Tackling one of roofing’s toughest problems

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Better training could be the key to solving one of roofing’s biggest challenges. 

TAMKO Building Products is pushing hard to eliminate one of roofing’s most persistent pain points: untrained workers. Speaking on this Roofing Road Trips® podcast, Jon Abernathy, director of contractor engagement at TAMKO, shared why training isn't just a value-add, it's a necessity. “We have to make sure people are aligned on training all the way from the guy putting the shingle down and all the way up to the top,” Jon said. “Even through the sales team, if you don’t understand what you’re selling or how to install it, you cannot educate a homeowner properly on what they’re buying and what to expect.” 

TAMKO is putting an emphasis on contractor education, especially as more roofing startups try to survive the treacherous first five years in business. Improper installation has long plagued the industry, often due to a lack of hands-on training for crews and new hires. To address this, the company is offering in-person training events, like its workshop at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, which Jon described as a comprehensive experience covering everything from proper installation to insurance claim documentation. 

Della Croft, TAMKO’s director of communications and community relations, expressed how this focus on education connects directly to customer satisfaction. “If you are educated, if your team is educated, your homeowner is going to be happier,” Della said. “Their experience will be better; they’re going to be happier longer because their product is performing better and longer and they’re getting what they paid for.” 

Jon added that training crews correctly from the start is one of the best ways to avoid callbacks and unhappy clients, both of which can wreck a roofing business’s reputation. “I’ve seen over my career, a lot of people say, ‘We’ve been doing it like this for 20 years,’ and I’ve had to say, ‘You’ve been doing it wrong.’” 

These efforts are part of TAMKO’s broader strategy to elevate contractor professionalism across the board, not just through better materials, but through better education. With programs designed to reach every level of a roofing crew, the company is betting that informed teams will lead to better installs, happier homeowners and stronger businesses. 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about TAMKO’s contractor training, upcoming events and how the company is working to raise the bar for roofing quality across the country.