This article reprinted from Western Roofing magazine May/June 2007.

 

 

The Value of Industry Training

What is the Value-added Proposition to you, the Roofing Professional?

by Richard K. Olson, technical director, Tile Roofing Institute

 

In today’s world, the roofing professional is constantly bombarded with e-mails, flyers, and letters of invitation to attend special training or continuing educational classes. Most of these invitations end up in the recycle bin, never read by the recipient. This is because of the demands that come from simply trying to conduct business.

                  As it stands today, the amount of time that elapses from the moment when a contractor learns about a project, conducts research, and produces a low, competitive bid has grown incredibly short. Between finding new work, meeting payroll, and finding (and retaining) quality employees, there is no time left over to stay current on new roofing practices or products that might provide better cost effective alternatives.

                  The luxury of having the extra time (and money) for training isn’t a reality anymore for many contractors. This is, in part, because manufacturers in the past were required to provide official written installation instructions that became the basis of their individual product training. This old school of training was to help fulfill the needs of the codes and the manufacturer, but it wasn’t always terribly helpful to the contractor.

                  However, in the past five years the world of training has changed. Most successful training programs today are designed from the needs of the end user, in our case the roofer. The complexity of the roof systems requires a greater understanding of the various roofing materials that exist, as well as how the final assembly will look and perform. Many roofing contractors no longer see their work as being component-based, but based on the entire building envelope.

                  Another reason for this shift in continuing education comes from the consumer. Today’s consumers, via the internet, have access to extensive amounts of information on products, building codes, and installation techniques. The Tile Roofing Institute (TRI) has seen a significant rise in the number of technical questions from homeowners and homeowners’ associations that seem to be more about proper installation than the average roofing questions. Many messages come with accompanying pictures and questions as to whether what is shown meets code requirements in a specific area. Because of this, it has become even more important for contractors to understand the whole system.

                  As a result of these shifts, TRI, with assistance from WSRCA, has spent more than two years developing an industry-based contractor training certification program based upon the ICC-ES-approved Concrete and Clay Tile Installation Manual for Moderate Climate Regions. In the training, we set out to provide attendees with an opportunity to learn valuable information, including:

1.             A thorough understanding of the applicable codes that cover all of the components that will be used in the tile installation. Not just for the tiles, but the underlayments, fasteners, battens, metals, ventilation, sheathing, and accessories.

2.             The proper installations requirements according to not only the code, but inclusive of alternative local best practices that have been reviewed by industry, roofers, and the codes.

3.             The proper material selections that will help to quickly prepare competitive bids that will meet the codes.

4.             Knowledge of how the system will perform when installed correctly.

5.             The ability to recognize bad habits and practices that are costing big money for call backs, leaks, and litigation.

                  The issue of time constraints is not limited to the roofing industry, but the design community as well. As a result, many designers and builders are choosing to only use industry-trained installers. With roofing companies entering and leaving the marketplace, design professionals and builders do not have the time to properly research the short list of bidders on a current project. As a result, TRI is now receiving an ever-increasing number of inquiries for the names of industry-trained roofers.

                  The increased incidence of litigation is a fact of life these days. Not understanding the proper installation techniques will leave you potentially exposed to expensive and time consuming legal battles. One of the greatest testimonials we have received from attendees of our classes this year is the ability to help reduce, if not eliminate, such exposure through understanding the system approach to good roofing practices.

                  So, the next time you receive an invitation to attend an “industry-based training” for a roofing system you are installing, don’t ask yourself, “Do I have the time, money, or the need to attend this training?” Instead, ask yourself, “How can I afford not to attend?” The few hundred dollars you’ll spend to obtain an industry-based certification is the best investment you can make. The competitive edge you’ll gain over your competitor is real, and that can go straight to your bottom line, not to mention the reduced claims and legal woes.

 

TRI Training

                  At the Western Roofing Expo 2007 in June, TRI will hold a session of the Tile Roof Installer Certification Training Program, which will cover this topic and the balance of the moderate climate design guide. The class will be June 5 - 6 in Las Vegas. This two-day training session is an excellent opportunity to learn about installation techniques, as well as new roofing materials and accessories that are now available. For more information about the training and to register, please visit the TRI website at www.tileroofing.org. •••