By Emma Peterson. 

Denver Riggleman shares his thoughts on how AI will impact jobs and the larger workforce. 

As AI and automation increasingly become present in our daily lives, a common concern is that these technologies will take jobs away from people. This type of concern is not new. Every time a new technology is introduced, people naturally have hesitation and fear how things will change. And it does change things; think about the now-obsolete jobs like switchboard operators and projectionists. But it’s also important to remember that the technology that took over for those roles also made new opportunities. 

To look at how AI might change our workplace, both in creating jobs and taking over certain roles, Heidi J. Ellsworth spoke with Denver Riggleman, the co-founder and CEO of Hootl, for an episode of Contractor Outlook all about AI.  

The honest truth is that AI might take away some jobs, just like how technological advancements over the years have changed the roles necessary for operation. Denver shared, “I'm going to be very blunt, AI will take jobs that automation can automate. Take call centers, for example. I would say in the next 15 to 20 years, they will be all AI regardless.” But at the same time, automation is also a powerful tool for enabling businesses to grow and hire more employees in other sectors. Denver explained:  

Say you ‘lose’ 10 jobs at the admin processing level because AI is automating the mundane tasks. You now have the payroll space to hire people or have the people that were working those jobs change focus to working on higher-skill level tasks. And then with more people working on those higher-level tasks, you’re able to expand your gross revenue with a higher margin. 

In other words, AI might take over certain roles. By taking those mundane and tedious tasks off of people’s plates, however, it allows them to work on high-level tasks that not only are more engaging for them but also can help your company grow. And company growth often goes hand-in-hand with hiring new employees.  

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording to hear more insights into the role of AI in our workforce. 

By Jenny Yu.  

Scope Technologies unveiled new integrations and an updated API designed to simplify how contractors access building measurement data. 

The 2026 International Roofing Expo marked Scope Technologies’ 13th appearance at the show. Zac Armstrong, one of their senior account executives, joined Karen Edwards on The Coffee Shops™ sound stage to discuss the company’s latest platform updates and how they are designed to simplify contractor workflows.  

Known for its aerial measurement solutions, Scope Technologies helps contractors gather property data without having to get on the roof. “Our flagship product is RoofScope®,” Zac said. “We do aerial measurements of the entire building envelope: roof, gutter, siding, paint, insulation and concrete.” 

This year, the company announced a major platform update designed to help improve integration with contractor software programs.  Zac shared, “Scope API 2.0 now allows our integrated partners to extract all of the data that we provide contractors. All of that is available now through integration, which makes us the first measurement provider in the industry to provide the entire building envelope through API.” 

According to Zac, Scope Technologies has 10 different integrations on the Q1 docket, with several integrations already live. This update arrives at a time when automation and efficiency are top priorities for contractors navigating tight margins and increasing competition. 

“Right now, the name of the game is streamlining everything; sharpen the pencil wherever you can,” Zac stated. “The more consistent and repeatable we can make the workflow, the less opportunity for mistakes and the faster that these contractors can move. And that's money back in their pocket.” 

Feedback from attendees of the show was enthusiastic. “People are super excited. People have always loved our reports, but this is a big step forward in putting us on the same stage as everybody else,” Zac said. “We provide the best data in the industry, and now that data is available through the workflows that the industry is comfortable with.” 

Watch the full interview to learn more about Scope Technologies’ latest innovations and how integrated measurement data is helping contractors streamline their workflows.

Por Jessica Bravo. 

Descubre cómo una marca fuerte puede transformar un negocio. 

En un episodio de La Voz de los Ruferos, Jessica Bravo conversa con Jason Jimenez, de Gasper Roofing, sobre su trayectoria en la industria del roofing y las estrategias de marketing que le han permitido construir un negocio competitivo y sostenible. 

Jason enfatiza que uno de los mayores retos para cualquier empresa es generar nuevos clientes y mantener un flujo constante de llamadas. Muchos dueños de negocio se preguntan: ¿cómo consigo más trabajo? Su respuesta es clara, “Si no estás invirtiendo en marketing y en tu marca, te estás quedando atrás” agrego, “Creo que eso es lo que nos ha llevado al siguiente nivel, el marketing y el branding.” 

Jason comparte qué estrategias le han funcionado con el tiempo y, sobre todo, cómo ha logrado diferenciarse en un mercado tan competido. 

En una industria tan competitiva como esta, donde muchos saben hacer bien el trabajo, lo que realmente marca la diferencia es tu branding. “¿Qué hace única a tu empresa? ¿Por qué deberían elegirte a ti y no a alguien más? Si tu marca no es fuerte ni reconocible, será muy difícil competir en el mercado actual.” 

