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<channel>
<title>RoofersCoffeeShop</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/</link>
<description>Roofing Forum, Classifieds, Galleries and More!</description>
<language>en-us</language><item>
<title>Top June articles: Operational efficiency, building trust and planning ahead</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/top-june-articles-operational-efficiency-building-trust-and-planning-ahead</link>
<description>top-june-articles-operational-efficiency-building-trust-and-planning-ahead</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/06/tcs-top-june-articles-operational-efficiency-building-trust-and-planning-ahead.png'
            alt='Top June articles: Operational efficiency, building trust and planning ahead'
            title='Top June articles: Operational efficiency, building trust and planning ahead'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Articles of interest from June 2026.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>As the second fiscal quarter of the year comes to a close, it&rsquo;s hard to believe we&rsquo;re coming up on the halfway point of 2026. And the number of articles The Coffee Shops&trade; crew has published in that time (over 2,300 across all sites) can attest to how busy of a year it&rsquo;s been. Of those thousands of articles, over 350 of them were posted in June alone. So, to help you keep up with all the news and information, we&rsquo;ve rounded up the top ten articles from June.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Our list starts off with an article highlighting <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/adams-and-reese-llp">Adams and Reese</a>&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/trent-cotney-rcs-influencer">Trent Cotney</a>&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/construction-law-insights-and-updates-from-may-2026">May 2026 construction law updates</a> and an article diving into a new Workforce Pell Grants that &ldquo;<a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/workforce-pell-program-could-strengthen-roofings-workforce-pipeline">could help roofing contractors recruit, train and grow the next generation of skilled workers</a>.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>From there, we have a wide variety of articles highlighting everything from the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nwir">National Women in Roofing (NWIR)</a> Oregon Council&rsquo;s work coordinating a roof replacement for a <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/roofing-community-rallies-for-oregon-homeowner">Portland homeowner in need</a> to how <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/maximizing-fire-resistance-with-metal">metal roofing protects against wildfires</a> and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/mca-advances-technical-leadership-expands-market-opportunities-and-builds-momentum-for-2026">the role of</a> the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/metal-construction-association-mca-2">Metal Construction Association (MCA)</a> in the industry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rounding out our list is our top three articles of June. In third place is an article our friends at <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/roof-hub">Roof Hub</a> wrote all about optimizing operational efficiency by using AI Smart Templates. Second goes to an article I wrote about how contractors can build trust and generate leads in a digital world. And first goes to <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/cotney-consulting-group">Cotney Consulting Group</a>&rsquo;s article <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/cotney-consulting-group">sharing a 5-year readiness playbook for roofing contractors</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Top 10 articles from June 2026&nbsp;</h3>

<p><strong>10 - <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/construction-law-insights-and-updates-from-may-2026">Construction law insights and updates from May 2026</a> by Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>9 - <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/workforce-pell-program-could-strengthen-roofings-workforce-pipeline">Workforce Pell Program could strengthen roofing&rsquo;s workforce pipeline</a> by Heidi J. Ellsworth.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>8 - <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/why-government-affairsmattersto-every-roofing-professional">Why government affairs matter to every roofing professional</a> by Heidi J. Ellsworth.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>7 - <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/roofing-community-rallies-for-oregon-homeowner">Roofing community rallies for Oregon homeowner</a> by The Coffee Shops&trade;.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>6 - <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/maximizing-fire-resistance-with-metal">Maximizing fire resistance with metal</a> by Anna Lockhart.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>5 - <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/mca-advances-technical-leadership-expands-market-opportunities-and-builds-momentum-for-2026">MCA advances technical leadership, expands market opportunities and builds momentum for 2026</a> by Heidi J. Ellsworth.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>4 - <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/navigating-a-new-normal">Navigating a new normal</a> by Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>3 - <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/ai-smart-templates">AI smart templates</a> by RoofHub.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>2 - <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/word-of-mouth-still-works-it-just-looks-different">Word of mouth still works &ndash; It just looks different</a> by Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>1 - <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/a-5-year-readiness-playbook-for-roofing-contractors">A 5-year readiness playbook for roofing contractors</a> by Cotney Consulting Group.&nbsp;</strong></p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Using AI as a tool, not a definitive</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/using-ai-as-a-tool-not-a-definitive</link>
<description>using-ai-as-a-tool-not-a-definitive</description>
<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/05/adams-reese-using-ai-as-a-tool-not-a-definitive.png'
            alt='Using AI as a tool, not a definitive'
            title='Using AI as a tool, not a definitive'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Trent Cotney breaks down where AI is useful; and where it can lead you into trouble.&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

