Residential Roofing Materials

Protecting what matters most includes promoting the career growth of roofing industry professionals like you. That's why GAF offers a wide range of learning opportunities, including CARE courses, online training, in-person training, and roofing summits and expos.Recently, third generation roofer, Jeremy Simpson of Simpson Roofing Company, spent a day at the GAF Northeast Roofing Summit and Expo to learn more about the latest updates in the residential roofing industry. While the majority of the work the Simpson Roofing Company does is commercial, they are always looking for ways to expand their knowledge by learning about innovative ideas, new products, new software, and new technology in the residential space.Simpson attended breakout sessions on topics including Principles of Ventilation, AI in CRM, and Sales. "I love coming to these GAF summits, because they really line up all the pertinent info for your business to succeed" says Simpson, "I promise you it's worth its weight in gold!"To learn more about on demand, hands-on, and in-person training opportunities through GAF, visit our CARE Contractor Training Center.Video TranscriptMy name is Jeremy Simpson from Simpson Roofing Company. We are out of Vernon, New Jersey, and Patterson, New Jersey, two locations. Today, I'm here at the GAF Summit, and I'm looking to just learn new things. We are a third-generation roofing company. We predominantly do commercial, but all throughout the years, we've done residential. That's why we're here today at this event. We're trying to get updated on the new stuff that's coming out, specifically from GAF. Innovative ideas, new products, new software, new tech. So follow me along today as we explore the GAF summit.[00:00:45]Today, we're going into the principles of ventilation. Designs change, architecture changes, and you need new ways of ventilating. And I don't know all of them. So I want to get some info and see what GAF has to offer as far as new products and new thoughts on how to move the air around. So we just got out of our first breakout session about ventilation. A lot of math, a lot of numbers going into the calculations of moving air around in your attic space to have a really good performed roof system. I didn't know all those details. Now I know, got to use it going forward from there.[00:01:19]I just got out of the AI CRM breakout session there. A little bit of an information overload, and that was a good thing because it really showed me how much I was missing the CRM and AI, it's the future. It's coming.[00:01:37]So I just got out of the third and final breakout of today's GAF Summit, and it was about sales, and it was very interesting to see the different dynamics that take place in the residential market when you're dealing with a homeowner versus something commercial, where oftentimes you don't even get to see who you're selling to. So to find out those little intricacies inside that process was super insightful. The best part of today was everything. I love coming to these GAF summits because they really line up all pertinent information for your business to succeed.[00:02:11]Thank you so much for tagging along today. It was super fun for me. I hope you got a little bit out of it as well. And if you ever find a time to come out to one of these GAF summits, I promise you it's worth its weight in gold.

