By Emma Peterson. 

Lauren Morley explains why working with a safety-minded commercial contractor is the right move and how to find one near you. 

In a new episode of the AskARoofer™ podcast, Lauren Morley, the owner and president of R3NG Roofing and Gutters in Colorado, stopped by to talk about what true safety looks like on a commercial roofing jobsite. More specifically, she highlighted the role that safety has in both protecting the crew and the building owner.  

She started by defining the idea of a safe commercial jobsite: 

Safety can really be viewed from different angles. There's the safety of the crews and making sure that they're being safe while on the roof. But there’s also the safety of the people on the ground, may it be inhabitants of the building or a passerby. And that safety has a lot more to do with how you are storing materials, making sure no debris flies off, nothing falls and so forth. 

By working with a company that prioritizes both aspects of safety, business owners can protect themselves from legal issues down the line. Lauren explained, “You're reducing your own liability over somebody getting hurt down below. That's a risk for the owner as much as it is on the roofer. And even if it the building owner isn’t technically liable, commercial products tend to be in the public eye and it’s not going to look great on a public client if they have some sort of safety accident happen on the roof.” 

So, what does a safety-minded contractor look like? Lauren shared a bit about what her team at R3NG does to prioritize safety, saying, “We like to have all of our field guys OSHA certified and actively doing OSHA refresher classes throughout their career. We also internally do monthly safety meetings, safety checklists and safety toolbox talks at every jobsite.”  

If you are looking for a contractor that prioritizes commercial roofing jobsite safety like Lauren and her R3NG team, a great place to look is through local trade associations. Lauren explained, “As a member of the Colorado Roofing Association, we have to prove that we've been in business for two years, have a certain insurance policy and show our safety procedures. Because of these requirements, our CRA certificate kind of acts as a shorthand for owners looking to hire us... You don't need to ask for nine different documents, you can just ask for the certificate.” 

Learn more about commercial roofing safety by listening to the whole episode with Lauren!

By Anna Lockhart.  

Staying on top of regular maintenance can prolong the life of your commercial building’s roof! 

In this special AskARoofer minisode, host Megan Ellsworth sits down with Lauren Morely of R3NG to discuss the important role commercial building owners and managers have in maintaining the integrity and health of their buildings’ roofs.  

Lauren is the owner of R3NG, which is a roofing company based out of Denver, Colorado. R3NG offers commercial and multifamily residential roofing and has an in-house service team. But their work doesn’t just stop at their job sites, in this episode, Lauren tackles the topic of roof maintenance and how business owners can stay on top of their roof’s care. 

Lauren shares, “One area of maintenance that's the most obvious, and I think it's the most overlooked, is checking for debris on the roof. General debris that can block drains, that can block scuppers. On a low-slope roof, obviously, drainage is essential. And just the smallest amount of debris or leaves inside of drains can really clog up the entire roof system. So, number one thing, clean out the debris off the roof, clean out the drains.” 

She goes on to share that it is also important to care for flashings, skylights or other penetrated areas that may need to have their sealants fixed or reapplied to prevent leaks or any damage. Keeping up with HVAC maintenance is also a key area of upkeep commercial building owners do not want to slack on as well!  

Read the transcript or Listen to the minisode to learn more about commercial roof maintenance!  

Editor's note: The following is the transcript of a live interview with Lauren Morley of R3NG Roofing and Gutters. You can read the interview below or listen to the podcast.

Intro: Hello, welcome to an Ask a Roofer minisode, where we give you all of the information you need to know to maintain your roof, all the good stuff in short little episodes. Today I'm chatting with Lauren Morley from R3NG, and a dear friend. Hi, Lauren, how are you?

Lauren Morley: Hi, Megan. I'm good. How are you?

Megan Ellsworth: I'm so good, so excited to have you on the mini podcast. So I'll just have you introduce yourself really quick and then we'll dive into the question.

Lauren Morley: Yeah, so I'm Lauren Morley. I am the majority owner of R3NG, based out of Denver, Colorado. We are a commercial roofing contractor. And super excited to be here today, because we have an in-house service division and services is a big hot topic right now in roofing.