<p>It seems like artificial intelligence (AI), specifically generative AI, is the only thing anyone is talking about these days. To learn more about its role in roofing and construction operations, Megan Ellsworth sat down with <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/trent-cotney-rcs-influencer">Trent Cotney</a> of <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/adams-and-reese-llp">Adams and Reese</a> for <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/webinar/the-state-of-roofing-today">a Coffee Conversation discussion</a> of what contractors need to know about the technology as it continues to evolve.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>One of the most common places you see companies, whether in the trades or beyond, using AI is in customer service and marketing. But those aren&#39;t the only places it can be used. Trent explained, &ldquo;AI is great in marketing and service, it saves time and money. But where it really is transforming the industry is in estimating, material management, scheduling, forecasting and job costing. That&rsquo;s where it&rsquo;s really giving people a competitive advantage.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>How exactly does AI play into these areas? A great example is scheduling software. Trent shared:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>I had the opportunity to see some scheduling software that used AI and what it did was look at the efficiency of each crew member on each crew with each system, and determine, based on their upcoming projects, what crew should be matched where for most efficiency. And then if, for some reason, a project is suspended or ends, it automatically fixes that. So, the amount of efficiency that you are gaining on that equals money. And if you&#39;re not using it, someone else is and you can&rsquo;t adequately compete.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>It is important to note that even with incredible benefits like this, AI is not a perfect solution for everything. Trent highlighted three main reasons to be cautious about AI &ndash; accuracy, risk and compliance. He elaborated:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>AI is a lot like a golden retriever, it wants to please. But it will come up with stuff in order to do that. I can think of at least three cases where lawyers used AI, it came up with false citations and those lawyers were sanctioned. So you have to independently verify it for accuracy... As for legal compliance, you need to remember that your searches on these open AIs, like ChatGPT, are available, even ones that get deleted. It&rsquo;s all publicly discoverable so you have to make sure no one is uploading confidential information that puts you at risk.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Trent&rsquo;s best advice for using AI effectively while managing these concerns? Guardrails. He explained, &ldquo;The best thing you can do from a compliance standpoint is put up some guardrails about its usage and make sure everyone knows its limits. AI is a tool and the issues occur when people use it as a definitive. You have to put eyes on its outputs because it won&rsquo;t spot issues that aren&rsquo;t there. If you put an issue in front of it, it can solve that, but it doesn&rsquo;t know the holistic picture. It&rsquo;s a tool and that&rsquo;s how you have to use it.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/webinar/the-state-of-roofing-today">Listen to the rest of the conversation</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_hiA1_b03I">Watch the recording</a> to learn more about safe and effective AI use in the industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>Trent Cotney’s June 2026 legal updates</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/trent-cotneys-june-2026-legal-updates</link>
<description>trent-cotneys-june-2026-legal-updates</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/06/adams-reese-trent-cotneys-june-2026-legal-updates.png'
            alt='Trent Cotney’s June 2026 legal updates'
            title='Trent Cotney’s June 2026 legal updates'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>From Florida to California, Trent shares key regulatory and legislative information for contractors.&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

<p>As a partner at <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/adams-and-reese-llp">Adams and Reese</a> law firm specializing in roofing litigation and arbitration, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/trent-cotney-rcs-influencer">Trent Cotney</a> sits at the forefront of legal and regulatory changes that are impacting contractors and other roofing professionals. And every month he shares some of the most important news through his Cotney Briefs. Here&rsquo;s what he highlighted in June 2026.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>1 &ndash; Florida building permit and inspection rules&nbsp;</h3>

<p>On July 1, 2026, Florida&rsquo;s CS/CS/HB 803 law will go into effect. Among many things, this law will change building permit and inspection rules. For example, it requires that a &ldquo;local government that issues building permits to exempt an owner of a single-family dwelling, or the owner&rsquo;s contractor, from obtaining a building permit for work valued at less than $7,500 on the owner&rsquo;s property.&rdquo; It also creates some exemptions for temporary residential hurricane and flood protection walls or barriers that meet specific conditions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What this means for contractors:</strong> Contractors operating in the state of Florida need to make sure their permitting checklists are up to date with these changes, especially in relation to small or temporary residential protection projects.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>2 &ndash; Project cost of completion case&nbsp;</h3>

