Roof Raisers: Gunner Roofing's Focus on Innovation and Service Leads to Success

Using video in your business strategy can be a powerful way to engage and build rapport with your customers. The best part? All you need is your cell phone.GAF Real Talk LIVE host Alan Lopez sat down with GAF video specialist Pablo Nivar to discuss low-stress, low-budget, start-today actions that contractors can use to introduce video content into their business strategy. Here are some of the lessons and easy-to-follow guidance highlighted during the pair's conversation.Why You Need VideoIn today's modern world, engaging customers on multiple levels is key. Video allows you to connect face-to-face in a sense and create engaging content that's not overly promotional, which can encourage users to buy. According to a 2021 study, 80% of consumers consider trust a deciding factor in their buying decisions.Don't Stress—Start SimpleFear about entering the professional video space is the biggest hurdle Nivar says he encounters among contractors as a GAF CARE video specialist. Fortunately, you don't need a big budget or professional equipment to successfully begin your video strategy.At the start, your videos are about building relationships. Use that to your advantage by working with what you have, and focus on engaging topics instead of fancy videography.Think Authentic Videos, Not MarketingHave the instinct to sell, sell, sell? Nivar explains why you should think again and create the kind of social media video content you like. Prioritize genuine content that tells a story and builds connection.If this sounds hard, Nivar and Lopez break down 10 types of videos for you to create. For each video type, Nivar gives examples and wording you can use. You don't have to reinvent the wheel; making videos can be easy and even enjoyable.10 Types of Videos to Create for Your Social Platforms1. Before and After VideosBefore and after videos can be a powerful way to showcase your work and benefit your brand without being overtly "salesy."2. Client TestimonialsClient testimonials can build a foundation of trust for future customers, helping them see the quality work you've completed and how you've collaboarated with past customers.3. Educational ContentYou can offer educational content without giving away your expertise for free. Think about what's relevant to your regional audience and focus on teaching, not selling.4. Your Company StoryCreating a company story video shouldn't be your first action, but it can be an impactful way to imbue humanity into your brand down the line. This presents a great opportunity to share your mission and vision, as well as introduce the people that help run the business.5. FAQAnswering questions you often receive is a great way to directly engage your customer base with content that's relevant to them.6. Time LapseTime-lapse videos can fulfill the need for "how it's done" content and show the value of your work. An entire project can be distilled down to minutes.7. Tips and TricksSharing tips with homeowners builds trust with your audience and gives them something valuable to take away from the video.8. Repair How-TosEmpowering homeowners to do their own minor repairs doesn't put you out of a job. In fact, it can show them you're committed to helping them solve their problems. Keep in mind that you should never inspire customers to climb onto their own roof, and instead encourage them leave that work to professionals.9. Customer AppreciationEveryone likes to feel appreciated. Making videos that show customers you value them for choosing your business—and how it makes a difference—can potentially lead to future work with both existing customers and new clients.10. OffersLeaving sales videos for last on your creation list can actually net you more business. You want to promote your business, of course, but it's best to make authentic connections first.Tips for Great VideosKnowing what to record is one thing, but understanding how to take video to benefit your brand is another. During their conversation, Nivar and Lopez not only cover how to use video in your business strategy but also need-to-know logistics. Important topics of discussion include video length, creating calls to action without being pushy, what not to say so you don't alienate customers and other businesses, and how to engage viewers with dialogue that hooks from the start. Additionally, the pair shares tips around enhancing the customer experience during installation using quick video recordings, which just might help earn extra praise in your video testimonials.Introducing Video to Your Business StrategyIf you've never jumped into the world of video content creation, Nivar and Lopez offer simple solutions that give you the tools to launch immediately. Watch their GAF Real Talk LIVE episode for in-depth information and exact steps you can take to start creating your videos. You can even contact the pros for more guidance. Be sure to also follow GAF on Facebook for more Real Talk LIVE episodes and other quality roofing content.Remember, you don't have to go it alone. You can keep expanding your business power with the free trainings, education, and support available to GAF contractors through the CARE Contractor Training Center.

