By Emma Peterson.

Get ready for the largest roofing contractor conference in Texas!

The 2026 annual Texas Roofing Conference is coming up at the end of October (10/21/26-10/23/26 to be precise). This conference is organized by the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT) and provides attendees with the opportunity to attend cutting-edge educational sessions, explore a two-day expo featuring the latest roofing products and network at a variety of fun events!

Experience incredible education

This year’s show boasts a variety of industry-leading speakers for its education program. Whether you’re a commercial contractor or residential roofer, attending these courses is a sure-fire way to find new ideas to build your business!

Here’s a few sessions The Coffee Shops® has bookmarked:

• The 5 Revenue Drivers Behind High-Performing Roofing Service Division: This session will be taught by Chad Westbrook of Service Alignment on Thursday, October 22. In the session, Chad will explain how contractors can “turn service work into dependable, profitable revenue.”
• OSHA Defense Mastery: also on October 22, this session will be taught by the incredible Trent Cotney of Adams and Reese. During the 50-minute session, Trent will cover a practical roadmap for handling OSHA inspections. This is the perfect sessions for those wanting “a better understanding of how to reduce exposure before an incident occurs and how to respond if OSHA knocks.”
• NRCA update on roofing industry technical issues: in this session, the National Roofing Contractors Association’s Mark Graham will give attendees an update on building code changes, FM guideline revisions and other technical details that “change how roofing contractors design, bid and install roof systems.”
• Leadership, Performance, Teamwork, Resilience and Accountability: This session is actually the keynote of the 2026 show! It is taught by Clint Bruce, who is a former NFL linebacker, a Navy SEAL veteran and business founder. His presentation will draw on his experiences and focus on the role of leadership, performance, teamwork, resilience and accountability in success.

See the full schedule of sessions!

Explore innovations on the expo floor

The expo floor (which will be open 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. on 10/22 and 10 a.m - 2 p.m. on 10/23) will host more than 150 manufacturers, suppliers, software and service providers such as ABC Supply, QXO, Polyglass, Tamko, Malarkey Roofing Products, Owens Corning, MetalVue by Sherwin-Williams, SRS Distribution, GAF, READYSLATE, JobNimbus, Eagleview and Johns Manville! Each exhibitor booth will showcase the newest, more innovative products and services in the roofing material and technology market.

There are also some fun prize opportunities! On October 22, door prize drawings will kick off at 2 p.m. (you must be present to win). As for October 23, there will be a $5,000 RCAT Raffle Winner drawing at 1:30 p.m.!

Attend events and make connections

And if the education opportunities and expo weren’t enough to keep you busy, RCAT has also planned a few special events during the 2025 Texas Roofing Conference:

• RCAT Annual Golf Tournament: hosted at the Cowboys Golf Club 1600 Fairway Dr, Grapevine, Texas 76051), this is your opportunity for some friendly competition! Players must register an advance.
• Welcome Reception: kick off the show by attending the welcome reception at the Gaylord Texan Mission Plaza. This event runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is open to all fully registered conference attendees and exhibitors.
• Awards Luncheon: take a break from attending education sessions and exploring the expo floor with RCAT’s Annual Business Meeting & Awards Luncheon!

These are not just a great opportunity have some fun, but also to network with their peers and make connections with industry leaders that will last beyond the show!

The 2026 show will be hosted at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. Make sure you have your tickets!

Por Emma Peterson, traducido por Alberto Torres. 

El evento de este año se acerca rápidamente, con el primer día programado para el 27 de septiembre de 2026, y queremos ayudarte a crear la agenda ideal para aprovechar al máximo tu experiencia. 

El Western Roofing Expo (WRE), patrocinado por la Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA), es uno de los eventos más importantes de la industria del techado y la impermeabilización. No solo está lleno de actividades reconocidas, como la competencia de instalación de tejas Roofing Games™ y la subasta en vivo, sino que también cuenta con 28 sesiones educativas, dos almuerzos con conferencias y mucho más. 

Es una gran cantidad de actividades para solo tres días (el evento de 2026 se llevará a cabo del 27 al 29 de septiembre), por eso queremos compartir algunas de las sesiones y actividades que no te puedes perder. 

