March 2023 Newsletter
Greetings,
Well, just like that, we are another month into this year and today is the first day of Spring. Regardless of the colder weather things seem to be moving along quickly on the work front --hopefully meaning the rest of the year will be a successful one for all of us.
I recently got back from the IRE (International Roofing Expo) in Dallas. This was my first time attending and I was quite impressed with the whole setup. Sometimes we get caught up in our own little bubbles of our local market and do not realize what a big impactful industry across the nation we work in. It was impressive to see so many of our industry leaders come together in one place with over 500 exhibitors, 35 countries represented and several beneficial seminars and talks to attend. If you have not been before, it is something to definitely look into going to. especially since next year's event is back in VEGAS! Feb 6th - 8th, 2024.
One of the most important information talks I was able to go to was the keynote speaker, Chris Czarnik. Following up from my newsletter in Feb where I spoke about how the industry focus is now on the “new employee”, Chris’s talk was exactly this and was centered around his book “Winning the war for Talent”. He spoke on how the hiring market has changed so much from past years and gone are the days where there was an abundance of people and workers coming to your door. There are roughly 10 million less people in the workforce now compared to the baby boomer era and it is going to take roughly 10 years to regain this workforce number with the millennials. So, his message was that our focus needs to be turned to a Recruit, Retain and Develop mentality using our existing staff if we do not want to wait 10 years. His talk was pretty insightful all the way around and we all could learn from his suggestions to change our mindsets. Something our company will definitely be looking at in the near future.
On the subject of employees, be sure to register to attend our pinpoint seminar at the end of the month on Mar 29th. Danielle Maya from Galvanize Law will cover recent changes to Colorado leave laws, 401Ks and the importance of data retention that we as contractors should be aware of.
I also wanted to say a HUGE thank you to our members, committee members and volunteers who all helped with this year’s CRA Awards Dinner. If you did not make it, you missed out. The whole night was a huge success and it was a very well-organized event in an exciting new venue. I wanted to thank all of the companies that submitted for last year's Job of the Year awards. We had 15 submissions in total and we had 362 registered attendees at the event.
Also, a big THANK YOU goes out to this year's Lifetime Achievement award winner, Jeff Johnston of The Roofing Company. A well-deserved award for a man who has devoted his life to our industry and pushed for so many of our rights as contractors with government legislature and bills that directly impacted our industry. I am honored to have worked with Jeff over the last couple years and I have learned so much from him. Jeff, Thank You!!!!!!!
In closing, I wanted to remind you all that NRCA’s Roofing Day in DC is coming up next month on April 18th-19th. We will have several of our members going to this event. Please consider joining in to support them as they represent Colorado in bringing issues in our roofing industry to representatives in congress.
Be safe out there and let's get this year rolling! Spring is officially here.
Thanks.
Guy Mumford
Kudu Roofing
CRA President
A BIG THANK YOU to our 2023 Sponsors!
UPCOMING EVENTS, SEMINARS & WEBINARS
Join us for these upcoming webinars and events.
CALENDAR
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Pinpoint Seminar: Data/Record Retention, Leave Compliance, 401K Changes & More
Presented by: Danielle Maya, Galvanize Law
Stay up-to-date on Colorado Leave and data/record retention requirement!
Part 1 - Data/Record Retention
Record-keeping is one of the most overlooked, but critical functions of a business. Construction is a document intensive industry - not only for human resource purposes, but every project has countless details that need to be kept per statutory laws. During this part of the seminar you will learn about data/record retention.
- how long to keep records (legal/statutory length)
- how to store electronically, cloud storage vs onsite
- how not to lose data when changing cloud storage providers
- data security, including signing onto unsecure Wifi
Part 2 - Current HR Topics
Colorado employers also need to be aware of new legislative requirements for family leave, 401K changes and non-compete agreements.
- family leave compliance updates
- 401K changes (depending on how many employees you have or if you don't offer it)
- new non-compete/non solicitation rules in relation to independent contractors
You don't want to miss this chance to gain valuable knowledge for maintaining records and staying up-to-date on your employer obligations!!
