By Nationwide Slate Affiliation. 

The Nationwide Slate Affiliation seems again at one other profitable IRE. 

The Worldwide Roofing Expo (IRE)  is the largest occasion within the trade, boasting over 15,000 attendees from across the nation and over 500 distributors. The Nationwide Slate Affiliation (NSA) was proud to be in Las Vegas with the remainder of the trade this yr. Hopefully you had an opportunity to cease by sales space #8849 and say good day! However if you happen to didn’t, we’ve put collectively a fast recap of the occasions. Not all the things that occurs in Vegas has to remain in Vegas! 

The SRCA assembly 

A gathering of the slate minds befell throughout the conference heart on Tuesday morning, 2/6/24. The Nationwide Slate Affiliation and Slate Roofing Contractors Affiliation (SRCA) boards received collectively to share concepts on trade enhancements. The assembly began with a dialogue on the NRCA ProCertification Slate program which has now formally launched. Significant dialogue befell in regards to the SRCA growing a ProCert particular coaching course with the concept of not solely serving to the installer go the take a look at, however to grasp ideas seen on the roof. The NSA’s involvement is to deal with discovering certified installers to take the examination. This being a major funding from the trade, it’s crucial this can be a precedence among the many associations. 

Different dialogue factors have been an trade particular promotional video. This video might be geared in direction of goal audiences (householders, design professionals and contractors) and damaged down into chapters. Highlighting the fabric life cycle prices and product advantages, in addition to telling our story is a mission that shouldn’t be ignored as different industries have hi-jacked the distinguished repute of the phrase slate. Involving a youthful era via social media is also completed via this mission because the content material can simply be shared. A closing notice was the NSA utilizing the newly finalized CAD drawings and exhibiting on the AIA present in June. 

The assembly was opened to members after an hour, and concepts have been introduced up on combating the Photo voltaic Reflective Index problem hampering slate in sure states. The priority is that if the fabric doesn’t go in a single state, it can unfold. Subsequent it was introduced up whether or not artificial slate was taking pure slate’s market share. Attacking synthetics and clarifying the variations between the 2 is a future agenda merchandise.  

30+ members attended this assembly and it was agreed to proceed holding conferences on this format yearly as attendance was a brilliant spot. It was fantastic to see so many events and hopefully on the subsequent assembly we will see 50+. 

NRCA ProCertification 

The Nationwide Roofing Contractors Affiliation (NRCA) had a ProCert sales space the place Korby Grist and Orion Jenkins of the SRCA slated a mockup. This was an awesome introduction to what an installer will seemingly see on the ProCert examination. Not solely is it helpful in garnering curiosity for the ProCert examination, however it’s an awesome illustration of craftsmen within the slate trade. This program goals to create a take a look at for slate set up which qualifies the installer to assist scale back poor slate initiatives and maintain the standard of the trade excessive. 

The pure slate trade has its challenges with materials lead instances, product knock offs, set up requirements and plenty of extra identical to every other trade. This can be a tight knit group of prideful individuals who perceive that slate is a wonderful roofing materials. Serving to individuals perceive their funding in a slate roof is a lifelong funding that serves future generations is a paramount worth. It’s thrilling that all of us can come collectively and share our tales, as it will probably solely assist us transfer ahead. 

Authentic article supply: Nationwide Slate Affiliation