By The Coffee Shops®. 

When traditional options on the market don’t cut it, sometimes you have to do it yourself. One carpenter-turned-designer shares his experience pursuing innovation in creating a new tool bag. 

In an episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Karen Edwards sat down with Roger Brouard, founder of Veto Pro Pac, to discuss the importance of innovation and pursuing solutions for day-to-day problems. From facing frustration on the jobsite to designing a solution, Roger exemplifies what it means to innovate for the betterment of your industry. Now, his products are a part of The Malco Group and are some of the most relied upon tool storage solutions on the market for industry professionals. 

After facing endless frustration with the traditional soft-sided tool bags, Roger was eager for a better solution for storing his tools on the jobsite. He shared, recalling his frustration of traditional tool storage, “You’d dump everything on the ground and dig through it; it was an exercise of aggravation and frustration to get a needed hand tool.” 

A carpenter by trade and experienced in hands-on problem solving, Roger went to the drawing board and came up with a solution of his own: the Veto Pro Pac. Relying on a vertical layout rather than the traditional horizontal storage systems for the job, the bag is easy to access and sort through. Vertical tiered pockets on a flat panel are inside the bag, streamlining the user’s ability to navigate the system, finding what they need without obstruction and clutter. He shared, “It all came together and I knew it was better than any tool bag on the market, and I knew it would sell.” 

To toughen up the design, as the jobsite often requires a bit of rough handling and wear to the exterior, the bag is made using a plastic, sturdy base. He shared, “A plastic base solved three situations: moisture protection, tear protection and stability to a loaded tool bag.” A tough product for a tough trade, ready to take on the day-to-day needs of carrying so many tools and heavy products. It was vital not only to create a product that’s sturdy, but one that’s going to outlast the rest.  

Listen to the full podcast or Watch the recording to learn more about Roger and his journey to building Veto Pro Pac. 

Our team is heading to the Western Roofing Expo in Las Vegas September 27–30, 2026, and we'd love the opportunity to meet with you while you're there. 📍 Visit us at Booth #539! Whether it's coffee, breakfast, or dinner, we'd be happy to treat you while we discuss your upcoming projects, material needs, or ways we can help support your business.

Stop by Booth #539 to see what's new:

• Discover Our New Panel Profiles and Prints – Be among the first to see the new Wes-Trix® panel and WoodLock® Standing Seam.
• Custom Panels & Trim Up to 32 Feet – Learn how our Jorns folding technology produces longer custom panels with fewer seams for cleaner, more efficient installations.
• Industry-Leading Colors & Finishes – Explore premium PVDF colors, black finishes, Corten® weathering steel, painted rusted prints, woodgrain patterns, and exclusive specialty finishes.
• Popular Exposed Fastener Panels – Stock your inventory with customer favorites including 7/8" Corrugated, Western Rib®, PBR Panel, and AG Panel, all manufactured with fast turnaround times.
• Fast Coil & Flat Sheet Supply – Learn how our dedicated Coil & Flat Division provides same-day processing and fast delivery.
• Resources Built for Contractors – Explore product specifications, installation guides, downloadable resources, and request samples directly from our website.
• Design & Project Support – Meet with our team to find the right materials, colors, and panel profiles for your next roofing or siding project.
• Meet the WSMR Team – Talk with our experts about your upcoming projects, custom manufacturing capabilities, and product recommendations.

If you'll be attending the show, we'd love to set aside time to meet with you. Schedule a meet with our reps over coffee, breakfast, or dinner—our treat! We look forward to seeing you at Booth #539 in Las Vegas!

Contractors attend the expo for FREE! Visit our page for the free registration.

Schedule your WRE meeting today!

By Emma Peterson. 

How Tremco supports contractors and building owners long after a product leaves their factory. 

At Tremco, their team doesn’t just want to be a leading manufacturer of commercial roofing products and solution, they also want to be a leader in customer service. And for Tremco, customer service doesn’t mean just providing support to the contractors who are installing their products, but also to the business owners whose roofs feature Tremco systems. To learn more about the care Tremco extends to contractors and business owners alike, Karen Edwards brought Jay Adnerson, their business development specialist of fluid-applied roofing, on to an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

Helping their contractors 

So, how does Tremco support the contractors working with their products? Primarily by providing training and expertise. Jay explained, “We have sales representatives across the country who provide support to our contractors. They also provide hands-on training in the field.” 

