MetalCoffeeShop https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/ Metal Forum, Classifieds, Galleries and More! en-us From 1977 to 2025 and from RCI to IIBEC https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/post/from-1977-to-2025-and-from-rci-to-iibec from-1977-to-2025-and-from-rci-to-iibec Mon, 28 Apr 2025 12:00:00 PDT

By Emma Peterson.

Learn how the consulting sector of the industry has grown and changed over the years.

While at the 2025 International Institute of Building Envelope Consultants (IIBEC) Convention, The Coffee Shops™ hosted a soundstage! Sponsored by IB Roof Systems, we invited dozens of professionals to chat with us about the newest technologies and developments in the industry. One such interview was with Joe Sorrentino, who in addition to being one our CoatingsCoffeeShop influencers is the Florida regional account manager for Sherwin Williams.  

Joe is a staple in the roofing and construction worlds, having worked at Owens Corning as a commercial sales representative in 1977. Along his path to his role today, he has held positions at companies such as Firestone Building Products, ABC Supply and SIKA. In his conversation with Heidi J. Ellsworth, the duo spoke about what has changed in the industry, especially related to the building consulting sector, over the years.  

If you know a little about the history of IIBEC, it was originally started as the Roof Consultants Institute (RCI) in 1983. It became IIBEC in 2019 to expand its purpose, membership and services. Joe shared a bit about watching that transition, saying, “I think that the big difference within the IIBEC community as opposed to the RCI community is the focus. In the late 1970s when RCI started, the country was making residential homes tight, meaning energy efficient. Now, in the 21st century, we are working on making commercial buildings tight, and that's really where the group here is focusing on.”

Another key change that has occurred in the last few decades is the idea of looking at buildings as holistic entities. Joe elaborated, “I see a holistic approach within the group and the group has grown. Just look at the credentials and the certifications that they have today versus when they started back in the 1980s.” Even simply at the 2025 IIBEC convention, we saw the growth in the consulting sector, with numbers like 1,500-1,600 attendees. Joe explained that all of this growth and shifts in perspective are incredibly helpful for the industry. He shared, “The diversity of all the programs that are made available in today's network, conference, podcasts and all that fun stuff makes it a lot easier for folks who have a problem on their building to get it fixed.”

Watch the full interview to learn more about the building envelope consulting sector!

]]> The ultimate resource for metal roofing https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/post/the-ultimate-resource-for-metal-roofing the-ultimate-resource-for-metal-roofing Thu, 13 Feb 2025 06:00:00 PST

By Dani Sheehan.

No matter your level of experience, MetalVue provides the education, training and product access you need to succeed in metal roofing.

The Sherwin-Williams MetalVue Program is designed to help manufacturers, distributors and contractors sell more residential and commercial metal roofs while working smarter, not harder. By providing expert resources, training and industry-leading products, MetalVue is accelerating the growth of the metal roofing market and helping roofing professionals tap into new opportunities effortlessly.

As the industry leader in metal roof coatings, Sherwin-Williams is committed to advancing metal roofing adoption and increasing business opportunities for its partners. The MetalVue program offers a suite of services that benefit the entire customer value chain. This ecosystem of support guarantees that professionals at any stage of their metal roofing journey have access to the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.

One of many advantages of the program is access to trusted Sherwin-Williams Roofing Solutions brands, including Geocel® and UNIFLEX®. These brands provide roofing professionals with advanced products that complement and elevate metal roofing projects.

Geocel Phantom™: The seamless sealant solution

You know the challenge of finding the right sealant color for every project. Geocel Phantom simplifies this frustration with six translucent colors that allow any panel color to shine through, ensuring a seamless match every time. No more searching through multiple color options – Geocel Phantom delivers a less is more approach that saves time and ensures a polished, professional finish for every metal roof installation.

