By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how two men’s roofing business lives on in the next generation.  

In a recent episode of Stories from the Roof, sponsored by TopShield, Megan Ellsworth had the chance to talk to Charlie DiFalco, vice president of Action Roofing Services. With six different locations around Florida, Action Roofing’s team is ready to help with roofs across the state.  

The story of this company stars back in 1986 with a partnership between Charlie’s father and Bruce Patterson. Charlie explained, “My father opened the business in 1986 with Bruce. They were business partners for 40 years before my dad passed away in 2020... And the funny thing was my dad and Bruce were polar opposite people, but it worked well and they grew a very small business into a success over the years.” 

Charlie got involved in Action Roofing after he graduated high school in 2001. He looks back at that time with some humor, “When I first started in 2001, my dad said, ‘Hey, you're starting from the bottom and I'm not your boss. Bruce is your boss. Don't come to me for anything.’ And he didn't think I would last a month.” 

Now, 25 years later, Charlie has definitely exceeded his dad’s original expectations. He credits a lot of his success to having Bruce and his dad to learn from:  

My dad was phenomenal; he was my best friend. We went to lunch every day for 15 years, talked about everything. Obviously, we had our moments like any father and son working together every day, but I wouldn't trade it for the world...And Bruce, he is one of the most hardworking people I know. He would never miss a day and was always ready to show you what needs to be done and how to do it. I really had two amazing people guiding me on my path. 

And everything on that path has truly come full circle as Charlie carries forward his father’s legacy and Bruce’s daughter Brooke continues his (having joined the company in 2015). Oh, and the two are also married! Charlie reflected, “It really was a family business, and we were partners, her and I, and then we got married. It's a really cool company; we’re really family oriented and people love working here.” 

Listen to the whole conversation with Charlie to learn more about his time in the roofing industry.

By Emma Peterson. 

How taking risks—and refusing to quit—launched Ian Davis into industry‑leading success.  

Recently, TopShield sponsored an episode of Stories From the Roof featuring Ian Davis, the founder of Cairn Contacting. Established in 2017, Cairn has quickly raised the bar on ethics, service and quality with recognitions such the BBB Spark Award for Ethics and a business standard of Lifetime Workmanship Warranties. While the path ahead for Ian and his team seems clear now, it wasn’t always that way. 

In fact, roofing wasn’t really on Ian’s radar when he graduated high school. He shared, “My background is architecture. I went to college for architecture and I got a two-year degree in that, and then realized that I had more of an appreciation for the art than a desire to be the artist in architecture. So, I switched gears and went over to business administration.” It wasn’t until he graduated college and moved out to Colorado that Ian got involved in the trades.  

In those first few years out of school, he worked as a project manager for an exterior paint company. It was in this role that he learned more about the trades. He explained, “The company I was at actually expanded their business beyond paint to kind of doing just about everything on the exterior side. And I was the one managing those multi-trade projects.” Soon, Ian was ready for a new challenge and set his sights on new construction project management, which led him to a new company.  

At that company, he worked as a 1099 independent contractor, which made him realize that he could go a step further and just start his own company! From there, the rest was history:  

It was good timing. I was working as a 1099 and then a couple of friends came to me in 2017 and said, ‘Hey, that first company you worked for, they scaled it back. They're only doing paint now. The doors are open.’ That’s where Cairn Roofing came from. Fast forward to today, we’ve renamed to Cairn Contracting as we have grown from just roofing to just about everything on the exterior except for paint. 

Looking back at his journey, Ian’s advice for others finding their paths is to keep going. He explained, “Don't quit. It is absolutely worth it. It doesn't feel like, I've heard it said that an entrepreneur never has two great days in a row, and it's honestly true. But the other truth is that it is going to be so much more worth it and fulfilling if you just don't quit.” 

Listen to the whole Stories From the Roof episode to hear more of Ian’s insights!

