Live each day with courage.

It takes courage to keep heading out into the unknown after rejections and failures. It’s risky, but you need to get up in the morning and keep getting back in the saddle.

Take pride in your work.

Don’t get sloppy. Put out the best service you can, provide the best product you can, and back it up.

Always finish what you start.

A job half done is a job undone.

Do what has to be done.

Sometimes what has to be done is difficult or uncomfortable for us. But if it has to be done to accomplish the goal, just do it.

Be tough, but fair.

Sometimes it’s difficult to come down hard on someone, or to not back down when faced with unreasonable expectations, or to put up with unethical competitors. Always take the high road and stick with sound principals.

When you make a promise, keep it.

There’s no better way to build and maintain credibility than by keeping promises. Trust adds value to what you are selling.

Ride for the brand.

Sit tall in the saddle when you are representing the company. Others will be more interested in what you’re selling if they sense your devotion to it.

Talk less and say more.

If you hear what they are saying you will be able to respond to their needs – for information, service, products.

Remember that some things aren’t for sale.

Don’t sacrifice integrity and honor for short-term gain.

Know where to draw the line.

Joe Daniels, owner of D7 Consulting, Inc., in Newport Beach and who has a son attending St. Mary’s, was asked to advise the school on a course of action. The staff at D7 has over a hundred years of combined experience in the roofing and waterproofing industry.

D7 reviewed the condition of the roof and determined that a new roof system was in order. The original 2-ply and gravel built-up system had leaks in the flashings and field that persisted even after attempts at repairs were made.

In addition to the leaky roof itself, the St. Mary’s project presented other challenges that the roofing contractor would need to deal with.

One important issue was timing. The leak problem had reached this critical stage just a few weeks prior to the school’s Christmas break. The leadership at St. Mary’s would have to make a quick decision on a new roof that could be delivered prior to, then installed during the short break – a two-three-week window.

The roof would need to be installed quickly, and incorporate a number of flashings for HVAC curbs and other penetrations. The installation would take place during the rainy season and would need to be kept dry to prevent damage to the interior of the building.

Another issue was that most manufacturers would require a tear-off of the existing built-up roof. Not only would this disrupt normal building operations, but would also add to the cost of the project and possibly delay its completion.

Authorized Duro-Last contractor Bligh Pacific Roof Company of Sante Fe Springs, California, was able to install the roofing system during the school’s Christmas break. The roof for St. Mary’s was prefabricated in Duro-Last’s Grants Pass, Oregon, location and included not only the deck membrane sheets but flashings for several HVAC curbs and over 100 other penetrations. The potential installation time was reduced by several days.

“Other roofing products would have required us to do a lot of on-site workmanship to create all the flashings from rolled membrane materials,” Bligh Pacific owner Jay Bligh said. “Because the Duro-Last flashings were made to order at the factory, we could get through those job details really quickly and reduce the total number of construction days that would be necessary. The prefabricated deck sheets and flashings will also help ensure that those areas of the roof will remain watertight for years to come.”

Also, the Duro-Last solution did not involve a complete tear-off of the existing roof, as required by other systems, saving St. Mary’s on the overall cost of the project. The gravel surface was vacuumed off, and the Duro-Last system was installed over the old built-up roof.

Another benefit for St. Mary’s will be energy cost savings. The white Duro-Last membrane exceeds California’s Title 24 building code requirements for roofing system reflectivity and emissivity, which will help the school reduce its energy consumption.

Aerial shot of the completed Duro-Last roofing system for St. Mary's.

A Bligh Pacific technician completes the installation of a Duro-Last custom-fabricated flashing for a St. Mary’s skylight.

On Friday morning Duro-Last senior managers updated the Advisory Board on the 2010 sales year to date and corporate goals. Some of the highlights of the meeting included: Tim Hart explaining how and why Duro-Last received the 2010 Oregon Sustainability Award, Keith Gere’s engineering update and proposals for new products, Steve Przybylski’s elaborate and in depth manufacturing update, and Art Gilles’ new product offerings from EXCEPTIONAL® Metals. The contractors, led by Contractor Advisory Board President Michael Faught of Roberts McNutt Inc., then offered their insight and input, including: future opportunities for advertising & marketing including the exploration of a national advertising campaign, how to attract and retain more national accounts, new product offerings, and their desire to see more warranty options in the future.

