Association collaboration drives success in roofing

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.

NRCA shares construction outlook at SPRI Winter Meeting.

When roofing associations collaborate, meaningful progress follows. That spirit was on full display at the Single Ply Roofing Industry (SPRI) Winter Meeting when National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) Chairman Alex Hernandez, president of Clark Roofing Co. Inc., delivered a comprehensive and candid outlook on construction and roofing in 2026. Speaking on behalf of the NRCA, Alex addressed economic trends, federal policy, labor realities and the long-term responsibilities shared by contractors and manufacturers. 

He began his talk focusing on the economy and the projection for construction overall to rebound in 2026. Looking closer at this projection, data centers lead the way, remaining strong with growth in that sector expected to normalize. Residential single-family construction is showing modest recovery, while multifamily continues to lag due to oversupply in certain markets. All in all, Alex described the broader economy as operating on a “knifes edge,” explaining that while total dollar volumes of construction starts are increasing due to scale and material inflation, the actual number of projects are not growing at the same pace. 

Larger and more complex industrial projects are also dominating the market, leading to sector decoupling and continued consolidation across construction. Federal infrastructure and incentive programs are also fueling activity. Between $25 billion and $150 billion in direct annual spending and tax incentives are flowing from recent legislation, with total economic activity on jobsites projected to exceed $400 billion when private capital is included. For every federal dollar invested through programs such as CHIPS or IRA initiatives, the private sector is contributing between $2 and $5 in matching capital. 

Labor remains one of the industry’s most pressing concerns. Alex noted detentions increased sharply in 2025. He underscored the fragility of the labor pipeline and emphasized the need for thoughtful legislative reform and expanded workforce development. The NRCA is committed to helping solve the workforce challenges, including advocacy for career technical education, immigration and training. 

As for consolidation, it continues to accelerate. More than 35 private equity backed groups are actively acquiring roofing companies, with a large number of residential roofing companies already consolidated under major platforms. Roofing continues to attract investors because repair and replacement are essential services that persist through economic cycles. While economies of scale and shared best practices can strengthen operations, Alex cautioned that flexibility and local control may be diminished. 

Last but not least, Alex touched on mental health and suicide prevention. He shared that construction accounts for 18% of all suicides while representing only 7.5% of the population. He stressed that substance abuse and suicide claim more roofing lives than jobsite accidents. Alex urged industry leaders to remove the stigma, increase awareness and encourage workers to seek help around mental health and suicidal thoughts. Collaboration, he noted, is critical in addressing this silent crisis. 

Overall, Alex’s message was clear – the roofing industry is navigating economic volatility, regulatory shifts, workforce challenges including suicide and overall consolidation, yet it remains resilient and essential. By working together, SPRI as an association of single ply roofing manufacturers and suppliers and NRCA as an association of roofing contractors, can create even greater opportunities to strengthen and advance the industry overall.