Precision, planning and paint systems

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Getting the details right and knowing your environment can make or break a metal roofing project. 

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Karen Edwards sat down with Richard King and Erik Hillhouse from ASC Building Products  to dig into the real complexities of working with metal roofing. Richard and Erik offer compelling insights for contractors thinking about expanding into the booming metal roofing market. 

Erik, a seasoned sales rep with more than two decades in the building supply world, believes that success in metal roofing starts with precision. “Detail, detail, detail,” he stressed. “Some of the things you can take for granted with other materials — you cannot do that with metal.” From pitch to dimensions to trim angles, every specification must be correct before production begins. And with metal roofing being made to order, there’s no easy fix for getting it wrong. 

To help contractors navigate this challenge, ASC offers more than just product catalogs. Their team provides takeoff services, design tools and technical support. One of the standout features is their visualizer platform, which allows users to upload images of their home and preview different roofing styles and colors. “You just take your phone, stand outside the front of your house and take a photo,” Richard explained. “Then within a couple of minutes you can be visualizing a new metal roof.” 

But knowing what looks good is only half the battle. Contractors also need to match the right product to the right environment. “Anyone living on the coast or near saltwater, that’s a completely different specialty paint system,” Erik said. He explained that warranties vary based on paint systems like SMP and Kynar and choosing incorrectly can lead to fading, chipping or even warranty exclusions. “We’re warranting against chalk and fade,” he added. “If an act of God happens and a tree goes through your roof, we do not warranty that.” 

Training is another critical piece. While ASC provides videos, manuals and even connects contractors to seasoned tech experts, both Erik and Richard urge new installers to start simple. Erik joked, “Start with the dog house or a shed.” Richard added that it’s not the panels themselves that are hard, it’s the trim details and ensuring the final system is fully weatherproof. 

Relationships matter. ASC wants contractors to succeed because their success ensures fewer headaches and more satisfied homeowners. As Richard put it, “By all being aligned in advance and having that relationship and knowledge sharing, there’s a lot more success that can be developed by the contractor in the future.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about how ASC’s tools, tech and team can help contractors deliver better projects and avoid costly mistakes!