<p>The case of Corotoman, Inc. v. Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority centers around the removal of a large knoll at the end of the runway of Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia. The issue arose when the Airport Authority was found to be in breach of proper removal and there was a disagreement over the cost of completion that should be awarded to Corotoman.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The case moved up to the West Virginia Supreme Court who held that:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>(1) the gross disproportionality rule may apply in breach-of-construction-contract disputes; (2) gross disproportionality is measured using the diminution-in-value approach, which calculates the difference between the property&rsquo;s value without the contracted work and its value if the work had been performed; (3) the breaching party bears the burden of invoking and proving gross disproportionality; and (4) if the breaching party fails to prove gross disproportionality, the non-breaching party&rsquo;s proven measure of damages applies.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>What this means for contractors:</strong> In layman&rsquo;s terms, this case sets a precedent that the cost to complete a project is the measure of damages for breach of contract, unless the cost is grossly disproportionate to the value of the property, as in Corotoman, Inc. v. Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority, where the loss in value of property should be used as the measure of damages.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>3 &ndash; AAA&rsquo;s new AI Arbitrator process&nbsp;</h3>

<p>AAA has a new AI arbitrator process that uses an AI tool to summarize submissions, organize evidence, prepare analysis and identify issues. From there, a human arbitrator reviews, revises and finalizes the decision. The switch to this process as the Initial Decision Maker (IDM) is aimed to help parties obtain faster initial decisions so they can continue performance without forfeiting a future right to later dispute resolution.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What this means for contractors:</strong> With the switch to this process, Trent recommends including a provision related to using AAA&rsquo;s AI Arbitrator process as the IDM into contracts. Here is a sample of what he suggests:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>The Parties designate the American Arbitration Association&rsquo;s AI Arbitrator process as the Initial Decision Maker (&ldquo;IDM&rdquo;) for Claims arising out of or relating to the Contract, if available for the Claim at issue.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The AAA AI Arbitrator process shall mean AAA&rsquo;s AI-assisted dispute resolution process in which artificial intelligence assists with document review, issue identification, dispute summarization, analysis, and proposed decision preparation, subject to review and issuance by a human AAA arbitrator.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Either Party may submit a Claim to the IDM. The Parties shall submit position statements and supporting documents in accordance with AAA&rsquo;s AI Arbitrator procedures.*&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://www.trentcotney.com/the-cotney-brief/the-cotney-brief-construction-law-simplified-june-2026/"><em><strong>*Read the whole provision.</strong></em></a></p>

<h3>4 &ndash; Construction law in California&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>

<p>California has long been one of the most difficult regulatory environments for contractors to operate in because of the different legal hoops contractors must jump through to build projects, maintain labor and control margins. One example of these hoops is the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) which &ldquo;allows an aggrieved employee to pursue civil penalties for alleged Labor Code violations on behalf of the state.&rdquo; On paper this might seem fine, but in action it turns simple wage-and-hour issues into complex representative litigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another example is California&rsquo;s worker classification rules, such as AB 5. This rule in particular relates to when companies claim a worker as an independent contractor rather than an employee. The problem with AB 5 is its rigidity in relation to contract, licensing, scope, registration and independence. It is so rigid it increases risk and cost related to using independent contractors, even when working on projects that require specialty trades, project-based work and flexible staffing.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What this means for contractors:</strong> California&rsquo;s regulatory environment is well intentioned, but often in contradiction with the reality of working in the field. Contractors operating in California should ensure that they have a proactive compliance strategy that reviews everything from arbitration agreements and worker classifications to safety programs and payroll practices to avoid issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.trentcotney.com/the-cotney-brief/the-cotney-brief-construction-law-simplified-june-2026/"><strong>Read more from Trent&rsquo;s June 2026 brief.</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>The state of roofing halfway through 2026</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/the-state-of-roofing-halfway-through-2026</link>
<description>the-state-of-roofing-halfway-through-2026</description>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 15:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/06/adams-reese-the-state-of-roofing-halfway-through-2026.png'
            alt='The state of roofing halfway through 2026'
            title='The state of roofing halfway through 2026'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Trent Cotney shares both his long- and short-term thoughts about the current state of the industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

