May 2020 Newsletter

Greetings to all -

I am writing this today with a positive and optimistic attitude that our state, cities and counties will start to open slowly, but consistently through this month.  We all need to be cautious, but my hope is that we won’t see any more peaks of Covid-19 in our state.  We all need to get on with our lives and get the economy roaring again.

Like many of you, we thought we had booked to much work 2 months ago and had fears about how we were going to schedule that much work.  Two months later, approximately 6 million dollars of that work has been delayed by 4-5 months or pushed to 2021.  So, as I am sure a lot of you are, we are scrambling to keep our crews busy through the summer.  As I said; I pray this will be behind all of us soon.

So on to roofing news.  The CRA Membership committee and the CRA Board of Directors have been working for some time now on strengthening our membership requirements.  We are committed to making sure that all of our members are following state and federal mandated rules when it comes to conducting ethical business practices.  The number one problem in our industry is businesses operating without workman’s comp coverage on every employee.  If you work with subcontractors, by law, they need to be covered by workman’s comp. 

The CRA is currently doing an audit to check on the types of classifications and the number of employees being reported on your workman’s comp schedule. Remember, if your only reporting office staff and your employees are all subcontracted, those independent subcontractors need to have their own workman’s comp policy and a schedule showing the proper classification of their workers and showing they paid on each of their employees.  This is a huge issue.  If a company is bidding against someone that has all of their employees that are all covered by their workman’s comp policy, taking taxes out and paying on their general liability policy against a company that has only subcontractors and no taxes, the labor expense gap between the two is a 35-40% difference.  CRA members are the best of the best and we can maintain this standard by all of our members following the requirements in our by-laws and ethics agreement.

I sincerely thank those of you that have already responded and encourage those of you who have not replied to get the audit information to the CRA office by the end of May.  We assure you that your information will remain confidential and is only being seen by association staff. Individual member information WILL NOT be shared with the Board or Membership Committee members. They will receive a compiled list stating that association staff has reviewed and verified that the minimum satisfactory payroll was met and that evidence was provided of coverage specifically written for the roofing and/or sheet metal workers' compensation classification.

In closing, last week was a sad week.  We lost one of our best members and a great leader of the CRA, Dan Zahtila.  Dan was a long term, involved member, past president of the association and recently our Lifetime Achievement recipient.  Our sincerest condolences go out to Dan’s family and friends.

God Bless Everyone.

Jeff Johnston

The Roofing Company
CRA President

Email Jeff

A BIG THANK YOU to our 2020 Sponsors!

There is still a lot of good information being shared throughout the roofing industry on how employers can make adjustments to their businesses for the COVID-19 pandemic and measures that you can implement to promote and protect the health and safety of your employees.

CRA has served the roofing industry as a trusted partner to our members for over 40 years. Rest assured we continue to work for your best interest and will have your back through this.  Work smart, be careful and we will all get through this together.

Be sure to review our Covid-19 webpage and to check back often for updates (link below)

CRA Board of Directors

CRA'S COVID-19 INFO & RESOURCE PAGE

The CRA PR Committee is excited to kick off our Summer “Select a Trusted Colorado Roofer” campaign. One of CRA’s main goals is to Educate individuals and building owners on roofing in Colorado.  CRA will be running digital ads from May to October on Weather.com, KDVR, 9News, Facebook and Instagram – these ads have already started.  The ads will urge Colorado home and building owners to take the appropriate steps in selecting a trusted roofing contractor; especially in the event of hail or storm damage.  Here are highlights and other resources the committee has been working on:

• PROUD MEMBER BUMPER STICKERS | Do you have your sticker yet? - Now's the chance to get "Proud Member" bumper stickers for your fleet.  We want you to promote your affiliation with the Colorado Roofing Association on your vehicles, truck bumpers/windows or on your trailers).  Members receive 5 Free Stickers upon request.  Size = 11.5" wide x 3" tall, available in clear or white background.  Additional stickers are $1/per sticker. 

Click to order your bumper stickers!  