Domingo, 27 de septiembre de 2026 

El primer día del evento estará enfocado principalmente en establecer conexiones con expertos y colegas de la industria. Hay varias actividades opcionales, como el Bob Porter Golf Tournament y el Sporting Clays Tournament, pero el evento principal del día será la bienvenida y subasta de WRE. Patrocinado por GAF,  este evento no solo marca el inicio de WRE 2026, sino que también recauda fondos para la Davis Memorial Foundation, la organización benéfica de WSRCA.

Lunes, 28 de septiembre de 2026 

El lunes comienza la acción con una agenda llena de más de una docena de sesiones educativas. Estas son algunas de las sesiones que recomendamos: 

• Tendencias importantes en la industria del techado: Heidi J. Ellsworth, de RoofersCoffeeShop®, presentará las tendencias que están marcando la industria. Esta sesión ofrecerá a los asistentes información valiosa sobre dónde ha estado la industria del techado y hacia dónde se dirige.  
• ¿Listo o no?: Nuestros amigos Trent Cotney y Benjamin Briggs, de Adams and Reese, hablarán sobre las redadas de ICE, las auditorías I-9 y cómo los contratistas de techado pueden gestionar su exposición ante el panorama migratorio actual.  
• De contratar rápido a contratar bien: En esta sesión en español, Amparo Sancen, de Latinos En Roofing, explorará cómo formar un equipo de techado que contribuya al éxito de tu negocio.  
• Uso de la IA en la estimación de proyectos de techado: John Kenney, de Cotney Consulting Group, compartirá información sobre el uso de la inteligencia artificial (IA) en las operaciones de techado, específicamente en los procesos de estimación.  

Además de estas oportunidades educativas, el lunes habrá dos opciones de almuerzos educativos, tres demostraciones y el esperado evento Roofer’s Feud. Aquí te contamos un poco más: 

• Almuerzos: El lunes habrá dos oportunidades para aprender durante el almuerzo. Una será para profesionales de habla hispana y contará con Victor Maya (Advantage Roofing, GAF), quien hablará sobre cómo maximizar las reclamaciones de seguros para techos comerciales. La otra contará con Craig Brightup (corresponsal político de WSRCA) y Chad Collins (presidente de la junta directiva de la National Roofing Contractors Association), quienes ofrecerán una actualización sobre temas políticos.
• Demostraciones: Habrá tres demostraciones el lunes. La primera comenzará a la 1:30 p.m. y estará a cargo de Polyglass U.S.A. La segunda, que comienza a las 2:30 p.m., será presentada por TAMKO Building Products, y la última demostración del día será a las 3:30 p.m. con Johns Manville.  
• Roofer’s Feud: Para cerrar las actividades del lunes llega Roofer’s Feud. Patrocinado por CertainTeed, será una excelente oportunidad para poner a prueba tus conocimientos y disfrutar de una competencia amistosa.  

Martes, 29 de septiembre de 2026 

¡Pero todavía hay más! Comienza el martes con un desayuno y conversaciones en mesas con el equipo de National Women in Roofing a las 7 a.m. (ten en cuenta que esta actividad requiere un registro adicional de $55). Después del desayuno, será momento de regresar directamente a las sesiones educativas. Algunas de las que recomendamos para el martes incluyen: 

• Mesa redonda sobre techado: Organizada por el Comité de Jóvenes Profesionales del Techado de WSRCA y dirigida por Rachel Garcia, de Malarkey Roofing Products, esta sesión se enfocará en cómo formar equipos multigeneracionales. 
• Estado de la industria: Trent Cotney regresa para otra sesión, esta vez para analizar desde una perspectiva legal lo que está sucediendo en la industria.  
• Salud mental y adicción en el lugar de trabajo de la industria del techado: Paul Reed, de Roofers in Recovery, dirigirá esta sesión sobre cómo los contratistas pueden apoyar mejor la salud mental de sus cuadrillas.  
• El costo de la desconexión: En esta sesión en español, Monica Vornbrock, de The GLO Group, analizará cómo las fallas en la comunicación después de una venta pueden afectar la confianza de los clientes y los ingresos de los contratistas.  
• Diseño de techos duraderos para climas fríos: En esta sesión, Mindy Dahlquist, de TRA Snow and Sun, analizará el papel de los sistemas de retención de nieve en el diseño de techos para climas fríos.  
• De un servicio reactivo a uno proactivo: En la última sesión de nuestra lista, Tracey Donels, de Service First Solutions, hablará sobre cómo crear un crecimiento empresarial más predecible a través de los servicios que ofrece una compañía.  

Al igual que el lunes, el martes habrá dos opciones para aprender durante el almuerzo y varias actividades que no te puedes perder: 

• Almuerzos: Imelda Perez, de CertainTeed, estará a cargo del almuerzo en español del martes. La otra opción será en inglés y contará con la oradora motivacional Shereen Thor.  
• Escenario: Después del almuerzo, el equipo de RoofersCoffeeShop® tomará el escenario de demostraciones para una interesante conversación con el presidente de WSRCA, Stan Robinson, y el próximo presidente de WSRCA, Ron Lloyd.  
• Roofing Games™: ¡Y para cerrar el día llega la esperada competencia de instalación de tejas! Patrocinada por Malarkey Roofing Products, esta es una excelente oportunidad para reunir a la comunidad y quizás hasta ganar algunos premios.  

Estas listas son solo una pequeña muestra de todo lo que encontrarás en el Western Roofing Expo de este año. 

¡Consulta la agenda completa y regístrate para asistir a WRE 2026! 

By Emma Peterson.

This year’s show is coming up fast with the first day being September 27, 2026 and we wanted to help you build the ultimate attendee schedule.

The Western Roofing Expo (WRE), which is sponsored by Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA), is one of the premier events in the roofing and waterproofing industry. Not only is it chock full of iconic moments, like the Roofing Games™ shingling competition and the live auction, but it also boasts 28 educational sessions, two keynote luncheons and more!

That’s a lot of programming for just three days (the 2026 show will be held from 9/27/26 to 9/29/26), which is why we wanted to break down some of our must-attend sessions and events!

Sunday, September 27, 2026

The first day of the show will mostly be networking with industry experts and peers. There are a few events you can opt to attend, such as the Bob Porter Golf Tournament and Sporting Clays Tournament, but the main event of the day is the WRE Welcome event and auction. Sponsored by GAF, this event not only marks the beginning of the 2026 show, but also raises funds for the Davis Memorial Foundation, WSRCA’s charitable organization.

Monday, September 28, 2026

Monday is when things get really busy with a stacked schedule of more than a dozen education sessions. Here’s our shortlist of must-attend sessions from this day:

• Roofing Trends That Matter: RoofersCoffeeShop®’s own Heidi J. Ellsworth will be presenting about roofing trends! This presentation will give attendees valuable insight into where the roofing industry has been and where it’s moving towards.
• Ready or Not: our friends Trent Cotney and Benjamin Briggs of Adams and Reese will be diving into ICE raids, 1-9 audits and managing roofing contractor exposure in our current immigration landscape.
• From Hiring Fast to Hiring Right: in a Spanish-language session, Amparo Sancen of Latinos En Roofing explores how to build a roofing team that will help your business win.
• Using AI in Roofing Estimating: John Kenney of Cotney Consulting Group shares insight into the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in roofing operations, specifically related to estimating.

In addition to those education opportunities, Monday boasts two luncheon options, three demonstrations and the much-anticipated Roofer’s Feud event. Here’s a bit about those options:

• Luncheons: there are two lunch learning opportunities on Monday. One is for Spanish-speaking professionals and features Victor Maya (Advantage Roofing, GAF) discussing how to maximize commercial roofing claims. The other features Craig Brightup (WSRCA political correspondent) and Chad Collins (chairman of the National Roofing Contractors Association board) as they give a political update.
• Demonstrations: as we mentioned, there are three demos on Monday. The first kicks off at 1:30 p.m. is hosted by Polyglass U.S.A. The second (which starts at 2:30 p.m.) is from TAMKO Building Products and the last demo of the day is at 3:30 p.m. and features Johns Manville.
• The Roofer’s Feud: closing out the Monday schedule is the Roofer’s Feud. Sponsored by CertainTeed, this is a great chance to test your trivia knowledge and enjoy some friendly competition.