And these guys aren’t just there to try and sell more products. No, these are the guys that are super technical and can answer pretty much any question a contractor might have about Tremco’s sealants and waterproofing products. In Jay’s words, “The extent of knowledge we have here in our sales team is unbelievable. In my opinion, it’s second to none in the industry, and there are nearly 300 of us across North America. It’s a huge resource and we want our customers using it.”  

Supporting business owners  

As for resources for business owners with Tremco systems installed on their buildings, Jay highlighted their warranty support:  

For restoration and new construction systems, our warranty can go up to even 25-years which does a ton for giving our end users peace of mind as anybody that knows Tremco knows that we stand behind our warranties, shows up when things go wrong and help however we can with whatever challenges occur. 

In addition to these warranties, Tremco offers maintenance programs to business owners through their WTI branch that take the support to the next level by sending Tremco-approved technicians out to regularly examine and inspect the business owner’s roof. 

Want to learn more about how Tremco supports the people using their products? Listen to the whole podcast with Jay!

MCS Influencer Anthony Ortega says clear success metrics are a must when implementing new technology. 

Over the years, we've implemented plenty of technology at Viotell. Zoho for project and business management, Bluebeam for plans and collaboration, CompanyCam for field documentation and more recently, AI across different parts of our operation. One lesson I've learned is that buying software is the easy part. Getting people to use it consistently and proving that it actually makes the business better is much harder.

In construction, it's tempting to chase the newest platform promising to solve every problem. But if a superintendent has to enter the same information in three places, or a project manager spends more time managing software than managing the project, we haven't improved anything. For us, technology adoption starts with the workflow. What problem are we trying to solve? Who is actually going to use the tool? Does it eliminate steps, improve communication, reduce mistakes or give us better information to make decisions?

Bluebeam, for example, gives our teams a better way to review drawings and communicate details. CompanyCam helps document what's actually happening in the field. Zoho connects different parts of our operation and creates accountability around projects and processes. AI is becoming another layer, helping us analyze information, develop content, research problems and move through administrative work faster. But implementation isn't the finish line. We also have to measure whether these tools are working. Are PMs spending less time on administrative tasks? Are field questions answered faster? Are we catching scope gaps earlier? Are change orders better documented? Are handoffs between estimating, operations and the field improving?

Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes you realize you've created another process that sounded great in a conference room but doesn't work particularly well on a roof. That's where listening to the people actually using the technology matters. I'm a believer in technology and especially excited about where AI can take our industry. But technology should support good people and good processes, not compensate for bad ones. The goal isn't to become the contractor with the most software. It's to give our teams better tools, remove unnecessary work and ultimately execute better projects for our clients.

By The Coffee Shops®. 

Metal experts explain the capabilities metal roofing materials offer when it comes to fighting against hail damage.  

Since the beginning of this year, the Midwest and Southern United States have experienced a tremendous number of hailstorms, and the severity of each storm has far surpassed what they’ve normally seen in previous years. With the rate and intensity of hailstorms, homeowners in these regions are facing the question of what to do to best prepare their homes for future storms. In a recent article, Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) covers the basics of what homeowners should know about hailstorms, and how metal roofing is a superior option for hail protection.  

The roof is the home’s first, most powerful line of defense against damage from severe weather conditions, especially hail. While other traditional materials can face significant risks after such storms, metal roofs have been shown to be more durable and resistant to impact and wind damage. This durability is a measure proven through various impact rating tests.  

Impact ratings, such as the UL2218, are the nationally recognized standards for properly measuring a roofing material’s ability to withstand hail damage. Based on the results of a controlled, exact test, materials are giving a rating, Class 1 – 4, Class 4 being materials that were the most durable against testing measures. Most metal roofing systems boast a Class 4 rating, as metal panels are incredibly durable and resistant against denting and other damage that might occur from severe weather and hail.  

Though asphalt and other traditional materials are more common in residential projects across North America, metal roofing continues to grow in popularity, not only because of its incredible durability and lifespan, but for the amazing technological advancements being made; most metal roofs on the market can be designed to mimic the look of traditional materials or even take on a new, modern aesthetic!  

Learn more about the value of metal roofing to protect your home in the face of hailstorms!

By Emma Peterson. 

Insights on the market trends, construction activity and opportunities driving today's commercial roofing landscape. 

In a new RoofersCoffeeShop® Coffee Conversations®, Megan Ellsworth sat down with a panel of experts from across the commercial roofing industry to discuss the current market state. 

Chad Burhrman, the VP of commercial roofing at SRS Distribution, opened the conversation with some of his current observations about the commercial roofing market, sharing, “To distill it down, I would say it’s healthy, but selective. And what I mean by that is some sectors are really strong, like re-roofing, but others are struggling more, like new construction.” 

