Flashings

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Construction firms lag in Internet use

A report released Sept. 13 by the Small Business Research Board (SBRB) shows small construction and contracting firms use the Internet for business purposes less than any other industry surveyed.

The study, which was co-sponsored by Business Today magazine, shows 57 percent of participating small construction and contracting firms do not have Web sites. Additionally, the poll indicates less than 14 percent of firms surveyed believe sales resulting from Web-based commerce will increase during the next 12 to 14 months.

In contrast, 67 percent of participating manufacturers have Web sites, which is the highest percentage of any industry surveyed.

Of the participating construction and contracting firms, 34.4 percent say they have at least one Web site, and 8.8 percent report having between two and 10 Web sites. Of the construction and contracting businesses with Web sites, 50 percent say none of their products or services can be purchased on their Web sites, and 32.3 percent say up to 25 percent of their products or services can be purchased online.

Survey indicates billings increase

The American Institute of Architects' (AIA's) July Architecture Billings Index (ABI) reached its second highest mark since the survey's inception in 1995. According to AIA, July's ABI rating was 60.0, and the rating for new project inquiries was 66.2. Scores above 50 indicate an increase in billings.

Regional averages also show billings increases: The Northeast's rating was 68.5; the West's rating was 60.7; the Midwest's rating was 55.9; and the South's rating was 57.2. Commercial/industrial construction received a rating of 65.2; institutional construction received a rating of 61.0; mixed practice received a rating of 58.0; and residential construction received a rating of 55.5.

The ABI is derived from a monthly survey produced by the AIA Economics & Market Research Group. The survey is distributed to a panel of AIA member-owned firms and asks whether their billings increased, decreased or stayed the same during the previous month. Based on comparison of data compiled since 1995, ABI results provide a prediction about the next nine to 12 months of nonresidential construction activity.

Oregon bans barrier-type EIFS

Oregon has banned the use of barrier-type exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) in new residential construction. The decision was based on reports of mold-related health issues caused by insuf­ficient EIFS closure and leaking water.

In recent years, EIFS have caused problems for the roofing industry, including cracking, surface degradation, impact damage and system delamination, as well as inadequate closure. Any of these problems can result in water leaking into a building's interior between the top of a wall and a roof system, which can be confused with roof system-related leakage.

Oregon's barrier-type EIFS ban for residential construction becomes effective Jan. 1, 2008, and also bans the use of barrier-type EIFS on existing residential structures except as necessary to repair or replace previously installed barrier-type EIFS.

IRS warns about e-mail scam

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a consumer alert regarding an e-mail scam that falsely promises recipients will receive $80 for participating in an online customer satisfaction survey.

In the scam, a taxpayer receives an unsolicited e-mail that appears to have come from the IRS. The e-mail contains a link to an online survey and states the IRS will credit $80 to the taxpayer's account in return for the taxpayer's participation in the survey.

In addition to standard customer satisfaction questions, the survey requests the recipient's name, telephone number and credit card information. The sender then can use the recipient's name and telephone number to call the recipient and request more financial information.

This scam's apparent objectives are to use recipients' names and financial data to withdraw funds from recipients' bank accounts, charge their credit cards or take out loans in their names.

The IRS does not send unsolicited e-mails or ask for taxpayers' personal identification numbers; passwords; or similar access information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts.

If you receive an e-mail that appears to have come from the IRS, do not open attachments or click on links contained in the e-mail. Instead, forward the e-mail to phishing@irs.gov.

DETAILS

Serge Lafleur
Vice President of Norman & Collie Inc., LaSalle, Quebec

What is the most unusual roofing project you've performed?
I've never performed any unusual roofing projects.

Why did you become a roofing contractor?
My father had a roofing company for 35 years, and I worked for him every summer until I graduated from college. Then, I decided to stay in the roofing business.

What was your first roofing experience?
At 15, I started as a helper on built-up roof system jobs.

