Contractors brace for extreme weather

By Jesse Sanchez. 

As severe storms increase in frequency and intensity, roofing contractors must adapt to the new normal.   

The roofing industry is facing unprecedented challenges as extreme weather events, from severe hail to high winds and wildfires, become more frequent and destructive. Greg Hudson, director of commercial dens sales at Georgia-Pacific Building Products, sat down with host Heidi J. Ellsworth in this Roofing Road Trips® episode to discuss how contractors and manufacturers are responding to these ever-growing threats. 

Greg noted that while weather has always been a topic of concern, recent shifts have pushed the industry toward more proactive strategies. "Severe weather events have had an increase in the number of events per year but also the dollar impact has increased per year since 1980," he explained. This rise in damage has placed greater emphasis on building roof systems that can withstand increasingly harsh conditions. 

One area Greg covered was the importance of integrating cover boards like DensDeck Roof Boards into roofing systems. Originally developed for fire resistance, these cover boards now offer significant protection against severe weather. “We started to see these additional benefits, increased wind uplift, increased puncture resistance from both foot traffic and hail,” Greg said. These materials are now essential in mitigating the effects of extreme weather, particularly hailstorms. 

Greg also stressed the role of insurance in driving change. "Going back to the NOAA data, they broke down the billion-dollar severe storm disasters and 70% of the average property losses are attributed to hail," he explained. This has led to greater involvement from insurers, who are now more engaged in discussions about roof system design and performance standards. 

The industry is evolving, and contractors must continue educating themselves to meet these challenges. "The ones [contractors] who are successful are investing in being proactive," Greg commented, encouraging contractors to engage with manufacturers and stay ahead of the curve. 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about how roofing professionals are adapting to extreme weather conditions!