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

But wait, there’s more! Hit the ground running on Tuesday with breakfast and table talks with the National Women in Roofing team at 7 a.m. (please note, additional registration of $55 required for this event). After breakfast, it’s time to jump straight back into education sessions! Some of our must-attends for Tuesday include:

• The Roofing Roundtable: hosted by the WSRCA Young Roofing Professionals Committee and led by Rachel Garcia of Malarkey Roofing Products, this session is all about building multi-generational teams.
• State of the Industry: Trent Cotney is back for another session, this time exploring the legal perspective of what’s going on the industry.
• Mental Health and Addiction in the Roofing Workplace: Paul Reed of Roofers in Recovery takes the helm during this session about how contractors can better support the mental health of their crews.
• The Cost of Disconnection: for this Spanish-language session, Monica Vornbrock of the GLO Group dives into how post-sale breakdowns are costing contractors customer trust and revenue.
• Designing Durable Cold-Climate Roofs: in this session, Mindy Dahlquist of TRA Snow and Sun explores the role of snow retention in designing roofs in cold climates.
• Escaping Reactive Service: the last session on our shortlist is Tracey Donels (Service First Solutions) talk about creating predictable business growth through service offerings.

And just like on Monday, there are two options for lunchtime learning and some can’t miss events:

• Luncheons: Imelda Perez of CertainTeed will be hosting Tuesday’s Spanish-language luncheon. The other lunch option will be in English and features motivational speaker Shereen Thor.
• Sound stage: The RoofersCoffeeShop® crew will be taking over the demonstration stage after lunch for an insightful conversation with WSRCA President Stan Robinson and incoming WSRCA President Ron Lloyd.
• The Roofing Games™: and closing out the day is the much-anticipated shingling competition! Sponsored by Malarkey Roofing Products, this is a great opportunity to bring the community together and maybe even win some fun prizes!

These lists are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to everything going on at this year’s Western Roofing Expo!

See the whole schedule and register to attend the 2026 show!

By Jesse Sanchez.

Contractors can reduce liability, strengthen customer relationships and protect profitability by addressing the growing complexity of today’s rooftops. 

During this Coffee Conversations® sponsored by Anchor Products, Heidi J. Ellsworth joined Anchor Products founder Joel Stanley, attorney Trent Cotney of Adams and Reese and roofing technical expert Mark Graham to examine how contractors can better manage rooftop risks. Joel explained that managing rooftop risk requires contractors to look beyond the roofing system itself and consider how equipment, penetrations and other rooftop conditions can affect the overall performance of the building. As rooftops become more complex and more trades interact with them, clearly understanding those conditions can help contractors identify potential issues before they become larger problems. That broader responsibility is especially important from the building owner’s perspective. As Joel put it, “We can't keep pointing the finger at other people because, quite frankly, the building owner doesn't care. He wants water off the floor.” 

That makes planning and clearly defining project scope increasingly important. Trent stressed that contractors should understand their responsibilities before submitting a bid or signing a proposal, particularly as rooftop systems and code requirements become more complex. Pointing to a common weakness in project documentation, he explained, “Contractors do a great job at explaining what they are going to do. They do a horrible job at explaining what they are not going to do.” 

Documentation can provide another layer of protection, especially when equipment, penetrations or other rooftop components are added after a roofing contractor completes a project. Mark encouraged contractors to create a clear record of completed conditions, recommending, “We should be taking post installation photos.” Those records can help establish what was present when the contractor left the project and provide valuable context if questions or claims arise later. 

The panel also emphasized routine inspections, service and maintenance as opportunities to identify unsecured equipment, damaged supports and other developing hazards. By communicating those conditions to building owners, contractors can reduce risk, strengthen trust and uncover additional opportunities to provide valuable rooftop services. 

Safety remains central to that effort, particularly as more trades and building occupants access rooftops. Understanding responsibilities, documenting conditions and addressing hazards proactively can help contractors protect people, projects and profitability. 

Listen to the podcast or Watch the Webinar to learn more about how proactive planning and rooftop risk management can help contractors protect their work and strengthen long-term customer relationships!

By Emma Peterson. 

The latest Cotney Brief helps contractors stay ahead of evolving legal and business challenges with insights on tariffs, claims management, documentation practices and project risk mitigation. 

Every day there are legal decisions being made that change the way the world operates. But it can be a lot to keep up with on top of day-to-day business. That’s why Trent Cotney, a partner and roofing litigation/arbitration expert at the Adams and Reese law firm puts together a monthly newsletter, Cotney Briefs, that identify and help contractors understand the most relevant decisions and changes affecting the roofing industry. Here’s what he highlighted this August. 

1 – Tariff increases 

Federal tariffs have increased and with that construction costs are rising. Specifically, this month saw a new 50% tariff on specialized Canadian imports that include construction cement, paint, plywood and fiber cable. These tariffs, in addition to the previous ones, will continue to put pressure on construction markets. Trent specifically highlighted “structural steel, metal roofing, HVAC equipment, electrical components, fasteners and construction machinery” as areas of impact. 

