By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

Learn about the companies that are driving the industry towards a greener future.

It is no secret that now more than ever is the time to focus on greener roofing solutions and for companies to reduce CO2 emissions. As manufacturers innovate to provide products that work longer and use greener practices, consumers and contractors alike can do their part to make sustainable choices. We have rounded up some pioneering companies that are driving the industry towards a more sustainable future.  

Re-use and recycle 

Environmentally responsible materials are more popular than ever, which is why an endlessly recyclable metal that won’t lose its strength and durability is a key component in EXCEPTIONAL® Metals’ pledge to reduce their environmental impact. 

Malarkey adds upcycled rubber and plastic polymers from used tires and water bottles to help extend shingle life. The upcycled materials improve the shingle's resilience and strength, creating an incredibly durable material that will last through extreme weather conditions like intense wind, rain and impact. 

Often on a roof made of a thousand pieces of tile, there are only a few broken tiles. Rather than reroofing, which comes at a substantial environmental cost, All Points Tile & Slate makes it easy to simply replace the few bits of damaged tile. Completely re-doing a roof creates harmful emissions during production while unnecessarily filling landfills. This is why All Points Tile is driven to provide local, national and international customers with the ability to identify, procure, color-match, store and deliver tiles. These processes make fixing a roof and replacing tiles much greener, while also making it easier for contractors to quickly finish the job and deliver a beautiful roof. 

Certifiably sustainable 

Sika strives to be transparent about their products from a full life cycle “cradle to grave” point of view. As such, Sika products are certified sustainable and designed to meet LEED standards in order to build a brighter future for our environment. 

Sika has been publishing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for its products since 2012 and its extensive EPD portfolio covers all of its construction target markets, from roof to basement. The only liquid-applied roofing and waterproofing systems that offer a fully disclosed cradle-to-grave EPD are Sikalastic RoofPro products. 

Duro-Last, Inc. is the first manufacturer to publish a product specific PVC environmental product declaration (EPD) for single-ply membranes, reporting the lifecycle environmental impact of each of their membrane products. Duro-Last also leads the roofing industry with the most certifications under NSF/ANSI 347, and is one of the only two manufacturers to achieve the highest-level platinum certification.  

Green technology 

Malarkey is committed to the environment and developed the industry’s first smog-reducing shingle by incorporating 3M smog-reducing granules. These granules are used in all of Malarkey’s shingles. You won’t even be able to tell the granules are there because they blend into the shingle’s color.   

Another way to reduce smog and the Urban Heat Island effect is through the use of green roofs. SOPREMA makes it easy to incorporate vegetated roofing systems into any roofing business with SOPRANATURE® green roof, which uses natural vegetation, like grasses and shrubs, to turn the roof, a usually neglected space, into a green oasis. 

The roof layers act as a soil and drainage system, compensating for the hampered ecosystems resulting from urban development, offering a multitude of economic and environmental benefits to building owners and communities. 

In addition to their innovative green roofing solutions, SOPREMA is deeply engaged in developing sustainability initiatives within their communities. For instance, they have a company recycling program and employees who have worked at SOPREMA for 20 years get a tree planted on the property in their name.

Energy efficiency 

Western Colloid's Cool Roof Systems can make a huge difference in the heating and cooling costs of your building, specifically with Fluid Applied Reinforced Roofing (FARR) systems. The cost of upgrading or restoring your roof with this system is offset by the cost savings for your building. Additionally, your roof upgrade may qualify for government rebates, tax deductions or write-offs. 

Similarly, ATAS has a variety of cool roof products designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat, bringing a new definition of “cool” to sustainability by bringing down the temperature.   

Conclusion 

These are just a few of the ways that the roofing industry is working towards ensuring a brighter, cleaner and certifiably greener future. Roofing products that extend the life of the roof, promote efficiency and save materials from landfills are smart choices for contractors and homeowners and show just how much you care about our planet and making sustainable choices to preserve it.  

Stay up to date with the latest roofing industry news when you sign up for the RCS Week in Roofing e-news. 

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

Let the experts at All Points Tile help you find your perfect match. 

It can be hard to find a tile when making a repair; usually, the homeowner has either made the choice years ago or is trying to match a tile choice the previous owner made. Tile comes in hundreds of different styles and from numerous manufacturers, so it can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. 

Thankfully, All Points Tile and Slate has a knowledgeable staff, well studied in identifying all different types of tiles. With over 35 years' experience in the tile industry, these experts have a passion for tile identification. 

