Por Emma Peterson, traducido por Jessica Bravo.  

Un vistazo a las conexiones, conversaciones y el sentido de comunidad que se vivieron en FRSA 2026. 

A principios de junio, Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Association (FRSA) celebró su esperada Convención y Expo. Considerado el evento regional de roofing más grande de Estados Unidos, reunió a cientos de expositores y miles de asistentes en el Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center de Kissimmee, Florida, para tres días de educación, networking y diversión. 

El evento comenzó con una Recepción de Bienvenida patrocinada por nuestros amigos de Adams and Reese, que incluyó comida y barra libre. Fue una excelente manera de marcar el inicio de la convención y prepararse para los días de actividad que estaban por venir. ¡Y vaya que fueron días ocupados! 

Hubo innumerables sesiones educativas y oportunidades de aprendizaje, entre las que destacaron la sesión Table Talks de National Women in Roofing (NWIR) y el Almuerzo de Negocios de FRSA. Además, los asistentes pudieron disfrutar de eventos como el Beer Bust, patrocinado por Mid-Atlantic Roofing Supply y GAF, así como de la tradicional Foundation Auction. Por supuesto, también estuvo presente la amplia área de exhibición comercial, donde empresas líderes como GenFlex, Gaco, Elevate, MetalVue, Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings, H.B. Fuller, Marco Industries y Progressive Metals, mostraron sus productos y servicios para que los asistentes los exploraran entre sesiones y actividades. 

The Coffee Shops™ también estuvo presente con varios miembros del equipo operando un escenario de entrevistas (patrocinado por TAMKO) ubicado en el lobby de la expo. Una de ellas fue Jessica Bravo, coordinadora de nuestro programa En Español quien compartió un poco sobre su experiencia: 

FRSA es una de mis ferias comerciales favoritas del año. Como se lleva a cabo durante el verano, tiene un ambiente muy familiar y siempre es agradable ver a tantas familias asistir juntas. Este año tuve la oportunidad de ayudar a operar el escenario de entrevistas. Sentada detrás del equipo, con audífonos conectados a los micrófonos, pude escuchar conversaciones y entrevistas realmente interesantes durante todo el evento. 

Nuestra presidenta, Heidi J. Ellsworth, también compartió algunos de los momentos más destacados de la semana, "El escenario patrocinado por TAMKO sirvió como punto de encuentro para las conversaciones de la industria durante todo el evento, albergando más de 30 entrevistas con contratistas, fabricantes, distribuidores, líderes de asociaciones y profesionales del roofing de toda Norteamérica. Además, realizamos dos ediciones completas de Coffee Conversations, donde paneles de expertos analizaron tendencias, desafíos y oportunidades clave que actualmente impactan a la industria del roofing." 

Si deseas ver algunas de esas conversaciones, están disponibles bajo demanda en el canal de YouTube de RoofersCoffeeShop®.

By Emma Peterson.  

A look at the connections, conversations and community at FRSA 2026. 

At the beginning of June, the Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Association (FRSA) held their much-anticipated Convention and Expo. The biggest regional roofing show in the United States, the event saw hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees come together at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida for three days of education, networking and fun!  

The show kicked off with a Welcome Reception sponsored by our friends at Adams and Reese and featuring food along with an open bar. It was a great way to set the tone for the show and get ready for the business of the next few days. And the next few days were busy! 

There were countless education sessions and opportunities to attend, with highlights including the National Women in Roofing (NWIR)’s Table Talks session and the FRSA Business Luncheon, along with plenty of events to keep you busy, like the Beer Bust, sponsored by Mid-Atlantic Roofing Supply and GAF and the annual Foundation Auction. Not to mention the extensive trade show floor, featuring leading companies like GenFlex, Gaco, Elevate, MetalVue, Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings, H.B. Fuller, Marco Industries and Progressive Metals, that was waiting for attendees to explore between events and sessions. 