Como elabora Jason, “La marca es lo que ve y percibe el cliente.” Aunque el marketing puede requerir inversión, el contenido orgánico es una herramienta poderosa que está al alcance de todos. Al compartir contenido en redes sociales o plataformas como YouTube, puedes conectar con tu audiencia y generar confianza sin necesidad de vender directamente. Como él mismo lo dice, el contenido orgánico es como “vender sin vender.” 

Para cerrar, Jason dice, “Si tu marca no es fuerte, no vas a poder competir.” 

Escucha o ve este episodio para aprender cómo fortalecer tu marca y construir un branding sólido en una industria tan competitiva.

By Emma Peterson. 

What Pat Hiltman and Joe Sorrentino have seen the industry learn over the years. 

While at the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) 2026 show, Heidi J. Ellsworth had the opportunity to host two industry veterans on our sound stage – Pat Hiltman and Joe Sorrentino. Pat, who is the southeast regional manager of USG Securock Roof Boards, and Joe, who is the owner of JoeSorrentino LLC, both started in the roofing industry in the 1970s. In the decades between that beginning and today, they have not only established themselves as industry leaders and experts, but also watched the industry grow exponentially. In the conversation, they highlighted a couple of the major changes they have witnessed.  

Energy efficient design advancements 

One of the changes that Pat and Joe have both seen in the industry is how we build energy-efficient structures. Joe explained:  

When we started in the industry, I remember there was a lot of research on how making homes tight would save on energy...And this research was being driven by all these presentations where they would predict that energy costs were going to be more than your mortgage. Well, we know that hasn't happened, but what has happened is finally within the last, say, 20 years, we're now learning we need to build commercial buildings tight as well. 

And the tightening of that envelope is only one half of the story in how we have made buildings more energy efficient over the course of Joe and Pat’s careers. The other key part of the story is ventilation. Pat explained, “If you look at how the industry has trended, we went from having kind of open commercial buildings to tightening them up. But then we went too far and had sick building syndrome. Today, the big thing we’re all working on is using ventilation to find the right balance.” 

A growing relationship between consultants and contractors  

Another area that has seen a lot of change over the years is the relationship dynamic between consultants and contractors. Even just 30 years ago, building consultants and contractors did not often get along, however in light of more complex projects, like the energy efficiency challenges mentioned earlier, that is beginning to change. As Joe put it, “Collaboration is critical to success and also pushing our entire industry forward...It’s long been uncomfortable for consultants and contractors to work together, but the more you are uncomfortable and get through it, the stronger you become.” 

Want to hear more about how the roofing industry has changed over the decades? Check out the whole soundstage interview with Joe and Pat!

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Roofing contractors adopt digital tools while Ingage urges leaders to ask how integrations solve problems. 

Modern roofing companies are piling up platforms, apps and logins, often creating more complexity than clarity. Ingage is helping change that by serving as an industry leading sales enablement presentation platform that brings those tools together for home improvement and home services markets. In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Alan Davis, Director of Product at Ingage, noted that technology only creates value when it is aligned with real workflows and clearly defined problems. 

Alan started by stripping the jargon away and offering a straightforward definition of integration. He explained, “Software integration is a process for connecting different software systems, applications or components to work seamlessly together.” It is about allowing “workflows to be shared across platforms, leading to improved efficiency, automation and user experiences.” 

To help roofing contractors see beyond the complex technological terms, Alan drew a direct line to something they already know. “An integrated roofing system is similar to a software integration,” he stated. Shingles, underlayment and ventilation are chosen and installed to “improve the performance, durability and the overall solution for that customer.” In the same way, customer relationship management software (CRMs), project management and accounting tools are combined to “improve efficiency, accuracy and put a better solution in place for the team.” 

That is where Alan sees many contractors get tripped up. Too often, the conversation starts and ends with one surface-level question. Alan elaborated, “People will say, ‘do you integrate with XYZ product?’ And what's the answer going to be? It's an easy answer for a salesperson, someone in the field. I want ‘yes’ across the board.” The problem is that a simple yes does not reveal anything about how the systems will actually work together. 

Contractors do not have to figure it out alone. Alan encouraged companies of all sizes to lean directly on their software partners. Vendors, he said, should be ready to explain how their tools fit into existing workflows, not just claim they connect. “We want systems to work together, and we want to be able to share information between each other.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about how Ingage helps contractors ask smarter questions about integration! 

By Emma Peterson. 

14 months after devastating fires swept through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas, communities are building back with stronger, more fire-resilient materials. 

