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Commercial construction going strong
With the prime homebuying season in the rearview mirror, the Wall Street Journal reports that U.S. new home sales through August are basically even from a year ago at this time, with the National Association of Home Builders predicting an annual sales increase of just 2-3 percent. The sluggish pace of residential construction hasn’t been matched in the commercial/industrial market, fortunately. According to Reed Construction Data (now called CMD), growth in non-residential building starts have nearly doubled the pace of new home starts through August (compared to January-August 2013). Healthy growth in architectural billings and new design contracts over the last four months bodes well for the future of commercial construction...
read moreOctober is energy action month
The U.S. Department of Energy has named October Energy Action Month, asking federal agencies to highlight efforts to save energy throughout government, while encouraging the public to do the same. At GenFlex, we like to think of every month as an energy action month – our roofing products contribute to more energy-efficient schools, offices, factories and more. For example, GenFlex polyiso insulation boards deliver a higher R-value per inch than most comparative roofing insulations; HD ISO board, with an R-value of 2.5, provides better thermal performance than any ½” wood fiber, glass-faced ISO, or glass mat-faced gypsum boards to keep energy from leaking through the roof deck and into the atmosphere. GenFlex also offers...
read moreTechnology brings mobility to construction industry
For better or worse, our smartphones and other devices have made multi-tasking mandatory for many of us. Whether it’s returning an e-mail in the grocery aisle or writing a proposal in the doctor’s waiting room, our ‘office’ is wherever we happen to be – and the construction industry is no different. For example, more and more construction professionals are doing research on the go: The use of mobile devices has jumped significantly, from 21% in 2011 to 61% in 2013 for people working in the industry looking for general equipment information, according to a survey conducted by Equipment World. This survey also revealed a noteworthy increase in the usage of mobile devices to peruse industry news and to view equipment...
read morePlanning for harsh weather: Part 2
In our last blog post, we lamented the fact that meteorologists are predicting an early return to winter weather across large portions of the country. That means another tough season for wear-and-tear on commercial buildings – and an opportunity for roofing professionals to help facility managers plan ahead now. A close-up inspection of the roof can keep today’s small punctures, damaged flashings or torn seams from turning into tomorrow’s growing leaks, rising energy bills or spreading mold. Professional roofing contractors are intimately familiar with system specifications, installation, and how a finished system should look and perform. But even the most seasoned technician may not catch every potential problem. A...
read moreIt’s not too early to plan for harsh weather, starting at the top: Part 1
For many of us, last winter is still a recent – and unpleasant – memory. But as we head into fall, it’s already time to start planning for another blast of icy reality across much of the country. Forecasters are predicting another visit from the dreaded ‘Polar Vortex’ across the Midwest and Northeast as soon as September, and the Rockies could also be in line for earlier-than-usual snowfalls. And even though the South may avoid surprise snowfalls, there’s a better-than-average chance of an El Nino system soaking the region with rain and storms that cause their own issues. In short, summer’s over for commercial building owners and facility managers. Planning for harsh weather starts now, starting at the top: The...
read moreAs kids head back to school, GenFlex puts roofing on the lesson plan
As hard as it is to believe, fall is here – across the country, most kids have finished mourning the end of summer vacation and have settled into the routine of a new school year. For more than 14 million students in our K-12 public schools, the fall semester means coming back to a building that doesn’t meet basic construction codes, is overcrowded, or both. As parents, this is cause for alarm – as part of the commercial roofing industry, it’s also an opportunity. There are roughly 100,000 public elementary and secondary school buildings in the U.S. (and as many as 35,000 more private K-12 schools). The National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. General Accounting Office have estimated that at least a third of...
read moreWelcome!
Welcome to the GenFlex Roofing blog, a new resource for our customers and business partners – this is where you'll find product updates, our take on industry news, and helpful information on issues from safety regulations to the latest building codes. GenFlex has been a partner for commercial roofers for more than three decades. Our customers include large multi-state firms and local contractors with a small crew and big plans; they’re new entrepreneurs and family businesses passed down from generation to generation. We’re proud to stand with you – and behind our products. Our commitment to our customers hasn’t changed, but we know our industry is evolving rapidly. The increasing demands for green building,...
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