This assessment, of an overall healthy market with some challenges facing it, was echoed by Vince Ellison, the president of the roof and paving consulting company Benchmark. In his own words, “I think there's reason for a lot of optimism, but there's also a little bit of tension as well... A lot of things seem to be on hold right now. We’ve followed up with a lot of clients, and they’ll tell us they’re waiting for something and are close but not quite there.”  

This concept of projects being on hold and the tension it is causing is something Dean Jagusch, owner and CEO of Washington, D.C.-based Wagner Roofing Company has experienced firsthand. He described it, saying:  

The first quarter for us was really hard. We had a real winter out here in the mid-Atlantic and everything slowed down and was put on hold. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t work... On the reroofing side we’ve seen continued activity and resilience, especially around critical infrastructure like senior living, higher education, etc. 

Chad Schreppel, the national director of sales at Versico Roofing Systems, closed out the conversation with some thoughts about the industry's struggles over the past few years, adding some additional context. “The way I would describe the commercial roofing space, in 2026 and beyond, is resilient... The last ‘normal’ year in roofing was probably in 2019 before COVID,” he explained. “It can feel really overwhelming looking at things like the inflation rising due to the conflict in the Middle East and the transportation challenges we’re facing, but I always remind people, we’re resilient. Our market is resilient.”  

Listen to the whole Coffee Conversation or Watch the recording of it on YouTube to hear more from this expert panel!  

By Alex Tolle.

When a Southern California camp serving children with cancer needed some help, nearly 70 roofing professionals joined forces to deliver five brand new cabin roofs.

On August 18, 2026, roofing professionals gathered at Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times in Southern California to install new roofs on five of the camp’s 14 cabins. The work was made possible by volunteers who contributed their time and professional expertise, along with companies that provided the labor and materials needed to complete the installations. Participating companies included Antis Roofing and Waterproofing, Gabella Construction, GAF, Howard and Sons Inc., QXO and Shell Roofing Solutions.

About the camp

The project helped protect a place where children with cancer can step away from hospitals and treatments and spend time simply enjoying being kids. As described on their website: 

Camp programs provide children with cancer and families the opportunity to pause, connect with others who are facing similar challenges, and renew a sense of hope. We help youth build courage and independence, and experience a sense of belonging in a healing, medically safe environment. Learn which program is right for you.

About the project

Together, the participating professionals addressed more than one-third of the camp’s cabins in a single day. Their contributions supported the camp’s ability to continue providing children with a special place to get away from the medical environments that are often part of their daily lives.

The project continued the longstanding partnership between Ronald McDonald House and the Roofing Alliance. Since 2017, Roofing Alliance and National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) members have donated millions of dollars in roofing materials and labor to assist Ronald McDonald House programs across the country.

Reflecting and looking forward

For contractors, manufacturers, distributors and other roofing professionals, efforts like this show how industry knowledge can serve communities beyond the jobsite. Every volunteer and participating company played a role in protecting the facilities that help make the camp experience possible.

This day of service represented the roofing industry at its best: Professionals coming together, sharing their talents and making a meaningful difference for children and their families.

Learn more about how the Roofing Alliance and NRCA members support Ronald McDonald House programs through donated roofing materials and labor.

The two registered marks strengthen the company’s brand identity across construction industries. 

The Coffee Shops®, the award-winning websites where the industries meet for technology, information and everyday business, announce that “The Coffee Shops” name and The Coffee Shops “Where the Industries Meet” logo have each received registered trademarks from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). 

The registrations protect two distinct marks: the company name, “The Coffee Shops,” and the logo featuring the words “The Coffee Shops Where the Industries Meet.” Together, the marks support the company’s business information, online trade directory, buyer-and-seller connection, educational webinar, podcast and digital publishing services.  

“These registered trademarks represent the growth of The Coffee Shops and our commitment to creating trusted places where professionals can connect, learn and grow,” said The Coffee Shops CEO and President Heidi J. Ellsworth. “Our name and Where the Industries Meet logo reflect our mission to bring people together through meaningful information, education and community.” 

The two registered trademarks further distinguish The Coffee Shops brand as the company continues expanding its reach and developing resources for the construction industries. 