What this means for contractors: Contractors should document any supplier increase and identify any tariff exposures without bidding as to be able to build appropriate protections into their contracts. Without these protections (which include price-escalations, change-in-law, force majeure and notice provisions), contractors are likely to bear any increased costs. 

2 – Contract Waives Claim case 

In the case, Arnell Construction Corp. v. New York City School Construction Authority, the primary issue was “change-order work performed on a renovation project for the New York City School Construction Authority.” In the case, Arnell was seeking $2.44 million in compensation while SCA moved to dismiss the action because of a “not timely satisfied the applicable notice-of-claim requirement.” It is this dismissal that the court held in favor of. 

What this means for contractors: The court’s reasoning was New York Public Authorities Law § 1744(2), which states that a notice of claim should have been presented within three months of the claim accruing. For other contractors, this is a good reminder of the importance of identifying when damages become ascertainable as to provide the verified notice immediately rather than relying solely on contractual change order procedures. 

3 – Presumption provision 

Daily reports are a crucial piece of evidence in the case of project disputes. However, it is not uncommon for the opposing party to claim the presented reports were “inaccurate, incomplete or self-serving.” Contractors can avoid this issue by including a daily report presumption provision that “encourages the parties to review project records while the events remain fresh. If the receiving party does not object within a stated period, the report becomes presumptively accurate.” 

What this means for contractors: This does not make daily reports fully conclusive, but it shifts the burden away from the contractor and to the party challenging the report. Trent shared an example of what this provision might look like:  

Daily Reports and Project Records. Contractor may prepare and distribute daily reports documenting labor, manpower, equipment, materials, deliveries, weather, site conditions, inspections, work performed, delays, disruptions, directives and other material project events. Each daily report shall be deemed presumptively accurate unless Owner provides Contractor with a specific written objection identifying the disputed information within five business days after receipt. A general objection or reservation of rights shall not be sufficient. Failure to timely object shall not make the report conclusive, but the report shall constitute prima facie evidence of the matters stated therein. The parties may rely on daily reports, photographs, time records, delivery tickets, equipment logs and similar contemporaneous records in evaluating claims for additional time or compensation. 

4 – Community opposition as a construction risk 

You’ve probably seen headlines about communities protesting projects related to data centers, manufacturing plants, multifamily developments and major infrastructure projects due to traffic, environmental and cultural concerns. In response, many projects have hit roadblocks in areas like zoning approvals, permitting, utility access and project financing. These delays pose unique challenges to contractors even if the ultimate project continues. Trent explained: 

A delayed zoning or environmental approval may postpone mobilization while labor, equipment and material commitments remain in place. New permit conditions may require redesign, additional scopes of work or different construction sequencing. Limits on construction hours may reduce productivity, while expanded traffic-control obligations may require additional personnel and equipment. A utility may also condition service on expensive system upgrades or delay energization until infrastructure improvements are completed. 

What this means for contractors: Contractors should be aware of community opposition as a construction risk and determine what party bears the risk of opposition and delas before signing anything. Specifically, they should avoid agreeing to comply with broad statements, like “community requirements.” Further, contractors likely would benefit from adjusting contract language to provide additional time and compensation when community opposition and delays occur. 

Read the entire August 2026 brief!

By Emma Peterson. 

How participating in associations like the Roofing Alliance gives professionals a chance to build a legacy. 

From providing broader industry advocacy on a national level to providing individual contractors with the resources they need to succeed, trade associations are invaluable resources. A prime example of one of these invaluable organizations is the Roofing Alliance. To learn more about what this foundation does for the industry, Trent Cotney, a partner and the construction team lead at Adams and Reese law firm, came by for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®.  

Trent is the perfect person to talk to about this, as he is both Roofing Alliance’s legal counsel and their parent association, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)’s general counsel. He opened by sharing some background on Roofing Alliance:  

The Roofing Alliance is NRCA's foundation, but operates as its own entity. It has existed for almost 30 years, and over the years, it has been instrumental in charitable efforts like providing free roofs and repairs to Ronald McDonald houses nationwide. They also work to support the roofing industry, specifically with education and research. 

Their educational support often comes in the form of scholarships and their research is usually focused on critical economic and technical challenges facing the roofing market. And they have made a huge impact in both areas, reporting that their “members have invested [and raised] over $16 million to fund transformative research, educational initiatives and scholarships, all dedicated to enhancing industry performance and long-term success.” 

