Roof Talks

With an older roof or one with an expired warranty, one of the first things business owners might consider is how to replace it. “Why replace an entire roof, if you only need to recondition a small percentage of it,” said Chris Evans, Strategic Accounts Manager for Fortis Warranty. “That's one of the ways companies can drive environmental, social and governance (ESG) value.” ESG measures how businesses contribute to environmental and sustainability challenges. “We keep the existing roof in place instead tearing it off and sending it to a landfill which can create a number of trips to dumpsters and landfills, not to mention the use of new raw materials and products that will be needed for a new roof,” Evans said. Fortis comes in with the experience, technology, and science to determine specific roof conditions and the reconditioing needed bring the roof into a Fortis Standard. “It's also a matter of protecting your investment,” said Micheal Du Bois, Strategic Accounts Manager for Fortis Warranty. “With millions of dollars in investments underneath a building's roof, a risky roof risks it all.”Companies have the opportunity to improve their ratings and building values with an environmental, social and governance mindset by considering roof reconditioning and long term roof performance management from Fortis. “Ideally you want a performing roof in place as long as possible. And, if you take ESG into consideration, why waste a perfectly good roof, when you could utilize a reconditioning program to significantly expand this life of the roof or sometimes even it's double the warranted lifespan of that roof system,” Du Bois said. With Fortis, reconditioning a roof requires a fraction of the materials needed, saving businesses time and money.Where a traditional roofing project could take one to two months or longer, depending on its size, and be highly disruptive to building operations,, Fortis limits their initial time on the roof to roughly a few weeks .“When you talk about filling up landfills, the disruption of tearing off roofs and then and producing the raw materials needed for replacement projects, it's not very environmentally aware on the surface,” Evans said. That's why all of that is just tremendously minimized by Fortis' solution.”At Fortis, their solution equals a better value on roof life cycle cost, a guarantee return on investment and a quicker turn around because they aren't slowed down by material or labor shortages – all while saving owners time, money and helping in their ESG efforts.Visit the Fortis Warranty website to learn more.

With an older roof or one with an expired warranty, one of the first things business owners might consider is how to replace it. “Why replace an entire roof, if you only need to recondition a small percentage of it,” said Chris Evans, Strategic Accounts Manager for Fortis Warranty. “That's one of the ways companies can drive environmental, social and governance (ESG) value.” ESG measures how businesses contribute to environmental and sustainability challenges. “We keep the existing roof in place instead tearing it off and sending it to a landfill which can create a number of trips to dumpsters and landfills, not to mention the use of new raw materials and products that will be needed for a new roof,” Evans said. Fortis comes in with the experience, technology, and science to determine specific roof conditions and the reconditioing needed bring the roof into a Fortis Standard. “It's also a matter of protecting your investment,” said Micheal Du Bois, Strategic Accounts Manager for Fortis Warranty. “With millions of dollars in investments underneath a building's roof, a risky roof risks it all.”Companies have the opportunity to improve their ratings and building values with an environmental, social and governance mindset by considering roof reconditioning and long term roof performance management from Fortis. “Ideally you want a performing roof in place as long as possible. And, if you take ESG into consideration, why waste a perfectly good roof, when you could utilize a reconditioning program to significantly expand this life of the roof or sometimes even it's double the warranted lifespan of that roof system,” Du Bois said. With Fortis, reconditioning a roof requires a fraction of the materials needed, saving businesses time and money.Where a traditional roofing project could take one to two months or longer, depending on its size, and be highly disruptive to building operations,, Fortis limits their initial time on the roof to roughly a few weeks .“When you talk about filling up landfills, the disruption of tearing off roofs and then and producing the raw materials needed for replacement projects, it's not very environmentally aware on the surface,” Evans said. That's why all of that is just tremendously minimized by Fortis' solution.”At Fortis, their solution equals a better value on roof life cycle cost, a guarantee return on investment and a quicker turn around because they aren't slowed down by material or labor shortages – all while saving owners time, money and helping in their ESG efforts.Visit the Fortis Warranty website to learn more.

