The Importance of Researching Metal Roofing

MCS Influencer Randy Chaffee says that companies looking to get into metal roofing should do quality research and hire well-trained crew members.

Editor's note: The following is a transcript of an interview between our Multimedia Manager, Megan Ellsworth, and Owner of Source One Marketing, Randy Chaffee.

Megan Ellsworth: Hello. My name's Megan Ellsworth here at MetalCoffeeShop.com, and I'm back again for a influencer discussion with Randy Chaffee. Hi, Randy. How you doing?

Randy Chaffee: Megan, I'm well. How are you?

Megan Ellsworth: I'm doing good. I'm excited to hear what you have to say about this month's topic, which is how can companies expand their installation of metal products? I think very important.

Randy Chaffee: It is. And it's a great question because, Megan, we are, as you know, especially with the MetalCoffeeShop, the industry is expanding so quickly into metal roofing. And I feel like we have taken a giant leap in the last few years with roofing or metal, I guess, being such a, not only accepted, but demanded in many cases, alternative to other types of roofing that siding and other products on the house are just a natural. I mean, it's a natural fit. And so I think it's the timing could not be better for this discussion and for people to find ways to expand the share of wallet, if you will, on the job.

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah, absolutely. So how would you recommend, maybe a roofing company that's never done metal roofing, how would you recommend they get into metal roofing?

Randy Chaffee: Well, I think real key if they're going to get into metal roofing and have never done it, I think it's vitally important that research, obviously, upfront. And you need to hire some talent. I think it's real important. And as this industry's grown, there's a lot of people out there that have been maybe in a backup role or assistant role someplace for a number of years and have gained experience. Because I don't think you want to go on your own without some expert background. And if you don't have that already, you can hire that. Because the nice thing about where we are now in today's, I guess in the expansion of the roofing, metal roofing as a very viable alternative, it's not even an alternative anymore. It's many times the go-to product. I think the beautiful thing is we are, even with the labor shortages and the issues we talk about on different places, I think we've developing some talent in that industry that you can hire that talent. Somebody that might have been an assistant superintendent, an assistant foreman, an assistant sales manager, whatever that may be. If you don't want to spend maybe the larger dollars to hire somebody that's been in that position or already in that position. But either way, depending on the size of your company, I think you need to, if you don't have the expertise in-house, metal is to a point now that people expect profession, professional installation, I should say. And I think you want to make sure you give that to them.

And so I think that's probably one of the most important things. And if you either have in-house or bring it in-house, however you do it, you eliminate the errors, right? Because metal is different than any other type of roofing, as is vice versa, right? I would say the same thing. I'm a metal guy, as you know, from way back. But if I was an asphalt guy from way back and saying, "How do you get into asphalt?", I'd say the same thing. Hire somebody that knows what they're doing. So I think that's probably the biggest key. And don't treat it like a stepchild, if you will. And that's no negative to stepchildren, because I have some. I'm just saying that, I got to be careful, but don't treat it like an offshoot or a maybe or, yeah, in case somebody decides they want to buy metal, I guess I'll have it.

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah.

Randy Chaffee: I feel like be in the business, right? Be in the business if you're going to do it.

Megan Ellsworth: No, absolutely. That is such good advice. And also, go to MetalCoffeeShop.com 

Randy Chaffee: Always.

Megan Ellsworth: Find all the resources there.

Randy Chaffee: Always. I'm going to tell you. Well, obviously if people are listening to this or reading this, they obviously follow Metal Coffee Shop. But if you don't for some real goofy reason, you got to do it, right?

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. Exactly. Well, thank you so much. Any last words of wisdom for anybody wanting to expand into metal?

Randy Chaffee: I think the last words would be look at all the other ancillary products too, not just the roofing. If you're getting the roofing, look at the board and batten siding and the different alternatives for metal siding, whether it's shiplap, whether it's log, whether it's gutters and soffits, any of those things. Because if you're going to get the metal roofing, one of the hottest things right now is that, quote, "Farmhouse look," right? With the board and batten siding and then the metal roof. And that's going to continue to grow too. So you maybe start with the metal roofing if you're not already doing it, but don't lose sight of the fact that there's a whole sidewall of that house and the gutters and the soffit and all those other things that metal's a perfect fit.

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah, absolutely. Well said. Well, thank you so much, Randy. You are so wise and I always look forward to hearing what you have to say. And I hope everyone out there got some great tidbits to take home with them, so thank you.

Randy Chaffee: You're welcome. Always a pleasure.