OTHER MARKETING RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS:

• Hiring a Roofing Contractor & Filing Insurance Claims | Video Series  – Many homeowners don’t know how to file a claim or understand the terms and process, etc.  For this reason, we have developed a helpful video and video series that will walk them through the process.  Click here to view the series of 8 videos.
• www.TrustedColoradoRoofers.com  – forwards to our main website coloradoroofing.org.  Here they will find additional consumer tips and information to help educate themselves on getting a new roof along with a search engine (and alpha list) to locate and contact a CRA member contractor near them.
• Be sure to use and share the Consumer Roofing Checklist. 
• Be sure to use and share the NO Roofing Solicitor Door Sign.
• For other tools and ways to market your CRA membership, click here.
• Enhance your Member Directory listing on the CRA website - the member directory is one of the most visited pages on CRA's website. Help customers find you easier by enhancing your listing. CRA member companies automatically have a basic listing in the member directory.  We encourage you to enhance your listing to extend your marketing message with the following personalization capabilities – brand awareness (add your logo), social media presence (add links to Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter) and add a short member bio.
• PROUD MEMBER POST - Promote your membership by sharing the following “Proud Member” post on your social media platforms and tag the Colorado Roofing Association (Facebook @ColoradoRoofingAssociation & Instagram @ColoradoRoofing) using #ProudCRAMember.  Please make sure your posts are public and searchable. 

  

Check out the marketing tools page for more details.

CRA GOLF TOURNAMENT | SAVE THE DATE!

EVENT | FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020

We are moving to Brighton in 2020!

Join us for the 38th Annual CRA Golf Tournament to be held at Riverdale Knolls & Dunes Golf Courses at 13300 Riverdale Road, Brighton, CO 80602 on Friday, August 21.

The Golf Committee will be meeting in the next few weeks to finalize the details for making the switch and working with the course to navigate our tournament planning during this pandemic.  Companies interested in sponsoring this year's tournament or manning a hole, can contact Debbie now for details.

Blood Drive | June 10th | 9am to 1pm

These past few months, we are facing a severe blood shortage, following an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations.  We hope to help in our small way to here in the roofing industry and make a difference.

B&M Roofing of Colorado has partnered with UCHealth to host a mobile blood drive to give back to our communities during the pandemic. CRA is proud to share the message and partner with B&M in supporting this great cause by offering CIU’s for anyone who participates in the blood drive. (Debbie at CRA would need your full name and company name if you would like credit.)

This will take place in the UCHealth mobile blood bus and with the current situation, donors are encouraged to wear a mask but not required. And with social distancing guidelines in effect, we have a limited number of donation spots. The good news is, we can add another date if we hit capacity.  

BEFORE signing up to donate blood via the link below, please READ ALL donor guidelines.  

UCHealth Blood Bus

3768 Eureka Way

Frederick, CO 80516

Click here for full details and to sign up!

Volunteers needed to help plan annual Awards Dinner

Recognized as one of the top roofing Awards programs in the country, CRA's Awards Committee is responsible for promoting and planning our annual event each February!  The banquet celebrates the past year’s accomplishments, recognizes a deserving individual with the Lifetime Achievement award and celebrates all the great work we do by honoring several jobs of the year entries.

From location and food to encouraging nominations, setting the program agenda, soliciting SPONSORS - we are looking for volunteers to participate in a meaningful way in the organization and help to make this event a success. 

The committee requires true leadership qualities and more often than not, these dedicated volunteers are usually “can-do-people” who are accomplished, know a lot of people and want to give back to the roofing industry. 

Contact Debbie today for more information or to volunteer!

Click here to view the full 2020 Event Calendar – calendar includes additional event dates, member luncheons, pinpoint seminars, Training Center courses, etc. 

We are monitoring several legislative issues at the state and local level along with public policy processes and municipal & county policy issues.  Click the bill number & name to track the current status of each bill as they move their way through the legislative process.