What is your favorite item on your desk?
I often am away from home for business and association meetings. A few years ago when I was away at a meeting, my wife, Violaine, sent a milk carton with pictures of my four kids on all four sides with a note from each of them and a note from her to remind me I have a family waiting for me at home and to not forget to come back! This was funny, and I always keep the milk carton on my desk.

What do you consider your most rewarding experiences?
First, raising my two sons (18 and 17) and two daughters (12 and 11) with my wife. My kids are great; I am proud of them. Second, getting involved in the Quebec Master Roofers Association, Canadian Roofing Contractors' Association and NRCA. I am a strong believer in associations.

What was your first job?
I used to mow lawns when I was 13 until I started working for my father's roofing business when I was 15.

What is your favorite vacation?
Going south on the beach with my wife and kids. Also, one week of golf at a nice resort.

What do you consider a waste of time?
Chasing people to get them to pay their bills.

What are your best and worst habits?
My best habit is I want everything to be perfect. My worst is I want everything to be perfect.

What are your biggest pet peeves?
Arrogant people and people who think they are always right. Also, crazy drivers on the road.

What is your favorite stress reliever?
Going to the golf course after dinner and playing nine holes when there's almost no one on the course.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
Finding and hiring skilled workers.

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I was president and am on the board of directors of the Quebec Master Roofers Association, and I was president and am a director of the Canadian Roofing Contractors' Association. Also, I am serving a three-year term as a director on NRCA's board.

People would be surprised to know …
It's not really a surprise, but after graduating from college, I had the option to go into marketing/public relations.

Roof systems can resist hurricane damage

The Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues (RICOWI) Inc. has released its Hurricane Katrina Report, which shows roof systems designed and detailed according to current codes and standards for installation in high-wind areas will perform satisfactorily in hurricane conditions.

For the report, 25 expert wind engineers, roofing materials specialists, insurance analysts, structural engineers and roof consultants investigated 82 low- and steep-slope roof systems in areas of Mississippi and Louisiana that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The teams collected information about structure type, wall construction, roof slope, building dimension, roof deck, insulation, roofing materials, construction and attachment method. The report also notes terrain exposure and estimated wind speeds.

Although the report shows roof systems installed according to recent codes and manufacturers' spec­ifications generally resisted wind damage, David Roodvoets, president and owner of DLR Consultants, Montague, Mich., SPRI's technical director and the investigation's field coordinator, says: "In many cases, low-slope roofs have had poor securement of edge metal that resulted in significant damage to the roofs and emittance of dangerous sharp debris during storms."

The report also notes common problems among steep-slope roof systems.

"Steep-slope roofs have had similar problems with improper edge detailing," Roodvoets says. "Asphalt shingled roofs have a peeling phenomenon when they are installed using the racking method of installation that is common in the South."

"Many of the observations for Hurricane Katrina are similar to and further validate our findings for Hurricanes Charley and Ivan," says RICOWI Chairman Rick Olson. "Many roof design professionals do not seem to properly understand and incorporate the total wind-uplift forces that affect not only roof systems but roof decks, as well. Our report tries to further address these issues."

RICOWI's complete Hurricane Katrina Report can be downloaded for free from RICOWI's Web site, www.ricowi.com.

Managing difficult employees

Most managers have had difficult employees. To alleviate some of the stress from working with a difficult employee, follow these tips:

• Plan ahead. If you know you're going to be working closely with a difficult employee, decide in advance how you will handle any conflicts.
• Control your temper. Although it may be tempting to lose your cool, doing so could damage your credibility.
• Be friendly. By talking with difficult employees, you may find they are struggling with personal or work-related issues. Talking with troubled employees may lead to solutions that can help them handle their problems more effectively.
• Know your limits. If all your best efforts to rehabilitate a troubled employee have failed, consider ridding your company of this negative influence. One employee's bad attitude could drive away other employees.

Source: Adapted from The Motivational Manager, June issue