Recently, Karen Edwards sat down with Tim Brown of Westlake Royal Building Products and Josh Smith of J.N. Davis Roofing for a Roofing Road Trips® conversation all about the rebuilding efforts in response to the 2025 Southern California wildfires.  

Back in January 2025, Josh was in the impacted area the day after the fire, trying to find ways to help. He explained, “I went up there to go check on some customers that we had done roofs for just a couple of weeks prior. We couldn't get a hold of them, so me and my mom ended up hopping in the truck and just going up and checking on everyone.” Tim was also on the ground shortly after the fires. He shared a bit of what he saw, saying, “I was...I was completely shocked at the level of devastation that took place. The city of Altadena was gone, all the businesses to all the residences. I've been doing this a long time and been around a lot of Southern California wildfires and never seen anything like this.”  

Now, about 14 months later, both Josh and Tim are still heavily involved in the area, specifically trying to help the affected communities rebuild stronger. And a key part of rebuilding stronger is creating more fire-resistant structures – which metal roofing plays a huge part in. Tim explained, “Metal has gained a reputation of being the most fire resilient product on the market today, and it’s really incredible seeing how many people in these communities are researching and requesting metal.” 

Josh can attest to this demand for the fire-resistant metal firsthand, “We’ve been working to educate people on their options, cause a lot of them will ask for standing seam, see the price tag and hesitate because it’s a lot for a look they don’t love. And I’m like, ‘Okay, but that’s not your only option.’” The other option that Josh has been showing to a lot of his customers? Westlake’s Unified Steel Stone Coated Roofing.  

Tim shared a bit about this product:  

I always say Unified Steel is the best kept secret of roofing. And I say that because this type of roofing emulates clay tile, emulates capri tile, wood shake, etc. A lot of people hesitate to get metal roofs because they don’t want their home to look commercial or look like a barn. But what they don’t realize is that they can get the benefits of metal and the look of a traditional premium roof with Unified Steel.  

With this perfect combination of high-performance, especially in the face of disasters like fires, as well as stunning aesthetics, it’s no wonder that Josh and his team have been installing a lot of Unified Steel as they help rebuild in the aftermath of the 2025 Southern California fires. 

Listen to the podcast or Watch the recording to learn more about Unified Steel roofing and the role it is playing in rebuilding stronger communities. 

By Emma Peterson. 

The QXO booth team showcases their vision for becoming a comprehensive, customer‑first building materials powerhouse. 

Recently, The Coffee Shops™ crew had the chance to attend the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)’s International Builders' Show® (IBS) in Orlando, Florida. While there, we met a few of our customers in their booths on the expo floor. One such customer was QXO, who gave us a booth tour and insightful interview!  

The interview started with Brad Jacobs, the CEO of QXO. He gave us a short update on what QCO has been working on recently: 

We're just starting out in this market, with the purchase of Beacon. Since then, we’ve bought a couple other companies in the roofing business and waterproofing business. And now we're in the process of buying Kodiak, getting into lumber and other related products...Really trying to be a comprehensive source for all parts of the building. 

From there, Gabriela Allen, QXO’s senior director of marketing, and Joe Checkler, their SVP of communications, took us into the booth itself, which was organized as a passport system. Gabriela explained, “We wanted an opportunity for customers to engage with us so we can have a better understanding of how we can serve them. So, we have multiple different stations where our customers can chat with different members of the team and, when they stop at those stations, they get a passport stamp that can get them the opportunity to pick out a pair of sunglasses or spin the prize wheel to win up to $1,000 Delta flight credit.” 

At one of these stations, we had the chance to meet Chelsea Oesch, the marketing director for QXO’s private label TRI-BUILT. She shared a bit of how TRI-BUILT was developed with contractors in mind, saying, “TRI-BUILT is QXO's private label house brand product. We partner with the top manufacturers you already know and love and negotiate on a larger scale to save you a little bit of money. We have 7,000 products that we can offer our builders and our workers here.”  

At another station, Gabriela highlighted the efforts QXO is making to engage with Hispanic contractors in Spanish. She explained, “We're reaching out to the Hispanic community through Spanish language trainings, Spanish offerings online and more.” This is key, as Joe pointed out, “More than two-thirds of contractors are Hispanic and in certain areas, Spanish is the is their only language. So, reaching out to them is a big initiative at QXO.” 

This incredible booth design is just one way that QXO is working to connect with the industry and towards their goal of, as Brad put it, “Making a big investment in technology, supply chain and the whole customer experience so that people will get the products and the building materials they need when they need it." 