<p><a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/trent-cotney-rcs-influencer">Trent Cotney</a> recently stopped by The Coffee Shops&trade; for <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/trent-cotney-state-of-the-industry">a new episode of Roofing Road Trips&reg;</a> all about what&rsquo;s new in the industry. Trent is a partner at <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/adams-and-reese-llp">Adams and Reese</a> law firm with a specialization in roofing litigation and arbitration. Looking at the state of roofing today, he highlighted the diversity of the experiences of contractors, sharing, &ldquo;Demand is uneven. There are certain sectors where things aren&rsquo;t as good, like the Florida residential market. But there are also other areas where it&#39;s booming. Think data centers, military/federal work, commercial, even some residential markets.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>What has caused such irregularity across the industry? Looking at the short-term, Trent pointed to things like residual post-COVID adjustments and rising gas prices. He explained, &ldquo;There&rsquo;s some post-COVID adjustment that&#39;s still happening, but bigger than that is the gas prices. The immediate impact of that is everything from fleet to shipping costs is doubled. That&rsquo;s a big thing people are struggling with in our industry and outside of it right now.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>As for the long-term factors impacting the state of the industry, things like oil inputs and manufacturing costs are top of mind for Trent. He shared:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>It goes beyond the gas price we see; it&rsquo;s about the petroleum-based inputs for materials manufacturing. They&rsquo;re going up, which is typical; prices always rise. But the rest of our industry isn&rsquo;t adjusting margins for that, and the longer we aren&rsquo;t adjusting for that, the more potential impact there is.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Where will that impact be felt? In your bottom line. Trent explained, &ldquo;It&#39;s basically another charge on top of what you had already priced in. So, as long as that remains there, you&#39;re against margins.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the face of all these concerns, Trent always recommends going back to the basics of your business by prioritizing purposefulness and consistency. He explained:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>You can&rsquo;t control wars or immigration policies, but you can make sure that you are showing up every day, sticking to the fundamentals and running your business appropriately. And what the last few years have shown is that the businesses that do that, that are purposeful and consistent, are the ones that will weather the storm of uncertainty better.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/trent-cotney-state-of-the-industry">Listen to the episode</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXuCGop7vng">Watch the recording</a> to learn more about the state of roofing today.</strong></p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>Construction law insights and updates from May 2026</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/construction-law-insights-and-updates-from-may-2026</link>
<description>construction-law-insights-and-updates-from-may-2026</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/06/cotney-construction-law-insights-and-updates-from-may-2026.png'
            alt='Construction law insights and updates from May 2026'
            title='Construction law insights and updates from May 2026'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Staying ahead of joint employer rules, bid liability, cost escalation language and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

<p>For many contractors, managing the legal and operational side of their roofing businesses often takes a back burner to their passion for their trade and craft. However, this can cause problems down the road as navigating the legal landscape of business ownership is crucial to adhering to regulations and building long-term success. To help contractors manage this side of their business, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/trent-cotney-rcs-influencer">Trent Cotney</a>, a partner at <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/adams-and-reese-llp">Adams and Reese</a> specializing in roofing litigation, releases a monthly newsletter summing up legal and regulatory changes affecting roofing. Here&rsquo;s a summary of what he covered in his May 2026 newsletter.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h3>1 &ndash; NLRB withdraws the 2023 joint-employer rule&nbsp;</h3>

<p>The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has formally withdrawn the 2023 joint-employer rule. In this rule&rsquo;s place, the 2020 standard is returned. This standard is much narrower and requires &ldquo;evidence that one entity exercises substantial direct and immediate control over essential employment terms of another employer&rsquo;s workers.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What this means for contractors:</strong> Overall, this is a contractor-friendly change. The narrower rule adds certainty to employment conditions that should make employment of subcontractors easier. However, contractors must still be vigilant about employment lines on the jobsite and field crew still must communicate through each subcontractor&rsquo;s designated supervisor.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>2 &ndash; Florida court holds that invitation to bid does not create a subcontract&nbsp;</h3>

<p>The Florida Second Court of Appeal just addressed the case of Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. v. Keathley, No. 2D2025-1900. This case centered on the question of whether a general contractors could claim workers&rsquo; compensation immunity for a worker&rsquo;s injury that occurred &ldquo;while visiting a project site before submitting a subcontractor bid.&rdquo; The court found that because the invitation to bid did not create any contractual obligation, did not specify binding scope and did not guarantee work, the contractor could not claim the compensation immunity.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What this means for contractors:</strong> This case is a good reminder that &ldquo;pre-bid communications, job walks, site visits and invitations to bid do not automatically create subcontractor status or workers&rsquo; compensation immunity.&rdquo; As such, general contractors must be careful about requiring site-access language and proof of insurance for anyone visiting a site prior to contract awarding.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h3>3 &ndash; Allocating risk when asked to install material and systems&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Contractors are often asked to install products that they did not &ldquo;select, design, manufacture or test for compatibility with existing conditions.&rdquo; This can cause issues when it comes to warranties, as manufacturers often warrant their own products but not the whole system.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What this means for contractors:</strong> To avoid issues related to this, contractors should include a manufacturer system compatibility clause that makes it clear the contractor is not responsible to failures caused by &ldquo;product incompatibility, design decisions, concealed conditions, manufacturer limitations or owner-directed substitutions.&rdquo; This is an example of that type of clause:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Contractor shall be responsible for installing the materials, products, components, and systems within Contractor&rsquo;s scope of work in accordance with the Contract Documents and applicable manufacturer installation instructions made available to Contractor. Contractor does not warrant, guarantee, or assume responsibility for the compatibility, integration, performance, chemical interaction, physical compatibility, adhesion, fastening performance, thermal movement, moisture tolerance, structural suitability, code compliance, or long-term performance of any material, product, component, assembly, substrate, existing condition, adjacent system, or owner-selected item that Contractor did not design, manufacture, specify, select or expressly approve in writing.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://www.trentcotney.com/the-cotney-brief/the-cotney-brief-construction-law-simplified-may-2026/"><em>*Read the whole provision.</em></a></p>