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah, absolutely. Okay, so for this minisode, we're tackling roof maintenance. What are the most important roof maintenance tasks for a commercial roof?

Lauren Morley: Yeah, it's a really good question. It's kind of funny, because honestly, probably the first one is one that's the most obvious and I think it's the most overlooked, which is debris on the roof. General debris that can block drains, that can block scuppers. On a low slope roof, obviously, drainage is essential. And just the smallest amount of debris or leaves inside of drains can really clog up the entire roof system. So number one thing, clean out the debris off the roof, clean out the drains.

Lauren Morley: Flashings is probably the next part of it. Those areas, like skylights or other penetrations, where you're going to have the most area where water intrusion can happen in the roof. So double check those flashings, areas where you might need to put new sealant or silicone, is probably that big number two.

Lauren Morley: And then from there, just penetrations and all of your laps, making sure that everything is sealed up tight for the upcoming year.

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. Now, this might be a silly question, but this is the place for silly questions. Do commercial roofs have gutters? And do they need to be cleaned?

Lauren Morley: It depends. Yet, yeah, there's definitely commercial roofs that have gutters, for sure. The general rule is, if you have a gutter, you have to clean the gutter.

Megan Ellsworth: Right.

Lauren Morley: It doesn't matter if you're residential, it doesn't matter if you're commercial, if a gutter exists on a building, it needs to be cleaned on a regular basis.

Megan Ellsworth: Yes.

Lauren Morley: So that's the easiest answer to that.

Megan Ellsworth: Amazing. I recently cleaned my gutters on my garage and there was like four inches of just mud in the gutter. So now they're clean. Yay.

Lauren Morley: I can tell you, because we do both multi-family and low-sub commercial and the amount of leaks that we'll get, where we'll just come back and be like, "Yeah, your gutters were really full." And they're like, "Well, gutters can't cause a roof leak." You're like, "Well, if the water is nowhere to go..."

Lauren Morley: I always say, "If the water has nowhere to go, it's going to find its way into your building." And the gutters are meant to get the water away from your building. So yeah, gutter cleaning and tree trimming, is one that people don't think about a lot too. And pay attention to how many trees are around your building. We have some commercial buildings that are surrounded by big trees, and we annually maintain those twice a year, typically, because you're going to get a lot more debris, a lot more dirt, a lot more risk of branches and things falling off.

Lauren Morley: Another big suggestion is, if you do any sort of construction project on your roof, if you're doing big HVAC maintenance, if you have to add refrigerant systems, get your roof looked at and maintained right afterwards. It's not, [inaudible 00:03:42] folks don't do it on purpose, but pinholes happen. Lots of people walk on the roof, tools get dropped. So if any sort of construction happens on the roof for maintenance to an HVAC system, get your roof looked at right after.

Megan Ellsworth: Totally. Okay, last question. How regular should inspections be on a commercial roof, if they own a roof, if they own a building, a commercial building?

Lauren Morley: Yeah. Well, I guess we kind of just touched on that a little bit. The real answer is, it depends. At a minimum, once a year. Never should you have it looked at less than once a year. Depends on the climate that you're in too. But things like silicone and sealant, especially depending on weather, those things are going to crack more often than not.

Lauren Morley: Debris and leaves are going to build up no matter what over the course of a year. The more penetrations you have, the more things like skylights and HVAC units you have and the more trees around your building you have, means the more you need to get it maintained.

Lauren Morley: So if you have a big flat roof with one HVAC unit and no trees, once a year is fine. If you have a big cold storage facility that's surrounded by trees, that has 15 refrigerant units and 95 other penetrations, I guess cold storage isn't a good example, but then you want that to be looked at probably more often.

Megan Ellsworth: Totally. Awesome. Well, Lauren, thank you so much for being on the Ask a Roofer minisode and answering all of my questions and helping all these building owners out there.

Lauren Morley: Always happy to do it. I always say, roofs are the things that if you don't see it, you don't think about it. But annually maintaining your roof is super important.

Megan Ellsworth: So important. For everyone out there, you can find more information about R3NG. If you're in the Denver area, and have a commercial building and need a new roof, go check them out. You can find all their information on Ask a Roofer and rooferscoffeeshop.com.

