Customer Needs Are Changing. Is Your Business Keeping Up?

Commercial roof maintenance programs are a great way to expand your business and build long-term relationships with school facility managers. You may already be offering commercial roof maintenance services, or perhaps you're interested in branching out. Providing roof maintenance to K-12 schools and universities can be a good source of reliable, ongoing work. But you'll need to consider these facilities' nuances.Schools' Current Roof Maintenance ChallengesIn an educational environment, students' safety and comfort come first. Buildings must be secure and functional, and they must provide an atmosphere conducive to learning. Creating this environment starts with the roof, but this can easily be put off or forgotten about as many school facility managers focus on day-to-day maintenance issues. If students and teachers complain about a lack of hot water or classroom temperatures that are too hot or cold, facility managers swiftly address these issues.However, facility managers should prioritize regular roof maintenance in addition to addressing the most immediate facility concerns. Even something like a small leak from deferred roof maintenance can lead to much larger, and more costly repairs, creating headaches for everyone involved, that could have been avoided.The Value of Commercial Roof Maintenance ProgramsThe roof protects everything inside the school—from books and computers to shop equipment and musical instruments. If a roof leaks, many items could suffer damage. At the end of the day, ensuring a quality roof through regular maintenance not only protects everything inside the building, it can also help extend the life of the roof. Moreover, some roofing system manufacturers may require regular roof inspections to maintain warranties or guarantees. A roof maintenance program can meet this requirement, providing inspection records and evidence that any issues were addressed.How to Develop a Maintenance Program for SchoolsA commercial roof maintenance program for schools isn't much different from what you already do for other commercial buildings. And while regular maintenance inspections can be completed anytime, a neglected roof can often end up requiring repairs that need to align with the school's calendar to plan for minimal disruptions to the students. This can cause inconvenient delays, or date changes that could be avoided with regular inspections and maintenance.GAF Senior Product Manager Benjamin Runyan says that it's important to identify the manufacturer of the existing roofing system to ensure you are using compatible products that won't void the warranty or guarantee. "You want to be looking at this from a maintenance standpoint," says Runyan. "What does the roof look like? How was it built? How have they been maintaining it?"To start, Runyan recommends that you inspect the entire roof system and document its condition with photos and notes. Pay particular attention to the more vulnerable areas, such as seams, fasteners, flashings, edge metal, drains, and gutters. Look for cracks, missing roofing materials, evidence of ponding water, or of birds or other animals, and signs of moss or algae. An infrared scan of the roof can determine if any moisture is present and help pinpoint areas that need immediate attention.Your program should include basic tasks such as clearing debris from drains and gutters, removing leaves or branches, and making minor repairs where existing sealants are losing pliability or are showing signs of deterioration. If you identify larger concerns, you can document that with photos and provide an estimate for the repairs. Also, note how long the repairs should take and what products you'll use.Getting Started with SchoolsPreventative maintenance programs aren't just a benefit to the schools, they can also lead to other school roofing work including re-roofing opportunities. If you're ready to add school commercial maintenance programs to your business plan, GAF has the resources you need to get started. Runyan explains, "Your first step should be talking with your GAF Territory Manager as they will likely already have established relationships with school districts, colleges, roof consultants and architects in your service area."From commercial roofing system specifications to WellRoof® Guarantee Extensions, plus roof restoration options, GAF meets all your needs for stepping into the world of educational buildings.

Buying a roof online can be as easy as ordering from Amazon, thanks to a new online roofing platform by Gunner Roofing. Its industry-changing innovation won the Connecticut-based company the esteemed recognition of Cutting-Edge Contractor at the 2023 GAF WealthBuilder Conference and Expo in Austin, Texas.Leading with Customer ServiceInnovation is a main focus for co-founders (and brothers), Andrew Prchal and Eddie Prchal, but customer experience is the force that drives Gunner Roofing. "Every aspect of our business is customer experience," Eddie notes in an online interview with GAF CARE.In their quest to perfect their customers' experiences, the Prchal brothers considered how to simplify the roof-buying process. This led to the innovative idea to create an online roof estimation and purchasing platform. "The [roof-buying] program is a part of us," Eddie explains. "We designed the platform for our brand, thinking of our customers, wanting them to have a specific experience each step of the way."Simplifying Customer ExperienceThe Gunner Estimator does away with lead follow-up phone calls, sales visits, and hassle. "People can interact with the quote process in their own way, on their own time," Andrew says. Instead of communicating with a sales representative, customers enter their contact information and address into Gunner Roofing's easy-to-use website. Within hours, they're emailed a detailed roofing estimate with an interactive 3D model of their home and proposed roof.The 3D model lets customers visually experiment with their options. They can select different shingle colors, siding materials, and additional features like skylights. Once the customer is happy with the roof design and price, they can purchase the roof and schedule their installation online—all without talking to a person (unless they prefer to). It's fast, easy, and pressure-free for buyers."Customers aren't as hesitant to seek out quotes because it won't mean 10 people contacting them and then being on a call list," explains Andrew.Revolutionizing Lead GenerationBoth customers and contractors win as a result of the company's proprietary new software. The increased accessibility has also increased interest among homeowners and property managers, which has led to a surge in requests.The Prchal brothers say that during the first month of the program launch, Gunner Roofing received a double-digit jump in quote requests. Overall, they've seen a 50% increase in their lead volume. In fact, Andrew shared that two new customer quote requests came in through their website in the 20 minutes the brothers were on stage presenting their program to fellow GAF Master Elite® Contractors* at the 2023 GAF WealthBuilder Conference.Building a BusinessThe Prchals got into roofing to "push the industry forward as far as customer experience," Eddie says. The two brothers had been living in Arizona when their brother-in-law—who does solar installations on the East Coast—told them he couldn't count on his area roofing contractors to complete roofs before his solar installations. They saw the opportunity to help and "packed a U-Haul and moved with our Siberian Husky, Brooklyn, and just went for it," Eddie notes. Coming from Arizona, they weren't used to the snow, but now they "love the weather and the seasons and the people," Andrew shares.From day one, Eddie and Andrew say they were driven by their desire to improve the customer experience. Their passion for innovation got them to where they are today.Learning from LeadersReady to positively impact the roofing industry like the Prchal brothers? Eddie explains the realization of your dream idea lies in being persistent—the Gunner Estimator wasn't just some overnight idea. The two men developed the concept and worked on refining the program for 2.5 years before it officially launched. "We're not computer scientists," Andrew jokes. "The real factor was having the idea but then believing in it and taking action."Thanks to the Prchals' dream, interest in innovation, and dedication to customer service, their roofing business is now recognized as an award-winning industry leader. In addition to its latest designation, Gunner Roofing received the GAF Master Elite® President's Club Award in 2022. "At Gunner Roofing our online estimator is just another show of our commitment to the customer," the company's website explains. "We believe this allows us to deliver the easiest checkout process, the highest install standards, and the perfect customer experience from start to finish."Want recognition for your innovative business idea? Contact your local Territory Manager for information on submitting for next year's Cutting Edge Contractor award.*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 GAF Contractor Terms of Use.

