Top September articles: Supporting students, innovative technology and more

By Emma Peterson. 

Explore the top articles of this month, from automated roofing robots to heartwarming stories of roofers giving back to their communities. 

Every month we like to take a look back at the articles we have published to see what caught our readers’ attention. This month, our top story comes from Coffee Shops writer Jenny Yu and is all about roofers giving back to their communities! Jenny’s article highlights different stories across the country of roofing companies helping make sure that students are prepared for the new school year. In one, ABC Supply and a local roofing company called John McClung Roofing partnered to fill backpacks for students in areas affected by Hurricane Helene.  

On a similar note of giving, another one of our top articles from September is all about GAF’s social impact initiative, GAF Community Matters, donating a new roof in Utah for the Intermountain Cedar City Hospital’s new emergency department. The roof, over 5,000 square feet, will create more space for the medical staff to care for patients. 

In addition to giving back, some innovative technological advances also caught our readers’ attention. For example, Coffee Shops writer Dani Sheehan’s article all about Renovate Robotics' automated roofing robot, Rufus, took second place on our top articles list! While automated, Rufus is not designed to replace roofers on the job. Instead, Rufus is meant to work alongside crews. As Dani puts it, “Rufus is built to work alongside crews, making jobs more efficient while reducing risk.” 

Check out the top 5 articles from AAR in September 2025:  

5 - Roof donated for Intermountain Cedar City Hospital’s new emergency department expansion by GAF 

4 - Beyond™: A comprehensive sustainability program focused on environment, people and business by IKO 

3 - Three-day guarantee for free layout and quote services for single-family homes by Rocky Mountain Snow Guards 

2 - The roofing robot helping contractors by Dani Sheehan 

1 - Giving back during back-to-school season by Jenny Yu