UNIFLEX: Protecting and extending roof life

When building owners expect the best roof performance and long-lasting solutions, UNIFLEX fluid-applied roofing systems provide a durable, energy-efficient and sustainable option. These systems offer:

  • No tear-offs, no disruptions: UNIFLEX systems eliminate the need for costly tear-offs, reducing waste and minimizing disruptions for building occupants.
  • Extended roof life: With superior weatherability, UNIFLEX coatings resist blistering, chalking, cracking and flacking – extending the building’s service life.  
  • Sustainable and energy-efficient: The installation process is environmentally responsible, and the highly reflective white coating helps lower roof temperatures by up to 100° Fahrenheit, cutting energy costs.
  • Seamless waterproofing: Fully adhered, monolithic systems like these provide maximum durability and long-term waterproofing protection because there are no seams throughout the solution.

With the MetalVue program, Sherwin-Williams and its partners are creating a streamlined path for contractors to enter and thrive in the metal roofing market. Join this growing network of industry experts and start elevating your metal roofing projects.

]]> Day 3: Must-see sessions and events at IRE 2025 https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/post/day-3-must-see-sessions-and-events-at-ire-2025 day-3-must-see-sessions-and-events-at-ire-2025 Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:00:00 PST

By Anna Lockhart. 

Don’t miss out on these exciting sessions taking place on Friday at IRE 2025!

International Roofing Expo (IRE) 2025 is just around the corner and participants are making plans for attending interesting sessions and events! Have you taken a look at what exciting conversations and workshops you will be attending? If not, here’s a full breakdown of what’s happening at this year’s expo on Friday, February 21.  

Don’t forget to stop by The Coffee Shops in the lobby for some fun swag and networking opportunities as well! Then head onto the show floor to check out what’s new with Geocel, UNIFLEX and Kool Seal at booth #19085 and Cornerstone Building Brands at booth #6039. 

Featured sessions for Friday, February 21 

With endless opportunities for learning and networking, IRE 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting event! From metal roofing and retrofitting to making the most of sustainability initiatives, there’s a session for just about anyone attending this year’s event!  

Looking to attend sessions on other days of the event? Check out what’s going on during day one and day two of IRE 2025!

]]> Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings to Have Robust Presence at International Roofing Expo 2024 https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/post/sherwin-williams-coil-coatings-to-have-robust-presence-at-international-roofing-expo-2024 sherwin-williams-coil-coatings-to-have-robust-presence-at-international-roofing-expo-2024 Thu, 01 Feb 2024 22:00:00 PST

Highlights Include samples from new collections, product spotlights, in-booth demos and more.

Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings will have a significant and very hands-on presence at the International Roofing Expo (IRE), the largest roofing and exteriors event in the country, from Feb. 6-8 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Attendees to Sherwin-Williams booths #4916/4918 can expect to see the company’s exciting launch of the brand’s new collection of printed metal coatings colorways, in-booth demonstrations and activities, and can talk to experts about the diverse product portfolio for metal and roofing systems.

“IRE is one of our favorite events of the year because we’re surrounded by a great collection of innovation and new products for the metal construction and roofing sectors,” said Jeff Alexander, vice president of sales, Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings. “This year we are excited to highlight our field proven metal roofing coatings along with an exciting new collection of printed metal coatings that can all be seen at our booths. Thanks to our partners for joining us this year and we cannot wait to see what everyone will be showcasing to celebrate and inspire growth in the industry.”

Product spotlights

Visitors to the booth also can see Sherwin-Williams breadth of coating applications, including Fluropon 70% PVDF Coil Coatings and Illumipon FEVE for metal wall panel systems and metal roofing. For more extreme weather conditions, visitors can learn more about WeatherXL SMP and WeatherXL Crinkle for metal and roof panels. 

In addition to coil coatings products, Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings will be showcasing their MetalVue program for metal roofing needs in the booth right next door, where attendees can meet with a full suite of experts for all metal roofing needs. 

Additional booth features include Uniflex, Kool Seal and Geocel as the Geocel brand celebrates its 50th anniversary.