At the end of the day, the work that the Roofing Alliance has done not only supports professionals in the industry today but also our future tradespeople. “The Alliances is so valuable. Not only is it a great opportunity to meet your peers in the industry, but it’s a great way to give back to the industry,” he shared. “Personal career and financial success are great, but when I think about when I'm dead and gone, I want to have left a positive mark on the world. I want to have done what I can to give back and to help. And groups like Roofing Alliance are the way I feel like I am doing that.” 

Listen to the whole podcast or Watch the recording to learn more about the Roofing Alliance and its invaluable work in the roofing industry. 

By Emma Peterson. 

With more than 250 exhibitors, expanded educational programming and interactive experiences across the show floor, METALCON continues to be the industry's premier gathering for metal construction. 

METALCON, the only event in the industry dedicated solely to the application of metal in design and construction, is just around the corner! Produced by PSMJ Resources, Inc., in partnership with the Metal Construction Association, this year’s show will be hosted October 7-9, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida!  

This show brings metal professionals from across the country, whether you are a contractor, fabricator, manufacturer, supplier, designer or distributor, together to evaluate innovative products on the expo floor, build powerful partnerships at events, learn about the future of the industry in education sessions and push the industry forward, together. Keep reading to learn a bit about what to expect from this year’s show!  

METALCON 2026 education program 

Education has always been a cornerstone of the METALCON experience. For this year’s show, the METALCON team has expanded their educational offerings! In addition to their traditional metal construction, architecture, engineering and manufacturing workshops and complimentary sessions, they have added four Spanish-language education sessions! 

With industry-leading experts like Rob Haddock (S-5!), Vincent Sagan (Metal Building Manufacturers Association), Kermit Baker (American Institute of Architects), Amparo Sancen (Latinos En Roofing), Renee Ramey (Metal Roofing Alliance), Stephen Bender (University of Florida College of Design Construction and Planning), Kyle Rea (Adams and Reese) and Ryan Dalgleish (RAiNA), these sessions offer attendees a veritable wealth of information.  

Please note: All education sessions, except workshops, are included with your registration. No sign-up is needed. Just arrive at your selected session at the scheduled time and location. Seating is first come, first served. 

Browse the education offerings. 

By Emma Peterson. 

From branding and exclusivity to duration of work and advertising, discover the key factors that determine worker classification. 

With subcontractors, independent contractors and non-traditional employee roles, it can be hard to figure out how to properly classify your team. To get some clarity on employee classification, we sat down with Benjamin Briggs of Adams and Reese for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. Benjamin is a board-certified labor and employment attorney, making him the perfect person for this discussion. In an earlier article, we talked to him about why employee classification is so important to understand and some of the common mistakes he sees related to it. In this article, we’re diving into how to classify your employees and who to go to for help.  

How do you properly classify your workers? 

The good news is that classification doesn’t change much from state-to-state, so once you get a handle on it, you’ll be good to go! But how do you get a handle on it? Benjamin said you have to look at something called an economic realities test. He shared what this test is, explaining, “The economic realities test looks at a handful of different factors which collectively decide on the classification of a worker.” 

These factors include:  

• Exclusivity: If a worker is only working for you exclusively, you may get questioned about their classification. Benjamin elaborated, “One of the trademarks of an independent contractor is that they're in business for themselves. So, while they're working for you, in theory, they're also available to work for other companies. In other words, is there exclusivity happening? Because exclusivity often makes them look more like an employee.” 
• Duration: The test looks at how long you and the worker have collaborated, and how consistently. Benjamin explained, “If they just work for you intermittently, sporadically, they might do a project for you this month, maybe another project for you in a couple months and that looks like a traditional independent contractor.”   
• Branding: If your workers show up in a truck with your logo or wear a shirt or hat with your logo, that can call into question their classification. As Benjamin put it, “If they have their own trucks, their own equipment, their own hats and whatnot. That looks a lot like an independent contractor. If they’re in your stuff, that looks like an employee.”  
• Advertising: Things like websites and social media are also used to determine a classification. Benjamin gave an example, “If a sub has their own website, social media and advertisements, that looks like an independent...If they have no website, no advertisement and no social media, it looks like they're an employee.”  

