Metal panel roof systems fall into two main categories, structural and architectural, which require different components and slopes, writes Kurt Fester, project engineer at the National Roofing Contractors Association. Fester also describes the difference between metal roof shingles and panels and the different code requirements for various kinds of metal panel roof systems.

Fort Worth, Texas-based Jeff Eubank Roofing designed and installed a 123,300-square-foot dome, a 55,300-square-foot PVC roof system and multiple other roofs on the city's new Dickies Arena. The entire process took over two years but was completed ahead of schedule.

Drones can make construction job sites safer by preventing theft, measuring stockpiles of materials and monitoring progress on hazardous locations, writes Trent Cotney, CEO of Cotney Attorneys & Consultants. Drones can also conduct remote surveys and inspect concrete for any potential flaws, Cotney writes.

Improvement was evident in all sectors as total construction starts climbed 10% in September, according to Dodge Construction Network. The $889.7 billion seasonally adjusted total came on gains of 15% in the nonresidential sector, 9% in residential and 6% in nonbuilding, which may assuage some fears over the challenge of strained supply chains, says Richard Branch, chief economist for Dodge Construction Network.

The sloping roof of the Imaise House in Ichinomiya, Japan, extends beyond the house to the rear border of the property. The roof's overhanging eaves provide cover for an outdoor living space and have holes for trees to grow through.

The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., has saved over $50,000 and prevented 496 tons of carbon emissions, thanks to the rooftop solar panels it installed on five campus buildings in May 2020. The university plans to add more panels to a residence hall next year.

The Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City has installed three green roofs that together will manage 2.46 million gallons of stormwater per year. The roofs cover 23,201 square feet and were funded with private and public grants.

Health savings accounts can offer important tax savings and other benefits for employees who use them. Employers also can reap financial rewards by offering HSAs to their staff members, writes Bill Stuart.

Hiring friends can complicate relationships, but clear processes and discussions can ease difficulties, writes Alisa Cohn in this book excerpt. Founders who decide to hire friends should go through the typical hiring process, including conducting interviews, and discuss early on what giving feedback will look like, Cohn writes.

Paycheck Protection Program borrowers who are denied forgiveness have 30 days from receiving written notification to appeal. Businesses need three documents to file an appeal with the Small Business Administration: a dated copy of the SBA decision letter; signed documentation that supports the appeal -- from tax filings to wage reports; and complete contact information with relevant signatures, writes Lisa Price.

RT3 member RoofersCoffeeShop, the award-winning place where the industry meets for technology, information and everyday business, announced that it is a winner of the 2021 Folio: Eddie Award for Social Media/Online Community.