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Professional Roofing: What is the most unusual roofing project you've performed?
Louwers: The Sea-RO roof in Zeebrugge, Belgium. This 305,000-square-foot (28335 m²) warehouse was built more than a mile in the sea on a patch of regained land. We completely had to rethink the calculation of the wind forces because the Belgian standards did not provide for an "in sea" location. Then, we had to devise special fastening techniques to withstand the wind-uplift forces and design and install several damage-restricting measures in case something went wrong. The roof was huge and had to be installed in a short time period. The wind usually was so strong we had to invent and use special contraptions to avoid the torches from being blown out. It was challenging on all fronts—engineering, technical, motivational. The roof system has since weathered a few severe gales and still is performing as designed!

Why did you become a roofing contractor?
I just (happily) followed in my father's footsteps.

What was your first roofing experience?
Taking pictures for a company brochure on a roof system we were installing. I was thrilled with the feeling of the elements on the roof and the view it commanded!

What are your favorite items on your desk?
Pictures of my wife and three children—they are my driving forces.

What do you consider your most rewarding experiences?
Performing a job that requires you to use all your knowledge, setting you apart from the competition, and knowing the customer will be happy.

What was your first job?
Sorting pears at my uncle's orchard. I made about 50 cents after three days (and I knew I wouldn't be in that kind of business).

What is your favorite vacation?
Anywhere I can be active outdoors with my family.

What do you consider a waste of time?
Having to do the same thing twice unnecessarily.

What are your best and worst habits?
My best habit is trying to imagine another person's point of view. My worst habit is losing myself in details.

What is your biggest pet peeve?
People who rake up the past and dwell on what was done wrong or not done. If you could invite any three people to dinner (dead or alive), whom would you invite and why? Leonardo da Vinci because he must be one of the greatest geniuses ever; Isaac Newton because I would like to see his face when he realizes how a modern programmable calculator would have saved him years; and my father because one could never spend enough time with the most intelligent, friendly man ever.

What is your favorite stress reliever?
A good kite flight or surfing the Web looking for knowledge about my profession and various hobbies.

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I have been president (and still am a board member) of the Belgian Roofing Contractors Association (BRCA); I am a board member of the Belgian Building Research Industry, where I am also president of the Flat Roof and Insulation Technical Committee; and I teach roofing classes for BRCA. I also have been happy serving as a member of NRCA's International Relations Committee and am now serving as NRCA's European representative.

People would be surprised to know ...
I am also a judge in the Ghent Court of Commercial Matters and a KAP, a kite aerial photographer.