<h3>4 &ndash; Navigating project costs with rising material prices&nbsp;</h3>

<p>In the era of tariff changes, freight distributions, supply chain volatility and regulatory constraints, it is not uncommon for project costs and schedules to shift after a contract has been signed. This creates a legal question of who bears the risk when project costs change after a bid.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What this means for contractors:</strong> Contractors must be careful to make adjust their contracts so that they do not &ldquo;assume a stable market that no longer exists.&rdquo; What does this mean? Include things like price escalation clauses, regulatory-change provisions, substitution rights and/or material availability protection.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>And even if you have all these provisions, documentation remains key. Contractors should record everything from quotes to communication expressing availability changes. As Trent puts it, &ldquo;Without that record, even a strong contract clause may be difficult to enforce.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.trentcotney.com/the-cotney-brief/the-cotney-brief-construction-law-simplified-may-2026/"><strong>Check out the full May 2026 Cotney brief.</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>Operating in the intersection of regulatory pressure and economic volatility</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/operating-in-the-intersection-of-regulatory-pressure-and-economic-volatility</link>
<description>operating-in-the-intersection-of-regulatory-pressure-and-economic-volatility</description>
<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/04/adams-reese-operating-in-the-intersection-of-regulatory-pressure-and-economic-volatility.png'
            alt='Operating in the intersection of regulatory pressure and economic volatility'
            title='Operating in the intersection of regulatory pressure and economic volatility'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>A conversation with Trent Cotney on why proactive policies and operations matter more now than ever.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Going into 2026, there was a lot of commotion to keep track of, from uncertainty about tariffs to immigration changes and beyond. And now, one quarter into the year, there are even more geopolitics and economic factors to track. It can feel like a lot, which is why we spoke with <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/trent-cotney-rcs-influencer">Trent Cotney</a>, who is a partner at the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/adams-and-reese-llp">Adams and Reese</a> law firm as well as the general counsel for leading associations like <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca">National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)</a>, for <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/webinar/the-state-of-roofing-today">a Coffee Conversations&reg;</a> all about operating in our current market, which Trent describes as &ldquo;a sort of intersection of regulatory pressure and economic volatility.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trent&rsquo;s main advice for contractors? Be proactive. He elaborated, &ldquo;What I want our contractors to do is look at how to be proactive rather than reactive. One of the things I&#39;ve seen over the years is that almost every single legal issue that a roofing contractor has is a symptom of an operational failure somewhere.&rdquo; An example of this is OSHA fines. When contractors receive these, there&rsquo;s probably a safety procedure that failed somewhere along the way. Or when it comes to customer issues, maybe you need to look at your process of vetting customers or your contract provisions to make sure you&rsquo;re better protected.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>By proactively investing in these things and making sure that your procedures, operations and policies are all in place and secure, you can save your money in the long run. Trent explained, &ldquo;Shoring up your policies, procedures, operations, contracts and all that can be a lot. But it will save you money in the long term as you won&rsquo;t be throwing money away on lawyers and OSHA fines and all that reactive stuff.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trent also recommends being proactive in your interactions with the rest of the market. In other words, get involved, make sure you know what&rsquo;s going on so that you can prepare accordingly. He gave an example of what this might look like, &ldquo;I encourage everybody to get involved in associations because that&rsquo;s how I kind of keep my thumb on the pulse of the industry. I wouldn&#39;t be able to understand what&#39;s going on out there if I wasn&#39;t involved in associations. I really think that not only is it the external voice of our industry, but it is, it really helps you understand what you should be looking out for.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/webinar/the-state-of-roofing-today">Listen to the whole recording</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_hiA1_b03I">Watch the episode</a> to learn more about operating in a proactive manner.&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Preparation is protection</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/preparation-is-protection</link>
<description>preparation-is-protection</description>
<pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 21:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/05/adams-reese-preparation-is-protection-canva.png'
            alt='Preparation is protection'
            title='Preparation is protection'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How building systems, training teams and updating documents reduces your legal risk.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>From immigration investigations to OSHA inspections, there are a myriad of jobsite legal situations that could crop up out of nowhere. The best way to prepare your business for these unexpected scenarios is by training your team properly and keeping a core set of documents updated and organized. To learn more about how to do this, we sat down with <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/trent-cotney-rcs-influencer">Trent Cotney</a>, roofing litigation specialist and partner at the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/adams-and-reese-llp">Adams and Reese</a> law firm, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/rlw/the-profit-protection-playbook-for-contractors-5">for a Read Listen Watch (RLW)&reg; webinar</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<h3>Preparing your papers&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>