Everyone at Duro-Last would like to convey their sincere appreciation to the members of the Contractor Advisory Board. My grandfather John Burt, the founder of Duro-Last, always said that he got some of his best ideas from the people who installed the product . . . the contractors! That’s still one of our guiding principles: listening to the customer. The Duro-Last family would also like to extend their thoughts and prayers to George Bock of Mid-Western Commercial Roofers. George was recently involved in a car accident and was unable to attend the meeting; however Michael did a great job of conveying George’s key points. We look forward to see George and all of the members of the Contractor Advisory Board at our next meeting in Orlando, just prior to the 2011 National Sales Seminar.

- Jason Tunney, Executive Vice-President.

Duro-Last Contractor Advisory Board members in attendance

Chairman, Michael Faught, Roberts-McNutt Inc., North Little Rock, AR

Jimmy Breault, Breault Roofing Inc., New Bedford, MA

Allen Clark, Clark Restoration & Custom Roofing, Cropwell, AL

Steve Leslie, Competitive Commercial Roofing, Hood River, OR

Curtis Nicholson, Western Roofing, Golden, CO

John Thurber, All Elements Inc., Rogers, MN

Ted Witbeck, Ted’s Quality Roofing, Coaldale, Alberta

Dave Bridenbaugh, Pro-Tek Exterior Services, Cincinnati, OH

Gene Fowler, Sentry Roofing, Covington, IN

Ken Kelly, Kelly Roofing, Naples, FL

Don LaFerney Jr., LaFerney Inc., Kingsport, TN

Michael W. Morss, M.W. Morss Roofing Inc., Romulus, MI

Stuart Parsons, Parsons Commercial Roofing, Waco, TX

Larry Tombaugh, Tomkat Roofing, Streator, IL

Bob Walcik, Jaco Construction Inc., Clute, TX

Larry Winkler, United Roofing & Sheetmetal, Bryan, TX

Duro-Last contractors Curtis Nicholson, Ken Kelly, and Michael Faught at the Cubs game.

Gene Fowler, Bob Walcik & Dave Bridenbaugh listen as Mike Morss addresses the Contractor Advisory Board.

Michael Faught, Chairman of the Contractor Advisory Board, addresses the meeting.

John Burt's daughter, Kathy Burt Allen, with Mike Morss at the Contractor Advisory Board.

Duro-Last was pleased to sponsor the Global Green Expo on August 5, hosted by BNP Media, which publishes the magazines, Sustainable Facility and Environmental Design & Construction, among other titles. This was a live, “virtual” show that was attended through the Internet by over 1200 people from all over.

The “Event Lobby” provided access to an Exhibit Hall with vendor booths, a Resource Center, a Networking Lounge, and an Auditorium, where Duro-Last’s own Drew Ballensky presented the webinar, High-Performance Vinyl Roofing – an Active Asset.

On the whole, it was a good event for us. We had interactions with over 400 people, either in our booth or during our webinar and the subsequent chat session. Lots of folks downloaded materials from the booth and chatted with Duro-Last staffers about a variety of roofing and sustainability topics.

I suspect we’ll be seeing more of this type of thing going forward. The availability of information to show attendees was good and our investment was reasonable, given the number of contacts we received. And we avoided travel and living costs for staffers, who handled their shifts from the comfort of their cozy cubicles – yes, sitting down.

The Global Green Expo is available “on demand” at this link until November 5, 2010.

Duro-Last Booth at Global Green Expo

This annual event has taken place at all of our locations every summer for the past 16 years. Over 365 employees were served by the owners of the companies. During the luncheon, employees were able to purchase tickets to take a turn immersing members of senior management in a dunk tank. Over $175.00 was raised, and all proceeds were donated to Hidden Harvest, a Saginaw, Michigan, charity.

