By Emma Peterson.

We’re counting down the 10 most-read stories from The Coffee Shops® to help you stay on top of the latest industry conversations.

Though it may be hard to believe, October is already coming to a close. And if your month has been anything like ours here at The Coffee Shops®, it’s been busy and hard to keep up with!

To make it a bit easier for our readers to catch up on the biggest industry news and stories from October 2026, we’ve collected our top ten articles published this past month.

As our readers move into the off-season, we’ve seen an uptick of interest in training and business development articles! On the training side, our top ten list includes an article about John Kenney of Cotney Consulting Group's upcoming two-day live classroom training workshop (November 17-18, 2026) and an article based on a conversation with Rick Johnson of Tremco CPG about partnering with manufacturers that back their products up with training.

On the business development side, Emma Peterson wrote three articles for The Coffee Shops® highlighting different ways contractors can set their businesses up for success. The first, which comes in at number 6 on our list, talks about four takeaways from a decade of RoofersCoffeeShop® Trends Reports. The other articles, which take spots 3 and 2, take a look at the state of the economy going into the last quarter of the year and at the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)'s live LEGALCon event, respectively.

As for our top article of the month, it was all about "the certifications, technologies and best practices that help roofing professionals build more fire-resilient structures.”

Our top ten articles from October

10 - The business case for smarter construction recycling

9 - Extending building life starts with education and training

8 - Advocacy remains a roofing priority

7 - Building smarter roofers with expert training

6 - A decade of roofing trends

5 - Good project managers think three weeks ahead

4 - NWIR scholarship opens doors for future roofing leaders

3 - Going into the last quarter of 2026

2 - Set yourself apart from the competition at LEGALCon 2026

1 - Creating a more fire-safe future

By Emma Peterson.

Although roofing practices and regional challenges vary around the world, John Kenney explains why the industry's fundamental goals remain the same and how contractors can benefit from sharing their experiences.

In an episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with John Kenney of Cotney Consulting Group to get his insights into the global roofing industry. John is an ideal guest for this discussion, as his 45+ years in the roofing industry have guided him in his work in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

John’s story starts with working in the field for a family-run roofing company in the Northeast of the U.S. From there, he worked his way up to estimating and managing projects for the same company. Today, he is the CEO of Cotney Consulting Group and “works with roofing contractors on estimating operational performance, project management, workforce development and more.” He is also very active in a variety of professional organizations, being a member of the International Federation for the Roofing Trades (IFD), National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and the former Institute of Roofing.

When we asked him about what he’s seeing that is currently impact contractors on both sides of the pond, he highlighted labour challenges, estimating issues, margin protection and supply pressures. As he put it:

I think contractors in both markets are trying to find, develop and retain skilled people. I also think they're trying to estimate work accurately, protect the margins of the businesses and convert a good tender into a well-managed project. And as they’re trying to deal with that, they’re having to manage changing programs, incomplete information, material lead times, access relations and pressure from clients.

That’s not to say that all the issues that contractors face are universal, as things like hurricane season for U.S. contractors and handling apprenticeships in the U.K. are unique to their regions. But as John put it, “While the markets are very unique, at the end of the day, roofing contractors on both sides of the Atlantic are trying to complete quality work, the protect their people, serve their clients and operate profitable businesses.”

His advice for contractors on both sides of the pond to overcome these shared challenges? Work together. In John’s words, “I always have believed that you become better at what you do when you're willing to take a look beyond your own market and listen to how other professionals approach similar problems.”

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recorded conversation to hear more of John’s expert insights.

By The Coffee Shops®.

This new fall protection trainer course gives roofing professionals tools to make safety education more relevant, engaging and consistent.

Fall protection training is familiar territory for many roofing contractors, but delivering information does not necessarily mean workers will retain it.

In a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Megan Ellsworth spoke with National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) leaders Amy Staska and Rich Trewyn about the association’s Fall Protection Trainer Course for Roofing and its emphasis on developing stronger trainers.

“Falls continue to be the leading cause of serious injuries and fatalities in the roofing industry,” Rich said. “NRCA saw the need to help companies move beyond simply meeting compliance requirements and to help them build a stronger safety culture.”

Rather than simply providing another fall protection class, the course prepares participants to take what they learn back to their companies and teach others. Amy explained that NRCA has offered safety training for years, but the trainer component creates a different opportunity. “It is intended to be a class, not one you would send everybody to,” she said. “But that you would send one or two people to so that they could go back and effectively train others in the company.”