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
National Western Complex - Centennial Room
4655 Humboldt St (I-70 & Brighton Exit)
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Cost: $30
Register to attend, by clicking on the "Register Now" link below.
(CRA Member CIU’s = 4 per person)
Corn Hole Tournament Legislative Fundraiser
Wednesday, April 12, 2023 | Wagner Rents, Aurora
Please join us on April 12 for an “EPIC Corn Hole Tournament” – a joint fundraising event by the Colorado Contractors Coalition (ASAC, CRA and RMSCA). Have a little fun while helping us as we work to protect and advocate for roofers and other subcontractors in 2022.
Recent victories include the passage of 5% retainage on Private Construction Contract Payments (C.R.S. 38-46-101 to 38-46-103) - Passed May 17, 2021 and effective Sep 6, 2021.
Your participation will help us raise money for our legislative efforts in 2023 – funding a lobbyist, legislator and industry communication and participation in industry coalitions and organizations.
Sponsorships available, see registration link for more details.
Register to attend, by clicking on the "Register Now" link below.
(CRA Member CIU’s = 1 per person)
REGISTER NOW!
February 23, 2023
We held our 22nd Annual CRA Awards Dinner on February 23, 2023 and celebrated and honored many deserving individuals and companies. Thanks to all who attended and all our sponsors for making the evening such an overwhelming success! Please join us in congratulating our award recipients!
(Click on each individual or company to view a video of their story/project.)
Congratulations to our 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Jeff Johnston
Owner/President, The Roofing Company
Congratulations to our 2022 Job of Year Award Winners
Division I: Job of the Year – Under $150,000
1st Place | Academy Roofing, Inc. - Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
2nd Place | Black Roofing & Waterproofing - Arestua Hut - Guinn Mountain
Division II: Job of the Year – $150,001 to $450,000
1st Place | Kudu Roofing – The Rady Residence
2nd Place | Roof Check, Inc. – The Hiwan Museum
Division III: Job of the Year – $450,001 to $850,000
1st Place | The Roofing Company - The Homestead at Snowmass
2nd Place | Sweet Roofing - University of Colorado Sewall Hall
Division IV: Job of the Year – Over $850,001
1st Place | Horn Brothers Roofing, Inc. - Bear Paw Lodge
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Click here to view the full 2023 Event Calendar – calendar includes additional event dates, member luncheons, pinpoint seminars, Training Center courses, etc.
CRA TRAINING CENTER
The CRA Training Center is located at 1660 Jasper Street, Unit I & J in Aurora, CO and is designed specifically for roofers and roofing applications. The space can be used for all types of steep and low slope materials and roofing systems. We are "application friendly".
The center is being used for CRA Training Programs and is available to rent for members and non-members contractors, manufacturers and others who need space to conduct their own training.
Spring Classes | Registration Now Open
Here is the list of upcoming training classes:
Coatings | 1-Day Advanced*
Mar 28
EPDM/TPO | 2-Day Advanced*
Mar 14-15
May 2-3
Metal | 2-Day Advanced*
Mar 22-23
May 10-11
Introduction to Roofing | 6-Day
Apr 4, 5, 6 and 11, 12, 13
All classes held at the CRA Training Center located at 1660 Jasper Street, Unit I & J in Aurora, CO.
* The advanced classes have a prerequisite that you must have taken the Intro class first or provide proof from your employer that student has had a minimum of 6-months field experience.
Facility Rental Available - read more.
Facility Rental
NEED A SPOT FOR TRAINING ?
We just want to remind all of you that CRA’s Training Center is available for your next employee/installer training, certification class or product demonstration. Whether you need to teach a new installation technique, train a new crew or showcase a new product, CRA’s training space offers you a ‘roofer friendly’ indoor environment with class space for up to 30 individuals.
The CRA Training Center is located in Aurora, CO and is designed specifically for roofers and roofing applications. The space can be used for all types of steep and low slope materials and roofing systems. We are ‘application friendly’ and there is no need for you to travel from a seminar room to the parking lot. You will be required to sign a rental agreement.