The best way to guarantee a match for a specific tile is to send in a photo with your inquiry. All Points Tile and Slate’s online form makes it easy to find a match, all you need to do is fill out your name, email, phone number and send in up to six photos of the tile you are trying to identify. 

Remember that tile dimensions are critical when sending inquiries through the online identification form, so be sure to follow the tile photo examples and provide photos that show measurements of the length and width of the tile. An ideal photo will feature a measuring tape in the frame. 

This free service is great for repairs, especially during the material shortage. By properly identifying and ordering exactly what you need, you avoid overbuying as well as trial and error repairs. Currently, All Points Tile and Slate offers 394 tile options on their website, with clear descriptions of exactly how much stock they have of each type of tile. It is now easier than ever for customers to make informed choices on materials from a large supply of tiles tages. 

Learn more about All Points Tile & Slate in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.allpointstile.com.  

About All Points Tile & Slate 

All Points Tile & Slate is a distributor of new and reclaimed tile for whole roofs and repairs. They have an inventory of over 500,000 square feet of roof tile, including discontinued and rare tile. Members of Florida’s Association of Roofing Professionals (FRSA), All Points Tile & Slate proudly serves the needs of their customers through providing tiles by the pallet for large projects or by the piece for quick repairs. They also offer the silica dust-free HYTile Roof Tile Cutter. If you would like to know more information about any of the services offered by All Points Tile, including their delivery options, custom color matching and free tile identification service, visit their website at www.allpointstile.com.

By Garrett Littleton, All Points Tile and Slate. 

At All Points Tile and Slate, we’re doing our part to progress towards a more environmentally friendly roofing industry.  

Over the past several decades there has been an emphasis placed on companies to reduce the CO2 emissions they produce to help preserve environmental qualities such as air, water, land and climate. Manufacturers in the roofing industry are tirelessly working to innovate their manufacturing processes, as well as the products themselves to last longer and reflect more sunlight while still withstanding the destructive powers of wind, hail, rain and fire. 

While it is crucial to create the best possible product available as a manufacturer, we here at All Points Tile and Slate feel like we play a critical role in progressing towards a more environmentally friendly roofing industry. Our focus is on salvaging quality roof tiles to help service our customers’ capability of repairing their roofs by reusing material, rather than replacing it before its lifespan has expired. 

In many instances, there are only a few broken tiles on a roof made of thousands of pieces of tile, which means very little is needed to prevent a substantial environmental cost required to create the material to replace a roof that has no leaks. Not only would there be harmful emissions created during production, but it would also unnecessarily fill precious space in our limited landfills. Understanding this is what drives us to maintain the capacity to identify, procure, color-match, store and deliver roof tile to local, national and international customers in need! 

These five objectives not only help move the roofing industry in a more environmentally friendly direction, but also provide convenient and expeditious means for contractors to finish their jobs, and for customers to have peace of mind knowing their roofs have been repaired sooner than later. For example, in the event of a customer needing a complete roof replacement, there is often material left over from the job. We provide complimentary pick-ups of the roof tile to ensure this material doesn’t end up in a landfill and to save contractors time and money, eliminating their need to figure out how to get the material off the property.  

Another example would be the Custom Glazing Service we offer to more accurately match the color a client may need. Sometimes, complete roof replacements may be necessary if the replacement material doesn’t return the roof to the equivalent quality it possessed before damage incurred. This is why we offer in-house custom glazing of our material, to provide an indistinguishable look between pre-existing and replacement material. 

As you can see, All Points Tile and Slate is dedicated to providing a seamless experience between roofing professionals and property owners in acquiring the right material they need, as well as staying up to date with the greener standards set upon our industry, hoping to pioneer towards a better future. 

Learn more about All Points Tile and Slate in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit AllPointsTile.com.

By All Points Tile and Slate. 

Hundreds of beautiful roof tile options now qualify for a quantity discount! 

All Points Tile and Slate is dedicated to providing the best concrete and clay roof tiles available. They carry a massive selection of new and discontinued concrete tiles from around the globe in a plethora of styles like Mission Barrel, Villa, Spanish, French, Roman, Slate, and many more! Their inventory includes tile profiles ranging from the late 1800’s to present-day from four different continents. All Points Tile and Slate is one of the leading roof tile suppliers in the United States. 

All Points Tile and Slate currently offers 256 clay and 95 concrete products from various manufacturers and has over 400,000 tiles in their inventory available for purchase.   