<p>When it comes to keeping papers in order and up to date, the first and foremost should always be your contracts. Trent highlighted the importance of keeping track of contracts:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>A lot of people tend to ignore contracts until it&rsquo;s too late. My advice is to look at your contract every six months. And when you look at it, you should be making sure it is up to date and addressing any issues that might&rsquo;ve cropped up since the last time you checked it. I&rsquo;ll give you an example, say you have a customer who steps on a nail and files a personal injury claim. Next contract you make should have a nail disclaimer in it to give you a better defense if that situation comes back up later.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Additional documents that need to be in order include your labor papers, such as 1099s and W2s. You also always need to have a safety manual set up. Trent explained, &ldquo;You need to be able to dictate what kind of safety you&#39;re doing. We live in a world now where the multi-employer side doctrine may say that you, the primary roofing contractor, are liable for any subcontractor safety violations if you control their safety. So, it&#39;s important that you&#39;ve got strong contract and documentation set up to define who&rsquo;s responsible.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Training your team&nbsp;</h3>

<p>As for training your team, you need to make sure your on-site supervisors understand what to do when unexpected investigations occur. Trent used the example of OSHA inspections:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Your superintendent needs to understand what to do if [OSHA] shows up on your jobsite. Understanding how to navigate OSHA inspections is a beast. You need to know and be able to assert your rights when needed. It&#39;s things like knowing that supervisors, owners, officers and directors are not to be interviewed by OSHA without counsel present and that you need to limit the inspection to the purpose of why OSHA is out there.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The best way to make sure your on-site team is prepared is to give them proper training, resources and a standard operating procedure (SOP). If you need help getting these established, Trent&rsquo;s book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/OSHA-Defense-Know-Your-Rights/dp/B0959DDGJQ"><em>OSHA Defense: Know Your Rights</em></a>, is an invaluable resource to have on hand.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>You can also <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/rlw/the-profit-protection-playbook-for-contractors-5">Listen to the whole webinar</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g_PCY3vgNo">Watch the recording</a> to learn more.&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Claves para entender contratos y proteger tu negocio</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/claves-para-entender-contratos-y-proteger-tu-negocio</link>
<description>claves-para-entender-contratos-y-proteger-tu-negocio</description>
<pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 03:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/05/adams-reese-claves-para-entender-contratos-y-proteger-tu-negocio.png'
            alt='Claves para entender contratos y proteger tu negocio'
            title='Claves para entender contratos y proteger tu negocio'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>Por Alberto Torres.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Evita errores costosos: lo que todo contratista debe saber antes de firmar un contrato.&nbsp;</h2>

