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January 2, 2013

News for the roofing industry

Top Story

3D laser scans help preserve roof of historic Calif. church
Technology from nonprofit CyArk has helped preserve the deteriorating basilica roof at the Mission San Juan Bautista in California. The 3D technology uses laser beams to scan and make virtual models of historical structures so they can be recreated in the event of a disaster. The scans revealed that the wooden beams of the roof had weakened, and the measurements from the scans were used to make steel braces that fit the structure correctly. Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model) (1/1)

News & Trends

Mass. convention authority plans 2 hotels in South Boston
The Boston Redevelopment Authority has received a Notice of Project Change from the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority related to the construction of two hotels in South Boston. The two hotels will add 250 rooms each to the area's supply, will dedicate 26,300 square feet for retail space on the hotels' ground floors, and will provide a parking garage to accommodate 1,350 vehicles. The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model) (12/27)

One reason to be aware of local building codes
The owner of Exterior Remodel and Design in Nebraska has promised to make good the roof on a residential project in Bellevue, Neb. A city inspection earned the project a red tag when it was discovered that the decking lacked clips and some nails were exposed. The roofing contractor said the mistake came from a misunderstanding of the city building code. WOWT-TV (Omaha, Neb.) (1/1)

2 tools that could protect the roof from ice dams
The accumulation of ice on a roof could lead to water penetrating the shingles and damaging the interior of the building, according to some building experts. You can prevent this by using a gutter coil that melts ice slowly. Barring that, try a 17-foot retractable roof rake, which can be used to remove snow. WCMH-TV (Columbus, Ohio) (1/1)

Energy & the Environment

Green roofs on 4 London buildings could promote sustainability
Modular green roofs growing fruits and vegetables have been installed on four office buildings in London. The roofs are expected to help the building reduce heating and ventilation costs by up to 10%. The produce be used by food services for the offices below, and any food waste will be used to fertilize the gardens. BusinessGreen (U.K.) (1/2)

In the Office

4 business areas you need to check in on for 2013
As you prepare for the coming year, it's a good idea to review your financial situation, search for ways to improve your operations and focus on the big picture. "Take yourself out of the process of being involved in all the critical decisions day to day and start to work on your business growth, your long-term strategy, and things like finding cost savings," said Roger Murphy of Murphy Business & Financial Corp. Bloomberg Businessweek (12/27)

Have your skills reached a plateau?
After a certain amount of training, workers tend to reach a plateau where they continue gaining experience without getting any better at their jobs, experts say. Advancing past this plateau is how super-talented professionals separate themselves from everyone else. The key to doing this is to dedicate time each week to practicing a task that expands your skills. The Wall Street Journal/At Work blog (12/27)

Government & Regulatory

"Fiscal cliff" bill clears Congress
The House voted 257-167 to adopt the Senate's bill to avert "fiscal cliff" tax increases for most Americans. The measure prevents $600 billion of spending cuts and tax hikes from automatically taking effect. House Republicans gave up on demands for spending cuts that likely would have been blocked by the Senate. Bloomberg (1/1), The Washington Post (1/1), Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model)/Politics Now blog (1/1)

Minimum wage rises in 10 states
The minimum wage has risen in 10 states for 2013. This year some 40 states are expected to look at raising their minimum wage, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. National Public Radio (1/1)

NRCA News

Join NRCA now
Join NRCA by Feb. 28 and receive $100 off your membership dues. With the limited-time offer, you also will receive up to $1,500 worth of NRCA publications and DVDs free, including The NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems -- 2013. When you join NRCA, your company will be listed in NRCA’s online Membership Directory and online referral service, which generates thousands of leads each month; have access to customized worker training programs tailored to your company’s specific needs; gain priority access to NRCA’s technical experts for answers to questions about roof system performance, materials and application techniques; and receive a host of additional money-saving benefits. Learn more, and join NRCA.

Last chance to apply for the next CSRP exam!
Roof Integrated Solar Energy (RISE) Inc. still is accepting applications for its next Certified Solar Roofing Professional exam, which will be held Feb. 7; the application deadline is Jan. 7. The CSRP designation is a voluntary certification for professionals who plan and oversee installation of roof-mounted photovoltaic systems. The credential evaluates whether candidates have the underlying knowledge required to successfully install a roof-mounted PV system. Learn more.

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