Contact Diana Johnson for more information/details.
ITEMS OF NOTE
WELCOME to 3 New Members …
Meet our newest member(s) who joined this past month.
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506 E. Dallas Rd Suite 300 | Grapevine, TX 76051 | 801.916.8614 Manufacturer |
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11794 West 13th Avenue Lakewood, CO 80401-4406 | 720.968.6187 Roofing Contractor - Res/Comm |
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2611 West 11th Street Road | Greeley, CO 80634-5405 | 970.397.7696 Roofing Contractor - Res/Comm |
US slaps 200% tariff on Russian aluminum
A 200% tariff on aluminum from Russia is the latest penalty imposed on Russian products in the US response to the war in Ukraine. The increase takes effect in April and comes with a doubling of the current 35% tariff on other metals and metal products from Russia. Read more.
Source: Supply Chain Dive (2/24)
Legislative Update
The Colorado legislature has added another 103 bills since my last report - up to 489. Here are the key bills we wanted to point out and their current status.
Colorado
HB23-1023 Special District Construction Contracts Notice Threshold: Public notice for bids on special district construction contracts is currently required when the contract cost is $60,000 or more. The bill increases the notice threshold to $120,000 or more, and requires the amount to be adjusted for inflation every 5 years. Status: PASSED. Signed by Governor on March 17th.
HB23-1078: Unemployment Compensation Dependent Allowance -This legislation will likely add additional cost for employers. Status: No change in status, still in House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor Refer Amended to Appropriations on 02.09.2023
HB23-1085: Rural County and Municipality Energy Efficient Building Codes - Opt out for Rural County and Municipality Energy Efficient Building Codes. Status: postponed indefinitely, DEAD.
SJR23-004 - Uniform Sales And Use Tax On Construction Material - Uniform sales and use tax on construction materials. Status: Introduced to Senate on 01.19.2023 and assigned to Finance Committee, waiting on budget allocations.
SB23-105: Ensure Equal Pay For Equal Work - While this tries to fix the 2019 legislation, it is creating new ambiguity for compliance. Status: sitting in Senate appropriations.
SB23-143: Retail Delivery Fees - The bill adds to 2021 legislation that a business can decide to not charge the customer for the fee and instead cover the cost of the fee themselves. Status: passed Senate; headed to the House.
SB23-172: Protecting Opportunities And Workers' Rights Act - removes the requirement that the conduct need to be “severe or pervasive” to constitute discriminatory or unfair employment practices and significantly limit the circumstances where an employer can assert an affirmative defense to an employee’s claim of harassment or enforce a non-disclosure agreement. Status: introduced to Senate Judiciary.
If you are aware of any specific legislation coming up in in the next few weeks that will affect our industry, please contact me so that we can follow and share with the membership. With your help, we can continue to work together for positive changes in the roofing industry.
Jaimie Williams
Next Wave Roofing
Gov't Relations Committee Chair
The CRA Marketing Committee is Here for You!
We’re proud of what we do here at the CRA to promote the positive image of the roofing industry and our consumer outreach efforts though education and helpful tips. We've worked hard to create our digital presence and ultimately having consumers select a CRA member when it's time for their new roof replacement or repair.
We want to help you increase your digital footprint too! Watch this month's From the Rooftop marketing video tip all about maximizing your budget on Google Ads.
Maximizing Your Budget on Google Ads
It can be tough to know your budget is going to the right places with Google Ads. Sara Kremm, Old Town Media's Sr. Paid Media and Conversion Rate Optimization Specialist, has a few tips to maximize your roofing business's advertising spend on Google:
- Focus on keyword quality
- Match type: start precise and expand as needed
- Optimize landing pages with relevant keywords and effective CTAs
Be sure to check back for more landing page and advertising tips to improve your ad performance!
This month's Building Code updates/notices & resources you can use!