Colorado

Colorado's General Assembly is still TEMPORARILY ADJOURNED - We are now expecting a late-May re-start... tentatively scheduled for May 26 to give additional time for preparations including safety protocols, to work through appropriate legislation, and to seek greater clarity on potential Congressional action that could significantly impact our state budget.  State lawmakers still need to pass a balanced budget, which will require eliminating a more than $3 billion budget shortfall.

Governor Jared Polis signed two executive orders on May 16 to ensure elections can proceed in a safe manner and protect access to the ballot for November and this key election year.

• Executive Order D 2020 065: concerning signature collection for ballot issues, which authorizes the Secretary of State to create temporary rules for registered electors to receive and return issue petitions over mail and email, and to support safe in-person signature gathering.
• Executive Order D 2020 064: which temporarily suspends the statutory provisions requiring registered electors to sign petitions for unaffiliated and independent candidates in the presence of a petition circulator, and authorizes the Secretary of State to issue rules that allow for signature collection in a manner that protects public health while the COVID-19 disaster emergency declaration is in place.

We have also learned that as of May 7, there are 13 states that have either passed legislation, or issued executive orders to create a “presumptive” position with Work Comp bills.  Meaning...employee’s COVID symptoms are assumed to be work comp and employer has the burden of proof to show they are not.  Colorado may be next.  We are waiting to see a draft of the bill.

As always, if you are aware of any specific legislation, I did not cover above that may still be coming up in 2020 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 construction industry.

Jeff Johnston
The Roofing Company
Gov't Relations Committee Chair

CRA Lifetime Recipient & Past President Dan Zahtila Passes Away

Dan Zahtila (60) passed away peacefully on May 11 after a graceful, life ending battle with cancer.

He was the Colorado Roofing Association Lifetime Achievement honoree in 2020 and served as CRA’s President from 2012-2013. 

Dan joined the CRA Board in 2008; first as a director and then as our President in 2012 and 2013. Dan volunteered on the Trade Show, Public Relations, Community Service and Membership Committees. Serving on the Board was something out of his comfort zone (which he freely admitted). But over the year's he spoke his mind more and more (that's good and rarely bad) and after much prodding agreed to serve as our President and we are happy he did. Under his leadership CRA, accomplished so much.

One of Dan's main objectives/passion was on cleaning up the image of the roofing industry and bringing awareness to the consumer and to our contractor base. He worked towards updating our membership requirements including a two-year wait period for new roofing businesses, new education requirements that require roof knowledge and specifically strengthening our Code of Ethics.

He was also focused on increasing the amount of community service projects the CRA helped with and in giving back to the community as much as we could.

The task of taking complaints from consumers has always fallen to the President. During Dan's tenure we added an online avenue for just this purpose and because of this, Dan probably handled more issues than others have in the past. In all cases, Dan represented CRA well and was helpful in working out the differences between consumer and member companies.

During his tenure the Introduction to Roofing program continued to grow and thrive and funds were committed for PR hail awareness postcards and advertising campaigns. We also learned from SB38 that a bill without teeth does not work and for that reason Dan doubled his commitment moving forward to increase our efforts as an association to educate consumers on getting a new roof.

After leaving the Board in 2014, Dan remained on our Membership Committee until 2018.

Dan’s first President message quoted Thomas Jefferson - "I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past". He believed that we have the ability and resources to make a positive impact. He also believed that it is the minority rather than the majority that gives our industry a black eye. He felt it was a joint responsibility and repeatedly challenged members to become involved in the association, to mentor a new employee, and to give back to the communities that have made us all successful. 

Dan was a great leader -- level headed, kind hearted, you always knew where he stood and what he expected and for these reasons he was well respected by the Board and his sense of humor came through and made meetings just a bit more fun. 

We hope Dan knew the positive impact he made on many of us and the industry. Our deepest sympathy & condolences to his family, friends and former associates and co-workers. May he rest in peace! 

Learn more about Dan; view his Lifetime Achievement tribute video.

Memorial Service:

Due to concerns related to COVID-19, the family does not plan to hold a public memorial service and will celebrate his life privately.