If you're like many roofing contractors, you might avoid insurance restoration work due to the expense, hassle and complication of creating an estimate. That is, until now. The GAF ScopeConnectSM service simplifies the creation of an insurance scope of work so you can take on restoration work with more ease.Using Cutting-Edge Technology to Facilitate EstimatesGAF is committed to making tools available that help roofing contractors succeed. The GAF ScopeConnectSM Service addresses some of the challenges many contractors face with insurance restoration work.The service delivers a complete insurance scope of work prepared by Symbility trained and Xactimate certified estimators. Any contractor—GAF-certified or not may use the service and receive an estimate within 24 hours*. You don't need specialized training, dedicated personnel, or a subscription.Putting Insurance Restoration Work within ReachAs the country continues to see more severe weather events, contractors have the opportunity to expand into the insurance restoration market. The GAF ScopeConnectSM Service removes some of the barriers that typically have made it difficult to enter this space.To use the service, you simply provide a property's address and answer a few questions. Within a day, you'll receive the scope of work needed for the job in an insurance industry standard format (e.g., Xactimate or Symbility).The GAF ScopeConnectSM Service has enabled GAF Certified Contractor* Owen McKinney, who owns Rodger That Home Improvement LLC in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to do more insurance restoration work. He had previously walked away from these jobs due to the complexities involved with estimates.Leveling the Field for Roofing ProfessionalsSince preparing estimates in an industry-standard format yourself requires special software and training, McKinney was at a disadvantage. He didn't have the budget to pay for the license or the spare time to learn the program. As a result, he resorted to searching for specialists familar with the software on social media and paying them to develop the estimates. While this method worked, it was inefficient and not cost-effective for him.McKinney's GAF territory manager first showed him the new service over lunch. On the day it launched, McKinney happened to be working on an insurance restoration job, so he decided to try it. McKinney shared that on the first project that he used it on, the GAF ScopeConnectSM service accurately estimated the job.Removing Barriers through Ease of UseThe intuitive design and functionality provided by GAF ScopeConnectSM impressed McKinney right away. He notes that it feels difficult to make errors while using the service."Essentially, you just type in the property address, note that it's got X amount of pipe boots, X amount of vents, one or two layers of shingles, and it gives you a breakdown."McKinney says that, in his opinion, the accuracy has been spot-on. And thanks to the success he's had, he plans to use the GAF ScopeConnectSM service for future insurance restoration jobs. "And the fact that they can do it within 24 hours,** that's fantastic."Growing Your Business's Restoration WorkloadIf you've been thinking about expanding your operations and adding more jobs through insurance restoration work, now is the time. The GAF ScopeConnectSM service provides the detailed estimates you need to succeed so you can take on these jobs with confidence.Curious to learn more? Visit gaf.com/scopeconnect to see a sample scope of work.*Contractors enrolled in GAF certification programs are not employees or agents of GAF, and GAF does not control or otherwise supervise these independent businesses. Contractors may receive benefits, such as loyalty rewards points and discounts on marketing tools from GAF for participating in the program and offering GAF enhanced warranties, which require the use of a minimum amount of GAF products. Your dealings with a Contractor, and any services they provide to you, are subject to the Contractor Terms of Use. Visit www.gaf.com/gaf-contractor-terms-of-use for details.**Terms and restrictions apply. Visit gaf.com/scopeconnect for details.

As a roofing contractor, keeping yourself and your employees safe is crucial, which involves using the right equipment. Ladder hooks, sometimes referred to as roof hooks, are used to secure a ladder over the top of a roof's ridgeline. They're an essential piece of safety equipment for steep-slope roofing work.How Do Ladder Hooks Work?These hooks resemble a shepherd's crook that hooks over the roof's ridgeline and stays put with an attached T-bar to secure it to the other side of the ridge. The bottom of the crook has a smaller hook that holds the ladder and prevents it from slipping or sliding down the roof. Ladder hooks are typically made from heavy-duty steel and can support several hundred pounds. They essentially turn the ladder into a more stable set of stairs, creating a safer and more efficient work environment for roofing professionals, especially during steep-slope work.Most hooks also feature a rubber wheel that can help you get the ladder safely up onto the roof. Once you secure the hook on the rungs of the ladder, roll the ladder up the slope (on its back). When it passes the roof ridgeline, flip the ladder over to secure the hooks over the top of the ridgeline.Why Should You Use a Ladder Hook?According to the American Ladder Institute, 500,000 people are treated for injuries from using ladders every year, with 300 of those injuries leading to fatalities. With newer home styles featuring more dramatic rooflines with steep pitches, you may find yourself facing 10:12, 12:12, and higher pitches more regularly. Ladder hooks can help make working on these roofs safer.They can provide stability and security on lower-pitched roofs, too. You may also want to use them for performing repairs around skylights or chimneys, especially if the roof surface is icy or slippery. And they can provide secure footing in cases of suspected damage, such as a weak or rotting deck.These safety devices are designed to prevent the ladder from damaging shingles, so there's no downside to using them.Can a Ladder Hook Replace Other Safety Measures?Using a ladder hook can make you feel more secure and stable on a steep pitch. But you shouldn't forego other safety measures, such as using a personal fall arrest system consisting of lifelines, lanyards, and deceleration devices attached to an anchor point and connected to the body harness. Remember, the anchorage should be able to support 5,000 pounds per employee. Ladder hooks are designed to secure the ladder to the rooftop—not to secure a person or prevent them from falling.How Do You Choose the Right Ladder Hook?To find the right ladder hook, contact your ladder's manufacturer to see if it has a hook designed to work with its ladders. If it doesn't offer any, review the ladder hook manufacturer's guidelines to see what types of ladders are best suited for its hook. If your ladders are due for replacement, you can also look for manufacturers that offer kits with both the ladder and the hook.For more learning opportunities and resources to help you succeed in your roofing business, visit the GAF Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence (CARE).