The roofing industry is mired in a labors and materials shortage that's making things challenging, to say the least – and not just for roofers. Organizations with vast roofing portfolios are also having to navigate the best plans of action for their assets.To learn how Fortis Warranty is helping the industry tackle these shortages, Roof Talks host Daniel Litwin sat down with a trio of experts from the company's Strategic Accounts team in Michael DuBois, Charlie Schulz, and Chris Evans.Generally, Fortis's ability to provide robust reconditioning solutions bolstered by a Lloyd's of London-backed warranty makes it easier for portfolio managers to get the most out of their roofs. Fortis will never prematurely replace a roof that doesn't need it, and thorough, proprietary assessments and service ensure that only what needs attention is attended to.“[Clients] don't have six months to wait to get their roof taken care of,” DuBois said. “The conversation is just this – we can be on your roof in four weeks. … We can be off that roof a week, maybe two weeks, later, at the most, and you don't have to worry about a thing afterward.”That speed also translates to benefits in terms of total downtime and protection from natural disasters, weather and other potential delays.“The duration of our projects can be considered [around] 30% of the time commitment that an equivalent reroofing project would take,” Schulz said. “That translates to much less impact and downtime for the client. … [We're also not] opening up the building to the elements to the degree that a reroofing project would.”

The roofing industry is mired in a labors and materials shortage that's making things challenging, to say the least – and not just for roofers. Organizations with vast roofing portfolios are also having to navigate the best plans of action for their assets.To learn how Fortis Warranty is helping the industry tackle these shortages, Roof Talks host Daniel Litwin sat down with a trio of experts from the company's Strategic Accounts team in Michael DuBois, Charlie Schulz, and Chris Evans.Generally, Fortis's ability to provide robust reconditioning solutions bolstered by a Lloyd's of London-backed warranty makes it easier for portfolio managers to get the most out of their roofs. Fortis will never prematurely replace a roof that doesn't need it, and thorough, proprietary assessments and service ensure that only what needs attention is attended to.“[Clients] don't have six months to wait to get their roof taken care of,” DuBois said. “The conversation is just this – we can be on your roof in four weeks. … We can be off that roof a week, maybe two weeks, later, at the most, and you don't have to worry about a thing afterward.”That speed also translates to benefits in terms of total downtime and protection from natural disasters, weather and other potential delays.“The duration of our projects can be considered [around] 30% of the time commitment that an equivalent reroofing project would take,” Schulz said. “That translates to much less impact and downtime for the client. … [We're also not] opening up the building to the elements to the degree that a reroofing project would.”

Maintaining a building's roof and solar system is a team effort, which is why Fortis Warranty and New Columbia Solar teamed up in the DC area to provide a complete solution for building owners.

Jeff Gerwig, National Engineering Manager at Colliers International, partners with Fortis Warranty to ensure client assets run efficiently to support occupant comfort. Colliers’ master service agreement with Fortis helps clients save on roofing costs. If Gerwig can prevent a client from replacing a roof too early, it provides cost savings. So, Colliers uses an assessment tool to help their customers assess their roof and determine the right options.

Rick Lewis, President & CEO of Fortis Warranty, gave host Tyler Kern an upfront and honest look at the state of roofing industry warranty agreements. Long-term warranty strategies seem to be the trend amongst industry competitors, according to Lewis. “At least in the commercial roofing space, we’re seeing warranties upward of 30 years,” Lewis said. There are even some instances of longer terms. But as Lewis warned, the devil is in the details to understand what is in that warranty contract. Are there exceptions and exclusions that make that warranty not as valuable as first thought? One type of warranty that feels like a freebie is the material-only warranty Lewis said is popular with many roofing manufacturers. This type of warranty may help the manufacturer get around UCC liabilities, but is it providing the buyer with the right protection level? Lewis stressed the importance of understanding the roofing warranty document. “That document is pretty critical from the standpoint of a consumer in terms of these commercial roofs. You do need to dig into the details of these one-to-three-page documents. What’s included in these pages are substantial advantages for the seller over the buyer of this product.” What does Lewis think makes a difference for the commercial roofing industry? Fortis warranties do not include a UCC disclaimer requirement, which gives power back to the buyer. Fortis warranties contain limited exclusions compared with standard manufacturer’s warranties, and they are transferrable, which provides needed flexibility when a selling a building.