The Coffee Shops™ was in attendance with several crew members running a soundstage (sponsored by TAMKO) in the expo lobby. One such crew member, Jessica Bravo, our En Español program coordinator, shared a bit about the experience: 

FRSA is one of my favorite trade shows of the year. Since it takes place during the summer, it has a great family friendly atmosphere and it's always nice to see so many families attending together... This year, I had the opportunity to help run the soundstage. Sitting behind the equipment with headphones connected to the microphones, I was able to listen in on some truly great conversations and interviews throughout the event. 

Our president, Heidi J. Ellsworth, shared some highlights from the week, saying, “The TAMKO-sponsored sound stage served as a hub for industry conversations throughout the event, hosting more than 30 interviews with contractors, manufacturers, distributors, association leaders and roofing professionals from across North America. In addition, two full-length Coffee Conversations brought together expert panels to discuss key trends, challenges and opportunities impacting the roofing industry today.” 

If you want to check out some of those conversations, they are available on demand via the RoofersCoffeeShop® YouTube channel!

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how Elevate combines sustainability and performance with their SBS systems featuring 3M™ Smog-Reducing Granules. 

Around the world, smog and air pollution are increasingly becoming major health issues. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that “the combined effects of ambient air pollution and household air pollution is associated with 7 million premature deaths annually.” This is because air pollutants lead to a variety of health issues including stroke, heart disease and cancer. 

With the severity of this issue in mind, the engineer and design teams at Elevate™ started working on creating a product designed to ease the impact of smog. The result? 3M™ Smog-Reducing Granules use a photocatalytic coating layer (activated by sunlight) that transforms smog (air pollutants like nitrogen oxide) into water-soluble salts. Not only does this take the pollutants out of the air, but the roof run off goes back into the ground, enriching the soil.  

You can find these granules in use on a variety of the systems in Elevate’s SBS Modified Bitumen Roofing portfolio, which are known for their durable and reliable performance. Made of a proprietary rubber-based polymer and select asphalt compounds, Elevate’s SBS resists thermal and structural movement. Further, it is versatile and can be installed in a variety of ways, including hot asphalt, cold adhesive and heat welding. By incorporating Elevate smog reducing cap sheets to your base of choice, and you’ve instantly added the smog-fighting power equivalent of 120 trees for every 20,000 square feet of roofing installed!  

At the end of the day, by incorporating smog-reducing granules with their SBS products, Elevate has created roofing systems that perfectly balance and unite sustainability with proven high performance.  

Visit Elevate’s SBS product page to learn more about their products, their sustainability and their performance.

New resource outlines how roofing systems influence carbon reduction, energy performance, resilience and other key LEED v5 priorities.

Elevate™, a premier brand of commercial roofing systems and part of the Amrize family of brands, has released a LEED v5 Credit Guide, among the first roofing-specific resources to help architects, designers and builders navigate the updated LEED framework ahead of LEED v4 and v4.1 registrations sunsetting on June 30, 2027.

As LEED v5 transitions from a focus on documentation to measurable, proven performance, roofing now directly influences how projects achieve sustainability and certification goals. The Elevate LEED v5 Guide provides a comprehensive overview on how roofing systems intersect with each LEED v5 credit category, including Integrative Process, Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Project Priorities.

The tool details how roofing systems are critical in supporting the new model’s emphasized impact goals of climate action, quality of life, ecological conservation and restoration. By outlining how the roof directly applies to each category, the resource helps project teams consider roofing decisions early in the planning process.

As the development of data centers and other high-demand facilities continue to expand, the need to manage thermal transfer and peak energy demand places greater emphasis on roofing performance. Reflective membranes, high R-value insulation and airtight detailing reduce thermal transfer and peak energy demand, contributing to lowered operational carbon and alignment with LEED v5 standards.

“LEED v5 raises the bar for sustainability expectations across all entities involved in a building, including the specifier and manufacturer” said Sherrie MacWilliams, senior sustainability manager, Amrize Building Envelope. “The Elevate LEED v5 credit guide equips project teams to connect roofing specification decisions to measurable certification outcomes.”