In this CoatingsTalk, Heidi Ellsworth sits down with Rick Rominger of SRS to explore the TopShield TopSpec roof coatings systems. Understanding the importance of roof coatings in today’s markets, SRS is passionate about bringing the right products for full roof coating systems.  Designed to work as a complete, high-performance restoration system, these coatings offer seamless waterproofing, energy efficiency and long-term durability for a wide range of roofing projects. The conversation also highlights why contractors should partner with distribution to purchase high performance products and streamline project management using the Roof Hub platform. From primers to topcoats, and digital tools to on-site application, this episode delivers everything contractors need to know about growing their business with fluid-applied roofing solutions.

Register today!

By Emma Peterson. 

How SRS and TopShield support contractors with the TopSpec fluid-applied roof systems. 

The coatings and fluid-applied roofing market is rapidly growing as building owners and managers look for more sustainable and economical solutions to aging roofs. This makes it an attractive opportunity for roofing contractors who are looking for ways to expand their offerings and grow their businesses. But from primers to topcoats and digital tools to on-site application training, there’s a lot to learn about the market before you can start restoring roofs with coatings. In an upcoming CoatingsTalk, Heidi J. Ellsworth sits down with Rick Rominger of SRS Distribution to explore the ways contractors can get the support they need to expand into coatings and the types of systems out there. 

Rick is the senior director of private label for SRS and brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, including business development, global supply chain management, new product development, market launch strategies and competitive pricing analysis. In this episode, we lean on his expertise through discussions of the support contractors can get from SRS and RoofHub when they use TopShield's TopSpec coatings. This support comes in many forms including access to knowledgeable reps with installation expertise, streamlined project management through mobile RoofHub interface and easy material sourcing.  

Further, Rick will dive into a few of the different products that are provided in the TopSpec line, including their 501 Bonding Primer, 509 Bleed-Block, 701 silicone coating and 2100 acrylic topcoat. Not only will he share the benefits of each of these products as individuals, but he will also explain how these products work together to create a fluid-applied system that allows for seamless, high-performance solutions customized per roof type.  

If you are looking to learn more about fluid-applied and coating roof systems, make sure to tune into this episode of CoatingsTalk, airing on January 29, 2026.

By Emma Peterson. 

Check out our shortlist of popular articles from October. 

Every month at The Coffee Shops™ is a busy one, but October took it to a new level! Not only did our incredible crew publish hundreds of articles across our existing sites (RoofersCoffeeShop, MetalCoffeeShop, CoatingsCoffeeShop and AskARoofer), we also celebrated the launch of a new Coffee Shop – OutdoorCoffeeShop.com! 

As explained in a Coffee Shops press release, OutdoorCoffeeShop (OCS) is a site focused on creating a space for contractors and outdoor professionals to meet. In the traditional Coffee Shop model, OCS will build professionalism and networking opportunities for the industry along with one-of-a-kind educational, informational and community experiences. As Heidi J. Ellsworth, president of The Coffee Shops, put it, “For over twenty years The Coffee Shops have built trusted online communities for contractors. With the launch of OutdoorCoffeeShop.com, we are bringing that same model of connection and resources to the outdoor living construction industry.”  

In addition to this announcement, our top 10 monthly article list featured a variety of articles. We saw an emphasis on safety with an article from Dani Sheehan all about safe load distribution making the list alongside an article from our friends at Cotney Consulting Group about driving safety tips for roofing professionals. 

This month also saw an uptick in interest in sustainability, with two environmentally focused articles from Emma Peterson making the list. One concentrated on the power of biosolar roofs (roofs that use solar panels in conjunction with biophilic design) while the other covered a conversation with Alan Scott of Intertek about the overlap between resilient design and sustainable construction.  

Explore the official October 2025 top 10 article list!  