With the many financial concerns big-box retailers face due to the pandemic, the last thing they want to do is spend money on roof repairs due to leaks or performance issues. Cara Reynolds, Strategic Account Manager at Fortis Warranty, provided some tips for these retailers on saving money and protecting their roofing investment. Roofing tends to be an out of sight, out of mind issue, Reynolds said. “Roofing issues tend to build up, and then [retailers] have more roofs that need to be taken care of than they have dollars, and that can become a big issue for a lot of their locations," she said. And an issue such as a roof leak isn’t just a repair concern for retailers. “When you have a roof leak or bad roof, there’s the risk of slip and falls in the stores, merchandise getting damaged, as well as the possibility of damaged or falling ceiling tiles,” Reynolds said. “Stores need to get it fixed fast.” Fortis’ goal is to extend the roof life of retail stores for as long as possible. Their warranties include re-roofing, covering normal wear and tear and maintaining the roof, so stores don’t have to continually reach into their pockets to make fixes or face the cost of an untimely roof replacement. “If there are any roofing issues once it's under our warranty, it’s one call to Fortis, and we get out there and get it taken care of,” Reynolds said.

Solar power, particularly on the roofs of commercial buildings, is obviously a way to promote sustainability – but what other benefits and incentives exist for companies looking to make the switch? On this episode of Rook Talks, a Fortis Warranty podcast, New Columbia Solar CEO Mike Healy joined Voice of B2B Daniel Litwin to break down exactly what commercial operations can expect from going solar. New Columbia Solar is the largest solar developer in Washington D.C., bringing solar energy to buildings across the spectrum, from commercial and industrial spaces to multi-family, non-profit and faith-based properties. In D.C., incentives for solar installation are aimed at helping the district achieve 100%-clean power by 2032 and include sellable solar renewable energy credits that allow companies like New Columbia to receive capital in return to be used to finance solar systems, among other incentives. Opportunities also exist for building owners to leverage solar roofing in renovations, Healy said. “Any time that you’re looking at a roof replacement, you should be looking at solar at the same time,” he said. “The two should be conceived of together. It makes everything a lot easier and less costly. … If you have a building where you’re using the electricity within that building, meaning you’re operating that building and consuming power from within that building, you should absolutely be looking at using solar. It’s likely going to reduce your electricity costs.”

When a storm damages a business’s roof, does this automatically trigger a roof replacement? For the property owner, the cost of the roof protection policy and deductibles often mean replacing the entire roof is the only choice. Rick Lewis, president and CEO of Fortis Warranty, believes there are better, more cost-effective options available. Lewis said that with the current P&C (property and casualty) model, it is unsustainable from the carrier end to assume roof damage risk. Policyholders don’t have the cash to replace roofs every two years. “Fortis believes we are in a unique position to satisfy the need and to fill that gap in the market where the policyholder is essentially self-insured,” Lewis said. “We’ve got an option for them that would save them approximately 60-70% of a full roof replacement.” Lewis pointed out there is little difference between the defect characteristics between a storm-damaged roof and an aged roof. An extended warranty and roof conditioning approach could save a property owner money in not having to replace a roof prematurely. The approach to determining a roof’s longevity and repair need starts with a process in the lab. With industry research showing that a roof’s longevity, under the right conditions, will last beyond manufacturer’s 15-20-year recommendation, Fortis commits to an approach that gets the policyholder the most out of their roof without unnecessary replacements. “We use lab testing and our processes to identify the requirements to bring any roof defects up to performing condition,” Lewis said.