All employees were given a chance to “Spin to Win“ fun prizes, such as restaurant gift cards, hats, golf shirts, and first aid kits – where everyone walked away a winner. In all, the day turned out to be very successful with cooperative weather and everyone having a great time.

Spin to Win Wheel

Dunk Tank

Steak Fry Food Line

The roof is the most important building component when it comes to weather protection and the most vulnerable during a hurricane event. Proper precautions are recommended to limit damage. If you’re not able to conduct these preparations yourself, don’t hesitate to call in a commercial roofing professional or other construction expert in your area.

Here are a few important things to consider:

Exterior of the Building

Walk the perimeter of building to ensure that any unsecured objects cannot become airborne projectiles. This includes trash cans, signs, trees limbs, and loose building materials. Trees should have all dead or broken branches removed and should be trimmed away from the building to prevent possible fires.

Windows/Doors

Windows and doors should be inspected for leaks, insect damage and proper sealant. If windows and doors are not equipped with hurricane shutters, these can easily be fabricated from plywood. It’s a good idea to have the plywood pre-cut for fast installation in the event of an upcoming storm.

Perimeter of the Building

Roof edge details should be checked to ensure that they are tight fitting and properly sealed. Corners of the building are the most susceptible to wind damage and additional precautions may be necessary in these areas.

Drainage

All debris and loose materials should be removed from the roof. Leaf grates, if part of the roofing system, should be cleaned and secured in a manner that keeps them in place during high winds.

HVAC/Rooftop equipment/Other penetrations

Check all sealants on penetrations and terminations. All roof mounted equipment (HVAC units, satellite dishes, antennas, duct work, etc.) should be secured in a manner which will not allow it to be moved easily. If it can be moved by hand it could become displaced in a storm. All service panel doors should be inspected to ensure that they are properly fastened. Any missing fasteners should be replaced.

LEAVE!

If civil authorities tell you to evacuate, do it! Buildings and building components that are damaged or destroyed during a severe storm can be replaced. You can’t.

This article discusses how different roofing companies train their employees on safety; a common element is that they take a very active role in enforcing safety and getting employee buy-in. It offers great tips to ensure that ever-changing work areas are safe as well as how to keep employees interested in safety.

Safety training for employees at Duro-Last is tailored specifically to job function, but everyone goes through annual training. Content varies from the very basic to intensive, including such areas as environmental, fall prevention, driving, reviewing incidents from the previous year, and changes in laws.

We also have a program to recognize employees as safety milestones have been met. Recently both EXCEPTIONAL® Metals (a division of Duro-Last) and Plastatech® Engineering (a sister company) have reached over 100,000 hours of work without an OSHA recordable accident. These employees were honored with a lunch and recognized for their accomplishment. (See photos below.)

A reduction in recordable accidents directly impacts a company’s bottom line by decreasing workers’ compensation costs, reducing lost production time, and maintaining employees’ well-being. It’s good to know that so many other companies take safety as seriously as we do.

EXCEPTIONAL Metals Luncheon

Plastatech Engineering Luncheon

We also introduced the three types of fall hazard control: elimination, prevention, and protection. In the previous two posts we discussed elimination and prevention. In this final post we will discuss protection.

Constructibility techniques that support fall protection systems involve, to a large degree, the designation and installation of suitable anchorage points. Personal fall arrest equipment technology is rapidly changing but will always be dependent on adequate anchorage. Roof anchorage which is used successively by construction trades and eventually by operations and maintenance personnel is now commonplace on most newly constructed roofs.

Fall protection systems are active by nature. That is, they require the active participation of the protected worker. Fall protection systems require extensive training both of users and their supervisors, and are dependent upon the availability of the proper personal fall protection equipment. They require adequate anchorage points and are most effective where standards or expectations are clear and discipline for non-compliance is certain. Success (translated as ‘no falls from heights’) is much easier to attain when fall elimination or prevention is accomplished through constructability programs.