To help accommodate customers with large roof repairs, check out these quantity discounts All Points is now offering: 

Field tiles currently in our inventory are approved for these discounts: 

o   Quantities of 120+ = -$1 per tile discount 

o   Quantities of 400+ = -$2 per tile discount 

Hip, Ridge, and Gable Trim Tiles currently in our inventory are approved for these discounts: 

o   Quantities of 50+ = $8 each (applies to currently manufactured material only) 

• 3-Sided Hip and Ridge 

• Standard Concrete Universal Barrel 

• Standard Concrete V-Ridge 

• Universal Rolled Rake 

• Universal 90 deg V-Rake 

*Quantity discounts cannot be combined with any other discounts 

Learn more about All Points Tile & Slate in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.allpointstile.com. 

About All Points Tile & Slate 

All Points Tile & Slate is a distributor of new and reclaimed roof tile. They have an inventory of over 500,000 square feet of roof tile, including discontinued and rare tiles. As members of Florida’s Association of Roofing Professionals (FRSA) for over 20 years, All Points Tile & Slate proudly serves the needs of their customers by providing tiles by the pallet for large projects or by the piece for small repairs. They also offer a clean and safe silica dust-free HYTile Roof Tile Cutter. If you would like to know more information about any of the services offered by All Points Tile, including their delivery options, custom color matching, custom blending, and free tile identification service, visit their website at www.allpointstile.com.

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

All Points Tile full inventory on website! 

During this period of material shortages, it has never been more necessary for manufacturers and distributors to have complete transparency about what is in stock and maintain updated information of inventory changes. 

As the year continues, cement and clay roof tiles are among some of the materials that are still in short supply.  However, All Points Tile and Slate continues to provide a selection of new and discontinued concrete and clay roof tiles available through their website. All Points Tile & Slate carries roof tiles from around the world in a plethora of styles like Mission Barrel, Flemish, Spanish, French, Shake and Slate. 

The key in delivering on materials during a shortage lies in clear communication about inventory with customers. All Points Tile and Slate recognizes customers need the most up-to-date information in order to make a choice in roofing material, and an online platform is a convenient way to quickly and easily report on what and how much is available. 

Currently, All Points Tile and Slate offers 394 tile options on their website, with clear descriptions of exactly how much stock they have of each type of tile. It is now easier than ever for customers to make informed choices on materials from an already large supply of tiles. 

Learn more about All Points Tile & Slate in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.allpointstile.com.  

About All Points Tile & Slate

All Points Tile & Slate is a distributor of new and reclaimed roof. They have an inventory of over 500,000 square feet of roof tile, including discontinued and rare tiles. As members of Florida’s Association of Roofing Professionals (FRSA), All Points Tile & Slate proudly serves the needs of their customers by providing tiles by the pallet for large projects or by the piece for quick repairs. They also offer the silica dust-free HYTile Roof Tile Cutter. If you would like to know more information about any of the services offered by All Points Tile, including their delivery options, custom color matching and free tile identification service, visit their website at www.allpointstile.com.

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

Swag, exciting products, cutting-edge tech and so much more were shared at this year's gleaming FRSA convention and expo. 

I had the privilege of joining Heidi J. Ellsworth, Karen Edwards, Tim Ellsworth, James Ellsworth and Megan Ellsworth at the FRSA's 99th Annual Convention and the Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Expo. Megan, the audio engineer and podcast editor at RoofersCoffeeShop® and I, the videographer and reporter, were responsible for getting Coffee Conversations to go LIVE at FRSA for the first time! While we ran into a few bumps along the road, like bringing microphone stands we didn’t need, struggles with a faulty mic chord and using a camera that lacked the modern feature to remove its focus box (to name a few), I’m happy to say Coffee Conversations LIVE was a wonderful success and something you can expect to see happening a lot more on the Coffee Shop, along with many other LIVE events.  

Unlike myself, Megan has been attending these shows since she was a kid and has a natural, extroverted demeanor. I, on the other hand, am happy to remain behind the camera. However, being behind the lens tunes you into the brightest, most impactful and important moments happening around you – the ones that make you jump from your seat and run for that perfect shot, pano or still – and there were plenty of those at the FRSA.  

ABC Supply’s gleaming motorcycle, Tremco’s electric booth and GAF’s huge hanging logo for instance. Who could miss the great swag from Cotney Attorneys & Consultants or the showcased tech from Estimating Edge and Jobba? And let’s not forget Solar Juice’s non-stop margarita bar!  

