As the roofing industry continues to evolve, service, maintenance and repair are no longer “nice to have” offerings—they’re becoming essential revenue drivers for contractors.
In a recent Roofing Road Trips® podcast episode from Roofer’s Coffee Shop, Megan Ellsworth sat down with Gabe Lane of CertainTeed Commercial Roofing to explore the value of offering repair and restoration, as well as ways to strengthen customer relationships and stay competitive in a fast-changing market.
Here are Gabe’s top 5 insights for contractors looking to grow their repair business.
1). Service and Maintenance are Must-Have Offerings
According to Lane, contractors who don’t have a service and maintenance program today are already behind. Preventive maintenance creates consistent touchpoints with building owners, positions contractors as trusted advisors and helps protect long-term customer relationships.
A proactive approach also allows contractors to help customers plan and budget—addressing active leaks first, then identifying preventive repairs that can extend roof life and delay costly replacements. The result? Fewer emergencies, lower lifecycle costs and greater peace of mind for building owners.
Looking ahead, Lane sees repair and maintenance programs becoming increasingly data-driven and strategic—helping contractors guide building owners through multi-year plans that align with budgets, operational needs and roof conditions.
2). Gain an Edge with Year-Round Service
One of the standout topics from the episode was 365RepairMaster™, our silicone-based, liquid-applied repair solution designed to perform in challenging conditions.
Lane shared a real-world example from Minnesota, where a crew was able to stop a leak in the middle of winter—after shoveling snow and ice off the roof—using 365RepairMaster. The repair held through harsh conditions and remained in place until permanent roofing work could be completed months later.
Key advantages discussed in the podcast include:
- Application across multiple roof types, including TPO, EPDM, PVC, asphalt and metal
- Performance in wet or cold conditions
- Long-lasting, warrantable repairs—not just temporary fixes
For service crews, this versatility means fewer products to stock, faster response times and greater confidence when unexpected repairs arise.
3). Simplicity is a Competitive Advantage
Lane also highlighted SmartFlash™ One, our asphalt-based liquid flashing solution that pairs seamlessly with 365RepairMaster for comprehensive repair strategies.
SmartFlash One is particularly effective for:
- Flashing penetrations quickly and efficiently
- Simplifying traditionally multi-step asphalt details
- Training newer crew members with an approachable, easy-to-use system
With the option to broadcast color-matched granules, repairs can also blend seamlessly into existing roof systems—an added benefit for both commercial and residential applications.
4). Strategize to Overcome Labor Challenges
Liquid-applied repair systems help contractors navigate one of the industry’s biggest challenges: labor shortages.
Because these systems reduce tear-offs, they minimize heavy, labor-intensive work. Crews can focus on targeted repairs, coatings and maintenance—skills that are easier to teach, easier on the body and more appealing to a diverse, modern workforce.
Lane emphasized that many contractors are finding success by training new team members—sometimes from entirely different trades—to perform coating and repair work efficiently with minimal equipment investment.
CertainTeed supports contractors with hands-on training at dedicated facilities across the U.S., where crews can move from classroom learning directly to real-world mock-up decks. These sessions encourage collaboration, regional knowledge-sharing and confidence in applying repair and coating systems correctly.
5). Repair-First Roofing is Sustainable Roofing
A repair-focused roofing business delivers meaningful sustainability benefits by extending the service life of existing roof systems and reducing material waste. By prioritizing maintenance, targeted repairs and liquid-applied solutions over full tear-offs, contractors can help keep thousands of pounds of roofing material out of landfills while significantly lowering the environmental impact associated with manufacturing, transporting and disposing of new materials.
Liquid-applied repair systems also support resource efficiency by addressing leaks, seams and penetrations with minimal disruption, preserving the embodied energy already invested in the building. For building owners increasingly focused on ESG goals and long-term asset performance, a proactive repair and maintenance program offers a practical, cost-effective way to improve roof longevity while supporting more sustainable construction practices.
Ready to Rev Up Your Repair Business?
Explore our full repair portfolio—including 365RepairMaster and SmartFlash One—and see how liquid-applied systems can help you grow a smarter, more profitable service and maintenance business.
Content adapted from the Roofing Road Trips® podcast “Revving Up Your Repair Business.” Listen to the full podcast episode at Roofer’s Coffee Shop.