About The Coffee Shops 

Award-winning websites and online communities make up The Coffee Shops. Starting with RoofersCoffeeShop, which launched in 2002, the growth of the sites has been explosive for the construction trades of roofing, metal, coatings and their customers. Currently featuring four sites, RoofersCoffeeShop, MetalCoffeeShop™, CoatingsCoffeeShop™, OutdoorCoffeeshop™ and AskARoofer™, all the sites are committed to advocating for the construction trades by supplying consistent information, education and communication avenues for all contractors, while promoting positive growth, education and success of construction industries overall. Visitors to the site continue to find excellent opportunities for sharing information while participating in important ongoing conversations concerning new technologies, safety and overall construction information and education. The Coffee Shops are “Where the Industries Meet!” For more information, visit www.thecoffeeshops.online. 

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Integrated design, careful installation and early collaboration can help commercial project teams prevent costly building envelope failures. 

Building envelope failures can begin with something as small as an improperly sealed penetration or poorly detailed transition, but the consequences can spread throughout a commercial building. Water intrusion, corrosion, mold growth, energy loss, occupant complaints and expensive repairs can all result when enclosure systems fail to perform as intended. METALCON helps industry professionals better understand these risks by bringing together education, expertise and solutions focused on improving building envelope performance. 

A building envelope includes the roof, exterior walls, insulation, air barriers, vapor retarders, flashing, sealants, windows, doors and the transitions connecting them. Together, those components manage water, air, heat and vapor. Their effectiveness depends not simply on individual product performance, but on how well the complete assembly works as a system. 

Modern commercial buildings add another layer of complexity. As structures become tighter to improve energy efficiency and occupant comfort, installation errors can have greater consequences. Discontinuous air barriers, missing flashing details and improperly sealed penetrations can compromise an otherwise well-designed enclosure. 

Many failures occur where systems and trade responsibilities intersect. Poor coordination between roofing, wall and insulation systems, field modifications, unsealed penetrations and inadequate barrier continuity can create moisture and thermal problems that may not appear until months or years after occupancy. 

Early collaboration can reduce those risks. Architects, contractors, manufacturers and building-envelope specialists can work together to resolve roof-to-wall transitions, coordinate penetrations, maintain continuous air and water barriers and minimize costly field changes. During construction, pre-installation meetings, mock-ups, inspections and adherence to manufacturer guidelines can reinforce design intent. 

The long-term benefits extend beyond water management. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Solution Center reports that the building envelope accounts for approximately 30% of the primary energy consumed in commercial buildings, highlighting the importance of insulation, glazing and air sealing decisions. 

METALCON 2026, scheduled for Oct. 7-9 in Orlando, Florida, will include education focused on thermal efficiency, moisture management and preventing failures in roofing and wall systems. 

Learn more about METALCON 2026 and its building envelope education opportunities!

Drexel Metals continues to expand the resources available to support our customers with select wall panel systems now ICC-ES Evaluated by the ICC Evaluation Service, LLC. The release of ICC-ES Evaluation Report ESR-5838 provides independently verified documentation that helps architects specify with confidence while giving contractors and fabricators the technical information needed to streamline project approvals and installations.

ICC-ES Evaluation Reports demonstrate compliance with applicable International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) requirements through an independent technical review. Recognized by building officials throughout North America, these reports simplify specification, plan review, permitting, and product approval, helping projects move from design to construction with greater confidence.

"Earning ICC-ES Evaluation Reports is another way Drexel Metals is investing in the success of our customers," said Mike Weis, Vice President of Sales, Carlisle Architectural Metals. "These reports provide architects and designers with trusted technical documentation while giving contractors and fabricators greater confidence during specification, permitting, and installation. It's another example of our commitment to delivering tested systems backed by the resources our customers need to succeed."

Evaluated Systems

• Drexel Facade® HL Panels
• Drexel Facade® BR Panels
• DMC 164 & 123 Panels
• DMC FWQ100
• 7.2 Rib Panel

Why It Matters

Whether you're designing a custom residence, multifamily development, or commercial project, having an ICC-ES Evaluation Report available helps simplify the path from design through installation. Contractors and fabricators benefit from streamlined submittals, clearer installation guidance, and greater confidence during inspections, while architects and engineers gain independently verified documentation that supports product specification and code compliance. The result is fewer questions during project review, reduced approval delays, and increased confidence from specification through final installation.

Benefits for Architects and Designers

• Supports clear, code-referenced specifications
• Provides independently verified technical documentation
• Defines evaluated applications and system limitations
• Simplifies plan review and product selection

Benefits for Contractors and Fabricators

• Helps streamline permitting and submittals
• Provides clear installation guidance for evaluated systems
• Reduces uncertainty during inspections
• Supports smoother communication between project teams

To learn more about the evaluated wall panel systems, visit our individual product pages or download ICC-ES Evaluation Report ESR-5838 to review approved applications, installation requirements, and compliance information.