Company Highlights in the 2nd Half of 2018

In 2018, we built on the hard work and success that has been our foundation for 35 years. As we look towards the future, we will continue to make investments in our company and people that include:

• New Service Building: ARI began construction on a 3,600-square-foot building as the new South Florida Service office. The team will look to move in this winter.
• Crane Purchase: Purchased a new 165-ton hydro crane to reduce the end cost to customers
• Electric Vehicle Purchase: Went off the grid with solar at our headquarters and added two more electric vehicles to our fleet, becoming one of the most environmentally-conscious companies in Florida.
• Apprenticeship Program Orlando: ARI started the ABC Roofing Apprenticeship Program five years ago as Florida’s first apprenticeship program for roofing. We recently expanded the program to Central Florida, shaping the way for the future roofing generation (read more…).
• Reduce Safety EMR: Our investment in safety is paying dividends. We’re proud to announce that our safety EMR is now a 0.58. The reduction in rate is essential, especially in a year where we brought on so many new employees. This goal was achieved through a comprehensive onboarding process and stellar safety managers, foremen, and a Safety Committee on the ground driving safety.
• Holiday Celebrations: ARI hosted its annual holiday party at America’s Got Soccer in Fort Lauderdale where employees and their families celebrated a year of hard work, recognized the “Best Crews of the Year,” and received new work boots, tool boxes, and water canteens.

Roofing Updates & Trends

Last year’s hurricane season brought two devastating storms near Florida: Hurricane Florence, which thankfully caused less destruction to North Carolina than anticipated, and Hurricane Michael, which sadly caused mass destruction to the Florida Panhandle. Our Tampa branch sent crews up to help with temporary roofing and repairs immediately following the storm. With the 2019 hurricane season just around the corner, we strongly recommend performing roof inspection and repairs now to fix issues before the heavy rains start in June.

When it comes to the economy, we see price increases across every major manufacturing line within the roofing business due to tariffs, specifically with steel and aluminum from foreign sources. However, materials are readily available, and the increases are not to the point where building owners are canceling projects.

In regards to product trends, we see increasing use of PVC roofing membranes for projects in 2019, signaling investment in high-quality roofing systems that require minimal maintenance.. PVC roof membranes provide a longer warranty where the cost of ownership is lower per year as compared to products like TPO. With this longevity comes the demand from consumers for roofing contractors who have been in business longer than the terms of their roof warranties. Less than 10% of roofing contractors in South Florida have been in business for 20 years, so ARI is proud of the trust and dependability we have built throughout our 35 years

Solar Updates & Trends

Solar has evolved from being good for the bottom line to being the right thing to do as we gain a deeper understanding of climate change and feel its impact on our daily lives. The difference in climate is helping to drive consumers’ buying patterns, as in the case of United Therapeutics. Advanced Roofing was chosen to install five solar carports for United Therapeutics at the Mayo Clinic East in Jacksonville, Florida (read more…). The new solar carports can provide up to 50% of the total energy needed to power the facility. As a bioengineering company working to save lives, their move toward becoming a zero-energy business is simple: “We have no business saving lives if we are killing the world.” We are proud to be a part of this.

As solar tax incentives begin to wind down in 2019 and beyond, we can see a negative financial impact on the industry as a whole, but the demand will continue. We see more roofing projects develop into joint solar and roofing projects now more than ever. By combining two projects into one, we can give our customers a discounted rate, making solar a substantial investment in the Sunshine State.

While technology in solar panels has stabilized, we see real innovation in racking design and how we build and engineer panels, driving cost and efficiency. Adaptation will also drive demand. Recent legislation requiring condominiums to give access to charging stations for electric vehicles is expanding the business beyond commercial carports. With ROI in the mid-teens, positive marketing opportunities, and helping fight climate change, solar isn’t just a feel-good story – it makes sense for business.