Only the top 1 percent of all roofing contractors even qualifies to become a Master Select Contractor, and Advanced Roofing stands out in this elite group."

Industry online

• SPRI has announced the release of SPRI Works, a Web-based career center at www.spri.org that connects members of the single-ply roofing community. SPRI Works offers a resume bank and lists career opportunities. Users anonymously list their qualifications and are notified of job opportunities by e-mail, allowing job seekers to keep their information confidential.

NRCA affiliate news

MRCA elects new slate

The Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) has announced its new officers and directors for 2005-06.

The following officers were elected: president—James Brosseau, vice president of Bennett and Brosseau Roofing Inc., Romeoville, Ill.; first vice president—Kurt Steinkuhler, president of Geo Groh & Sons Inc., Emporia, Kan.; second vice president—Rod Petrick, vice president of Ridgeworth Roofing Co. Inc., Bridgeview, Ill.; secretary/treasurer—John Daly, vice president of Kaw Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., Kansas City, Kan.; chairman of the board—Dennis Runyan, president of Dryspace Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Four new directors also were elected: Steve Little, president of K Post Co., Dallas; Bud Killgore Jr., president of Delta Roofing & Sheet Metal Corp., West Memphis, Ark.; Bob Schenkel, president of CL Schust Co. Inc., Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Mike Miller, vice president of Henry C. Smither Roofing Co., Indianapolis. In addition, MRCA honored Amy Reeves with the James Q. McCawley Award for her dedication and outstanding service to the roofing industry.

Reeves is vice president of Reeves Roofing Equipment, Helotes, Texas.

Other news

New guidelines are established

After Florida's 2004 hurricane season, the tile roofing industry surveyed the damage to tile roofs and found hip and ridge tiles were likely to be missing or damaged.

As a result, the Tile Roofing Institute (TRI) and Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (FRSA) created guidelines for hip and ridge tile attachment. The guidelines are in the latest edition of the TRI/FRSA Concrete and Clay Roof Tile Installation Manual and officially were adopted into Florida Building Code Nov. 1.

"We realized more had to be done to address hip and ridge tile attachments," says Rick Olson, TRI's technical director. "In the past, trim tiles have been treated as decorative accessories. As a result, they were not adequately addressed and were susceptible to uplift forces from high winds."

Although most of the recommendations are not new, they provide more specific instructions and diagram proper hip and ridge installation.

To review or download a copy of the guidelines, visit www.tileroofing.org/uploadedFiles/TRI_SITE/News_and_Events/HipandRidgeInstallation.pdf. To order a copy of the TRI/FRSA Clay and Concrete Tile Roofing Installation Manual, Fourth Edition, visit www.floridaroof.com.