The Louisiana coast has seen several severe weather events in the last decade, which has made it difficult for many people to rebuild their homes and prepare for future storms. This was the case for the Atakapa Ishak Chawasha tribe, a small community accessible only by boat.The group Rebuilding Together New Orleans recognized the impact a joint effort could have on the region. Together with the GAF Community Matters initiative, and roofing contractor Sunbelt Roofs, the group collaborated with the Atakapa Ishak Chawasha tribe to replace five hurricane-damaged roofs in the tribe's coastal Louisiana homeland.Sowing ResilienceThe week-long roof rebuilding initiative was part of the GAF Community Matters commitment to repair or replace 500 roofs throughout the Gulf region. The goal was to further strengthen and empower the resilience of the families, shelters, and livelihoods of the coastal Atakapa Ishak Chawasha tribe.The Timberline HDZ® RoofCycle™ Series Shingle, which is made with recycled material, was used to protect these homes.Adapting Environmentally"We are stewards of the environment," said Rosina Philippe, a tribal elder of the Atakapa Ishak Chawasha tribe, as she spoke with GAF during the week-long rebuilding initiative. Over a millennium, the tribe has resided in the region, finding all it needs to feed and sustain itself from the environment.However, man-made conditions have significantly impacted the tribe's way of life. The once-forested coastal region is now a salt marsh area, devoid of fresh water and trees, due to levees along the Mississippi River and canals cut through the coastal landscape.These changes have made it "more of a challenge to find the food and plants and medicines that we depend on for our livelihood. But we have been finding them, propagating them, and sharing them with other tribes," said Philippe. "Our way is to accept the natural processes, not change them."Fortifying against Unpredictable WeatherIn addition to the tribe's changing landscape, "what we're dealing with is the unpredictability of the weather," said Philippe. Climate change can cause dramatic temperature swings, which can impact everything from the life cycle of the tribe's crops to the protection of its homes.Situated at the southeasternmost lands of Plaquemines Parish, fingerlike marshland trails out into the Gulf. The homes in the Atakapa Ishak Chawasha community are built on stilts along these watery paths and are accessible only by boat. These homes are often the first line of impact with hurricanes that rip through the Gulf of Mexico.Hurricane Ida—the fifth most expensive hurricane in US history—dealt the water-based community a devastating blow. For nearly two years, the hurricane's impact on tribal homes compounded with each subsequent storm because there wasn't an opportunity to repair its damage.Partnering for StrengthFortunately, through collaborative efforts between the Atakapa Ishak Chawasha, Rebuilding Together New Orleans, GAF, and Sunbelt Roofs, the opportunity to build tribal community resilience through new roofs became available. Bringing in roofing materials and roofers by boat, the Sunbelt Roofs team removed the storm- and hurricane-damaged roofs, repaired roof decking as needed, and installed new GAF roofing systems on the five homes.The roofing materials installed are designed to protect against volatile weather like hurricanes. To provide long-lasting protection against leaks and wind-driven rain, Sunbelt Roofs installed StormGuard® Film-Surfaced Leak Barrier and FeltBuster® Synthetic Roofing Felt. To help prevent shingle blow-off due to high-speed winds, Sunbelt Roofs installed Pro-Start® Starter Strip Shingles.The Timberline HDZ® RoofCycle™ Series shingles that were installed have Dura Grip™ Adhesive, which provides advanced protection from shingle blow-off and wind-driven water creating leaks or water damage.Building Communities TogetherThe initiative with the Atakapa Ishak Chawasha tribe is part of a comprehensive $25 million GAF commitment through 2025 to leverage roofing expertise, resources, and products to help support and empower resilient communities' fundamental needs. Through grants, in-kind donations, and hands-on support, GAF Community Matters is partnering with area organizations that know their communities' needs best.In the Gulf region, GAF partnered with organizations such as Rebuilding Together New Orleans, SBP, Good360, Habitat for Humanity, and Team Rubicon to rebuild or repair 500 Gulf region roofs, train a skilled workforce, and empower communities hard-hit by severe weather.Moving ForwardDespite the challenges of climate change and the changes in their physical landscape, Philippe said, "We still live a rich life here." As the environment changes, the tribe adapts, a demonstration of its resiliency. "These are the new norms that we are having to learn and document and chronicle, this is the information we'll have to pass onto our future generations so that they can continue to inhabit this area," she explained.To learn more about the resiliency work at GAF or to get involved, explore the GAF Community Matters initiative. Special thanks to the Atakapa Ishak Chawasha tribe, a member of the First People's Conservation Council of Louisiana.

