Walls & Ceilings 'If Walls Could Talk'

Executive Director Jill Bloom and attorney Trent Cotney discuss the legal and business challenges contractors are raising at industry events, including contract language, insurance changes, OSHA enforcement and reputation management. Cotney encourages contractors to strengthen contracts, diversify beyond insurance work and stay proactive to reduce risk and position their businesses for long-term s...

Marketing metrics like website traffic and social media growth may look impressive, but they don't always drive business results. In this episode, Anna Anderson, CEO of A Squared, explains the six key performance indicators every roofing contractor should track to generate better leads, improve marketing ROI, and build long-term growth.

Trust remains one of the most valuable assets a contracting company can build. In this episode, Anna Anderson shares strategies for leveraging community relationships, industry recognition, certifications and earned media to enhance reputation, improve visibility and create sustainable business growth.

Trent Cotney joins Jill Bloom to discuss the employment challenges roofing contractors face today, including documentation, employee handbooks, terminations and severance agreements, and how proper policies can help reduce legal risk.

In this episode of “If Walls Could Talk,” W&C Editor John Wyatt sits down with Tom Harris of Tom Harris PUR Consulting to discuss why strong partnerships are essential for long-term success in the spray foam industry. Harris explains how building relationships with code officials, HVAC professionals, and other industry partners can help contractors reduce liability, improve project outcomes, g...

At BUILD 26, Walls & Ceilings Editor John Wyatt interviewed Jason and Yamila Bertoniere of Jason Bertoniere Inc. about their ongoing restoration of a historic New Orleans residence featured in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". The project involves extensive plaster restoration, careful phased construction, and modern techniques designed to preserve the home's original character. The discu...

In this episode, Doug Kramer reflects on PolyCon’s rise from a startup to an emerging industry leader in spray foam roofing and insulation. He explains how innovation, customer-focused culture, and long-standing industry relationships are helping the company expand during a challenging supply chain environment. Kramer also shares insights into the growing awareness of spray foam technology and why...

Construction attorney Trent Cotney explained how petroleum-driven material inflation and accelerated data center construction schedules are increasing risk exposure for contractors. The conversation also explored termination clauses, procurement challenges and how future technology shifts could reshape demand for large-scale data center projects.

At BUILD 26, Horizon Interiors’ Rudy Kadiric discussed Chicago’s strong construction market, ongoing labor shortages and the growing role of technology in helping wall and ceiling contractors improve productivity and stay competitive.

Advances showcased around the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance convention point to tighter ratio control, jobsite verification and new formulations with cost and environmental implications. For contractors, the shift links directly to installation quality, documentation, risk reduction and bid strategy.

The proposed TopBuild acquisition by QXO highlights growing concerns among contractors about how consolidation and vertical integration could affect competition, pricing, and access to sensitive estimating and procurement data. Trent Cotney emphasized that contractors can protect themselves by strengthening contract language, carefully managing documentation, and clearly defining responsibilities...

Contractors often struggle with inconsistent leads not due to workmanship, but because of weak marketing systems, especially across Google visibility, ads, responsiveness, websites, and social content. A reliable pipeline depends on optimizing five areas: Google Business Profiles, Local Service Ads, rapid response and review management, high-performing websites, and authentic social media activity...

Contractors are beginning to tap into AI’s potential beyond marketing, using tools like customer-facing agents to automate appointment booking and improve lead conversion. By eliminating delays and missed calls, AI helps contractors capture more opportunities and stay competitive, especially during busy work hours when most leads are typically lost.

Gabriel Quintana highlights the 2026 NWCB conference as a contractor-driven event combining education, networking and product exposure. New additions like a training center tour and sessions on communication reflect ongoing labor challenges and the growing importance of soft skills in project execution.

There’s a lot to be said about the cost savings and efficiencies made available with the onset of artificial intelligence in the roofing and construction space. Yet, it’s still a relationship-based business that still relies on face-to-face interactions, even with all the evolving technology. “I’ve always believed construction is a face-to-face kind of (business),” explained Legal Expert Trent Cot...

The 2026 SPFA Convention & Expo will center on workforce development, certification access and jobsite-ready education as demand for qualified spray foam installers grows across residential and commercial markets. In addition to certification prep courses, ABAA training and entrepreneur-focused sessions, the event will offer recorded breakout sessions, Spanish-language programming and real-tim...

Wall and ceiling contractors are facing real operational disruptions as immigration enforcement uncertainty causes crews to stop reporting, delaying projects and straining builder relationships. The proposed Dignity Act would introduce a structured, renewable legal status for certain undocumented workers, aiming to stabilize the construction labor force without granting immediate amnesty. Until le...

Contractors and business owners are also dealing with increased demands when it comes to design specifications. “Systems are getting so complex,” Cotney explained. “If you didn’t install something correctly, then it’s on you. But it shouldn’t be your responsibility to meet certain performance requirements.” He said to have early conversations with customers and when it comes to the contract, push...

Tom Harris discusses how R-value, the standard metric for insulation performance, only measures conductive heat transfer under controlled lab conditions while ignoring convection, radiation, air movement, and moisture. He highlights research and the new A-Value study, which aims to measure full wall assembly performance more accurately in real-world conditions.

Art Unlimited CEO Anna Anderson shares practical, no-cost steps contractors can take right now to prepare their marketing for AI-driven search and the rapidly emerging “business-to-agent” economy.

From crawling through attics to building a recognized brand, Jessica Azarelo’s story is one of grit, reinvention, and purpose. Her hands-on foundation shaped Attic Queen’s focus on building science and measurable results for homeowners. After a life-changing injury, Azarelo expanded her impact through advocacy and an ambitious plan to franchise the business nationwide.

As decision-makers turn to AI instead of Google, contractors must rethink their websites and trust signals to stay visible and competitive.

Immigration enforcement has shifted from a looming concern to an immediate threat for construction contractors, with I-9 audits and ICE actions already underway. In this urgent discussion, Jill Bloom and legal expert Trent Cotney stress that proactive, consistent I-9 compliance and documented good-faith efforts are now essential to avoiding serious penalties and protecting construction businesses...

W&C Editor John Wyatt speaks with Tom Harris of Tom Harris PUR Consulting about the technological advances, education-driven growth, and regulatory forces shaping the spray foam industry as it heads into 2026. Harris points to 2025 as a turning point marked by major product improvements, stronger collaboration, rising certification rates, and a more educated contractor base—positioning spray f...

As accounts receivable rise and backlogs ease, contractors can’t afford to let collections drift. In this episode, Trent Cotney shares practical ways to get paid faster: vet customers before signing, set clear expectations, track AR weekly, and follow a consistent contact plan that escalates from reminders to demand letters. He also explains why incentive-based collections can outperform hourly ro...