It was also exciting to meet the real people behind so many of our customer and partner companies that filled the show floor at FRSA. I encourage those who were not able to attend the trade show to check out our FRSA playlist on YouTube. There you’ll find interviews with leaders from Jobba, Hayne’s Coaching Group, Polyglass, Roof Hugger, Marco Industries, New Tech Machinery, Angi and Estimating Edge.  

On that playlist you’ll also find our two LIVE Coffee Conversations episodes, which feature leaders from HOVER, All Points Tile & Slate, Cotney Consulting Group, CFS Roofing Services, Reliant Roofing and Kelly Roofing.  

For a more vivid picture of the FRSA show, check out my recap video below! 

RoofersCoffeeShop® extends our many thanks to the team at FRSA for putting together this fantastic show and we can’t wait for next year’s 100th anniversary in Daytona Beach!  

Join us for our next LIVE Coffee Conversations at the upcoming IRE in Las Vegas and subscribe to our YouTube Channel to make sure you don’t miss a beat. 

Learn more about FRSA in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.floridaroof.com.

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

Key terms and methods all construction employers need to be aware of to properly meet OSHA’s crystalline silica safety standard. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule regulating occupational exposure to crystalline silica (silica dust) for the construction industry in 2016. With the exception of employee exposure remaining under 25 µg/m3 (micrograms of silica per cubic meter of air) in an eight-hour time weighted average (TWA), OSHA’s silica dust standard applies to all occupational exposures to respirable silica in construction. 

OSHA outlines two standards to control respirable silica:  

• Specified Exposure Control Methods - Employers may comply and implement methods to keep dust from getting into the air by using handheld power saws with integrated water delivery that continuously feeds water to the blade or using a vacuum dust collection system. 

• Alternative Exposure Control Methods - This requires the employer to ensure that no employee is exposed to airborne silica dust higher than 50 µg/m3 over an eight-hour TWA. The use of dust controls must be used or respirators provided, when dust controls cannot limit exposure. This method can be used by employers, who do not fully implement the Specified Exposure Control Methods. 

Reducing silica dust from roofing tiles 

The HYTILE Roof Tile Cutter offered by All Points Tile & Slate is a carefully constructed piece of equipment designed to safely and easily eliminate airborne silica dust. Contractors can confidently meet all health and safety regulations as outlined by OSHA with this modern tile cutter, that does not produce more than 50 micrograms of silica dust per cubic meter of air. 

This unique tool cuts roof tiles quietly and accurately without producing harmful silica dust.  Additional benefits include: 

• Substantially preventing slip, trip and fall accidents, since power cords are not used and dust is largely eliminated from tile surfaces.   

• Saving time and money, as electricity, power cords or diamond blades are not needed to use this tool. The use of dust vacuums is also not necessary.  

The Hytile Roof Tile Cutter is a must-have tool to aid in the protection of workers on the jobsite.  

Additional resources 

• OSHA’s Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica FAQs 

• NIOSH / CDC 

• Tile Roofing Institute (TRI) 

• California OSHA Proposal 

Learn more about All Points Tile & Slate in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.allpointstile.com. 

Disclaimer: This document is advisory in nature and informational in content. It is not a standard or regulation, and it neither creates new legal obligations nor alters existing obligations created by OSHA standards or the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

Quickly pinpoint what tile is needed for your next tile repair or re-roof project with this free tile identification service.  

If the experts at All Points Tile & Slate can’t identify your or your homeowner customer’s tiles, no one can. With over 35 years of experience, these professionals know tiles like the back of their hand. From concrete to clay and everything in between, specialists at All Points Tile can accurately name any tile in question, granting you peace of mind in knowing you will be ordering and installing the right tile the first time.  

Whether you need a few replacement tiles, or an entire roof’s worth, you can fill out the form and let the experts at All Points Tile identify which tile you need. The process is simple and quick, allowing you to spend less time researching tiles and more time focusing on growing your business and providing excellent service to your customers.  

To identify a tile through All Points Tile & Slate free tile identification service, you’ll need to: 

• Provide a clear photo of the front, back (with the tile logo visible, if applicable), and any other important angles you think should be included. 

• Submit up to three photos through the tile identification page.  

• If you are unable to remove a tile off the roof, capture close up photos of the roof in multiple angles. 

Learn more about All Points Tile & Slate in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.allpointstile.com.   

