NRCA Professional Roofing

Mulehide has expanded its self-adhering EPDM and polyisocyanurate insulation lineups with new sizes to streamline installation. White-on-Black SA EPDM Membrane Rolls sized 5- by 40-feet are narrower, shorter and lighter than 10-foot-wide rolls. Designed for portability, they weigh about 80 pounds and fit in a standard pickup truck.

During the past few years, immigration has roared back into the national conversation with the urgency of “The Rising.” Illegal border crossings skyrocketed; court backlogs grew; and the rhetoric heated up. Those in the federal government have long sought solutions, yet somehow, always ended up where they started: “Backstreets” negotiations, familiar talking points, noise and some action but no comprehensive answer.

AI causes issues in work relationships The Harvard Business Review recently published an article, “How AI Damages Work Relationships—And Where It Can Actually Help,” by Amy Gallo, where she shares the following problems caused by including AI in work relationships: It creates “workslop,” not efficiency. When not used thoughtfully, AI can make your work more difficult.

MANUFACTURER NEWS Polyglass U.S.A. Inc., Deerfield Beach, Fla., recently participated in the Dolphins Cancer Challenge XVI where 125 employees participated in cycling and run/walk events to support cancer research. Support for the challenge extended across Polyglass’ operations with manufacturing facilities in Winter Haven, Fla., and Fernley, Nev., organizing local fundraising events and raffles.

As another season of elevated temperatures is upon the roofing industry, workplace heat illness and injury prevention in the U.S. is entering a transitional phase. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has not yet finalized a comprehensive heat standard, a process that began in October 2021, but OSHA has reaffirmed its enforcement priority for heat by issuing a revised National Emphasis Program for outdoor and indoor heat-related hazards, which became effective April 10.

NRCA has updated its EnergyWise Roof Calculator, a free online calculator that determines roof assemblies’ minimum thermal insulation requirements and energy usage costs for heating and cooling for specific low-slope roof assembly designs. The update incorporates the latest revisions to model energy codes and energy-efficiency standards. To date, nearly 6,300 registered users have input more than 13,000 projects. With this new update, these numbers should increase significantly.

On April 14-15, the roofing industry gathered in Washington, D.C., for Roofing Day in D.C. 2026, the premier industry advocacy event of the year that allows lawmakers to hear the industry’s collective voice regarding key government policy issues. This year, 199 registered participants from 33 states engaged with 158 congressional offices to advocate on behalf of solutions for workforce shortages and affordable housing legislation.

Editor’s note: The opinions in this article are those of the author not NRCA. The California fires in 2025 were sheer devastation—from Malibu and the Pacific Palisades to Eaton, Altadena and Pasadena—neighborhoods were devastated as homeowners helplessly looked on. Wildfires used to be contained to forest fires. Sometimes, there were air quality issues from the smoke, but for the most part, the fires didn’t affect homes, possessions and people’s livelihoods.

The trades are hot. The convergence of government support, fears of AI and desire for a stable way to earn a living have resulted in more people seeking jobs in the trades. And for the most part, that’s great news. For construction and roofing employers in particular, a steady flow of eager workers is what they have been needing for decades. But there are signs these potential employees may not be able to follow a path to the trades as easily as their predecessors.

is the only thatched roof still permitted in London following The Great Fire of London in 1666. Learn more about wildfire safety. Source: roofcrafters.com Roofing Spec (now Professional Roofing magazine) becomes NRCA’s official publication. The estimated number of employed roofing workers across the U.S. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics The number of registered participants at Roofing Day in D.C. 2026 Read more about Roofing Day in D.C.