<p><a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/gabriel-pinilla-construyendo-comunidades-ms-fuertes">En este episodio de La Voz de los Ruferos</a>, Jessica Bravo conversa con Gabriel Pinilla, abogado de <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/gabriel-pinilla-construyendo-comunidades-ms-fuertes">Adams &amp; Reese</a> con m&aacute;s de 20 a&ntilde;os de experiencia, sobre un tema fundamental para el crecimiento de los contratistas: la importancia de entender y negociar contratos en la industria del roofing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gabriel comenz&oacute; su carrera en el sur de Florida y actualmente trabaja en Colorado junto a <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/trent-cotney-rcs-influencer">Trent Cotney</a> desde 2020, colaborando estrechamente con empresas del sector. Su experiencia en m&uacute;ltiples estados le ha permitido ver de primera mano los retos legales que enfrentan muchos contratistas, especialmente aquellos que est&aacute;n en proceso de crecimiento. &ldquo;Trent est&aacute; muy comprometido con la industria del roofing. Tiene una verdadera pasi&oacute;n por impulsarla y hacerla evolucionar, algo que sinceramente no he visto en otros sectores,&rdquo; comparte Gabriel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Uno de los principales desaf&iacute;os que identifica es el manejo de contratos. Seg&uacute;n explica, muchas empresas nuevas firman acuerdos que son injustamente favorables al contratista general, sin comprender completamente las implicaciones legales. &ldquo;Enfocarte en las cl&aacute;usulas clave y negociarlas estrat&eacute;gicamente puede marcar la diferencia entre un contrato riesgoso y uno que realmente proteja tu negocio,&rdquo; se&ntilde;ala.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Desde su rol en Adams &amp; Reese, Gabriel trabaja directamente con contratistas para revisar, ajustar y redactar contratos m&aacute;s equilibrados. Este proceso no solo ayuda a evitar conflictos, sino que tambi&eacute;n fortalece la estructura y estabilidad del negocio a largo plazo. Adem&aacute;s de la asesor&iacute;a legal, Gabriel enfatiza la importancia de la educaci&oacute;n continua. Recomienda participar en eventos de la industria como los organizados por la <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca">National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)</a>, donde ha tenido la oportunidad de presentar en espa&ntilde;ol sobre cl&aacute;usulas cr&iacute;ticas en construcci&oacute;n. &ldquo;Con el conocimiento adecuado, puedes tomar decisiones m&aacute;s seguras al momento de firmar. Y si tienes dudas, lo mejor es consultar antes, no despu&eacute;s de que surja el problema,&rdquo; explica.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tambi&eacute;n sugiere considerar cursos b&aacute;sicos de leyes de negocios en colegios comunitarios o universidades locales, ya que estos conocimientos pueden ser clave para tomar decisiones m&aacute;s informadas. A medida que m&aacute;s contratistas latinos evolucionan hacia roles de liderazgo empresarial, contar con el apoyo adecuado, ya sea legal, educativo o comunitario, se vuelve esencial para construir negocios m&aacute;s s&oacute;lidos y sostenibles dentro de la industria del roofing.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/gabriel-pinilla-construyendo-comunidades-ms-fuertes"><strong>Escucha o mira el podcast para profundizar en estas claves y aprender c&oacute;mo proteger mejor tu negocio.</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>Trent Cotney: Lawyer, educator, advocate and leader</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/trent-cotney-lawyer-educator-advocate-and-leader</link>
<description>trent-cotney-lawyer-educator-advocate-and-leader</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 05:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/04/adams-reese-trent-cotney-lawyer-educator-advocate-and-leader.png'
            alt='Trent Cotney: Lawyer, educator, advocate and leader'
            title='Trent Cotney: Lawyer, educator, advocate and leader'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How Trent Cotney supports the roofing industry from the courtroom and beyond.&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Just last year, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/trent-cotney-rcs-influencer">Trent Cotney</a> was recognized in <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/trentcotneylegal_trent-cotney-has-been-recognized-in-the-best-activity-7231299126389321728-ALf5/">The Best Lawyers in America&reg; 2025 edition</a> for his construction law and litigation work. This recognition places Trent in the top 5% of lawyers in the U.S., but Trent is far more than &ldquo;just&rdquo; a lawyer. He is a writer, educator, expert and invaluable leader in the roofing industry! To learn more about the work Trent does, we interviewed him at the 2026 <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/ire">International Roofing Expo (IRE)</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>We started by focusing on his role as an educator as we caught him up with just after his IRE education session. He shared a bit about it, saying, &ldquo;I spoke on immigration today along with Ben Briggs, another one of the lawyers at <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/adams-and-reese-llp">Adams and Reese</a>. It was a good session, well attended and we got to answer a ton of questions about ice raids, I9 audits and all that kind of stuff.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>In addition to his role as an educator, Trent shares his extensive expertise with the industry as general counsel for a variety of trade associations, including but not limited to the National Roofing Contractors Association, Western States Roofing Association and Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Association. He elaborated on what he does as a general counsel to these organizations, explaining, &ldquo;In that role, not only do I make sure the association stays on the straight and narrow, but I also to provide them and their members with targeted, real world legal advice on regulatory issues.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>But wait, there&rsquo;s more! Trent is also a prolific writer, sharing insights and advice in multiple Amazon best-selling books and across industry publications (including on RoofersCoffeeShop&reg;!). His schedule might seem busy (because it is), but Trent wouldn&rsquo;t have it any other way. He explained, &ldquo;I really want to take the knowledge that I&#39;ve learned over the years and apply it for the good of the industry.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh9h940VCS4"><strong>Watch the whole interview to hear more about Trent and his work to support the industry.</strong></a></p>