That focus also addresses a persistent challenge: keeping familiar safety messages fresh. Amy noted that contractors already conduct toolbox talks and emphasize fall protection on jobsites, but repeated messages can become easier to tune out. Rich added that effective training must account for workers with varying levels of roofing experience. “It’s easy to check that compliance box,” he said. “It’s easy to say, we did the training.”

The goal instead is retention. By combining roofing-specific fall protection knowledge with instruction on how to teach it, the course is designed to help trainers communicate information more effectively to their own teams.

Listen to the full podcast or Watch the recording to learn more about fall protection training.

By The Coffee Shops®.

How code changes and installation complexity are reshaping technical best practices.

As building materials and trends evolve, contractors are keeping up with new demands from code changes. During a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Mark Graham of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) to discuss the technical issues roofing contractors are facing and the trends likely to shape the industry in the years ahead.

Before discussing today's challenges, Mark reflected on NRCA's role in the industry. Describing the association as "the all-encompassing group in the roofing industry," Mark noted that NRCA is celebrating its 140th anniversary while continuing to serve contractors, manufacturers, distributors and designers.

The organization's technical services team plays a central role in that mission. According to Mark, the six-member department draws expertise from engineering, architecture and construction backgrounds, while also relying on input from nearly 190 board and committee volunteers throughout the country.

That collaboration helps NRCA identify emerging issues before they become widespread problems. One trend generating significant discussion is the adoption of newer building and energy codes. Mark explained that contractors working on reroofing projects are increasingly encountering requirements tied to drainage systems. "In re-roofing and specifically in roof tear-off, where there's a tear off and replacement job, the building code is now requiring that the drainage system, in other words, roof drains, scuppers, overflows, gutters, things like that, be upgraded to the current edition of the plumbing code."

As a result, roof replacements often involve more than roofing work alone. Mark's advice was straightforward: "If you don't have a plumber that's a friend, make a new friend."

Contractors are also grappling with growing system complexity. Mark pointed to the large number of manufacturer-specific installation requirements and noted that keeping field crews current across multiple systems has become increasingly difficult.

The challenge, he suggested, is not necessarily a lack of innovation but managing the growing complexity that comes with it. As the roofing industry expands, contractors can lean on support systems like the NRCA to grow their strengths.

Listen to the entire podcast or Watch the recording to learn more about roofing industry technical challenges.

By Emma Peterson.

A recent Coffee Conversations panel explored the connection between mental health, physical safety and workforce success.

Last month, we got the chance to host a special Coffee Conversations webinar with Mandy McIntyre from Weatherproofing Technologies Inc. (WTI), Kara (Houck) McCaffrey from Houck Group, and McKay Daniels of National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) all about mental health safety in roofing.

When we asked this panel to explain the importance of mental health in the roofing industry, they had a lot to share, which makes sense given the trio’s backgrounds. Mandy is a mental health first aid instructor and has been integral to Tremco’s mental health initiatives. And Kara, in addition to being a third-generation commercial roofing company owner, is the board chair of Construction Suicide Prevention Week (which is hosted every September). And last but not least, McKay is the CEO of NRCA, where he has had the opportunity to help push the industry’s mental health support forward with the BeToughEnough campaign.

In response to our original question, Kara shared, “Mental health is an important part of safety and protecting a person's mental health can help keep them safe.” This connection between mental and physical health is something that is too often disconnected in our industry. As McKay put it, “If your head's not in the game, that creates consequences craftsmanship and physical safety...We work in a high-skilled profession, and people need to be focused and ready at work. If your crew is struggling mentally, that’s like having rocks in your pack that you're coming to work with. It all just compounds, makes everything harder and puts everyone at risk.”

And this goes the other way, too – physical risks and safety can directly impact mental states. As Kara gave an example, "It’s not just mental health impacting the safety side, but safety incidents impact the mental health side as well. If someone has a near miss and could have fallen off of a roof, they are left probably scared from that. And that traumatic impact could really impact their mental health.”

In these ways, mental and physical health cannot be disconnected from each other. And even beyond the individual, the mental state of your crew is directly tied to your business’ success. Mandy explained, “Aside from just the humanity importance of mental health care, it’s also risk mitigation for your company. The ROI on this is huge, every investment in mental health awareness has a $3-5 return in employee engagement, retention rates and recruitment statistics.”

At the end of the day, whether you look at it from a safety perspective, a teambuilding perspective or a business perspective, mental health safety must be prioritized. And prioritizing it doesn’t have to be hard. Mandy gave some tips, sharing, “Mental health is a legitimate safety concern and needs to be a part of every safety program. And the minimum is just doing a mental health toolbox talk once a month where you promote resources like 988 (suicide and crisis hotline) and create space for people to share. Just show your crew that you care and want to take care of them.”

