By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how Woodchuck AI is helping contractors turn construction waste, like lumber products, into savings and renewable energy. 

In a new episode of Contractor Outlook™ sponsored by SRS Distribution Inc., Heidi J. Ellsworth talks with Todd Thomas about how his company, Woodchuck AI, is helping contractors manage job site waste more efficiently. This is now the third year that Woodchuck has been operating. Their story starts back in Michigan with North Star Clean Energy, the state public utility renewable energy branch. Todd recalled, “North Star Clean Energy does solar farms, wind farms and bioenergy (burning biomass to generate electricity) facilities in the state of Michigan. And their goal is to get the state off petroleum products, which requires finding a large source of energy.” 

Looking at this issue, Todd and his team turned their gaze to what’s going to waste in our landfills and if there was a solution there. What they found was that in a single year, “the United States sent forty-two million tons of wood waste from construction sites to the landfill.” Not only is this a waste of a biomaterial that could be used to fuel our energy needs, it’s also expensive. Todd explained, “When we send things to landfills, we’re usually paying two dollars to bury one dollar's worth of material. That adds up. Across the entire United States we spent two billion dollars to bury one billion dollars worth of materials in landfills just last year.”  

And from there Woodchuck AI was born. Todd described how they fit into this story, sharing, “Woodchuck works with construction and manufacturing companies to divert their waste from landfills and instead convert it into biomass that can be used to generate renewable energy.” 

What does this look like on the job site? It looks like unique containers for each material, one for wood, one for plastic, one for cardboard and one for metal. From there, as a construction crew works in the field, they simply take a few extra moments to sort their debris as they go. Helping them is an AI-powered camera in each container, which alerts them when material is mixed up and put in the wrong place.  

Once the containers are filled, the Woodchuck team is able to take them to places, like North Star Clean Energy, that can use the materials to create more energy. The best part? Taking the time to sort doesn’t just help contractors feel better about their environmental impact, it also helps their bottom line. Todd explained:  

When you have all your debris and materials mixed together, it costs you money to have someone haul it away. But by sorting it and having us take it, you avoid those costs entirely... In general, our clients save 30%-40% by working with us! 

With this type of monetary savings, combined with the knowledge that you are helping build a more renewable, sustainable future, working with Woodchuck becomes a no brainer. 

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording to learn more!  

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 Emma Peterson. 

Former basketball coach Trent Lovewell discusses the unlikely path that brought him to roofing and helped create the ROOFEREES brand. 

For the last 26 years, Trent Lovewell has worked with Weatherguard, Inc., an Omaha-based company and home of the ROOFEREES. Who exactly are the ROOFEREES? To answer that question and more, Megan Ellsworth sat down with Trent for an episode of Stories from the Roof, sponsored by SRS Distribution. 

Meeting on the court 

To answer the question of where the term ROOFEREES comes from, we need to go back to before Trent joined Weatherguard, Inc. and was coaching college basketball at Iowa Western Community College. He recalled, “I was a college basketball coach, and John Higgins was, at the time, a college basketball official. And I would have him come to speak to my sports officiating class over at Iowa Western Community College, we got to know each other and became friends.” Little did Trent know at that point that becoming John's friend would change his career trajectory entirely.  

Enter Weatherguard, Inc. 

In 1984, John started Weatherguard, Inc. and over the next decade or so worked to convince Trent to join him. Trent shared a bit about this time:  

John kept telling me I needed to get out of coaching and into roofing. And I was always like, ‘I don’t know anything about roofing!’ And at some point, I decided I was ready for a change and listened to him. 

The transition from basketball coach to roofer was a challenge that involved a lot of on-the-job learning for Trent, but it was a challenge he rose to with the support of John.  

Becoming the ROOFEREES 

The team moniker of the ROOFEREES came from the shared career shift that Trent and John experienced. As Trent put it, “John was a referee and a roofer, and in my spare time I was still refereeing and coaching a bit, and that's how we came up with the ROOFEREES...It was a joke at first but the local radio station thought it was cool and our community really liked it and we just ran with it.” 

Now, 26 years into his roofing career, Trent couldn’t be happier about being a ROOFEREE, sharing, “It’s a new adventure every day, you never know what happens and it’s great. I get sentimental about it.” 

Listen to the whole episode to hear more of Trent’s story.

By Emma Peterson. 

Having the right commercial supplier is a gamechanger when it comes to avoiding costly delays and extended timelines. 

In the world of roofing and construction timing can make or break a project. Because if you have a subcrew scheduled, a crane booked, a building closed down and a stretch of good weather but your materials aren’t ready, your entire project can be derailed. But you can avoid this problem by making sure you are working with the right supplier. 

What is the “right” supplier?  

The best roofer-supplier partnerships are based on a deep understanding of how projects actually play out in the field. As a commercial contractor specifically, you want to find a supplier that understands the specific requirements that come with a commercial job.  