The wide portfolio of EPD-backed Elevate commercial roofing products, including MAX™ PVC membranes and ISOGARD™ polyiso insulation, complement the brand’s new LEED v5 roofing guide. Together, they help architects and designers connect roofing decisions to measurable sustainability and performance goals under the updated framework.

To access the Elevate LEED v5 Credit Guide, please click here.

About Elevate

Elevate is committed to providing the highest quality commercial roofing, wall and lining systems to solve our customers’ challenges, grounded by a 45-year legacy of proven experience. Our mission is to deliver solutions that save time, perform reliably and protect our communities. We are devoted to building partnerships rooted in trust in reflection of our Elevate promise that Nobody Covers You Better™. Elevate is part of the Amrize family of brands. Visit ElevateCommercialBP.com to learn more.

About Amrize

Amrize (NYSE: AMRZ) is building North America, as the partner of choice for professional builders with advanced building solutions from foundation to rooftop. With over 1,000 sites and a highly efficient distribution network, we deliver for our customers in every U.S. state and Canadian province. Our 19,000 teammates uniquely serve every construction market from infrastructure, commercial and residential to new build, repair and refurbishment. Amrize achieved $11.7 billion in revenue in 2024 and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the SIX Swiss Exchange. We are ready to build your ambition. Learn more at amrize.com. 

By Emma Peterson. 

How Elevate is advancing building solutions that are sustainable and resilient.  

For a special Earth Day Coffee Conversations® webinar, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Kim Eckerman, Jay Saldana and David Finn for a conversation about what it takes to build responsibility every day of the year. Kim is the vice president of marketing and communications at Amrize Building Envelope, Jay is a licensed professional engineer and David is the director of corporate accounts for Elevate. All of these positions have given this trio a firsthand look into the skills and knowledge needed for building a more sustainable roofing industry.   

Kim shared a look into the current conversations taking place across the industry about responsible, sustainable building practices, sharing, “I’ve been in the industry for around two decades now and I’ve seen a really great shift towards accountability. We’re seeing action that goes beyond greenwashing and buzzwords and really think about the entire lifecycle of a roof.”  

David echoed her point, adding, “The conversation is moving away from vague green claims and more toward verified, real performance data, because owners are wanting that...In the past, you'd put a roof on, you'd give it a 20-year warranty, you'd walk away and wait for a leak call. Today, owners are using predictive intelligence, leak detection systems and other proactive strategies to maintain their roof. They’re more proactive and they’re looking at that performance data.”   

And when we think about sustainability in terms of performance across a roof’s entire lifespan, the conversation becomes one of resilience. Kim explained, “Sustainability is about what we can do today to use less. But resiliency is about the durability and the long-lasting nature of something. And when you can think about products in terms of lifecycle, that resilience is key to creating something sustainable."  

This is because the stronger a roof is, the fewer replacements and repairs it’ll need, which means fewer resources will be expended on it. Jay explained, “Resilience is sustainability. A building that doesn't last, a roof that doesn't last, it gets damaged, it can't handle the environment that it's in, which means it has to be replaced. And every time someone has to drive out to a roof, you're using gas, you're using gasoline. That's people, that's time, that's effort. None of that is sustainable, let alone the fact that you may have to replace materials on that roof that did not last to their true service life and those materials may end up in the landfill.” 

Kim gave an example of how sustainability and resilience come together in Elevate and Amrize products:  

We have some really great solutions when it comes to low carbon concrete. And then you combine that with our roofing systems, which really help with those long-term operational costs of both the building, you get an efficient and resilient solution that not only is sustainable when you install it, but also sustainable through its lifecycle. 

Overall, products like Elevate’s low carbon concrete, which can be used to improve the resilience of a building over its lifecycle, are prime examples of how the industry is moving beyond simply using buzzwords and truly embracing sustainable practices so we can build resiliently, together.  

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording to learn more about modern roofing sustainability and resilience.  

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn about the Elevate product that took home the 2026 People’s Choice award at the IRE Innovative Product Showcase. 