Meet Austin Teague, recent GAF Roofing Academy graduate who shares his transformational journey from ball field to the roof. Prior to the GAF Roofing Academy, he was involved in sports, worked in customer service, but lacked the experience needed to break into the roofing industry. Once he graduated from the GAF Roofing Academy, doors were then opened for him, leading to well-paying jobs as an installer and later as a salesperson, where he is currently on track to meet his financial goals.Attending the two-week program proved to be a life-changing decision for Austin, providing him with the tools and confidence needed to succeed. The course not only equipped him with technical expertise, but also instilled in him the ability to educate customers effectively. Take a listen as Austin shares his story of how he found clarity and direction in his professional life, enabling him to thrive in the industry and build a successful future for himself and his family.Are you interested in a career in the roofing industry? Look for a Roofing Academy course in your area. Video TranscriptMy name is Austin Teague. I'm originally born in Tyler, Texas. Moved to Washington when I was a kid at ten. Well, prior to joining the Roofing Academy and, you know, taking my skills to that test, I was sports, strictly sports. Everything in my life I would, you know, I'd work a customer service job. I was in the, you know, the retail industry. I worked at Walgreens, but my personal life was hectic. It was football practice, baseball practice. It was always something going on.There was always something to do. Everything when it comes to roofing, for me, started after the Roofing Academy. When I tried to get into the roofing industry before going to the Academy, nobody wanted me because I had no experience. They're going to have to train everybody on the job. But because of the roofing academy, because I knew what I was going to do day one, I knew what my job was. I couldn't run into any hiccups because I knew what showing up day one was going to look like.[00:00:56.770]So they gave me a GAF certificate with my name, the location I trained out of, and then when I graduated. And what I did with that is I took it to every single applicant or job interview I had because I wanted them to know that I have this certificate. Not saying I have it, but also bring it, so they can see it.After the academy, I landed a job at 28 an hour as an installer, which is substantial in this living, making life, making payments. And then after that, I got bumped up to 32 an hour when I was working in New Mexico. And now that I'm sales, I'm straight commission. But in this month, I'm on pace to hit 20,000. Our goal at Tristate is to educate the customers firsthand. So being at the Roofing Academy allowed me to know roofing like the back of my hand. As an installer, as a sales, as an owner, you got to see the value in the systems. And it allowed me in my head to build those value, actually explain it to the customers. Where is this number coming from? Well, it's coming from this material because this material is going to cost more, of course, but it's obviously better.[00:01:58.920]I think someone coming to the Roofing Academy right away, no experience, is going to set you up for success. That's what you want. You want to be set up for success. You want to be as many tools as you can in your tool belt to get you to that point you want to be in life. And showing up to the Roofing Academy, it changed my life drastically. I didn't know what I was going to do. I literally didn't know, if roofing wasn't the pathway for me- what was the next plan?I was just grateful. I mean, I was one day on indeed looking for jobs and I saw the Roofing Academy post on indeed looking for academy students, and I thought, why not? What's two weeks out of my life that I get to change it? If I get an opportunity to change it and that two weeks changed my life. There's no time wasted. You're here from nine to three or nine to four at the latest for your classes.You're with guys that you actually enjoy being around. The guys in my class or in the class today, they're fun guys. They all get to make mistakes and learn from each other. And it just makes me grateful that I got that opportunity to make something of myself. I'm not just another guy on the street.[00:03:00.340]I don't know what my life's going to look like in the next six months, but I guarantee it's not going to slow down. I'm going to work harder than ever. I know I got two kids at home. I have something to push me. I would say that all the success started with the Roofing Academy because my life before the Roofing Academy was kind of on a snowball effect. It had started from when I left college and then came home and it kind of just started snowballing. One thing after another was another problem, another problem. Bills at 18, going into debt. You're 18, your life isn't, you're going to ruin your life already. So you got to figure some out. And I figured it out. I got lucky enough that I found GAF and you know they still treat me well to this day. I have my Academy teacher's phone number and I call them up and help him out from time to time, and he helps me out from time to time.We still get along. And it was two weeks of my life that I knew the guy, and he still gives me a call and checks up on me and tries to: How are you doing in roofing? You still in roofing? You still making a name for yourself? You still doing what you said you were going to do? And I am. It's just good to have someone to talk to. Even if you're in this industry for ten years, I guarantee you GAF CARE will probably still give you a call and check on you. That's just what they do.