It’s old-time wisdom that can be easy to forget in the uncertainty of a pandemic. The coronavirus outbreak has changed how everyone does business, but it has also allowed many business owners to take some time to think about what they need to do once it’s safe to get back to work. Perhaps a roof replacement was on that list, but Dave Schupmann, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Fortis Warranty, said a complete overhaul may not be the best idea. “One of our prime beliefs is many of the roofs that are replaced today are done so prematurely, just because the original manufacturer’s warranty (expires) doesn’t mean the system is bad,” Schupmann said. “Just because there’s 10 percent of the roof that’s bad or has leaks doesn’t mean the whole thing needs to be replaced." Fortis comes in and addresses specific reconditioning points on the system, and with COVID-19 adversely affecting so many businesses, they’re getting creative with their financing options. “We really believe that Fortis gives them an option that they can spend significantly on a replacement and not lose the season,” Schupmann said. “They still get a long-term warranty, the most comprehensive and least restrictive in the industry, they get it at a great price, and we’re going to give them the ability to finance it interest-free.” The pandemic is a horrible time for everyone, but it also can provide for reflection and thinking about the best next steps - steps that may include contacting Fortis rather than forging ahead with a major project as things begin to open back up. “I think that this situation, as unfortunate as it might be, will allow customers to look at us and really see something new for the that’s tried and true and proven and well-protected in the industry,” Schupmann said. “We think Fortis is well-positioned for what’s about to take place here.”

Like all industries, the roofing industry is feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. To discuss the impacts of the disease on the industry, both immediate and lasting, Voice of B2B Daniel Litwin was joined by SVP, Sales and Marketing for Fortis Warranty Dave Schupmann for this episode of Roof Talks, a Fortis Warranty podcast. In the immediate sense, Schupmann said the industry has been a “roller coaster” over the past several weeks. “From climate to climate and state to state, and from contractor type and certainly customer type, I think you can probably get a different answer (about the state of the industry),” he said. For example, businesses in the grocery and food-processing industries and similar essential operations, business is as-normal or even better, though other businesses, such as tenant-focused business and more, are feeling the effects. Schupmann said most projects are still proceeding as planned, particularly with respect to planning meetings that can be conducted remotely. Still, certain aspects of day-to-day operations have certainly changed. “We’re fortunate, in one case – I think there are only four states right now in the country that don’t have construction classified as an essential workforce. … It’s difficult to meet people, so something as simple as scheduling with someone to get up onto a roof and do a roof inspection – that’s not always feasible. Or sometimes they’re saying, ‘Oh, OK, just put up a ladder and go and send some pictures.’ Just the absenteeism of a lot of people in the workforce right now has made that a challenge.” Contractors are also fewer and farther between, and travel restrictions have slowed certain aspects of the industry. Though the current pandemic isn’t having the directly targeted effect on resources of a natural disaster or storm event, Schupmann said the wider area being affected – literally the entire globe – could spur a fundamental change in the way the industry conducts business as operations and companies adapt.

Schools in the midwest are at a greater risk to shut down due to storms. School budgets are already tight and most schools don't have the budget to fix or replace a leaking roof. For example, a middle school in Pennsylvania was able to cut the costs of a roof repair by $40 thousand dollars, but the taxpayers still had to pay 2.5 million to get the job done. There needs to be a better solution to repair schools that don't have a warranty that's more cost effective. Fortis is a special warranty company that combines financial expertise and roof management expertise to provide a better way to extend roof life and guarantee roof performance, culminating in significant savings and peace of mind for the customer. Part of relieving stress with roof repairing Fortis offers guarantee that there won't be any unexpected repair costs. Fortis contractors can replace an entire roof for more than 20% less than the competition. Traditional manufacturer warranties are a risky gamble that school districts simply cannot afford to make. Even damage that is the direct fault of a qualified technician or roofer can result in a denied claim. Several industry studies have shown that roughly 80% of commercial roofs are replaced prematurely.