Denver, City & County - On January 9, the city adopted the 2022 Denver Building and Fire Code and the 2022 Denver Green Code. The new codes will become effective on May 1, 2023, with certain provisions needed to implement the city’s Energize Denver requirements taking effect this month. With an eye towards mitigating climate change, the 2022 Denver Green Code is no longer a fully voluntary code. New commercial or multifamily projects and major renovations will need to choose a small number of provisions from the green code.
Learn more about the Denver Green Code >>
Effective January 1, 2023, the City of Littleton Council has approved the adoption of the 2021 edition of the International Codes and 2020 National Electrical Code. Read more.
Colorado municipalities continue to become compliant with House Bill 19-1260 & HB22-1362 energy/building code legislations. The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) reports that more than 2.7 million Coloradans, or 48% of the state's population, live in a jurisdiction that has adopted the 2018 IECC. More than 60 jurisdictions have adopted it so far, with many more in the process or under consideration. CEO has compiled a list of Colorado Building and Energy Codes by Jurisdictions - see resource here: Codes by Jurisdiction.
Resources you can use!
The Building Code & Standards committee has been working hard to bring you a best practice resource document for low slope roofing applications. We are excited to announce that is done and ready to share with all of you.
Roofing Best Practices | Commercial/Low Slope
We have also developed a "Buyer Beware - Understanding Total System Warranties" page on our website that you can use to help your clients understand that all low-slope warranties are not the same. Check it out.
Buyer Beware - Understanding Total System Warranties
Have you been using the other resources and tools available on the Member Education Page? You should!
Material Price Escalation and Volatility Contract Provisions courtesy of HPPS Law.
Have you heard of any upcoming building code changes with any of the municipalities you work with? Please share them with us by emailing the BC&S Committee via Debbie at debbie@coloradoroofing.org.
Are you using ladders safely?
MARCH IS LADDER SAFETY MONTH
March is National Ladder Safety Month. OSHA resources provide information that can help protect workers from fall, electrocution and other hazards. In addition, the American Ladder Institute's website ladder safety month is packed full of resources and training material:
Other safety topics this month:
OSHA Penalizes New Hampshire Roofing Contractor with $234K in Penalties
The roofing contractor exposed employees to falls of up to 20 feet as they installed shingles or performed roofing work, according to OSHA. Read more.
Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction.
You can make a difference! Join us in helping to spread awareness and prevent falls!!
- Order your CRA Fall Prevention awareness banner/window clings. Download order form here.
- Plan now to participate in the 10th annual Stand-Down to Prevent Falls will take place May 1-5. More info.
Pinnacol has published their 2023 Training Calendar. If you are a policyholder, we highly recommend you to view the list for the year and take advantage of these training opportunities:
- Apr 13 - OSHA 30-Hr for Construction (In-Person)
- May 4 - Lock-out/Tag-Out (LOTO) Essentials (In-Person)
- May 18 - Confined Space Awareness (In-Person)
- Jun 7 - Incident Investigation (Webinar)
- Jun 8 - OSHA 10 - General Construction (In-Person)
For the details and to see the full year, go to https://www.pinnacol.com/safety-and-training/training/policyholders
NRCA Update: Worth sharing …
NRCA Update - US Made Construction Products, Employee Retaliation, LegalCon and Roofing Day in D.C.
A couple key items we felt were noteworthy from NRCA this month:
In February, during President Biden’s State of the Union address, he announced the mandating of all construction materials in federal infrastructure projects to be made in the U.S. According to the White House, the proposed guidance would set domestic manufacturing standards for construction materials, including plastic and polymer-based products, glass, lumber and drywall. The proposed guidance is aimed at increasing U.S.-made material requirements in infrastructure projects to boost domestic manufacturing. The rule still would allow the federal agency awarding the money to waive requirements if certain materials aren’t available or if it would be inconsistent with the public interest. A one-size-fits-all solution often doesn’t fit every project, especially when required components are not made in the U.S. So the Biden administration proposed temporarily waiving and easing requirements on U.S.-made construction. The rule is open for public comment, including what additional construction materials should be included.