At this year’s International Roofing Expo (IRE), professionals from across the roofing industry came together to learn, explore and grow. One of the biggest parts of the show is the Innovative Product Showcase, which features eight judged categories as well as a People’s Choice Award. And the winner of that People’s Choice Award this year was Elevate’s MAX PVC and MAX PVC XR membranes! 

These membranes feature an innovatively thick and strong scrim layer which provides excellent performance in the face of harsh chemicals, grease, biological materials, fire, severe weather and more! Further, a weft-inserted reinforcement and an 18x9 threads-per-inch density make the MAX PVC membranes more durable and resistant to tears and rips that many standard membranes fall victim to.  

And these products benefits aren't limited to structural strength. Other benefits of Elevate’s MAX PVC and MAX PVC XR membranes include:  

• Strong fire protection: PVC roofing, like the Elevate MAX PVC and MAX PVC XR membranes, are made of naturally fire-resistant polymers. 
• Long-lasting support: When installed by a licensed Elevate applicator, these membranes can get a limited warranty for up to 30 years (Elevate Red Shield™). In addition to warranty support, the Elevate team is always ready to help contractors who are installing their products.  
• Easy installation: Both MAX PVC and MAX PVC XR are flexible membranes, which make installation easier. The MAX PVC in particular is designed for heat welded seams, eliminating the need for any solvents, primers or tapes. 
• Outstanding energy efficiency: These membranes have been rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) as highly reflective. This reflectivity can “improve your building's energy efficiency by reducing the workload on HVAC units as less heat is absorbed by the roof during the summer.” 

When asked about Elevate MAX PVC and MAX PVC XR’s win at IRE 2026, Nevin Holly, president of Elevate, shared some thought:  

Being named the People’s Choice winner is a huge honor for Elevate because it comes directly from the pros who know this industry best. We engineered MAX PVC to be a true leap forward in performance, but nothing beats seeing it in the field. I’ve been out on several MAX PVC roofs with our customers recently and seeing that durability in action speaks for itself. This award proves that contractors value innovation that actually works as hard as they do. 

Learn more about Elevate’s MAX PVC and MAX PVC XR membranes!

By Jenny Yu.  

The SkillsUSA 2026 Championship will connect students, educators, contractors and manufacturers through hands-on skilled trades competitions. 

After a year of honing their skills and participating in local competitions, students from across the country are set to compete at the culminating event: the SkillsUSA 2026 Championship. Taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta from June 1-5, 2026, the event brings together more that 6,700 state champions competing across 114 skilled and leadership contests as part of the broader National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC). 

On top of providing the platform for students to compete and showcase their talent, the SkillsUSA program builds the next generation of skilled professionals and elevates the value of careers in the trades. Roofing continues to expand its presence at the event as students can explore career opportunities and compete in roofing-related challenges including Commercial Roofing and Teamwork. According to the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), the competitions are designed to connect career and technical education students with real-world industry opportunities while helping address the skilled labor shortage facing roofing contractors nationwide. 

Here at RoofersCoffeeShop®, we are excited to be a sponsor of the NRCA Roofing Pavilion, the event’s central hub for students and CTE teachers to connect with industry professionals on training and career opportunities.  

Additional sponsors supporting the NRCA booth include ABC Supply, Central States Manufacturing, Georgia-Pacific Building Products, Johns Manville, Elevate™, IB Roof Systems™, Leister, National Roofing Partners, National Women in Roofing (NWIR), QXO, Roofing Alliance, Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), SRS Distribution and TAMKO®. This robust participation reflects industry-wide collaboration to help SkillsUSA continue to grow as a pipeline for skilled professionals entering the trades. 

The SkillsUSA Championships have become a critical recruiting and education platform for the roofing industry. NRCA notes if even 5% of SkillsUSA students entered roofing careers, the industry could gain more than 5,000 new workers annually. 