Donations:

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name can be made to:

Nation Builders International

www.nationbuildersintl.org

https://www.paypal.me/nationbuildersintl

Mail to:

Nation Builders International

9337 Jackson St,

Thornton, CO 80229

Obituary/Share Memory:

Click here to share a memory and the see full obituary notice.

NRCA's National Roofing Week Postponed to Aug 23-29

NRCA has decided to postpone National Roofing Week due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis; it will now be celebrated Aug. 23-29.

Traditionally, National Roofing Week takes place each June to increase awareness across the U.S. about the significance of roofs to every home and business and share the good deeds of the industry. It also promotes the importance of hiring a professional roofing contractor and making informed decisions about maintaining or replacing any roof system. Additional information about ways you can participate will be shared at a later date.

Western Roofing Expo 2020 | July 1–15, 2020 | Now a VIRTUAL Show

The health, safety and well-being of everyone involved with the Western Roofing Expo is our top priority, and WSRCA is simply not comfortable putting our industry friends and partners at a potential risk. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is too unpredictable for the Western States Roofing Contractors Association to go forward with their traditional show in Las Vegas this June. WSRCA wanted to take this opportunity to announce, that the Western Roofing Expo 2020 will be transformed into the Virtual Western Roofing Expo!

WSRCA understands the importance of bringing roofing contractors together with our manufacturers and suppliers in the industry. Many in the industry rely on the Western Roofing Expo to elevate their businesses with vital educational sessions, by discovering cost-saving products and services in the marketplace, and the opportunity to network with old friends and create new relationships. As WSRCA and the rest of world learns to deal with this “new normal”, we believe that there is a new way of shaping how we continue to educate and inform our members and the industry. Many of us have been communicating virtually over the past weeks and doing so very effectively. It is our hope, that releasing our participants from the burden of travel and cost of exhibiting – will provide priceless peace of mind during this pandemic. It is our mission to continue to fulfill these goals for exhibitors and attendees – all from the comfort of your own homes and offices!

The Virtual Western Roofing Expo will launch on July 1st through July 15th. It will remain open to registrants to self-pace through 2020.  

GET MORE INFO OR PRE-REGISTER FOR THE VIRTUAL WESTERN ROOFING EXPO BY CLICKING HERE!

Source: wsrca.com

The following city and/or counties have made updates/announcements this past month.   

Many municipalities across the state are still closed.

City and Counties across the state are still closed to the public and encouraging you to use their online web portals and asking you to apply online for permits, to schedule inspections, etc.  Many of them are using a Virtual Inspection process using live video links.  We have seen many extended closures still in place so be sure to check with each municipality for their current policy. 

This month's updates:

CITY OF BROOMFIELD | 2018 Code Adoption - The City and County of Broomfield has adopted the 2018 International Code series, effective April 15, 2020.  Learn more >>

CITY OF DENVER | Green Building Ordinance First Annual Report - The City and County of Denver has released the first annual report for the Green Buildings Ordinance (GBO). The GBO, which took effect November 2, 2018, allows building owners flexibility and choice, while collectively raising the bar on building performance and contribution to Denver’s long-term viability and health.  Download the annual report .

CITY OF DENVER | Find your inspector's "ETA" online - Now you can find your Denver inspection ETA quickly and easily online using e-permits.  Here's a quick video demonstration.

CITY OF THORNTON | Roofing Inspection Update - Thornton Building Department roofing inspections policy has changed effective 6/15/2020 and now may be performed by drone.  Learn more >>

CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE - 2018 Code Adoption - Effective July 1, 2020 Building & Inspection Services will be enforcing the 2018 International Codes as adopted by City Council on January 13, 2020.  Learn more >>

SUMMIT COUNTY | 2018 Code Adoption - The Summit County Building Department has adopted a revised Summit Sustainable Building Code (pdf) effective July 1, 2020.  Significant changes to go into effect July 1, 2020 include:

• 2018 IRC Chapter 11 amendments listed under sections beginning with N11XX. (see page 15)
• 2018 IRC appendix F Radon Control Methods has been adopted in its entirety with no amendments
• 2018 IECC amendments commercial, residential and Summit Sustainable Building Code additions. (see page 26)

  Learn more >>

 Ready to get started? Click below to pull your first report!