Fortis Warranty is now hiring key positions! On this episode of the Roof Talks podcast, Rick Lewis, President and CEO of Fortis Warranty, and David Schupmann, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Fortis Warranty, sat down with host Sean Heath to discuss the type of personality that would thrive working with their disruptive approach to the industry. The first rule of creating a successful environment is getting the employees to buy in to the culture, Lewis said. “Most importantly, they (need to) believe in what we’re doing. They believe in the product," he said. "They want to be a part of an innovative, kind of ‘Uber' paradigm shift solution, if you will, in an industry.” It is entirely possible for a new employee to achieve significant success without having an encyclopedic knowledge of roofing at the start, Schupmann added. “We really believe that selling Fortis is a service. We believe that it’s very different than product sales," he said. "It’s much more consultative in the way that we approach it. So that’s important to us. The roofing? Not so much.” The reputation of a company’s partnerships can be a spectacular resource, as well, Lewis offered. “Lloyd’s has afforded us the ability to, one, use their name, which is considerably important," he said. "They’re broadly understood to be the world’s leader in underwriting specialty risk.” To learn more about this position, click here or view this PDF.

On this episode of Fortis Warranty's Roof Talks, Charles Schulz, senior strategic accounts manager at Fortis, spoke with host Tyler Kern about end of the year budgets, and that surprisingly, building managers may have additional allocation funds available to fund roofing projects. Schulz discussed some of the issues concerned with fitting a roofing project in at the end of the year, and how Fortis can help meet those demands, within a building manager’s budget considerations. One of the ways Fortis can help is through reconditioning projects. “They're still far less disruptive and offer far less exposure to the client than a capital re-roofing job," Schulz said. To get these end-of-the-year projects scheduled and executed on time, Fortis uses a proprietary assessment application to streamline the process. They also use a well-defined reconditioning method to expedite the work to their subcontracted roofing crews. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this process, Schulz shared a recent success story from a project in Northern Colorado, with a hail-damaged property. Fortis went in and probed the roofs of the damaged buildings and replaced areas that needed to be fixed without having to do a whole reroofing project. Fortis’ approach is to work smarter, and they not only have the ability to help clients utilizing their year-end budgets, but they can also help client’s plan their budgets for the following year.

On today's episode of Roof Talks, a Fortis Warranty podcast, host Tyler Kern went in-depth with Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Dave Schupmann to discuss roof asset management plans for commercial roofs; the good, the bad and the ugly. Before roof management plans came about, building owners often made decisions about the commercial roof based on a contractor's recommendation: if a roof looked old or was leaking, replace it. That brought about consultants who looked at more of a long-term approach. "Consultants started putting in long-range plans that incorporated repairs and life extension," Schupmann said. "Now there are elements of technology where companies catalog roofs and use data for repairs that help extend the life of the roof." Nowadays, roof asset management programs can assess needed repairs and assemble preventative maintenance plans for an entire portfolio of roofs, which is a huge cost savings for building owners. But the difference-maker is a warranty, Schupmann said. Fortis' warranty includes a comprehensive reconditioning process that not only assesses the health of the roof, but extends the life of it with preventative maintenance. "Where Fortis separates itself is when we come back with a long-range plan, we provide a guarantee with it," Schupmann said. "When a customer signs on with us and we say a roof is going to last 10 years, we do the reconditioning process and give them that guarantee. If that roof fails sooner, we're on the hook for that."

Be it a hurricane or hail gale, large storm systems can wreak havoc on roofs. In states where storms are an annual expectation, like Florida and Louisiana, yearly roof-replacement is simply not in the budget. But Dave Schupmann, senior vice president of sales & marketing at Fortis Warranty, said that a huge percentage of traditional roofs with storm damage get replaced prematurely. “As long as it’s performing...you want to see that roof continue,” Schupmann said. On this episode of Roof Talks, a Fortis Warranty podcast, Schupmann broke down why a full roof replacement is not the only option after a storm. Repair vs. replacement can mean a huge cost savings, and often times, Schupmann said, “we’re able to do a solution for a lot less than what they’re [insurance] claim was for.” How, exactly? Through the FRRA (Fortis Risk Roof Assessment), which analyzes roofs using lab testing and full building analysis to see whether a roof is eligible for a meticulous reconditioning process. This allows the home-owner or business owner to spend that insurance money elsewhere in the building. Recovering from a storm is a very hectic time, and in the aftermath, a community will see a deluge of contractors come into the area to make a quick buck on a hungry construction market. With demand high for materials, “it’s a very expensive time to do replacement,” Schupmann said. Insurance companies are overwhelmed, and homeowners are scrambling to find trustworthy local contractors. But Fortis roof repair “...not only saves the insurance companies some money, it protects building owners from large claims against their policy,” he said. Full roof replacement can often place a business on hold, cutting into profits. Schupmann explained that business owners are looking for solutions to continue to run their business and find a long term solution without the high cost of a replacement. Be it a high-slope or low-slope roof, he makes the case for why Fortis has the repair to save a roof and get a business or home back in working order.