10 – Safety first, every time by Dani Sheehan 

9 – TopShield® underlayment keeps you covered and protected for the long run by Emma Peterson 

8 – Smart hiring for sales success by Cotney Consulting Group 

7 – Staying safe before you arrive on site by Cotney Consulting Group 

6 – The Coffee Shops™ Announce OutdoorCoffeeShop™ 

5 – Estimating isn't just math — It's risk management for roofers by Cotney Consulting Group 

4 – The road to IRE 2026 by Emma Peterson 

3 – Biosolar roofing in action by Emma Peterson 

2 – Construction attorney and industry veteran Zack Rippeon joins Adams & Reese 

1 – The intersection of resilience and sustainability by Emma Peterson

By Emma Peterson. 

Hold it all together with TopShield’s versatile and reliable residential fasteners.  

In roofing and construction, fasteners may be small, but their role is anything but. By securing shingles, panels and other parts of the roofing assembly, the right fastener is key to a successful project. At TopShield, they have developed a variety of residential fastener products, each tailored to the different needs of contractors. In this article we’ll dive into how their high-quality offerings help contractors match the right hardware to the right job for better performance and long-lasting results. 

Roofing staples  

TopShield’s roofing staples are a high-quality exterior grade product, ideal for use on any project, great for use on any project. They offer uncompromising performance and incredible versatility with a design engineered to fit “most major brands of pneumatic tools.” Perfect for tacking insulation, roofing felt, house wrap, vapor barriers and more, these staples come in A11, N17, 5010C and P10 sizes.  

Coil nails 

Made of steel, TopShield’s coil nails are just what you need to secure your roofing project. Designed with a reinforced shank to prevent damage or injury from nail heads snapping, this product provides a superior holding power that is perfect for securing roofing shingles, shake, felts, insulation, fiberboard and tiles. Not only do they make your job easier by reducing “frustration and wasted time from nail gun jams,” they prevent damage or detachment caused by rust and corrosion – reducing the number of callbacks you get!  

Collated cap nails 

TopShield’s NailPac is a pneumatically-driven cap nail, which (when paired with the STINGER® CN100B) dramatically speeds up install, enhances worker safety and can reduce repetitive stress injuries over time. The caps are made of a high-grade virgin plastic that lasts up to 10 times longer under UV exposure than traditional hand-drive caps do, ensuring the dry-in stays secure for several months. Ideal for installing roofing underlayment, these caps are also great for installing house wrap, lumber shrouds and foam boards (up to 1/2"”)! 

Plastic caps 

Last but not least, TopShield manufactures a line of pre-assembled plastic cap nails. These are perfect for holding roofing felts, base sheets, insulations, sheathings, wraps and barriers in place. The engineered plastic cap creates a strong outer rim that both minimizes the “heat sinking effect of metal to the building materials” and lowers the risk of tears and ruptures in your materials. Further, the TopShield team engineered these plastic cap nails with an angular ringed shank for additional pull-out resistance, making them the ideal combination of securing the material. 

Learn more about TopShield’s time-tested fasteners online.

Reduce, reuse and recycle with eco-friendly alternatives for everyday usage.

In the realm of versatile cleaning solutions, the TopShield® Reclaimed Multi-Purpose T-Shirt Rags offer unparalleled absorbency and functionality. Designed to handle a wide range of spills and messes, these rags are an essential addition to any toolkit, whether for professional use or household chores.

Exceptional absorbency for diverse applications

The TopShield® Reclaimed T-Shirt Rags excel in absorbency, making them highly effective for managing various spills and cleaning tasks. Their superior capacity to soak up liquids ensures that you can tackle messes quickly and efficiently, whether you're dealing with spills from paint, stains or other substances.

Benefits and features

• Exceptional absorbency: Engineered to handle a variety of spills and messes with ease, these rags absorb liquids efficiently, reducing cleanup time and effort.
• Crafted from pre-washed material: Made from soft yet strong pre-washed fabric, the rags are gentle on surfaces while offering robust durability for repeated use.
• T-shirt style versatility: The classic T-shirt style of the rags enhances their versatility, making them suitable for a broad range of tasks including polishing, painting, staining, dusting and general cleaning.
• Conveniently cut to wipe size: Pre-cut to an ideal size for easy handling, the rags are ready to use straight out of the package, streamlining your cleaning process.
• Long-lasting durability: Designed to withstand rigorous use, these rags offer reliable performance across diverse applications, ensuring they remain effective and dependable over time.