Megan Ellsworth: In the meantime, go check out the rest of our full-length episodes wherever you stream podcasts, on Ask a Roofer. And we'll see you next time on the next minisode.

Megan Ellsworth: Ask A Roofer minisodes are brought to you by askaroofer.com and rooferscoffeeshop.com. In each bite-sized episode, we explore everything basic roof maintenance tips, to the latest in roofing technology and sustainability. Whether you're a homeowner, a building owner or just curious about the craft, these minisodes are packed with valuable insights to help you navigate your roofing projects and home or building ownership with confidence.

Outro: So stay tuned, solve your roofing puzzles and let's stay ahead of the curve with Ask a Roofer minisodes. Go to askaroofer.com to learn more today.
 

By Dani Sheehan. 

Do you have roofing questions? We’ve got the answers in our newest AskARoofer™ podcast series. 

Have you listened to The Coffee Shops™ latest podcast series yet? Designed with busy homeowners and building owners in mind, the AskARoofer Minisodes series delivers expert roofing advice in under ten minutes. No need to sift through 30- or 40-minute episodes for answers – just quick, easy-to-consume insights about the most important part of your home. The minisodes feature roofing experts and RoofersCoffeeShop® R-club members as guests, answering commonly asked questions quickly and succinctly. 

With new episodes dropping every other week, you’ll stay informed on the latest roofing tips, tricks and industry developments. Here’s a look at what we’ve covered so far:  

Customer care counts  

Whether you’re a homeowner in need of a new roof or a contractor looking to build trust, excellent customer service is non-negotiable. In this minisode, Jake Magalsky, founder and president of Ace Roofing in Montana, shares his top tips for choosing a roofing company that values long-term care and strong customer service. 

Safety expectations  

Safety isn’t just for the crew – it's for the homeowner too. This episode looks at the essential safety measures roofers should follow, from protective gear to jobsite precautions, to ensure a safe and clean environment for everyone.  

Commercial building roof maintenance  

Lauren Morley, CEO of R3NG Roofing breaks down the basics of maintaining commercial roofs in this minisode. Building owners and property managers will learn how routine maintenance can save time, money and headaches by preventing costly repairs.  

This series is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and any other streaming service you use for podcasts. 

The next AskARoofer Minisode launches on September 11, 2024. Don’t miss out on more industry insights, practical advice and solutions to common roofing challenges. Tune in and stay informed! 

By Anna Lockhart.  

The Colorado-based residential and commercial roof contractors discuss their experience working in the industry and building lasting relationships with their customer base. 

R3NG has served the homeowners and business owners of Colorado as a trusted roofing contractor for the last eight years. A low-slope roofing business based in Denver, R3NG provides full re-roof and in-house roofing for their client base. Dedicated to being a trusted and reliable knowledge and labor source for their community, R3NG is excited for what the future has in store under new sole ownership by Lauren Morley.  

As the R-Club’s April Roofer of the Month, Lauren sat down with Megan Ellsworth to talk about her role within R3NG. As of April 28, she will be the sole owner of the company, a step she and her team are excited to take.  

Lauren went into detail about the company’s specialty work with low-slope roofing, “For us low-slope commercial roofing is going to be our bread and butter, as well as HOA, multi-family. That's the world we've always lived in, and the same goes for our in-house services team, it’s one of the things that we like to think sets us apart from the rest.”  

R3NG has a lot to celebrate and look forward to, and when it comes to celebrations, there’s no shortage of things to be grateful for as a team. When it comes to the little things to celebrate and take pride in, Lauren explained that her team emphasizes the promises they make to their customers and do what it takes to deliver the best service and communication. 

“We have what we call our culture and customer engagement strategy. It's called P.R.I.M.E. It stands for plan, repair, restore, replace, inspect, maintain and educate. And it's something that we really implement everywhere, not only with our customers, but with our employees and with our partners in the industry,” she commented. “We think it just sets us apart and it's something special to us because education is such a cornerstone of what we do and it's how we provide a service instead of just being a contractor.”  

Learn more about R3NG and their company culture by listening to the latest R-Club podcast episode.