Flashings

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NRCA and California association establish partnership

NRCA and the Roofing Contractors Association of California (RCAC) have partnered to increase membership of both organizations.

NRCA will be assisting with a portion of RCAC's administrative activities, including its newsletter, Web site, dues billing and collection, and membership recruitment. Recruitment is the main focus and will include promotion of a joint membership package that offers a $250 rebate to companies that join NRCA and RCAC.

In addition, NRCA will hire a full-time membership salesperson who will be based in California and will manage the recruitment effort.

Ward Connerly, president and chief executive officer of Connerly & Associates Inc., Sacramento, Calif., will continue as RCAC administrator with support from NRCA.

California legislation cracks down on insurance fraud

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.) recently signed legislation that requires insurers to conduct annual audits of roofing company payrolls and allows the Contractors State License Board to strip roofing licenses from contractors who don't carry the required workers' compensation insurance. This measure is meant to eliminate insurance fraud in the roofing industry.

Some roofing contractors underreport employees on their payrolls, and others don't carry any coverage. In fact, the Roofing Contractors Association of California (RCAC) contends that 3,000 out of 5,900 licensed roofing contractors in California claim no employees.

Insurers and roofing contractors hope the law will lower premiums for employers in the long run. According to the Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California, roofing contractors currently pay about four to 10 times more than the average workers' compensation insurance premium.

"It's been a major problem," says Ward Connerly, RCAC administrator. "You have contractors who are claiming they have no employees when, in fact, they do. The governor's signature ensures contractors will be protecting their employees."

Financial incentive rewards green roof use

Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago has plans to provide a financial incentive for building owners who use green roofs. A measure announced recently at a Chicago City Council meeting would allow building owners who choose green roofs to receive matching grants from the city.

Designed to draw attention to green roofing benefits, the program would allocate $500,000 from a Loop economic development fund to match up to $100,000 of private building owners' roof investments.

According to Connie Buscemi, a spokeswoman for Chicago's planning department, the green roof that was placed on Chicago's City Hall in 2001 has reduced the rooftop temperature by as much as 70 degrees Fahrenheit (or about half) on hot days.

Rohm and Haas increases prices

Rohm and Haas Co., Philadelphia, has increased prices for binders and additives for the architectural, industrial and construction markets, textile and nonwovens, paper, leather and graphic arts by 5 percent. The increase took effect June 15 in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and as contracts allow.

The price increases are a result of volatile crude oil prices.

"These sustained increases in crude oil have resulted in dramatic cost increases of feedstocks, such as propylene, during the past 18 months," says Xavier Susterac, Rohm and Haas' Europe general manager for architectural and functional coatings. "This price increase has been implemented to recover some of the increases delivered by raw material, energy and freight costs."

Plan your week quickly

Does your schedule constantly become busier and more hectic?

Get organized and save time by following these steps:

• Determine your objectives. Decide what you want to accomplish during the week. Write down your goals, and rank them in order of importance.
• Plan your activities. In sequence, list the activities you need to do to achieve your goals.
• Divide your time. Decide how much time each activity will require. Allow yourself more time than you think you actually will need to complete each activity in case unexpected problems develop.
• Check your schedule. Look at your calendar and decide when you can complete each activity—nothing will be accomplished unless you schedule time to do it.

Details

Shelley Metzler
Vice president of Interstate Roofing Inc., Portland, Ore.

What is the most unusual roofing project you've performed? Work on the Timberline Lodge—the historical building is located above the Timberline ski slope in Mount Hood, Ore.

Why did you become a roofing contractor? It's the family business!

What was your first roofing experience? I started out picking up trash and rolling the magnet. I eventually moved into an office during my freshman year of high school just to be kicked back into the field during my freshman year of college. I spent the next summer working for Sprick Roofing Co. Inc., Corvallis, Ore., a roofing company in my college town that let me stay in the office.

What are your favorite items on your desk? An Interstate Roofing nameplate my dad gave me as a college graduation present.

What do you consider your most rewarding experiences? I spent a semester studying in Mexico, and I seem to use the lessons I learned about culture and language every day. I should have stayed longer!

What was your first job? My first job was as a receptionist—before that, I just ran the magnet a lot!

What is your favorite vacation? I recently honeymooned in Saint Lucia. It was the most amazing vacation of my life!

What do you consider a waste of time? Taking calls from people who want to sell me things I don't need.

What are your best and worst habits? My best habit is I am an extremely hard worker. My worst habit is I work too hard.

What is your biggest pet peeve? When people run the water while brushing their teeth—it drives me nuts!

What is your favorite stress reliever? The best way to relieve stress is to take a long walk with my husband and our three dogs.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job? I feel like I am so busy doing the day-to-day stuff that I am unable to implement the new ideas I have.

What is your roofing industry involvement? I currently am a student in NRCA's Future Executives Institute and new member of NRCA's board of directors.

People would be surprised to know ... I was a six-time All-American athlete at Western Oregon University, Monmouth, until I got tired of running and transferred to Oregon State University, Corvallis.

MRCA reacts to new requirements

The Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) has announced it is concerned about revisions to FM's Loss Prevention Data Sheet 1-29 affecting the design of fully adhered roof systems over steel decks.

As a result, MRCA's board of directors approved the following motion: "MRCA recommends to its members in particular and the industry in general the abandonment of FM Loss Prevention Document 1-29 as the universal industry standard in light of its unrealistic, unreasonable and unworkable conditions and recommends the use of ASCE Standard 7 as the industry standard for wind uplift."

MRCA's reasons for such a motion include its beliefs that the revisions "will virtually eliminate the application of fully adhered roof coverings. Metal deck installation requirements will cause egregious inspection for deck installations before they can be accepted for roof installation. Deck fastening requirements for reroofing at 1-105 and above will virtually eliminate roof recovering and the sustainability of saving existing dry roof insulation. Fastening requirements for 1-75 and below are increased by 50 percent and 100 percent in the corners."

In addition, because the changes were made without previous notice to the roofing industry, NRCA; the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association; Chemical Fabrics and Film Association; The EPDM Roofing Manufacturers Association; Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association; RCI Inc.—The Institute of Roofing, Waterproofing & Building Envelope Professionals; and SPRI have formed a coalition to address the implications of the changes and develop recommendations for wind performance. The coalition also will educate about requirements for wind uplift resistance.

Plan a vacation

Don't delay taking a vacation because you are worried about being inaccessible to your employees. Follow these tips to stay in touch during your vacation:

• Appoint someone you trust to manage your projects and responsibilities while you are away. Give that person any information he may need and permission to contact you during an emergency.
• Give your employees clear instructions. Tell them what situations would require your imme-diate attention and what could wait for your return.
• Determine a specific time period during which you will check your voice-mail and e-mail messages each day. Inform your employees about this scheduled time and avoid checking your messages during unscheduled time periods.

Delaware supports Helmets to Hardhats program

Delaware Lt. Gov. John Carney signed a resolution for the Helmets to Hardhats program on May 4. The national Helmets to Hardhats program connects National Guard, reserve and transitioning active-duty military members with quality career training and employment opportunities in the construction industry.

Signing the resolution was a show of support for the program's efforts to link former and active military personnel with civilian employment opportunities. Because the proclamation was signed, former military personnel now will have easier access to apprenticeship programs.

Delaware is the 18th state to adopt the program.