To learn more about the 2026 SkillsUSA Championships, the Roofing Pavilion and ways to get involved, visit the SkillsUSA and NRCA websites. We hope to see you there! 

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn why CDS branches are contractors’ go-to resource for low-slope roofing success.  

Starting a new commercial roofing project? Get all the tips and tools that you could need by visiting the location of one of SRS Distribution’s Commercial Distribution Specialist (CDS) teams! These teams have been awarded special designation for having a wealth of in-depth knowledge about all things to do with low-slope products and systems. When you visit a CDS designated location, you have the opportunity to access resources that will help your next project run smoothly and efficiently. These resources include:  

• Expertise: From choosing the right material for your project to setting up a timeline for success, the teams at CDS branches understand all parts of the low-slope roofing process. Don’t miss out on the invaluable resource they represent.   
• Products: CDS locations are stocked with a wide range of commercial products from manufacturers like Carlisle, Johns Manville, GAF, Elevate and Versico. Whether you are looking for polyiso insulation, bonding adhesives, fasteners or something else related to low-slope roofing, you can find it in a CDS showroom. 
• Logistics: And help from a CDS team is not limited to just their branch location! CDS employs a fleet of crane trucks and knuckle booms that make getting your materials simpler than ever. With options for both ground drops and roof top deliveries, this is a powerful resource for keeping your commercial projects on schedule.  

Overall, visiting a CDS location is a sure-fire way to elevate your next roofing project. And with 45 locations across 22 states, there is likely a team near you! 

Learn more about working with Commercial Distribution Specialists!

By Emma Peterson. 

Trent Cotney explores the role of advocacy and Roofing Day 2026 in relation to protecting workers in today’s immigration climate. 

The state of the labor force in roofing and construction has always been a top issue for the industry, but the immigration policy changes of the last year have made it more of a pressing concern than ever. Trent Cotney of Adams and Reese stopped by for a Coffee Conversations webinar to discuss what contractors can do to combat these concerns.  

The state of labor and immigration today 

Since January of 2025, there has been a huge uptick in ICE (immigration and customs enforcement) activity. In relation to roofing, we’ve seen ICE raids on every type of workplace in the industry, whether it's the job site, the office or the manufacturing warehouse. This has caused a level of deep fear and concern in employees and employers. Trent shared what he’s seen:  

There's a lot of concern among contractors about how to help their employees and crews...And we have dozens upon dozens of contractors that are currently in the process of defending I-9 audits. These audits are when the government will issue a notice of inspection, and they'll ask to see your I-9s. Then, based on what they see, you could be subject to fine or, more importantly, they run the information and determine the status of your workers, and you could potentially lose workers as a result. 

Protecting your workers and business 

So, what can contractors do in 2026 to protect both their business and their crew? When it comes to protecting your crew, Trent’s advice is to make sure everyone knows their rights. He explained, “The goal is always to tell the truth and cooperate, but everyone also needs to know and assert their rights. Like, your crew has the right to remain silent, they've got the right to counsel, all those types of things. So, really helping your employees learn and understand that is one of the biggest things you can do for them.”  

As for your business, it’s important to use contract provisions to clarify things like worksite access. Trent explained, “You can't have a contract provision or something that says that if I lose workers because of ICE, you should pay me more money. But one of the things you can do is make a provision that defines the worksite as a controlled access zone.” From there, if the owner of the site allows others onto the site that cause damages or delays to work, you can submit a claim or change order based on that provision.  

While both pieces of advice from Trent are a step towards protecting your crews and business in the short-term, he is the first to point out that they are not long-term solutions to labor issues and immigration challenges. As he put it:  

Overall, it’s a frustrating situation because the U.S. has an almost a zero-tolerance policy as it relates to immigration, but also doesn't a clear-cut way to bring workers in that makes common sense. The H-2B visa process is flawed, it's still seasonal and still requires at least 6 months lead time to kind of figure it out. And I’ve worked with contractors that have tried to do employer sponsorship, which is a very bureaucratic, confusing process that can span years. And the truth is we want legal, hard workers to come here, work and pay taxes and boost our economy. 

