2022 Commercial Roofing Trends | 2022 Commercial Roofing Trends

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Roofing Contractor commissioned Clear Seas Research to conduct the annual Commercial Roofing Report research study. This online research initiative focused on capturing the industry perspective on 2022 successes and challenges, while keeping an eye on the year to come.

The geographic breakdown was led by the South (41%); followed by the Midwest (30%); the West (16%); and Northeast (13%). Roughly 44% identified themselves as corporate/executive management, and another 30% identified as general managers.

WHO PARTICIPATED?

41%

30%

16%

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13%

graphic modern skyscraper with green living roof

SALES OUTLOOK

grey skyline with giant orange numbers 202 in foreground

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reported increased sales over the past year. That seemed to fuel optimism for the near future.

Just as many said they anticipated growth in total sales volume next year.

anticipate growth through 2025.

FOCUS ON COATINGS

Coatings are the 3rd most frequent roofing product category respondents are involved with but account for an average of 8% share of overall sales revenue.

Commercial sales of coatings have grown this year by 47%, compared to the previous year.

Coatings products sales are expected to remain relatively consistent with this year.

worker applying roof coating with long handled roller and bucket

CHALLENGES (COMPARISON TO 2021)

In 2021, more than half of commercial roofers noted increased building material costs (71%), lack of qualified workers (60%) and supply shortages (56%) as their chief concerns heading into 2022. The latest survey data shows those three factors remained top-of-mind for contractors throughout the year, however, the order flip-flopped.

isometric view of an empty red shipping container

were contractors that found supply chain/material shortages as their top perceived challenge.

Lack of qualified workers held second.

followed with increased building material costs.

WORKFORCE WOES

Finding new workers was far and away the leading workforce challenge in the commercial roofing space, and employee retention was also a problem.

%

Employee retention

Finding new workers

three closeup heads of construction workers holding tools

worker in overalls holding hardhat and walking away

Challenges

Solutions

Increase pay/bonuses

Ensure enough work

man in overalls with hardhat and toolbelt and hands on hips

Emphasis on safety

light grey silhouette of a roofer with hammer on roof

orange silhouette of roofer with hammer on roof

Four-out-of-five commercial roofers said they experienced an increase in labor costs since January...

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Costs remained the same...

...the average increase was about 14% among all respondents

FIELD LABOR & USE OF SUB-CONTRACTOR

three construction workers standing next to each other

FIELD LABOR & USE OF SUB-CONTRACTOR

• 76% Full-time employees

• 17% Subcontractors

•7%% Part-time employees

LANGUAGE

Communication could also be an issue. On average, respondents report nearly two-of-five crew members speak a language other than English to perform daily job functions. About 1-in-10 employees in senior management speak a second language.