What are these requirements? Think about the unique products that a low-slope roof needs as well as the way material delivery must align with installation schedules, staging plans and site constraints. These are all examples of the type of knowledge you want your supplier to have. Because if they don’t understand factors like this, you can run the risk of issues like poorly timed deliveries, extended projects, incorrect material substitutions and increased labor costs.  

How SRS delivers for their contractors 

SRS Distribution is a prime example of a strong commercial supplier partner. In fact, their branches are “staffed with teams who specialize in low‑slope and commercial systems.” These teams are dedicated to understanding the complexities that come with commercial roofing and are experienced in proactively coordinating logistics to keep contractors’ projects on track and efficient.  

Examples of this proactive approach include:  

• Ensuring complete, accurate material packages  
• Assisting with the product selection part of the bidding process 
• Coordinating delivery schedules with project phases and staging space 
• Anticipating potential supply chain disruptions 
• Communicating clearly with contractors and project teams  

Overall, if you are working to keep your business ahead and your projects on schedule, choosing a reliable, knowledgeable supplier like SRS is key to success. 

Get support from SRS Distribution’s expert commercial roofing supplier teams today!

By Emma Peterson. 

SRS Distribution's commercial roofing teams help contractors streamline projects through product knowledge, specification support and reliable jobsite coordination. 

SRS Distribution is known across the roofing industry for their large catalog of top-of-the-line roofing products. Specifically, in the realm of commercial and low-slope roofing, they stock everything from adhesives and barriers to insulation and coverboards from leading brands such as Carlisle, Elevate, GAF,  Polyglass, Sika and Versico.  

But even beyond these top brands and products, SRS Distribution delivers the expertise needed to support your crew and strengthen your designs. At each SRS branch, there is a team who specializes in low-slope and commercial systems ready and waiting to help you. These teams “understand specifications and the timelines of commercial jobs” and can help with every stage of the project, “whether you’re bidding, staging or closing out a job.” 

By delivering both the best products in the industry as well as delivering the expertise needed to install them correctly and efficiently, SRS Distribution is setting contractors up to build durable, code-compliant roofs that stand up to real-world conditions. 

Find your nearest SRS branch and get started today.

By Emma Peterson. 

Strategic material staging and supplier partnerships can be the difference between a profitable project and costly delays. 

In roofing, the old adage that “time is money” couldn’t be truer. As Ashley Pietsch of Integrity Insurance and Bonding puts it, “After years of working alongside roofing contractors, I have seen that the owners who achieve long-lasting growth are the ones who master time management and embrace delegation.” 

In response to the emphasis the industry places on the importance of time, contractors are incorporating new digital programs and roofing tools to help improve their efficiency in both the field and the office. But one area that is often forgotten when it comes to streamlining the roofing process happens between the two – material staging, sequencing and timing.  

Getting materials to the jobsite might seem simple in comparison to trying to accurately quote a project or install products tens of feet in the air, but it is more complex than you might assume at first glance. As Nick Fryer writes for Roads and Bridges, “Jobsite staging doesn’t just shape where equipment and materials get stored. It also affects the overall workflow. Done poorly, it can lead to several issues that quietly drain construction budgets.” These issues can include material damage, safety hazards and frustrated crew members.  

What can you do to avoid these material staging issues? Partner with the right supplier. As the writers behind RoofCon put it, “The movement of materials from delivery to installation represents one of the biggest opportunities for efficiency gains in roofing projects. Creating a smooth flow requires careful coordination between suppliers, delivery crews and roofing teams.” 

This type of coordination is something that the team at SRS Distribution prioritizes. Their team is well-aware of the often-limited space contractors are working with on their projects and have a variety of strategies already in place to help with staging and sequencing materials:  

• Supportive team: SRS Distribution territory managers are always ready to help! Whether it’s consultations on products, sales insights or helping you figure out how to stage a jobsite, they are there for you. 
• Extensive product selection: Your local branch will already be well stocked with the best commercial products from manufacturers like Carlisle, Johns Manville, GAF, Elevate and Versico. And if they don’t have it on site, they can get it there from one of their 200+ other locations!  
• A powerful delivery network: At SRS Distribution, they have their own fleet of trucks and knuckle booms that keep project deliveries on track! Some SRS Distribution locations are even equipped with will-call programs that make sure that contractors get the right products when they need them. 

Overall, working with a supplier like SRS Distribution that understands the limited space on jobsites and the importance of properly staging materials is key to saving time and money on your projects.  

Find an SRS Distribution branch near you!

