PowerBlanket’s Hot Box is the Cold-Weather Solution for Outsider Exterior Specialists

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter.

Outsider uses Powerblanket to keep the jobs rolling during the winter months.

Cold weather brings problems to roofing projects like moths to a lamp. This affects the duration of the project, which can derail other jobs. Cold weather and cold materials can also negatively impact worker safety. Powerblanket realized the series of problems brought on by the cold weather and has worked alongside roofing professionals to develop products that keep projects rolling safely through the winter months.

In this video, Powerblanket interviews Mitch Dickenson of Outsider Exterior Specialists. Outsider is a small company with about 30 employees located in Richfield, Utah. Mitch and his employees have used Powerblanket products, like the Hot Box, to meet warranty restrictions, prevent problems in materials, have good spray foam yields and to avoid equipment malfunction during winter jobs.

Most warranties have strict temperature guidelines for the installation process. Mitch explains that the majority of products require high installation temperatures upwards of 30 or 40 degrees. Without the Hot Box, it would be impossible to install in colder temperatures.

The video also addresses how cold temperatures damage materials, “Cold weather affects the materials a lot,” said Mitch. “For instance, shingles if stored improperly will bend.”

The cold affects siding in a similar way, causing it to bend and reshape. “It kind of forms in the cold and then you install it and [the bend] never comes out of it. It affects the installation once we get below freezing,” according to Mitch.

The cold’s effects on spray foam yields is another reason why Mitch and Outsider use Powerblanket products. “When we’re doing spray foam in the winter, the biggest problem is that we get a lot less yield out of our product. We’ve got to try to keep it warm,” Mitch explained.

The warmer the product, the better the yield. This rule of thumb also describes equipment, which can malfunction in the cold, causing projects to slow and possibly derailing others down the line.

“We struggle with electric motors being hard to start and popping breakers because it’s cold,” said Mitch. “The cold affects the tools for sure.”

Mitch and Outsider’s response to these problems is the Hot Box. Outsider reportedly uses the Powerblanket product to prevent caulking from being too cold to install, to protect compressors from freezing up and much more.

“We’ll put nail guns in there, matter of fact we’ve had guys go in there to warm up and we left gloves in there to dry,” said Mitch.

Powerblanket knows the negative effects the winter months can have on a roofer’s business, their equipment and product yield. Their products serve contractors like Outsider Exterior Specialists who are looking for fewer problems and more success in colder conditions. Watch the video to hear more from Outsider and Mitch on the effect Powerblanket has had on the productivity of their business during the winter months.

Learn more about Powerblanket in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory.