FRIDAY5 – June 22, 2018

It’s summer, which also means it’s roofing season – the busiest time of year for roofing contractors.  With seemingly more frequent weather disturbances year after year, both homeowners and businesses are recognizing the many benefits offered by metal roofs, which has increased demand.  Metal roofing is now second only to asphalt shingle roofing in the remodeling market and contractors are working harder than ever to meet that demand. 

We all known time is valuable in the field so having the right tools is essential to optimizing productivity.  In the latest blog from RapidMaterials, learn about the best tools for getting the job done quickly with great results.  Read more here.  
 

Cats vs. Dogs – one of life’s eternal questions.  If you are team dog, there’s no denying cats have won the internet (at least for now).  Images and videos of cats make up some of the most viewed content on the web – and for many of us, we’ll never admit just how much time we’ve spent on YouTube watching the wild antics of felines from around the globe. 

One thing we do know is that cats don’t care – they don’t care if we are trying to work on our computers or trying to read.  When they want to be the center of attention, they make sure the spotlight is on them.  The cats here couldn’t help but show off by taking center stage in architectural photo shoots.  
 

May had the largest monthly increase in construction materials in a decade according to an ABC analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.  Prices for May expanded 2.2 percent, which are 8.8 percent higher than the same time one year ago.  According to ABC Chief Economist, Anirban Basu, rapidly rising construction materials prices partially reflect economic strength, but this data also suggests inflationary pressures are building.  The current economic expansion is the second largest in American history and real estate and construction cycles could be especially vulnerable to increases in borrowing costs.  Also at the top of everyone’s mind is the price of metals, which is increasing quickly.  Read more here.