Solar energy is growing in popularity as it becomes cheaper and more efficient. But what many homeowners and business don’t know is that a solar system installed on a roof, new or old, can void your roof warranty and potentially hinder the roof’s overall safety. On this episode of Roof Talks, we welcomed Dave Schupmann, SVP of sales and marketing at Fortis Warrant, to walk us through how experts at Fortis Warranty approach smooth solar roof installation. Though a roof could be brand new, healthy, and strong, it may not be designed for solar panels. Sadly, many homeowners don’t know this and install solar panels only to find they have voided their new roof warranty. This is where Fortis comes in. Not only for new roofs, Schupmann and his team at Fortis have seen it all: "...a roof that’s almost out of warranty, or a roof that has no warranty on it, or even a roof that’s halfway through its warranty," he said. No matter where the roof is in its lifecycle, Fortis gets it to the place where the roof matches the longevity of the solar panels that live on it. How? The Fortis Roof Risk Assessment (FRRA). This comprehensive roof and building evaluation catch potential threats to the health of a roof, keeping solar stability in mind. Whether the roof needs reconditioning or replacement, the FRRA analyzes the best next steps for a roof to prepare for solar panels. Fortis works closely with solar companies as well, "working with them hand in hand making sure the roof can receive what their plan is," Schupmann said. Spending the money to invest in this renewable energy is a commitment and one that deserves to be done right; give this podcast a listen for the professional expertise to guide there.

Commercial building roofs are one of the most negotiated points when transacting a building, and can be the difference between a handsome profit or painful loss. On this episode of Roof Talks with Fortis Warranty, host Tyler Kern sat down with Dave Schupmann, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Fortis Warranty to discuss how commercial roof warranties can help both increase value for sellers and save money for buyers. “Commercial roofs are probably the most expensive component of a building envelope that gets replaced,” Schupmann said. But up to 80 percent of roofs are prematurely replaced instead of being reconditioned with a warranty. Denver-based Fortis provides warranties for both new and reconditioned roofs, as well as extended warranties that are more comprehensive than a traditional manufacturer’s warranty. In a commercial real estate transaction, smart buyers do their due diligence on a building’s roof to find out its age, condition, manufacturer warranty status, and quality of regular maintenance. Without a warranty in place, that becomes an opportunity to negotiate the price down based on the aging roof, Schupmann said. But with a roof warranty, “there is significant value given to the seller, where they can sell their building with a warranty from Fortis that has the most inclusions and least amount of restrictions in the industry,” Schupmann said. “And because it’s backed by Lloyd’s of London, there’s a lot of security that comes with that warranty.” Founded in 2003, Fortis has written more than 2700 warranties for over 120 million square feet of protection in six different countries.