New prints collection – Emulate

As part of its diverse product showcase, the Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings team will be unveiling the newest collection of printed metal coatings colorways, Emulate, for product and design professionals. The collection derives inspiration from mimicking the beauty of nature and aims to bring an enhanced look of natural building materials in wood, stone and metal to enable architects and product manufacturers to complete their vision in a new way. 

Attendees will have a chance to check out the unlimited possibilities of Emulate’s fresh take on classic looks with official samples and more information at booth #4916/4918 in addition to an in-booth happy hour celebrating the official launch on Feb. 7 from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

In-booth activities and demonstrations

Attendees stopping by the booth can learn how a sampling of Sherwin-Williams products look and perform through two fun and interactive mini home model displays. The first display shows how colors interact and appear next to one another, and how a limitless combination of colorways can be used to inspire your vision. Simply swap out color samples between walls and roofs to experience the possibilities in real time. 

The other mini home model displays how solar reflective coatings can keep a home cooler. With a sun simulating light and temperature gauges to measure in real time, this interactive display compares metal panels with special reflective coatings to traditional asphalt.

Guests can also get their hands dirty and be creative by putting their graffiti skills to the test. Experts will showcase the power of Watts Removal products, which are designed to keep coatings looking fresh by removing graffiti, accidental overspray and more.

To learn more about Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings, visit coil.sherwin.com. For more information about IRE, visit theroofingexpo.com.

About Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings

Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings delivers a full range of high-performance coatings in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), silicone-modified polyester (SMP) and polyester formulas, designed to meet the most demanding environmental requirements while providing protection against weathering and pollution. The Coil Coatings Division is part of the Sherwin-Williams Performance Coatings Group, which supplies a broad range of highly-engineered solutions for construction, industrial, packaging and transportation markets in more than 110 countries in the world. Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution and sale of paints, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial and retail customers. For more information about Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings, visit coil.sherwin.com. 

]]> Learn how to elevate your metal construction business at the 2024 Innovate Conference! https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/post/learn-how-to-elevate-your-metal-construction-business-at-the-2024-innovate-conference learn-how-to-elevate-your-metal-construction-business-at-the-2024-innovate-conference Thu, 25 Jan 2024 05:00:00 PST

By Anna Lockhart.  

Metal professionals won’t want to miss out on the chance to stop by the MetalVue booth at the upcoming Certified Contractors Network Innovate Conference!  

The Certified Contractors Network (CCN) Winter Conference, Innovate 2024, is coming up soon and will be the perfect opportunity for industry professionals to network, learn and take advantage of the unique growth opportunities available during the event.  

As one of CCN’s quarterly conferences, this winter meeting allows contractors from across North America to gather valuable industry insights from the experts. Each quarterly conference highlights the latest and greatest in the industry so attendees can be at the top of their game and successfully strengthen their company through new connections, product knowledge and more. The upcoming winter conference will also feature a special booth for the experts from Sherwin-Williams, who will be showcasing their MetalVue program! 

The MetalVue program helps metal manufacturers and contractors grow their business and increase profits by providing access to exclusive content and industry insights. MetalVue users have access to incredibly valuable and up-to-date resources and services that can help strengthen their business model, service offerings and other key success factors that they may want to focus on boosting. With the proper guidance, training and online community of support through the program, MetalVue users are ready to take on the industry and succeed with their newfound skills and knowledge!  

The MetalVue booth at Innovate 2024 will host representatives from across the industry who have partnered with Sherwin-Williams in creating this unique program. Stop by to hear the expert advice and insights about the program from professionals from the following companies:  

Attendees of the upcoming Innovate 2024 conference from January 28-31, at the Seabird Resort in Oceanside, California, should make plans to stop by the MetalVue booth, #5116, to find out exactly how the program can help them achieve greatness through their metal services.  

Learn more about the MetalVue program or sign up to attend the upcoming CCN winter conference, Innovate 2024!

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