Ideal for various uses

The TopShield® Reclaimed Multi-Purpose T-Shirt Rags are highly versatile, making them suitable for:

• Polishing: Achieve a high shine on various surfaces with ease.
• Painting and staining: Manage spills and clean up after painting or staining projects.
• Dusting: Efficiently remove dust and debris from surfaces.
• Cleaning: Handle everyday cleaning tasks with effectiveness and ease.

Conclusion

The TopShield® Reclaimed Multi-Purpose T-Shirt Rags offer a high-performance solution for managing spills and maintaining cleanliness. With their exceptional absorbency, pre-washed and sanitized material and versatile T-shirt style, these rags are an invaluable tool for a range of tasks. Whether you're polishing, painting, staining, dusting or cleaning, TopShield® rags provide durability and efficiency, ensuring reliable results every time. Enhance your cleaning toolkit with these top-quality rags and experience the difference in performance and convenience.

SRS Distribution will be located at booth #2437 and the SRS Distribution Para Latinos Lounge at booth #1937.

SRS Distribution Inc., a leader in the building products distribution industry, is proud to announce its participation at the upcoming International Roofing Expo in New Orleans with two exhibitor booths, one exclusively dedicated to offering educational resources and networking opportunities for Spanish-speaking roofing contractors.

“We are excited to bring a customized Latino engagement experience to IRE that will empower and educate the Latino roofing community! We believe that offering these workshops and networking events will bring key tools and resources to Latino contractors that will support their future growth. At SRS we believe that the growth of the Latino contractor is a key factor to the future of the industry,” stated Julissa Chavez, Program Manager, Latino Sales and Marketing.

The SRS Distribution Para Latinos booth will offer visitors the exclusive opportunity to connect with industry experts and partners, product demonstrations and a first-class lineup of workshops and presentations geared towards supporting roofing contractors grow their businesses.

SRS Distribution will also host an Expert Contractor Panel discussion with owners of the largest and most successful roofing companies in the US to offer Latino contractors, customers, and attendees the latest insight on the industry, best practices on business and sales process to drive immediate improvement in their-day-to-day operations and bottom line.

Also, for the first time ever, SRS Distribution will hold the Premios Éxito (Contractor Success Awards), an initiative to reward and recognize Latino contractors in various categories: Contractor of the Year, Emerging Contractor, and Community Hero. The winners will be announced during the Cocktail Networking Hour at the Alluvial Plaza, during day one of IRE.

SRS is collaborating with IKO, GAF, CertainTeed, TAMKO to provide training content on relevant topics such as Sales 101, Preparing For Storm Season, 2022 Strategic Planning. Additionally, SRS will introduce TopShield Quality Products. This learning & development experience will include a VIP Cocktail Event sponsored by Owens Corning featuring Latin-inspired cuisine and entertainment from Mariachi Jalisco.

SRS Distribution will be located at booth #2437 and the SRS Distribution Para Latinos Lounge at booth #1937.

About International Roofing Expo

The International Roofing Expo is the premier roofing industry event, where leaders and experts from across the world gather to share the latest business trends, knowledge, and skill-building training opportunities.

About SRS Distribution

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in McKinney, TX, SRS has grown to become one of the largest and fastest growing building products distributors in the United States. Since our inception, we have established a differentiated growth strategy and entrepreneurial culture that is focused on serving our customers, partnering with our suppliers, and attracting the industry’s best talent. We currently operate under a family of distinct local brands encompassing more than 590 locations across 44 states. SRS Distribution is a portfolio company of Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. and Berkshire Partners LLC. For more information www.srsdistribution.com.