Any building owner wants a guarantee on the performance of roof repairs. They also desire warranties on the management of a long-range asset, their budget, and transferrable solutions that deliver a higher property value. However, they don't always get these guarantees. Why? On today's episode of Roof Talks, President and CEO of Fortis Warranty, Rick Lewis, explains the company's new approach to roof warranties. "Customers are interested in a roof that performs, which means to them keeping water out of the building. They also ask the question, 'What can I do to reduce costs and minimize the money spent on a high performing roof,'" Lewis said. With over 25 years in the industry, Lewis has a unique perspective on the importance of roof repair guarantees. As a former contractor, Lewis has felt first hand how this impacts their work. "[...]I understand how the industry works from their perspective and how the material side of the industry works. I know what is important to the buyer. What makes us different is the guarantee," he said. The Fortis guarantee is unlike anything in the industry, and the company prides itself on it. "The rubber meets the road with the guarantee. Most of the industry avoids the guarantee and are risk-averse. If they offer a guarantee, it's pretty narrow in scope; an exclusionary document written in favor of the company writing it versus benefiting the customer. We believe in what we do and our process that we offer the industry's most comprehensive guarantee," Lewis said. However, he noted it's an uphill battle trying to change an established industry. "Even with all the metrics and data we have, we're still swimming against the tide of an old industry paradigm. No matter how good the idea is, it's hard to turn the tide. We persuade others with the science and math. They are fact," Lewis said. "We back it up with a lot of data, including our historical metrics and then describe the underwriting process. We also provide industry third-party research that shows that many roofs have a remaining performance life." Give this podcast a listen to learn about the Fortis difference and guarantee and how it's been able to extend the life of roofs and ensure greater value for the property.

When talking about the commercial roofing industry, the phrase data-driven probably isn’t used too often. However, that’s not the way that Fortis Warranty sees the industry. Fortis has been a pioneer in evaluating roofing and turning to data to deliver reconditioning plans versus replacement. On this episode of Roof Talks, we explored the Fortis Warranty model and how it differs from the traditional roofing industry with the company’s President and CEO Rick Lewis. “We started the company in 2003 based on the Fortis Roof Risk Assessment (FRRA) process. It’s an assessment that’s noninvasive and looks at the roof’s ability to perform over time. The app’s been running for over 15 years, but we are always refining because we learn something new about the industry every day,” Lewis said. With the FRRA, the company looks at the top 15 risk characteristics of assessing a commercial roof. They also look at the physical qualities of the roof in the lab and its history. “The FRRA derives a score. This, coupled with the other assessment processes, help us determine if this roof can be reconditioned, which most can. Commercial roofs are replaced far too often. We have a different approach—developing a reconditioning plan that identifies defects and a plan to correct them so that the roof becomes warrantable by our standards,” he said. With 15 years of data collected, Fortis has a unique model when it comes to the roofing industry. They recognize that many building owners may have questions about reconditioning versus replacement, but Lewis said the benefits are hugely advantageous. “Reconditioning is going to cost a fraction of what a replacement will. You’ll have a better warranty with much fewer exclusions and a stronger financial guarantee than a new roof,” he said. Learn more about the Fortis story and their unique approach to extending the life of commercial roofs by giving this episode a listen.

There are home warranties, car warranties, and service warranties, but what about coverage for one of the single largest capital expenditures in a building? On this episode of Roof Talks, host Tyler Kern sat down with Rick Lewis, CEO of Fortis Warranty to discuss how building owners can defer expenditures, such as replacing a roof, with a commercial roof warranty. According to an article on Roofing Contractor Magazine, 80 percent of commercial roofs are replaced prematurely. “Age and the fact that it’s leaking isn’t the sole determinant whether a roof needs to be replaced,” Lewis said. Typically, a roof leak is an “isolated incident in a high-risk area where there is perimeter penetration,” Lewis explained. Within the last 10 to 15 years, roofing material quality has begun exceeding the manufacturer material design life. Essentially, that means roofing materials are capable of lasting longer than they have and often can be repaired instead of automatically replaced. “We’re prolonging a roof’s life cycle with our proprietary roof methodology,” he said. “We’re doing so…through reconditioning the roof and the issuance of our performance guarantee.” Denver-based Fortis uses proprietary inspections and reconditioning protocols to precisely estimate the useful life of a building’s roof. As such, Fortis can write commercially roof warranties backed by Lloyd’s of London. “No one wants to spend money on a roof for sure,” Lewis said. “It’s out of sight and out of mind until it isn’t. But when it isn’t — when it leaks, it’s disruptive for everyone- this is a solution.”