En esta edición de RoofersCoffeeShop® Coffee Conversations, patrocinada por SRS Distribution, Heidi J. Ellsworth conversa con expertos del sector sobre la situación actual de la construcción de techos comerciales y lo que los contratistas deben saber de cara al próximo año. Desde las condiciones del mercado y los desafíos laborales hasta las tendencias en la renovación de techos, el crecimiento de los servicios, la tecnología y las cambiantes expectativas de los propietarios, esta charla explorará las presiones y oportunidades que dan forma a la construcción de techos comerciales en la actualidad. Acompáñenos para conocer la situación del sector, las tendencias que siguen los contratistas y cómo los profesionales de la construcción de techos pueden posicionar sus negocios para un éxito continuo.

¡Regístrate hoy!

By Emma Peterson. 

Have a bucket list build? Tell SRS Distribution about it!  

For the SRS Distribution team, they want to be more than just another distributor – they want to be their contractors’ and representatives’ partner. And that’s exactly what motivated them to help one of their clients check off a massive bucket list item – attend the World Cup! As SRS Territory Manager Aaron Bryant explained, “We often talk about partnerships with both clients and our manufacturer reps… at SRS Distribution Inc. we believe that making memories is an integral component to strengthening those partnerships.” 

That philosophy extends beyond unforgettable travel experiences. SRS wants to know what ambitions, goals and dream projects are motivating the contractors they work with every day. Whether it's landing your first major commercial roofing project, expanding into solar installation, completing a landmark reroofing job in your community or tackling the largest and most technically challenging project your team has ever undertaken, SRS wants to hear about it. 

And this one client’s World Cup dream isn’t the only bucket list item SRS wants to hear about – they've put out the call for their contractors to tell them about their dream projects! Maybe that’s a commercial roofing project larger than any your team has tackled before or installing your first solar panel. Whatever project is on your bucket list, SRS wants you to tell them about it.  

By learning more about their customers’ aspirations, SRS hopes to find new ways to support their growth and celebrate their successes. After all, the best partnerships are about helping one another reach new heights — whether that means cheering from the stands at the World Cup or standing together on a jobsite that once felt out of reach. 

Share your bucket list project today!

SRS Distribution continues its partnership with home builder.

SRS Distribution is proud to announce it has been recognized as a 2026 National Preferred Partner by David Weekley Homes, one of the nation’s largest privately held home builders.

The annual National Preferred Partner Survey recognizes field and manufacturing partners that consistently operate at world-class levels in quality and customer service. Companies are evaluated through a comprehensive supplier evaluation process based on direct feedback from David Weekley Homes team members across its markets nationwide.

SRS Distribution was recognized as a National Preferred Partner in the field partner category, marking the company’s ninth consecutive year receiving the distinction.

“Reaching nine consecutive years as a David Weekley Homes National Preferred Partner is a milestone we don't take lightly,” said Mark Erdman, vice president of national accounts. “David Weekley Homes sets the standard for excellence in home building, and earning their trust year after year reflects the dedication our teams bring to every project. We're energized by what we've built together and fully committed to delivering the products, service and reliability they count on for years ahead.”

A total of 117 companies were evaluated this year, with only 23% earning the National Preferred Partner designation.

SRS Distribution is honored to continue its partnership with David Weekley Homes and remains committed to delivering exceptional service and support to builders and customers nationwide.

By Emma Peterson. 

Jenilee Common on embracing discomfort, continuous learning and leadership in the roofing industry. 

In an episode of the Stories from the Roof podcast, sponsored by SRS Distribution, Megan Ellsworth saw down with Jenilee Common, the CEO of Leaf Home. Leaf Home is a full-service roofing company that provides everything from basement waterproofing to gutter filters. The company has a very large footprint, especially since they merged with Eerie Homes, that spans 48 states and Canada.  

Jenilee began her career in manufacturing, building experience across multiple leadership roles before joining the roofing industry at Owens Corning. And from there she never looked back, explaining, “The industry taught me roofing. I started in manufacturing and then I worked in a lot of factories, working my way through general management, different disciplines around supply chain, general management, pricing, sales and more.” This gave Jenilee a deep understanding of different pieces and parts of how the roofing industry works.  

Looking back at it now, Jenilee couldn’t be more thankful for this on-the-job education:  

It was an incredible way to learn. I worked with incredible people in manufacturing and distribution that really taught me the pros and cons of how to operate... And that’s not to say it wasn’t challenging, I had to learn to take roles I didn’t feel ready for and move laterally into things that I was not specialized in, but I listened to people telling me to live in that discomfort and it truly helped me grow, both in my professional life and my personal. 

Overall, Jenilee couldn’t imagine being in any other industry. She shared, “You get to help protect people’s livelihoods, that’s something you can take a lot of pride in. There is so much to learn in roofing, and you’ll be surrounded by really great talent and community. In the roofing industry what matters is your work ethic and customer care, and if you are genuine and authentic about those things, there’s a place in this community for you.” 

Listen to the whole episode to hear more of Jenilee’s insights.