These are just a few of the factors that the economic realities test examines, but it gives a good basis for understanding how to start classifying your workers. In Benjamin’s words:  

If it walks like a duck, it talks like a duck, it's a duck, even if you decide to call it a dog. The law doesn't care what the parties label their relationship. They look at the economic realities, those factors we talked about, as well as a handful of others, to decide on the whole whether a worker collectively looks more like an employee or more like an independent contractor.  

Who can help you?  

This entire process can be overwhelming for a lot of business owners. Luckily, you’re not alone, there are people who can help – people like Benjamin! The best course of action for owners concerned about misclassification is to proactively reach out to legal professionals for advice. Benjamin explained, “I always recommend semi-regular internal audits to make sure everything is in place proactively. And if you need help with that, the best advice I can give is to lean on the resources you have.” 

These resources include everything from more general articles and podcasts on RoofersCoffeeShop® to calling up attorneys like Benjamin for personalized assistance.  

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording to learn more about employee classification. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Chris Kane explains why lower storm activity should not lead to complacency and highlights the work being done to improve disaster recovery. 

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season kicked off in June, but it has been a fairly quiet storm season overall, especially when compared to the intensity of seasons in recent years. But just because it’s been quieter, doesn’t mean we can let our guards down. To learn more about the 2026 storm season, Karen Edwards hosted Chris Kane of Adams and Reese for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

Chris knows a lot about storms, both from his experience as a New Orleans resident and as the head of Adams and Reese’s disaster recovery and preparedness team. Looking at this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, Chris acknowledged that it’s been quieter than the last few years:  

I'm not a meteorologist, but what I have learned from listening to the experts is that there’s a warming of the waters in the Pacific Ocean that has created an El Niño weather pattern. And with this pattern often comes a lowered number of severe hurricanes in the Atlantic basin. 

But just because there are less hurricanes, doesn’t mean there are none at all, (storms Arthur and Bertha are just two examples from this season). So, what are Chris and the Adams and Reese disaster response team doing to help prepare for the possibility of an extreme storm, even in this quieter season? They have been partnering with other organizations and experts to work on developing initiatives that support communities in the wake of disaster. One example is the work they’ve done related to the National Flood Insurance Program. Chris explained, “I'm involved with Greater New Orleans Inc., which is a regional EDO economic development organization that is trying to reform the national flood insurance program.”  

Overall, even though hurricane activity has been lower this year, recovery planning, community partnerships and resilience initiatives like the work Chris and his team are doing remain critical to long-term community safety. Because, as we all know too well, it just takes one storm to turn the world upside down.  

Want to learn more about navigating the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season and how people like Chris are building support programs and policies? Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording! 

By Emma Peterson. 

Benjamin Briggs breaks down the legal and operational implications of worker classification. 

For many contractors, understanding employee classification can be one of the hardest parts of running a business. To give our readers some clarity on the topic, Karen Edwards hosted Benjamin Briggs, a board-certified labor and employment attorney with Adams and Reese law firm, for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

Why is employee classification so important? 

Classifying your employees is a fundamental part of running a contracting business. Benjamin explained:  

Employee classification is a very significant legal distinction because it affects a lot of things. It affects your taxes, because it changes the way declarations are done. It’s related to work authorizations because there are I-9 and e-verification requirements that apply to W-2 employees and not independents or subs. It also affects workers comp, because you might have a worker's comp policy that covers your employees but not independents, and it can even have impacts on licensing in some states. 

Why does classification have an impact on such core parts of your business? Benjamin used licensing as an example, “Some states, like Florida, require the workers on the jobsite to either have their own professional license or be W-2 employees of a licensed contractor. So, in those states, if you don’t have people working as an employee, and they don’t have their own independent license, it’s not legal for them to be doing any work.”  

What do mistakes look like? 

Misclassifying someone isn’t an uncommon mistake in the roofing industry. As Benjamin put it, “A lot of people have a misunderstanding about how classification works. And it’s not just your crew that you could be misclassifying, you could misclassify your receptionist, your sales team, etc.”  

One of the most common mistakes that Benjamin sees is that some believe classification doesn’t matter for part-timers. He explained, “I’ve seen people rely on the idea that if someone is working part time or seasonally, classification doesn’t matter. And that’s where a lot of people get in trouble.”  

Want to learn how to avoid this type of issue? Make sure to look out for our next article on this topic, “Employee Classification 102: The who and how!” You can also Listen to Karen’s entire conversation with him or Watch a recording of it on YouTube.