The value realized with the widespread use of constructability techniques to accomplish fall hazard elimination and prevention is still often difficult to quantify. A glimpse at the potential savings can be obtained by reviewing worker’s compensation costs and third party liabilities costs. Injuries can amount to millions of dollars of additional costs to facilities construction programs.

Using the hierarchy of preference of controls as a guide, constructability efforts should first aim to eliminate and then prevent fall hazards. Fall protection systems should be the last line of defense. The earlier that falls are addressed in a project, the greater the ability to influence the cost. Properly implemented fall elimination and prevention engineering increases in value over the life of a facility.

With over 150 exhibitors and almost 3,000 attendees, the show is a great way to catch up with many of our existing contractors and see what our competitors are promoting. One topic of discussion on the show floor was the acquisition of Bradco Supply Corp. by ABC Supply Co. Inc. Although this does not affect Duro-Last directly, it is always good to know what is going on the building and construction industry.

Attendees were optimistic of the year to come and we heard a lot about roofing activity in the works. This is good news to everyone that has been affected by the economic downturn. Another buzz on the show floor was about solar. This continues to be a growing trend in commercial buildings and we were able to discuss the fact that our roofing system is Solar-Ready™ and ideal for any commercial rooftop solar application.

In addition to staffing the booth, the Duro-Last crew attended several informational sessions that were offered before the show room floors opened. One in particular was given by Mark Guy from Building Envelope Technology & Research, and Rick Olsen from Tile Roofing Institute, tiled; How the 2009 IBC Affects You and the Roofing Industry. This provided an overview of the roofing-related changes to the 2006 edition of the International Building Code, International Plumbing Code, and International Residential Code.

Next year’s expo will be at the Peppermill Resort & Casino in Reno, Nevada.

If you have any photos or stories you would like to share about your experiences at the Western Roofing Expo please post them here.

There are some Internet-based calculators for LCA, but they range from being over-simplified to exceedingly complex; from being biased toward individual products or special interests to being overly generic and meaningless. Some approaches to LCA only consider short term direct financial burdens while others consider more indirect or subjective costs both upstream and downstream in the life of a product.

A mainly financial LCA approach for comparing roof systems might consider the following:

• Installation – product cost, installation costs, tear-off costs, disposal costs, business disruption costs.
• Long Term Durability – routine maintenance costs, roof replacement costs.
• Repairs – roof repair costs, interior damage repair costs.
• Energy Savings – estimated savings, rebates and incentives.
• Warranty – cost premiums.

On the other hand, a highly comprehensive environmental-based approach might entail the evaluation of all material and energy inputs and outputs at every stage, from the creation of natural resources through extraction, manufacture, use, and demolition, and disposal of a product. Consider the complexity of the following extreme LCA flow example:

BANG → Earth Appears → Life Begins → Dinosaurs/Other Creatures Appear → Creatures Die/Turn Into Fossil Fuels → Human Race Appears/Evolves → Resources Extracted (fossil fuels, salt, etc.) → Resources Transported to be Processed/Refined → Process/Refine Raw Materials → Process Components (film, scrim) → Produce Product Components (membrane, rigid parts, etc.) → Transport for Fabrication → Fabricate and Assemble The Duro-Last® Cool Zone® Roofing System → Deliver to Jobsite → Installation → Roof In Action (energy savings/heat island mitigation/global warming or cooling or both) → End of Useful Life → Removal/Disposal → Recycle and/or Transport to Landfill → 100,000 to 1 Million Years of Decay and Revert to Fossil Fuels, Salt, etc. → Another BANG!? Or Re-Extraction?

Although this second example seems extreme or absurd, it makes the point that there can be limitless considerations in a comprehensive LCA. The difficulty comes in deciding how far to go and making fair and objective assumptions of all criteria at each stage in the life of the product or system. One of the best things LCA helps accomplish is identification of opportunities for improvement. The important thing to remember in addressing this continuous improvement process is to remember that every action has a reaction, so don’t rob Peter to pay Pa