Looking back at the end of each year is one of our favorite things to do because we’re always so amazed by all that can happen in just a 12-month period. The incredible amount of ground conquered each year can be credited to the amazing contractors who have come together to support each other while giving building owners more value and peace of mind than they can find anywhere else. It just wouldn’t be possible any other way!

So what were some of the biggest highlights?

26 New Contractor Relationships

Every time a new contractor joins the group, everyone benefits. There’s more shared experience, more connections for franchises who need service, more credible market presence, more trained contractors to help each other complete jobs, and more peace of mind – among other things.

2 Nationwide Workshops

We started off the season with two workshops due to how fast our workshop in Ohio sold out in February. Both of the workshops were an absolute blast and we’re excited about doing the same thing again this year! For more info, visit: Nationwide Workshop & Forum page.

302 Roofing Leads

Our website had approx. double-digit growth in traffic and that translated into more commercial roofing leads for endorsed members. We saw about a 50% gain over last year and double as many from 2014. Next year will be even better with the optimization that has been taking place!

Cancun Vacation

Every year we enjoy a special vacation together. This year we spent it in beautiful Cancun, Mexico! Master contractors in the group and their families got to enjoy time relaxing on the beach, golfing, snorkeling, excursions with tour guides, deep-sea fishing as well as many other activities.  

Our First Four Tradeshows

Up until this year, we always used the Internet to connect with contractors and building owners who needed service. Although this has always been very successful for us, we made it a priority to get a tradeshow booth and make our first impressions in person. After doing our first one, we saw what we were missing out on and did three more!

Founder Appointed a Director of Manufacturing Company

Jonathan Keim, who runs all our marketing and manages the staff, received a new title that can only be earned by proving ability to help others be more successful. He will now have greater influence on our preferred manufacturer’s future direction. This quote from the Vision magazine celebrating his appointment really shows his heart “[This] means to me that I’ve truly made a significant impact on other people.”

Largest Attendance Yet at the Annual Convention

Every year we go to the Branson convention center to spend time together as a group. We share what worked best in each of our own businesses as well as strategize for dominating the next year. At this particular convention, we also finalized several big changes with great support and it was key to how we did so well in 2016.

Preparing for a BIG 2017

Over the past month, we’ve made a number of changes to our website for faster speed, higher search engine rankings and better conversion rates (i.e. more leads received per website visitor). Our group will also be testing new marketing strategies and continue finding new ways to better serve commercial facilities.

With companies like Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) now requesting estimates from us, there’s no questioning the value of our organization. Any company receiving service from an endorsed member benefits from knowledge/expertise of the whole group, more peace of mind, group-wide accountability, set standards for service, one source for all future projects regardless of type or location, and so much more.

If you would like to learn more about joining the group or receiving service for your commercial building, you can reach us at (800) 670-5583 or use our Interactive Member Directory to talk directly to a member.

We wish you great success as the new year comes in!

White Roof Coatings Problems and Overview

Since the concept of sustainability took off in the American construction industry in the 1970s, white roof coatings have become a more common product of choice for commercial roofing. But roof coatings in general are far different from conventional building products. On top of that, many building owners reportedly have not had good experiences with coating products. Are white roof coatings really that effective?

Like other roofing products, coatings have gained some negative perceptions not because of their own quality, but because of factors such as faulty or careless application. When it comes down to it, a roof coating absolutely must be applied at the right degrees of thickness and in the right conditions for it to last and perform well.

In a short list, many problems with white roof coatings, and coatings in general, can be pinned down to the following:

• Too little of the coating product applied
• Coating product applied in the wrong climate conditions
• Coating product applied in an unfavorable temperature range
• Coating product was hastily or carelessly placed on roof surface
• Contractor skipped some critical steps in the coating application process
• Coating applied poorly on top of existing roof substrate
• Applied coating product not suitable or best for a particular type of roof system
• Old roof is aged enough where roof replacement is the best option

These are a host of problems a building owner can encounter. But there are positive reviews to back coating products’ performance and life span, though. Below, some ways that white coating products can be of benefit are covered as well as what building owners have said about these roofing products.

What Are Some Benefits?

When energy-efficient roofing took off in the 1970s, it was spurred on by cool roof coatings, or coating products that a roof surface much cooler than usual building products. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, cool roof coatings are products that are made up of “white or special reflective pigments that reflect sunlight.” When they are applied to a roof, the roof becomes able to reflect more of the sun’s rays and emit more heat that it absorbs during the hot parts of the day. The end result is a building consumes far less energy for air conditioning, and the building’s interior stays cool and comfortable at far less cost.

The game changer that introduced these coating products to commercial roofing was the Conklin Company. In the late-mid-1970s, Conklin created and brought-to-market the first acrylic roof coating for the commercial roofing industry. Since then, Conklin has paved the way for many other innovations in coating products, giving consumers today access to an extensive line of coating products.