Watch the whole booth tour and learn more about how QXO is connecting to customers!

By Jenny Yu.  

All Weather Insulated Panels highlights speed, simplicity and structural benefits at IRE 2026. 

At the 2026 International Roofing Expo, All Weather Insulated Panels (AWIP) made a statement with a two-story booth showcasing its engineered roofing system, OneDek®. Lauren White of The Coffee Shops™ had the opportunity to explore the impressive booth and chat with Gary Sweeney, AWIP’s director of low slope roofing, about how OneDek provides a solution for long-standing industry challenges.  

“OneDek is an insulated metal panel, but it’s an engineered roofing system. I refer to it as the evolution of traditional roofing,” Gary shared. With 10 years in the traditional roofing space, Gary has seen firsthand the issues the industry has faced. “The issues that have plagued the industry for 10 years are the same issues that plague it today. There's a lack of innovation, extended installation times and lack of skilled labor.” 

OneDek is a solution that addresses these issues, consolidating the elements of traditional roofing into a simplified package. “A traditional roofing system consists of a B deck, a vapor barrier, insulation, coverboard and then a membrane,” Gary explained. “OneDek is a multi-layer system that's condensed down into a single tongue-and-groove product. So, we're taking a five-step installation and shortening it down to a two-step process.”  

AWIP’s focus on speed and simplicity makes jobs easier for contractors, especially during a labor shortage. “Speed is becoming the most important aspect of commercial roofing,” Gary stated. “If you're going to put down a roof in 120 hours with a five-person crew, we're probably looking at 40 hours here, about a third of the time it would take for traditional roofing systems. So, it's massive labor savings with a smaller crew.” 

Beyond speed, Gary highlighted the structural rigidity and energy efficiency that the system achieves by incorporating AWIP’s InnovaCELL™ technology. “We’re standing on it right now. It’s a metal steel design; it’s very rigid. Traditional roofing components don't provide structural integrity,” Gary said, taking Lauren upstairs and onto the OneDek demo. “From an insulation standpoint, it provides the highest R value, unrivaled by any other manufacturer.” 

The view from the AWIP second-story booth showed a promising future. As building owners become more engaged in long-term performance and energy efficiency, Gary is confident that OneDek provides the perfect solution.  

Watch the full interview to see the OneDek system in action at IRE 2026!

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Why roofing contractors are moving toward a single end-to-end platform and how Atlas AI is designed to turn unified data into measurable business insight. 

Roofing contractors are not looking to add more technology to their operations just for the sake of it. They are looking for smarter systems that can work seamlessly together, getting the most out of modern innovations to help streamline their work. During conversations from The Coffee Shops™ sound stage at the International Roofing Expo (IRE), ServiceTitan leaders Chris Petros and Vishal Laddha each noted that the industry is at an inflection point. As companies grow, the opportunity to replace disconnected tools with a more unified approach that strengthens visibility and control is too great to pass up. When data is centralized and workflows are aligned, reporting becomes faster and production is easier to track. Instead of friction, contractors gain clarity at the exact moment they need it most. 

Chris, chief operating officer at ServiceTitan, said contractors are looking for standardized, system-driven operations. He described ServiceTitan as “a business management software that helps roofing contractors really improve their day-to-day operations,” built by turning proven best practices into product features that support sales, margins and customer experience. That standardization begins at the top of the funnel. “People spend money on marketing; they want to convert those leads into booked appointments,” Chris said. From there, contractors want structured in-home presentations, multiple pricing options and clear job tracking that carries through production and closeout. 

Vishal, who leads strategy for exteriors, said many contractors still rely on “three, four, five different softwares” to manage those steps. That fragmentation limits what automation and artificial intelligence can actually deliver. “Having all of your data in a single ecosystem is very important in order for that AI to truly be able to make recommendations on your business,” he said. 

Both leaders pointed to Atlas, ServiceTitan’s AI platform, as the next step in that evolution. Chris explained that Atlas is focused on practical applications that contractors can use immediately in their day-to-day operations, rather than experimental or theoretical tools. Vishal added that AI is designed to function much like a chief of staff for business owners, surfacing key performance insights automatically and delivering answers about sales, operations and productivity without requiring custom dashboards or manual report building. 

To make a single-platform strategy practical for roofing contractors, ServiceTitan has built integrations with major industry partners, including what many refer to as “the big three” distributors, ABC Supply, QXO and SRS Distribution, along with measurement providers that deliver roof reports and estimating data. By connecting ordering, measurements, scheduling and reporting within one ecosystem, contractors can reduce manual entry and minimize communication gaps between the office and the field. At IRE, Chris said many discussions centered on production discipline and capacity planning, particularly “keeping their crews fully utilized and staying ahead of production.” Ultimately, the objective is not just streamlined data but stronger execution, giving contractors the visibility and structure needed to grow without losing control. 