<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wh9h940VCS4?si=U0WOi2TimFVGQD-M" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>FRSA Expo returns with top-tier education and industry backing</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/frsa-expo-returns-with-top-tier-education-and-industry-backing</link>
<description>frsa-expo-returns-with-top-tier-education-and-industry-backing</description>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 12:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/05/frsa-expo-returns-with-top-tier-education-and-industry-backing.png'
            alt='FRSA Expo returns with top-tier education and industry backing'
            title='FRSA Expo returns with top-tier education and industry backing'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Jenny Yu.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Contractors will gain practical insights from leading experts while connecting with top manufacturers and suppliers.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/frsa">Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA)</a> is hosting its 104th Convention &amp; Expo from June 10-12, 2026, at the Gaylord Palms Resort &amp; Convention Center in in Kissimmee, Florida. With a strong lineup of sponsors and an educational program packed with timely topics, this year&rsquo;s event is set to provide contractors with practical insights and valuable networking opportunities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A wide range of industry leaders are lending their support for the event, underscoring its importance across the roofing and metal construction sectors. Platinum sponsors include <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/eagle-roofing-products">Eagle Roofing Products</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/abc-supply-co-inc">ABC Supply</a> and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/tamko">TAMKO&reg;</a>; while gold sponsors <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/certainteed">CertainTeed LLC</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/polyglass-2">Polyglass</a> and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/soprema-2">SOPREMA</a> further highlight the depth of industry participation. Additional support from emerald sponsor <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/adams-and-reese-llp">Adams &amp; Reese LLP</a>; sapphire sponsors <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/bitec-inc">BITEC</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/drexelmetals">Drexel Metals</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/metalforming-inc">MetalForming LLC</a> and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/sika-corporation">Sika Corporation</a>; silver sponsor <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/srs-distribution-inc">SRS Building Products</a>; bronze sponsors <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/duro-last">Duro-Last&reg;</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/ib-roof-systems">IB Roof Systems&trade;</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/pac-clad-petersen">PAC-CLAD Petersen</a> and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/roofhugger">Roof Hugger</a>; and affiliate sponsor, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/rcasf">Roofing Contractors Association of South Florida (RCASF)</a>, reinforce the event&rsquo;s focus on innovation, performance and contractor success.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Educational sessions&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Education remains the cornerstone of the convention, with sessions designed to address today&rsquo;s most pressing challenges in the industry while providing attendees with opportunities to earn CE credits. Legal and compliance topics are a hot topic with multiple sessions led by <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/trent-cotney-rcs-influencer">Trent Cotney</a>, RoofersCoffeeShop&reg; Influencer and partner at Adams &amp; Reese LLP, including:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>&ldquo;Building an OSHA Inspection SOP&rdquo;</strong> - Wednesday, June 10, 8:00 a.m.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>&ldquo;Roofing Legal, Labor and Policy Trends&rdquo;</strong> - Wednesday, June 10, 12:30 p.m. and Friday, June 12, 7:00 a.m.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>&ldquo;Artificial Intelligence in Roofing&rdquo;</strong> - Thursday, June 11, 7:00 a.m.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>&ldquo;ICE Raids and I-9 Audit Defense&rdquo;</strong> - Thursday, June 11, 8:15 a.m. and Friday, June 12, 8:15 a.m.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>These sessions will provide contractors with actionable guidance on navigating regulations, mitigating risk and adapting to emerging technologies.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Business operations are also a key focus. <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/john-kenney-speakers-bureau">John Kenney</a>, Influencer of The Coffee Shops&trade; and CEO of <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/cotney-consulting-group">Cotney Consulting Group</a>, will lead <strong>&ldquo;Estimating for Small Business&rdquo;</strong> on Wednesday, June 10, at 9:15 a.m. and Thursday, June 11, at 7:00 a.m., offering practical strategies to improve accuracy and profitability for contractors of all sizes. Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/chad-westbrook">Chad Westbrook</a>, founder of <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/service-alignment">Service Alignment</a>, will present <strong>&ldquo;Documenting a Roofing Project&rdquo;</strong> on Thursday, June 11, at 9:30 a.m. and Friday, June 12, at 7:00 a.m., helping attendees strengthen processes that support accountability, communication and long-term project success.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additional sessions cover critical issues including Florida Building Code updates, metal roofing best practices and safety topics such as heat illness prevention. The <strong>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca-career-and-technical-education-cte">SkillsUSA</a>: Build a Workforce Pipeline&rdquo;</strong> session on Thursday, June 11, at 9:30 a.m., will also highlight strategies for developing the next generation of roofers, a growing priority for contractors facing ongoing workforce shortages. Together, these seminars provide well-rounded education opportunities tailored to both roofing and sheet metal professionals.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://events.american-tradeshow.com/frsa2026"><strong>Register to reserve your spot and take full advantage of everything the 104th FRSA Convention &amp; Expo has to offer!</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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