Now, then, what do building owners and other parties have to say about white coatings, including those offered by Conklin?

What is the Word about White Roof Coatings and Their Performance?

“Anybody that has doubts whether a white roof coating makes a difference needed to be in our building this summer on those 100 degree days. Usually, the air conditioners struggle and it gets very hot in the shop. With our new white roof, the air conditioners were cycling and customers and employees were commenting on how nice it was inside the building.”
– Roger Lange, manager of Twin Valley Industry

“Last fall, we put on our thirteenth Conklin roof since 1983 and all are without a leak. This is a multimillion dollar development: some of the condominiums sell for over $300,000. We can’t afford leaks. I recommend this system to anyone with a flat roof that doesn’t want to be bothered with leaks.”
– Ken H.

“Traditional dark-colored roofing materials absorb sunlight, making them warm in the sun and increasing the need for air conditioning. White or special ‘cool color’ roofs absorb less sunlight, stay cooler in the sun, and transmit less heat into the building. This reduces the need for air conditioning by lowering interior building temperatures.”

– Department of Energy, February 2011 Guide to Cool Roofs Brochure

“We live in an area where the temperature ranges from 25 F below to 100 F above zero, so the roof has a lot of movement and weather related stress. This process sealed our leaks, stopped the rust and allows our students and staff to stay dry. We didn’t know we were going to get increased energy efficiency when we started, but we are spending less to cool the building. We are going to have more of our buildings done…”

– Keith M.

What Are Some Other Benefits Offered by Conklin Coating Products?

• Only roofing products to be backed by non-prorated warranties of up to 18 years
• Over 2 billion square feet of Conklin roofing products have been installed nationwide
• Completely seamless, completely waterproof, and fully adhered to old roof
• Could have your new roof paid for in just 5-7 years with generated energy savings
• No expensive roof replacement necessary
• Roof products with ENERGY STAR® certification
• Have a warranty claims rate of 0.25%
• Tested and certified resistance against hurricane-force winds and powerful hailstorms

A full list of Conklin roofing system reviews is also available.

Should you want more information about how Conklin roofing products can be of benefit to your roof, give us a call today at 800-670-5583. 

Although it can be very difficult to find complaints on the roofing systems provided by Conklin, they are not fully exempt from them, either.  Where the difference arises from some other roofing product brands, however, is not in the quality or makeup of Conklin roofing products themselves, but the circumstances of their installation.

Conklin’s overall track record gives a clear idea of these roof systems’ efficacy. Conklin roofing systems have been shown to last more than three decades, a long lifecycle for any product in the building industry but especially for coating systems. Plus, there are countless business owners who advocate the Conklin brand. Since 1977, these roofing materials have been installed on over 2 billion square feet of roofing in just the United States alone.

Why Are Conklin Roofing Complaints Around?

Here are a few reasons for why customer complaints arise against Conklin materials:

• Conklin roof products may be improperly installed. This is the most obvious reason for why a roof system would fail. If a roof contractor fails to install the product properly, the consequences can very quickly become evident. For example, before he applies a Conklin roof coating, a roof contractor must fill all cracks that are less than 1/8 in. by 1/8 in. with Kwik Kaulk acrylic latex caulk as a base. He must also apply joint tape to all remaining cracks, joints, and flashing detail. Should the contractor neglect to do this, the reinforcement against the cracks these products provide will be absent. As a result, the crack will persist, and over time weather conditions or wear-and-tear can make the crack become more pronounced.

• Sometimes the contractor does a poor but “proper” installation of Conklin products. If a contractor does not apply a system with care and precision, there is a chance the roof system will fail in the long run. For instance, a base coat of the third-generation Conklin acrylic roof coating, Rapid Roof III must be applied to a spray foam application no later than 72 hours after the spray foam was applied. If applied later, the foam surface will likely bear damage and need to be replaced with a new layer of foam.

• A roof system might be applied in the wrong conditions. Some Conklin roof systems, such as our modified PVC material, Flexion can be applied at all times of the year without consequence. But other roofing materials, such as Benchmark require application in specific weather conditions. For instance, Benchmark must not be applied at temperatures less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit or in inclement weather.

Our Network’s Quality Service

On top of our group’s careful vetting process and comprehensive, proper roof systems training, our members also have around-the-clock access to our group’s most successful and experienced roofers. These “senior mentors” serve as a reference point for any question a new member might have, and they are available through picture text messaging, social media, telephone, or other forms of communication. This around-the-clock access ensures that building owners receive first-rate service from truly professional contractors with exceptional reference sources and support.

For more information about how a Choice Roof Contractor can help you with your needs, call us today at 800-670-5583.