Advocating for Asphalt

By Cass Jacoby.  

ARMA is paving the way for the asphalt industry to be successful; learn more about their initiatives that are taking the most popular roofing material in the U.S. into the future! 

In a new Roofing Road Trips podcast, Heidi J. Ellsworth sits down with Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) Executive Vice President Reed Hitchcock and Vice President of Technical Aaron Phillips  to talk about the state of asphalt roofing.   

“As an organization, our mission, like so many of the trade associations, is really to engage on behalf of the industry where we can, to advance the industry,” says Reed. “We focus on the areas of advocacy, promotion, communications and thought leadership . And that's really what we strive to be and to accomplish.” 

At the end of the day, ARMA is all about keeping a competitive playing field in the roofing industry, so that manufacturers have the ability to produce and sell their materials. Part of supporting that mission is through the association’s 2023 Excellence in Asphalt Roofing Awards. 

The 2023 Excellence in Asphalt Roofing Awards is an award program that is designed to exhibit the best practices, successes and complex artistry of asphalt roofing systems. Winners not only showcase their skill in asphalt roofing, but the variety and ingenuity of asphalt applications across low- and steep-slope roofs. 

“It's not just about how pretty it is,” says Reed. “But it's also about some of the technical complexities and challenges that contractors face, when putting on a roof on a dynamic structure that may have really unique needs.” 

Another way that ARMA nourishes the asphalt industry is through the 2022 edition of the Residential Asphalt Roofing Manual – Design and Application Methods. ARMA’s premier publication, the Residential Asphalt Roofing Manual - Design and Application Methods is consistently revised and updated to reflect the highest ideals of craftsmanship and technical knowledge in asphalt roofing.  

“We put together a group of experts in the industry, and literally pour through every page of the manual, look at every figure, consider all the different aspects,” says Aaron. “But then we're also looking for, are there significant issues that have changed in the industry that we need to add or bring attention to?” 

Listen to the podcast for more information on how ARMA is working to promote the asphalt roofing industry and for more insight on the state of asphalt in 2023. 

Learn more about the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.asphaltroofing.org.