Unlocking the tools of the trade

By Jesse Sanchez.

Discover the lesser-known European tools transforming the U.S. roofing industry.

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Megan Ellsworth sat down with John Chan of the National Slate Association (NSA) to discuss the upcoming NSA Conference. While the event promises an exploration into Charleston’s architectural history, one of the most intriguing topics set to be explored is the evolution of roofing tools — especially those uncommon in the U.S. yet widely used in Europe.

"There’s all kinds of tools that are used in Europe that are relatively unknown here, so Tom’s going to go over some of that," John explains. Among those experts is Tom Stortz, who will be showcasing a collection of European roofing tools that remain relatively unknown stateside. These tools, while widely used abroad, offer unique benefits for precision work in slate and sheet metal roofing.

John shares an anecdote that signifies the rarity of these tools in the U.S. “I remember, long, long time ago, I bought this tool from Tom’s dad, John Stortz and he said, ‘Hey, John, I got to ask you a question... What do you use that tool for?’” John recalls. “I said, ‘You sell the tool, and you don’t know what it’s used for?’” The tool in question was designed for opening standing seam panels without damaging them — a game-changer for repairs. “You can use other tools, but if you use other tools to open up your standing seam panel, a lot of times you’ll damage it.”

Beyond specialized seam openers, attendees can expect to learn about pleated valleys, an innovative technique used in European roofing. “We just did a couple courthouses where we did pleated valleys, which you basically fold the valley in such a way that it goes around... and you don’t have to cut or solder anything. It’s like an accordion. When it gets hot, it expands, when it gets cold, it shrinks and it does all this without tearing any solder joints apart,” he explains.

For roofers looking to elevate their craftsmanship, the NSA Conference is an opportunity to explore new methodologies and gain insights from industry veterans. John stating, “Tom’s going to explain a lot of different tools that aren’t common here in the U.S. that you can do all kinds of really interesting things with.”

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about these tools and techniques!