Want to learn more about supporting your team’s mental health safety? Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording!

Highlight your charitable involvement!

Many roofing contractors are making a difference far beyond the jobsite by supporting local charities, volunteering in their communities and helping causes that matter. Now, those efforts could earn them national recognition through the CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award.  

Sponsored by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and CNA, the award recognizes charitable projects, activities and donations completed by NRCA contractor members. Whether your company has organized a community service project, raised funds for a local nonprofit or volunteered time and resources to support a cause, your efforts may qualify for consideration.  

The program is designed to highlight the roofing industry's commitment to service and generosity. Eligible charitable activities completed between January 1, 2026 and November 1, 2026, can be submitted for a chance to earn recognition while also benefiting the organizations supported by your company’s efforts. Four winning charities will receive financial awards, including $7,500 for first place, $5,000 for second place, $2,500 for third place and $1,500 for the People's Choice Award winner.  

For contractors, the award offers more than just a chance to win. It provides an opportunity to showcase company culture, celebrate employees who contribute to their communities and demonstrate the positive impact roofing professionals have outside of their daily work. Sharing these stories can also help strengthen relationships with customers, employees and community partners. 

Submitting an entry requires more than a simple nomination. Contractors should provide an entry form, a detailed description of the charitable work performed, a testimonial from the receiving charity and supporting materials such as photos, videos or press coverage. Entries must also include an image that can be used for public voting related to the People's Choice Award.  

A panel of judges will select the first-, second- and third-place winners, while the People's Choice Award will be determined through online voting. Winners will be recognized during NRCA's Industry Awards and Reception at the association's 140th Annual Convention in Las Vegas.  

If your company has spent the past year giving back, now is the time to share that story. Community involvement is a powerful part of the roofing industry's legacy, and this award offers an opportunity to spotlight the people and organizations making a lasting difference. 

Learn more about the award.

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.

As daylight fades and temperatures drop, roofing contractors can strengthen safety culture by making mental health part of everyday crew conversations.

Editor’s note: Statistics and health information were checked against NRCA, CPWR and the National Institute of Mental Health.

When contractors prepare for winter, the conversation typically focuses on cold-weather safety, fall protection, equipment maintenance and changing schedules. Those priorities are essential, but the darker months also bring an important opportunity to talk about mental health.

Mental health and the construction industry

The construction industry has made meaningful progress in addressing mental health and suicide prevention, but the numbers show why this work must continue. The National Roofing Contractors Association reports that an estimated one in five adults live with a mental illness and fewer than half seek treatment. NRCA also notes that construction has the second-highest suicide rate among major U.S. industries. Research from CPWR, The Center for Construction Research and Training, found that the 2021 suicide death rate among construction workers was 46.1 per 100,000 workers, compared with 19.5 per 100,000 across all industries, making the construction rate 2.4 times higher.

Seasonal changes add another reason to keep mental health visible as winter approaches. The National Institute of Mental Health explains that many people experience mood changes when the days become shorter, while winter-pattern seasonal affective disorder often begins in late fall or early winter. Symptoms can include lower energy, difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep or appetite and social withdrawal, all of which deserve awareness and compassion rather than judgment.

Resources for roofers

Roofing is already demanding work, and shorter days can affect people differently. Contractors do not need to diagnose employees or turn supervisors into counselors. They can create a workplace where checking in is normal and support is easy to find.  Most of all, it is normalizing that when employees ask for help it is a sign of strength.

A practical place to begin is the NRCA Suicide Prevention Toolbox Talk. The resource helps supervisors and crew leaders start conversations about stress management, self-care and healthy lifestyles while recognizing when someone may be struggling. It identifies potential warning signs such as withdrawal, hopelessness, decreased productivity, increased tardiness or absenteeism, extreme mood swings and comments that suggest a person feels like a burden.

The toolbox talk also reinforces a message every roofing company can use. People do not need to be mental health experts to make a difference, but they do need to pay attention along with showing concern and responding when something does not seem right. Asking a coworker how they are doing, listening without minimizing their experience and helping them connect with support can be an important first step.

Contractors can download the toolbox talk and use it during winter safety meetings, then return to the topic throughout the season. Mental health should not be limited to a single annual presentation or awareness week. Short, consistent conversations can help make support part of everyday company culture and remind employees that they are not expected to handle difficult moments alone.

NRCA also offers a broader Mental Health Resource Center created for the roofing industry. Contractors can find fact sheets, posters, hard hat stickers, educational programs, English and Spanish materials and connections to additional construction-focused organizations. NRCA member companies can also access free online suicide prevention training through the association’s partnership with LivingWorks.

Roofing and mental health safety

At The Coffee Shops, we strongly encourage roofing contractors to review these resources and make mental health part of their winter safety strategy. Just as companies inspect equipment, monitor weather and reinforce fall protection, they should regularly check on the people who make their businesses successful. A stronger safety culture protects the whole person, both on and off the roof.

We also encourage contractors to look at the broader value of membership in the National Roofing Contractors Association. NRCA provides advocacy, education, technical expertise and workforce resources while continuing to invest in the health and well-being of roofing professionals and their families. Its mental health and suicide prevention materials give contractors credible, practical tools they can bring directly to their teams.

Winter presents real challenges, but it also creates an opportunity to strengthen connections across a company. By adding mental health to toolbox talks along with watching changes in coworkers and sharing trusted NRCA resources, contractors can help build workplaces where employees feel valued and supported. And those workplaces are where focus, decision-making and productivity all thrive.

If someone is in immediate emotional distress or may be considering suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and call 911 when there is an immediate life-threatening emergency.

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Outside education can help roofing companies fill knowledge gaps, strengthen fundamentals and build employee development into a more complete training system. 

Building a strong training program does not require a company to teach every skill internally. Service First Solutions emphasizes that industry education can complement in-house instruction by giving employees access to technical knowledge and perspectives they may not encounter within their own organization. 

Programs such as NRCA’s Roofing 101 can provide a foundation in roofing systems and industry fundamentals. The University of Wisconsin’s Low Slope and Metal Roofing Systems courses offer another opportunity for employees to deepen their technical knowledge. By identifying resources that align with specific roles and responsibilities, companies can use outside education to support the skills their teams need to develop. 

The value of these programs grows when companies make them part of an intentional training system rather than treating them as occasional events. Leaders can identify the skills needed for each position, select outside programs that support those needs and incorporate those opportunities into individual development plans. This approach also demonstrates a company’s investment in employee growth. 

Internal training remains essential because each organization understands its own processes and expectations best. Those company-specific lessons should continue to be taught from within. At the same time, outside expertise can strengthen a team by supplementing internal knowledge with additional technical instruction and industry perspectives. 

Service First Solutions also highlights several ways companies can continue developing their organizations, including intensive contractor visits, service-focused peer groups and total access consulting. Together with outside educational resources, these opportunities can help companies create a broader approach to employee development. 

Learn more about Service First Solutions and its training and consulting resources!

By The Coffee Shops®. 

NRCA leaders say persistent workforce challenges make industry engagement more important than ever. 

During a recent episode of the Roofing Road Trips® podcast, National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) leaders offered their insights regarding the state of federal advocacy and why roofing professionals should remain engaged despite an increasingly difficult political environment. 

When asked to describe the current state of advocacy in a word, NRCA Vice President of Government Relations Duane Musser shared “The one word I would use is challenging.” 

Duane explained that political polarization and a slower congressional process have made it harder to advance legislation, even when broad industry needs are clear. “We do, in this day and age, live in a challenging political and legislative environment in Washington, D.C. so our advocacy efforts have become more challenging.” 
 
 Still, he emphasized that despite the difficulties, their work is increasingly important, saying, “Advocacy has only become more important as the challenges grow.”  

A major focus continues to be workforce development. For NRCA, that means supporting policies that expand career and technical education (CTE), increase funding for Perkins grants and create more pathways into the skilled trades. According to the discussion, workforce issues have remained a central priority since Roofing Day in D.C. began in 2018. 

Brad Stine, NRCA's director of federal affairs, acknowledged the challenges and when asked for his own one-word assessment, Brad chose “potential.” 

“There's some potential there. We've seen an explosion of interest in apprenticeships. There's a lot of discussion on Capitol Hill, a lot of chatter, around the value of apprenticeships,” he shared. 

He pointed to growing bipartisan support for CTE programs and apprenticeships, noting that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle increasingly recognize the need to strengthen the skilled labor pipeline. As Congress continues to discuss workforce shortages, those areas remain opportunities for meaningful progress. 

The conversation also underscored the value of relationship-building. Heidi J. Ellsworth noted that engagement with elected officials often mirrors success in the roofing business itself, where trust and long-term connections drive results. Duane agreed, highlighting Roofing Day and political engagement through ROOFPAC as important tools for strengthening connections with policymakers. 

While progress may be difficult, NRCA's message was clear: advocacy remains one of the industry's most important investments. 

Listen to the full podcast or Watch the recording to learn more about roofing industry advocacy and workforce development.