Roofing Trends to Watch in 2020

Another year has come and gone in the roofing industry. Each year brings new trends to watch, new opportunities for contractors to grow their businesses, and new challenges to overcome. From new technology to innovations in materials to market growth, there are many ways that the roofing industry landscape will change and develop over the course of the next twelve months.

It’s impossible to predict everything that will happen in 2020, but taking a look at some current trends can provide helpful insight on what to expect in the new year. Based on our research, here are a few of the roofing industry trends to watch in 2020.

Mobile Technology Comes to Crews

Roofers have adopted apps more frequently in recent years, but most of the functionality has focused on salespeople and other in-house team members. But recently, app technology has also been enabling roofing business owners to connect with their crews and subcontractors. There are more ways than ever to communicate with crews while they’re on site and for crews to view important information and instructions while they’re working.

This year, AccuLynx introduced our Mobile Crew App to help keep companies in sync with their crews. Within the app, roofers can easily check crew availability and schedule work for each crew. Subcontractors and crews can view their assignments, access job information, send messages, get directions to the job site, and more. It’s even available in English and Spanish to facilitate communication with bilingual crews.

Read: How to Use Mobile Technology for Your Roofing Business

With apps like these, crews are better equipped to do their best work, and your whole company is able to stay connected and up-to-date on every job. As mobile technology continues to expand and develop, your roofing company can take advantage of it to get the most out of your crews.

Environmental Roofing Trends Continue to Expand

Over the past few years, environmental roofing solutions have become a growing market. Consumers are looking for roofs that mitigate the impact of changing weather, save on energy costs, and reduce waste. As a result, new materials and solutions are being developed every year, and the trend is likely to continue into 2020.

A few of these environmental or adaptive roofing trends are increasingly popular. Cool roofing, where a reflective coating is applied to the roof so it does not absorb heat, is an option that is helping consumers reduce energy spending. The market for solar roofing materials is also expanding, particularly since California’s mandate requiring new residential construction to include solar energy systems takes effect on January 1. Roofers in California will likely see more requests for solar roofing, and if the mandate is successful, the trend may expand in other regions of the U.S. In addition, many consumers are considering using fire-resistant metal roofing to reduce the damage that wildfires are inflicting in many parts of the country. These trends have been growing each year, and 2020 will likely bring continued development of environmental roofing products. Roofers will need to stay aware of weather trends in their area, as well as local environmental regulations, and find ways to keep track of these new developments.

Continued Growth in Roofing Sales

Over the past few years, roofers have seen a steady increase in sales. This trend is expected to continue into 2020 and beyond. A majority of residential roofers surveyed at the beginning of 2019 believed that the next three years would see a continuation of the upward trend in sales. Far from stagnating, the roofing market continues to grow, providing more and more opportunities for residential roofers to expand their businesses and increase their revenue.

A few things will drive this expected increase in roofing sales. New trends in roofing materials, and market demand for new styles and colors in roofs, offer growth areas for roofers, particularly in areas of the U.S. that have adopted new environmental regulations. In addition, an increasing number of homes are 40 years old or older, and their roofs will soon reach the end of their lifespans and need replacement. And as the housing market continues to expand, with Millennials setting their sights on home ownership and a greater demand for new homes in the South and West, new home construction is expected to increase.

Roofers who are looking to take advantage of this continued growth in sales will need to be prepared to scale and have the tools to handle new business. Equipping your business with roofing software and streamlining your processes will be key for small roofers who want to increase their sales in response to these trends.

Read: How Roofing Software Can Help Grow Your Business

The new year brings new opportunities and challenges to residential roofers. Staying on top of trends in the roofing industry throughout the year will help roofers make smarter business decisions and understand industry performance.