The Ripple Effects of COVID-19 in the Roofing Industry

Like all industries, the roofing industry is feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To discuss the impacts of the disease on the industry, both immediate and lasting, Voice of B2B Daniel Litwin was joined by SVP, Sales and Marketing for Fortis Warranty Dave Schupmann for this episode of Roof Talks, a Fortis Warranty podcast.

In the immediate sense, Schupmann said the industry has been a “roller coaster” over the past several weeks.

“From climate to climate and state to state, and from contractor type and certainly customer type, I think you can probably get a different answer (about the state of the industry),” he said.

For example, businesses in the grocery and food-processing industries and similar essential operations, business is as-normal or even better, though other businesses, such as tenant-focused business and more, are feeling the effects.

Schupmann said most projects are still proceeding as planned, particularly with respect to planning meetings that can be conducted remotely.

Still, certain aspects of day-to-day operations have certainly changed.

“We’re fortunate, in one case – I think there are only four states right now in the country that don’t have construction classified as an essential workforce. … It’s difficult to meet people, so something as simple as scheduling with someone to get up onto a roof and do a roof inspection – that’s not always feasible. Or sometimes they’re saying, ‘Oh, OK, just put up a ladder and go and send some pictures.’ Just the absenteeism of a lot of people in the workforce right now has made that a challenge.”

Contractors are also fewer and farther between, and travel restrictions have slowed certain aspects of the industry.

Though the current pandemic isn’t having the directly targeted effect on resources of a natural disaster or storm event, Schupmann said the wider area being affected – literally the entire globe – could spur a fundamental change in the way the industry conducts business as operations and companies adapt.

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