Cotney Consulting Group
Technology should improve work, not complicate it
Check your systems before bringing in new technology. I’ve never seen software fix a bad process. I have seen the right technology make a disciplined operation considerably better. That distinction matters in metal construction because contractors have more technology available to them than ever before. Project management platforms, BIM, mobile field ...
Not every roof should be coated
Restoration success starts with the right assessment. Fluid-applied restoration has become an important option for extending roof service life, controlling capital costs and avoiding unnecessary tear-off. But one of the most important things contractors need to understand is that not every roof is a restoration candidate. I’ve seen coatings used successfully for ...
Beyond math and measurements
By Emma Peterson. The importance of strong estimating practices in managing risk, protecting profitability and setting projects up for success. Estimating is the foundation of roofing projects – without an accurate assessment of a project, and the costs related to it, it's difficult to expect a project to go smoothly. ...
How roofing contractors can adapt to a tighter market
By Jesse Sanchez. Industry leaders explain why financial discipline, diversification and customer education matter as roofing businesses navigate economic and insurance pressures. During a live Coffee Conversations® discussion at the Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Association (FRSA), roofing professionals examined the pressures impacting contractor success across the United States. The ...
The legal side of the outdoor industry
By Emma Peterson. Learn how a simple documentation system can save you a huge legal headache down the line. Across the outdoor industry, whether you work on landscaping design, pool maintenance or some other area outside, there is one consistent challenge – navigating the legal side of operating a business. ...
Operational excellence is not an accident — it is built every day
By John Kenney, Cotney Consulting Group. The best roofing companies are the companies that prevent more emergencies from occurring in the first place. After more than 45 years in the roofing industry, I have learned that successful roofing businesses rarely become successful because of one major decision. They improve ...
Before you add solar panels, understand the roof beneath them
By Cotney Consulting Group. Solar can be a sound investment, but only when the roof beneath it is treated as part of the same project. Solar panels can be a smart investment for many homeowners and building owners. They may reduce energy costs, support sustainability goals and add long-term value ...
The next generation of Canadian roofing leaders will need more than technical skill
By Cotney Consulting Group. Technical skill may earn someone the opportunity to lead. It does not automatically prepare that person for leadership. The roofing industry has always depended on people who understand the work. They know how systems fit together, how water moves, where details fall short and what it ...
When the economic signals don’t agree
By John Kenney, Cotney Consulting Group. How roofing contractors should plan for slower growth, uneven demand and continued volatility. If you are having trouble deciding what the economy is telling you right now, you are not alone. The signals do not agree. Total nonfarm payroll employment declined by 23,000 jobs in ...
The specifications are not the entire scope
By Cotney Consulting Group. Roofing contractors are often told to follow the specifications, and they should. But the specifications are not the entire scope. Drawings, specifications, addenda, contracts, supplementary conditions, manufacturer requirements, referenced standards and actual site conditions may govern a roofing project. Each document may contain part of the ...
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