NTRCA “Not-So-Mini” Trade Show: Real Conversations, Real Momentum
By J. E. Bert II, former NTRCA board member and past president
Yesterday’s NTRCA “Not-So-Mini” Trade Show at the Hilton DFW Lakes reminded me why this event matters: you can cover a month’s worth of industry intel in a couple hours—face-to-face, no fluff. The room was packed with manufacturers, distributors, tech startups, and a lot of familiar North Texas names under one roof. (Facebook)
I caught up with Bret Foster, the current NTRCA President and owner of Bret Foster Roofing (Forney, TX). Bret’s doing a solid job keeping the association focused on education, standards, and smart growth. If you want the official roster, NTRCA keeps it current on their site. (NTRCA)
Manufacturers & reps worth your time
- Owens Corning — I spoke with Todd Sandri (area sales). For homeowners and GCs asking about vetting, Bert Roofing is an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor; that means third-party screening and program requirements beyond “we say we’re good.” Here’s our public OC profile for verification. (Owens Corning)
- DaVinci Roofscapes — Always a draw for impact-resistant slate/shake alternatives. I visited with Robert Curtis of Curtis Sales Associates, who represents DaVinci across our region; DaVinci’s composites carry Class A fire and Class 4 impact ratings—the performance homeowners ask about after every hail season. (curtissalesassociates.com, davinciroofscapes.com)
- CertainTeed — Big presence this year. On credentials: our crews include CertainTeed Master Shingle Applicator training, which is installer-level education tied to the Shingle Applicator’s Manual (not just a logo). (ontopsroofing.com)
- GAF and TAMKO — Both were busy, fielding questions on systems, warranties, and lead-time realities. If you want to dig deeper on product lines later, their main sites are solid starting points. (GAF, tamko.com)
Data, tech, and new tools
- HailTrace had a steady crowd at their booth. If you’re chasing storm data—or just trying to sanity-check hail narratives on a job—HailTrace’s mapping and reports are industry staples. (HailTrace)
- Met Brandon McCalister with Stormcure, which is positioning itself as a liquid-applied, seamless membrane system—not “a roof coating.” If you’re membrane-curious, Brandon’s the right guy to grab in DFW. (stormcure.com)
- Roof Pair is the new face-match tool people were demoing to ID shingles and find substitutes quickly—handy for repairs when the original is discontinued. Worth a look if you handle a lot of patch/repair work. (Google Play, Roofing Contractor)
Distributor moves you should note
- Roadrunner Roofing Supply is now part of SRS Distribution and rebranded as SRS Building Products. I visited with Scott Shaeffer, who’s now listed as a Territory Manager on SRS’s site. If you buy through Roadrunner, the transition means broader inventory depth and programs, same local relationships. (SRS Distribution)
- Beacon has rebranded under QXO after QXO’s $11B acquisition closed this spring. (Roofing Contractor, QXO)
Association touchpoints
- RCAT (Roofing Contractors Association of Texas) had folks circulating; if you’re not licensed through RCAT yet, fix that—clients and adjusters notice. (Roofing Contractors Association of Texas) Bert Roofing is an RCAT Licensed Contractor
- I also spoke with Karen Vermaire Fox, who led NTRCA for years and now serves as Director Emeritus; Kristen Harford is the current Executive Director. That continuity is part of why NTRCA events run smoothly. (NTRCA)
- A quick hello with Kirk Scott (Scott Exteriors), a former NTRCA President and long-time contributor—still highly engaged in the association and our market. (rooferscoffeeshop.com
Niche/specialty vendors
- Solar Royal had interest around solar attic ventilation (DFW attics in August… say no more). If you’re weighing active ventilation on steep-slope re-roofs, their 35W units are a common spec around here. (Solar Royal –)
- Metal Roof Production (Paul & Christine Scott) continues to be a reliable local sheet-metal shop—think custom flashings, coping, and detail-oriented commercial work out of Garland. (Metal Roof Production)
Why this matters for homeowners and property managers
Trade shows aren’t about swag; they’re about faster answers. When insurance, code, supply, and product questions collide on a live job, having direct lines to reps and distributors saves days—not hours. Yesterday reinforced that the North Texas roofing community is tight-knit, responsive, and still innovating under pressure.
If you’re a homeowner in DFW sorting out roof repair or replacement after storms, credentials and supply access matter. Bert Roofing maintains installer training (CertainTeed MSA) and is listed as an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor—both verifiable. That combination means you get qualified crews and real product pathways when inventory gets weird. (DFW Roofing, Owens Corning)
People & companies mentioned (quick links):
NTRCA • Bret Foster Roofing • Owens Corning Roofing • Bert Roofing (OC Preferred profile) • DaVinci Roofscapes • Curtis Sales Associates (Robert Curtis) • HailTrace • Scott Exteriors (Kirk Scott) • NTRCA Contact/Staff (Karen Vermaire Fox) • Stormcure (Brandon McCalister) • RCAT • TAMKO • GAF • CertainTeed • QXO (formerly Beacon) • SRS Building Products (Roadrunner → SRS) • Solar Royal • Metal Roof Production