About All Points Tile & Slate  

All Points Tile & Slate is a distributor of new and reclaimed tile for whole roofs. They have an inventory of over 500,000 square feet of roof tile, including discontinued and rare tile. Members of Florida’s Association of Roofing Professionals (FRSA), All Points Tile & Slate proudly serves the needs of their customers through providing tiles by the pallet for large projects or by the piece for quick repairs. They also offer the silica dust-free HYTile Roof Tile Cutter. If you would like to know more information about any of the services offered by All Points Tile, including their delivery options, custom color matching and free tile identification service, visit their website at www.allpointstile.com.

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

This piece of equipment is a great way for roofing contractors to meet OSHA requirements and stay safe on the job. 

The HYTILE Roof Tile Cutter is a carefully constructed piece of equipment designed to eliminate airborne silica dust. This tool has been perfected for over four decades after listening to the feedback of contractors, who regularly use the machine. This is a must-have product for contractors interested in protecting their workers and increasing profitability.  

Safety first 

There are many ways the HYTILE Cutter protects worker health from danger on the roof. Since electrical cords or hoses are not needed, the potential for trips and falls is largely eliminated. The roof cutter also significantly reduces the potential of slipping on a roof, as it does not produce any silica dust. The roof tile cutter is a quiet tool and can be operated without the need for hearing protection. This protects worker's long-term ear health and allows for co-workers to communicate on the job.  

Silica-dust safety 

The HYTILE Cutter is a unique and efficient kind of tile cutter and does not use diamond blades to cut roof tiles. Instead, it cuts roof tiles quietly and accurately, without producing harmful silica dust. This makes the HYTILE Cutter especially appealing, as it is OSHA compliant and does not produce more that 50 micrograms of silica dust per cubic meter of air.  

Occupational exposure to crystalline silica, or Silicosis, is an incredibly dangerous respiratory disease caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica dust. It is a progressive, potentially fatal, illness with no effective treatment options. Therefore, taking preventative action is essential. 

In conclusion 

The HYTILE Cutter decreases the number of hazards workers can encounter on a roof. It not only decreases the amount of slip, fall and trip hazards, but it importantly does not produce silica dust that can cause Silicosis.  

With the HYTILE Cutter, contractors can confidently meet all health and safety regulations and also save time and money by reducing the need for saws, grinders, vacuums and other equipment on the job site. This effective and easy-to-use tool easily pays for itself in a very short amount of time. 

Additional resources 

NIOSH / CDC 

Tile Roofing Institute (TRI) 

California OSHA Proposal 

Learn more about All Points Tile & Slate in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.allpointstile.com.

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

The HYTILE Roof Tile Cutter is the rugged, OSHA-compliant tile cutter you’ve been waiting for. 

One of the many owners of HYTILE Roof Tile cutter, Northern Roof Tiles, was impressed enough to produce several videos showcasing crew members using the HYTILE Roof Tile Cutter.  

For over 30 years, Northern Roof Tiles has been dedicated to beautifying roofs with ageless clay tile while raising the standards of craftsmanship and environmental sustainability. This family owned company hand finishes, hand crafts and even hand makes most of their roofing tiles. A favorite machine included in their everyday lineup is the HYTILE Roof Tile Cutter offered by All Points Tile & Slate for many notable reasons.   

Importantly, the HYTILE Cutter eliminates exposure to silica dust, which is emitted into the air when roof tiles are cut with expensive diamond blades. When inhaled, Silica dust can cause Silicosis, a potentially fatal respiratory disease with no effective treatment options. Silica dust is also harmful to skin, the environment and can stain roof tile.  

With the HYTILE Cutter, there is very little risk for Silicosis and no need to wear respirators or use bulky vacuums while working. This machine is also incredibly quiet, which protects workers’ long-term hearing ability and allows them to communicate effectively on the job. The Trimming Tray catches chips to make clean up a breeze. 

The HYTILE Cutter operates without using power cables or air hoses eliminating trip hazards on the roof. The lack of silica dust also makes the roof a slip-free surface and there is no need to spend time cleaning the roof at the end of the day. This makes tile cutting a stress-free endeavor and allows contractors to easily meet all health and safety regulations, as outlined by OSHA.  

The HYTILE Roof Tile Cutter is easy on the back and the ergonomic handle absorbs the shock of tile cutting so a contractor's arms don’t have to. This rugged piece of equipment outperforms some of the most expensive tile cutting machines and is made to last – some of the earliest models are still in operation after thirty years of use!  

Get your HYTILE now to get more done in less time, eliminate hazards on the jobsite and worry less about harmful silica dust.  

Learn more about All Points Tile & Slate in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.allpointstile.com.