DOL issues final rule regarding employee retaliation complaints. The Department of Labor issued a final rule regarding handling employee retaliation complaints under the Taxpayer First Act, which was enacted July 1, 2019, according to www.osha.gov. The act protects employees who report or assist in an investigation regarding underpayment of taxes or potential violations of the internal revenue laws or federal laws relating to tax fraud. It also protects employees who assist in any action taken by the IRS relating to these issues. The rule adopts the procedures and time frames established in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s interim final rule—published March 7, 2022—without substantive change. The final rule took effect March 13. View more information.
STILL TIME - Register for LEGALCon Virtual 2023 - NRCA Legal Resource Center’s LEGALCon Virtual 2023, March 23, gives you the opportunity to learn the latest developments from the brightest legal and technical experts in the roofing industry in one information-packed day. From the convenience of your home or office, you can maximize your company’s productivity and receive in-depth information about contract law, employment law and roofing technology you won’t find anywhere else. Don’t miss it! Register now.
Roofing Day in D.C. 2023 advocacy issues have been finalized—sign up today! - Roofing professionals will gather on Capitol Hill April 18-19 to discuss the critical issues facing their companies and the roofing industry. And you know what? We’re making a big difference. So far, we have increased funding for career and technical education, advanced legislation that addresses workforce development needs and secured a strong buildings component in bipartisan infrastructure legislation. The IRE partners with the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), Roofing Contractor Magazine, National Women in Roofing (NWiR), and other groups to create the premier industry conference and exhibition. This year, our Roofing Day in D.C. Advisory Committee—in consultation with industry partners—has chosen three issues for Roofing Day in D.C. that unite the industry. We will present workforce shortage solutions, focusing on immigration reform, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and funding for Career and Technical Education Perkins State Grants. We will also support important funding for the Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office and support the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, which makes permanent the tax deduction for qualified business income set to expire in 2025. Please visit nrca.net/roofingday to learn more and sign up today!
Helpful Member Benefits & Tools
ADVISORY NOTICE: Roofing Contractors Must Not Act as Public Adjusters – Check Your Contract Language
The CRA Board of Directors has issued an advisory with additional information and details about these public adjuster clauses we have seen being used in Colorado that basically state that the roofing contractor may negotiate or act as a public adjuster on behalf of the owner. This is against Colorado’s Residential Roofing Law (SB38) and it is required that you must be a licensed public adjuster before you take on this role. Click here to view the advisory.
Concerning Ladder Liability. Help us in educating consumers and concerned citizens about the liability and risks involved with unattended ladders set for inspectors.
CRA Safety Group Workers’ Comp Program. Receive a 4%-upfront discount, group or individual loss history dividend calculation and much, much more. Members of the program automatically belong to the CRA Safety Group whose focus is on continuing safety education and training and improving safety in the roofing community. In partnership with Moody Insurance Agency and Pinnacol Assurance. Call Kim Burkhardt. at 303-824-6600 to receive additional information regarding this program.
RoofersCoffeeShop Free Classified Ad. RoofersCoffeeShop is the premier networking site in the roofing industry, helping contractors find information, materials, services, tools, labor and training in one place. Share ideas and stories in our RCS Forum, and visit their classified ads section to sell and find items and get help. Use promo code CRA for your FREE classified ad.
Colorado Contractors Legislative Advocacy Coalition - CRA partners with several other construction associations to make our voices heard as joint members of the Colorado Contractors Coalition. Together we have successfully passed legislation including payment reform (public and private to 5%), bonding requirements, pro-rata liability and construction defect reform policies. Check out the CCC website for more information and to keep up with our CURRENT advocacy efforts.
Delivery of the E-Newsletter to Your Inbox
To guarantee delivery of the newsletter to your e-mail inbox each month, we ask that you add Debbie Hathorne to your address book using the following email: debbie@coloradoroofing.org. By adding this address to your contact list, we hope to avoid spam blockers/junk mail folders and ensure your receipt of the CRA newsletter in your inbox each month. Thank you.
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