Click HERE to get your free report

If you don't know your CRA login, click here for instructions on how to activate/create your account.

COVID-19 Guidance for the Construction Workforce

OSHA is committed to protecting the health and safety of America’s workers and workplaces during these unprecedented times. The agency will be issuing a series of industry-specific alerts designed to keep workers safe.

When working in the construction industry, the following tips can help reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus:
Encourage workers to stay home if they are sick.

• Allow workers to wear masks over their nose and mouth to prevent them from spreading the virus.
• Continue to use other normal control measures, including personal protective equipment (PPE),
  necessary to protect workers from other job hazards associated with construction activities.
• Advise workers to avoid physical contact with others and direct employees/contractors/visitors
  to increase personal space to at least six feet, where possible. Where work trailers are used, all
  workers should maintain social distancing while inside the trailers.
• Train workers how to properly put on, use/wear, and take off protective clothing and equipment.
• Encourage respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes.
• Promote personal hygiene. If workers do not have immediate access to soap and water for
  handwashing, provide alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency-approved cleaning chemicals from List N or that have label
  claims against the coronavirus.
• To the extent tools or equipment must be shared, provide and instruct workers to use alcohol-based wipes to clean tools before and after use. When cleaning tools and equipment, workers should consult manufacturer recommendations for proper cleaning techniques and restrictions.
• Keep in-person meetings (including toolbox talks and safety meetings) as short as possible, limit the number of workers in attendance, and use social distancing practices.
• Clean and disinfect portable jobsite toilets regularly. Hand sanitizer dispensers should be filled regularly. Frequently-touched items (i.e., door pulls and toilet seats) should be disinfected.
• Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns.

For more information, visit www.osha.gov/coronavirus or call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).

SFI Compliance - Virtual Tool Box Talks

SFI Compliance has started a set of virtual videos for digital safety meetings.  The most recent on "Do you have the right safety training?"  

You can find this video in Spanish as well as additional digital tool box talks on ladder safety and housekeeping on their YouTube channel:

SFI Compliance YouTube Channel

If you want to receive a copy of all upcoming digital tool box talks, sign up for SFI Newsletters here.

National Update: Worth sharing … 

May 2020 10@10

1. Congressional COVID-19 pandemic response. After enacting four laws providing roughly $3 trillion in funding to address the COVID-19 pandemic on a largely bipartisan basis, partisan fissures are growing as lawmakers consider additional legislative relief.
2. Paycheck Protection Program. Congress approved additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides potentially forgivable loans to employers affected by COVID-19, and agencies provided further regulatory guidance for employers who receive the loans.
3. Main Street Lending Program. The Federal Reserve released updated information regarding the Main Street Lending Program, a new lending program to help employers navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Congress provided an additional $60 billion for EIDL loans, but the program has been plagued by administrative delays, and the Small Business Administration recently limited it to agricultural businesses only.
5. Essential businesses, workers and infrastructure. NRCA continues working to address how the roofing industry is affected by the numerous stay-at-home orders issued by state and local officials in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
6. Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidance regarding COVID-19. OSHA has issued guidance for employers with respect to various health and safety issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
7. IRS treatment of Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness. The IRS released guidance disallowing the deduction of business expenses that qualify for Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness, excluding such expenses from gross income for tax purposes, but Congress may intervene.
8. Department of Defense Guidance regarding CARES Act assistance for federal contractors. The Department of Defense released guidance regarding the treatment of employers receiving forgiveness on Paycheck Protection Program loans and other federal assistance under the CARES Act in relation to reimbursement on federal contracts.
9. Effects of COVID-19 on solar industry. With the solar industry experiencing acute effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, NRCA is supporting legislation to sustain the industry and its workforce.
10. COVID-19 paid leave benefits. The IRS and Department of Labor released new guidance with respect to new paid leave benefits provided to employees under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act enacted in March.

Source: NRCA.NET

This month’s highlighted member benefits and 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.

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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