Making long-lasting change, together 

So, how do we get to that ideal place where hard-working people can legally come experience the American Dream for themselves and our industry gets the labor it needs? Group action in support of immigration reform – like what the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) is doing with Roofing Day, which will be held April 14-15, 2026.  

Roofing Day is an annual event that organizes members of the roofing industry into a group that goes to Washington, D.C. to advocate for the industry. And this year, NRCA has announced that one of the primary issues they’re going to talk about at Roofing Day is the need for immigration reform.  

Trent, who has been to most of the events since its inception in 2015, shared a bit about how this type of collective action makes actual change: 

I’ve been there, and in D.C., they don’t understand our industry. They think of roofers and imagine a guy in a pickup truck. They don’t realize that even the roof over their head was put on by a professional company. And so going there, showing them the actual people who make up our industry, telling them our stories and bringing our issues to them...It really makes a big impact. In the past, NRCA has been able to push for great tax reforms because of Roofing Day. 

Listen to the episode or Watch the recording of this Coffee Conversation to learn more about the current state of the industry. And if you’re interested in attending Roofing Day 2026, RoofersCoffeeShop® is partnering with Elevate to give away a trip to D.C.! Learn more and enter for your chance to be a part of change.

By Emma Peterson. 

Join The Coffee Shops™ crew and our industry partners in Sacramento for four days of education, innovation and industry connection. 

The Coffee Shops™ crew is putting the finishing touches on our travel plans to get to Sacramento, California March 12–15, 2026 for the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC)’s International Convention and we want to see you at our booth and soundstage, sponsored by Western Colloid!  

This year’s show is predicted to host “1,700 consultants, architects, engineers, design professionals and other experts” for four days of learning, networking and more! With national sponsors like Carlisle, Elevate™, GAF, IB Roof Systems™, Johns Manville, Polyglass USA Inc., Sika Corporation, SOPREMA and Versico, this show is a must-attend for professionals in all parts of the roofing world.  

Expert-led education  

This show gives attendees a chance to learn from a variety of industry leaders and experts through their cutting-edge education sessions. Here are some of the incredible presenters that will be at this year’s show:  

• Trent Cotney of Adams and Reese will be hosting a “State of the Industry” session that will explore contract provisions and other emerging regulatory trends.  
• Darren Perry of SOPREMA has a session that discusses how low slope roofing can be enhanced in response to severe climate risks. 
• Amrize’s National Technical Manager Victor Rosenthal and Project Manager Rachael DeMeio will be teaching about trends in roof re-cover applications this year. 
• Jennifer Stephan from Benchmark’s session will dive into the world of Refrigerated Processing and Cold Storage Operations in relation to industrial roofing projects.  

Check out the full speaker list online!

An expo floor route 

The Coffee Shops crew will be on the expo floor hosting a soundstage at booth #1113! Here’s just a few of the other Coffee Shops friends and partners that can be found on IIBEC’s 2026 International Convention expo floor:  

• All Weather Insulated Panels (booth #1216) 
• Anchor Products (booth #907)  
• ATAS International (booth #728)  
• BITEC Inc. (booth #1023) 
• Brava Tile (booth #208) 
• CertainTeed (booth #227)  
• General Coatings Manufacturing (booth #926) 
• H.B. Fuller (booth #113) 
• ICP Building Solutions Group (booth #133) 
• IKO Industries (booth #426) 
• Leister (booth #619) 
• Malarkey Roofing Products (booth #213) 
• MuleHide (booth #814) 
• Roof Hugger (booth #707) 
• S-5! (booth #1019) 
• Sheffield Metals International (booth #625) 
• Sherwin Williams Roofing Solutions (booth #422) 
• Tremco (booth #321) 
• USG Securock (booth #401) 
• Western Colloid (booth #923) 
• Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions (booth #433) 

Explore the full expo floor map!

Register today and make sure you stop by to say hi to us and our industry friends at the IIBEC’s 2026 International Convention!