Watch the interviews to learn more about how a single end-to-end platform powered by Atlas AI can help roofing contractors unify their data, streamline operations and gain real-time insight into performance! 

By Dani Sheehan. 

Advances in chemistry, safety and building science are helping spray foam roofing outperform traditional systems. 

During a live Coffee Conversations® sponsored by Handifoam at the SprayFoam 2026 Convention and Expo, industry leaders Will Lorenz from General Coatings Manufacturing Corp and Josh Winkler of ICP Group delivered a clear message: spray foam roofing is no longer competing as an alternative system; it is evolving into a higher performing, more efficient solution designed to outperform traditional assemblies. 

Innovation driving competitive systems 

Today’s spray foam systems are being engineered for better performance, faster installs and stronger long-term value. As Will explained, “Our industry’s evolved to HFO technologies... They provide super efficiencies when you apply it. So, people are getting R-values of six to seven.” HFO (hydrofluoroolefin) blowing agents represent the latest generation of spray foam chemistry. Compared to older technologies, they deliver higher thermal performance with significantly lower environmental impact, particularly in terms of global warming potential (GWP). 

Not only do these new standards help meet increasingly stringent energy codes and sustainability expectations, but they also improve jobsite efficiency. With R-values in the range of six to seven per inch, spray foam delivers more insulating power in less thickness, reducing the need for multiple layers or additional materials. 

Advantages on the roof include: 

• Simplified detailing around penetrations and irregular surfaces 
• Reduced system weight compared to multi-layer assemblies 
• Greater flexibility in recover and retrofit applications 

Compared to traditional multi-layer assemblies that require boards, fasteners and membranes, spray foam systems are delivering higher thermal performance with fewer materials, fewer installation steps and fewer opportunities for failure. 

Indoor air quality and sustainability 

As spray foam expands into more interior applications, expectations around health, safety and environmental performance are rising. Josh highlighted how manufacturers are responding: “All the manufacturers are looking at lower VOC ratings... certifying that nothing harmful is being added in the indoor air environment.” Lower VOC formulations are especially important in tighter, more energy-efficient buildings, where air exchange is limited. Once cured, these products help ensure that insulation systems do not compromise indoor air quality.  

Just as importantly, building owners are measuring system performance by more than upfront cost alone. Indoor air quality, energy efficiency and lifecycle durability are becoming key differentiators that spray foam can support. Spray foam contributes to long-term performance by: 

• Reducing heating and cooling demand through superior insulation and air sealing 
• Extending roof lifecycles when paired with coatings and maintenance 
• Supporting recover systems that minimize tear-off waste 

Fire safety and code compliance 

As building codes evolve, particularly in wildfire-prone regions like California, spray foam manufacturers are proving that high-performance systems do not have to come at the expense of safety or design flexibility. Will explained how spray foam fits as part of the complete assembly when reducing fire risk: “We protect [the spray foam] with coatings...And we put it behind prescriptive thermal barriers. What we want to do is open up the design so that people can take advantage of putting insulation in and then use the right coating systems.” Intumescent and protective coatings are engineered to expand when exposed to heat, forming a protective layer that slows flame spread and enhances occupant safety. 

Smarter, tighter buildings 

Perhaps the biggest way spray foam is beginning to outperform traditional systems is through a fundamental shift in building science. Through initiatives supported by the Spray Foam Coalition, we’re starting to gain traction: “There's a smart way to build. There are smart products. There are manufacturers who support the fact that we don't always have to put on more insulation. We just design it, put in better products, work with the right manufacturers so the systems really perform and they outperform other insulation materials,” Will emphasized. 

Air leakage remains one of the biggest drivers of energy loss in buildings. However, spray foam acts as both an insulator and an air barrier. As Josh trains the contractors he works with: “Seal it tight, ventilate right.” The idea is simple, but powerful: 

• Create a tight building envelope by sealing gaps and penetrations 
• Use mechanical systems to manage airflow and ventilation intentionally 

Will and Josh’s message was clear: the future of spray foam roofing is about innovation. From next-generation chemistry and healthier indoor environments to fire-safe assemblies and smarter building design, spray foam is evolving to outperform traditional roofing systems at every level. 

Listen to the full Coffee Conversations to learn how to use spray foam to build higher-performing and longer-lasting systems.