Expert Conversations
Reflecting on the 2026 Western Roofing Expo
By Emma Peterson. Industry leaders look back on a standout WRE and the education, networking and collaboration drawing roofing professionals to the show. We recently had the chance to host a special Coffee Conversations® episode live from the 2026 Western Roofing Expo (WRE)! This episode featured a panel of four roofing experts – ...
Snow retention strength starts at the seam
By The Coffee Shops®. Learn why an effective snow retention system begins with the roof panel, seam profile and a properly engineered attachment. Snow and ice can behave differently on smooth metal roofing surfaces, creating potential risks near entryways, walkways, equipment and landscaping. That looming threat makes snow retention an important consideration ...
Own your value
By Emma Peterson. An upcoming NWIR webinar helps professionals build the confidence to advocate for promotions, raises and career advancement. As the year comes to a close, 'tis the season of performance reviews. For many, these can be one of the most stressful meetings on the calendar each year. But what is ...
Helping contractors keep pace with the industry
By Emma Peterson. ABC Supply provides roofing professionals with the tools to stay informed and leverage new technologies without disrupting their day-to-day operations. Our world moves fast; the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) in the last few years is a prime example of this. And in a busy industry ...
The foundation of Duro-Last's success
By Emma Peterson. For nearly five decades, Duro-Last has built its business around listening to contractors and building solutions for their real-world challenges. These days, Duro-Last is a cornerstone of the roofing industry. However, they didn’t end up as an industry leader by chance. No, they built their brand and their business ...
Five modern marketing recommendations
By Emma Peterson. Allison Woslager talks about how contractors can plant marketing “seeds” in order to sow sales success. In today’s world of GPTs and other new technologies, it can be hard to figure out what the best way to reach customers is. Luckily, there are experts like Allison Woslager and the ...
Why ventilation impacts performance long after installation
By The Coffee Shops®. Contractors who address ventilation early can help reduce future issues while improving long-term roof performance. As homeowners increasingly view roofing as a complete system, attention naturally turns from sales conversations to long-term results. For contractors, proper ventilation is not simply about comfort. It can influence roof longevity, energy ...
Winning the sale starts before the first call
By The Coffee Shops®. Consumer expectations are reshaping how roofing contractors attract and qualify leads. The customer journey has changed dramatically, and roofing contractors are feeling the impact. During a recent Read Listen Watch® webinar hosted by Megan Ellsworth featuring Austin Rosenbaum of Demand IQ and SVP of Marketing at ...
Design details that help metal roofs perform for decades
By The Coffee Shops®. Proper planning for thermal movement, underlayments and penetrations can significantly improve long-term roof performance. After selecting the appropriate metal roofing system, successful projects depend on the details that support long-term performance. During one RLW webinar, Jeff Maderos of AEP SPAN highlighted several design considerations that can help contractors ...
The contractor-first approach to architectural metal
Contractors entering the architectural metal business need more than just equipment. The architectural sheet metal industry offers significant opportunities for contractors, but success depends on far more than purchasing the right equipment. In a recent MetalCast™ episode, Karen Edwards spoke with Ken McLaughlin of Carlisle Architectural Metals about how contractor partnerships ...