GAF recently launched a premium version of their bestselling Timberline HDZ® Shingles—Timberline® UHDZ™ Shingles. A reengineered version of GAF Timberline® UHD—Ultra High Definition—Shingles, these have all the features that have made Timberline HDZ® Shingles a popular choice for homeowners, but with a few extras—ranging from enhanced aesthetics to 10% Time-Release Algae-Fighting Technology. Here's an at-a-glance comparison of the benefits of both shingles to help you choose the best fit for the project and budget you're working with.Curb AppealBoth Timberline® UHDZ™ and Timberline HDZ® Shingles provide a stylish wood-shake look, for beautiful curb appeal that can help boost the value of a home. The difference with the new Ultra High Definition™ Shingles is, as their name suggests, their patent-pending Dual Shadow Line feature—which provides an ultra-dimensional, deeply defined look via a "sunset shadow effect" that's perceptible all day long. Timberline® UHDZ™ Shingles are also thicker, which adds to their enhanced dimensionality.CostTimberline HDZ® Shingles remain more affordable than their premium counterpart, making them a high-quality choice that's cost-effective. However, the extra features that come with Timberline® UHDZ™ could be well worth the slightly higher price that customers may be happy to pay if they understand the difference between the two products.WarrantyWarranties are a good way to offer customers peace of mind, assuring them they'll be covered in certain circumstances. The advanced technologies incorporated into both Timberline® HDZ® and Timberline UHDZ™ Shingles allow GAF to offer a 15-Year WindProven™ Limited Wind Warranty* on these shingles if they're installed along with the required combination of four qualifying GAF accessories. Unusually, this warranty has no maximum wind speed limitation.GAF Timberline® UHDZ™ Shingles also come with a 30-year StainGuard Plus Pro Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration** as they feature 10% more GAF Time-Release Algae-Fighting Technology (capsules infused with copper microsites that release copper steadily over time) than Timberline HDZ® Shingles. That said, Timberline HDZ® Shingles come with a 25-year StainGuard Plus Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration***—still extremely competitive. More information on both algae-protection limited warranty options can be found here.DesignBoth shingle types are available in an attractive range of colors, with the Timberline HDZ® line offering color blends and finishes like Charcoal, Birchwood, Hunter Green, and White. A full list of colors is included on the Timberline HDZ® product page.Meanwhile, the Timberline® UHDZ™ Shingles come in Pewter Gray, Charcoal, Barkwood, Slate, Weathered Wood, and Shakewood. While the color schemes are similar, Timberline HDZ® shingles currently have the edge on choice with a few more available options.InstallationBoth the Timberline® HDZ® and UHDZ™ Shingles come with LayerLock® Technology, which makes for easier and faster installation. Both products feature the StrikeZone® Nailing Area, helping your crews place the nails in the correct spot each time. So, no matter whether you use Timberline HDZ® or Timberline® UHDZ™ shingles, installation will likely be smooth-running.Finding the Right Choice for Your NeedsUltimately, the property owner will decide the shingle style and color—but armed with this information, contractors can provide clients with more options and allow them to make the optimal choice for their roof. Your expertise will be needed to explain the differences between Timberline HDZ® and Timberline® UHDZ™ Shingles, so it's important to understand the finer points of each.Interested in learning more about these products? Explore the Timberline® UHDZ™ Shingle and Timberline HDZ® Shingle product pages, plus you can reach out to your local Territory Manager for additional information.*15-year WindProven™ limited wind warranty on GAF Shingles with LayerLock™ Technology requires the use of GAF Starter Strips, Roof Deck Protection, Ridge Cap Shingles, and Leak Barrier or Attic Ventilation. See GAF Roofing System Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions. Visit gaf.com/LRS for qualifying GAF products. For installations not eligible for the WindProven limited wind warranty, see GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.**25-year StainGuard Plus™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration is available only on products sold in packages bearing the StainGuard Plus™ logo. See GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions and qualifying products.*** 30-year StainGuard Plus PRO™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration is available only on products sold in packages bearing the StainGuard Plus PRO™ logo. See GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.