Trent Cotney

06/03/2026

Great discussion with Rooferscoffeeshop.com on the issues shaping the roofing and construction industries.
Contractors continue to face workforce shortages, regulatory pressure, rising costs, and project risk. These challenges require practical solutions that reflect how work actually gets performed in the field.
I appreciate RoofersCoffeeShop for the opportunity to discuss these issues and continue advocating for contractors and the industry.
Adams & Reese
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=989261526844811

06/02/2026

Check out my recent podcast with Walls & Ceilings Magazine regarding data centers and the legal challenges we are seeing pop up. Adams & Reese

Legal Insights Expert Trent Cotney explains oil costs, data centers and contract exposure issues.

06/01/2026

Roofing contractors continue to face increased scrutiny regarding employment eligibility compliance. One of the most common issues is also one of the most dangerous: incomplete, missing, or outdated Form I-9 documentation.

In my latest article for Roofing Magazine, I discuss why contractors need a structured remediation strategy before an audit occurs. The key takeaway is simple. Do not backdate. Do not guess. Do not create a record that makes a paperwork issue look like intentional misconduct.

A good-faith correction process can help reduce risk and demonstrate compliance discipline. For roofing employers, I-9 compliance needs to be part of the same operational mindset as safety, contracts, and workforce management.

Read the article here: https://roofingmagazine.com/an-i-9-remediation-strategy-mitigates-a-government-audit/

Adams & Reese

Employers in the construction industry face heightened scrutiny regarding employment eligibility compliance.

05/29/2026

Roofing contractors should pay close attention to the CFPB’s regulation of PACE loans. In my latest article for Western States Roofing Contractors Association members, I go through this issue it detail.

PACE financing has been used in some markets to help fund energy efficiency and resiliency improvements, including roofing-related work. But the regulatory landscape continues to shift, and contractors need to understand how financing disclosures, consumer protections, and sales practices can affect their business.

For roofing contractors, the key takeaway is simple: financing conversations create risk when they are not handled carefully. Contractors should make sure homeowners understand the nature of the financing, avoid overstating affordability or approval terms, and confirm that any third-party financing partner complies with applicable law.

PACE loans can create opportunities, but they also carry compliance obligations. Contractors that market, discuss, or help facilitate financing need written procedures, trained sales staff, and clear contract documentation.

Preparation is protection.

Adams & Reese

05/28/2026

Looking forward to speaking today on OSHA defense at the ABC of Central Florida Safety Champions Conference. Adams & Reese

05/27/2026

ICE enforcement remains a critical compliance issue for roofing contractors, particularly where work is performed across multiple jobsites, crews move between projects, and subcontractors or labor providers may be involved.

In my latest CRCA - Chicago Roofing Contractors Association CRCA Today article, I outline a practical compliance framework for roofing companies. The focus is straightforward: maintain accurate Form I-9 records, assign responsibility for document retention, train supervisors on how to respond if federal agents arrive at a jobsite, and avoid informal decisions that can create unnecessary legal exposure.

Good documentation matters. Training matters. Clear internal procedures matter. A contractor that waits until ICE appears at a project has already lost valuable time.

This article is intended to help roofing contractors prepare before an enforcement issue arises and reduce the risk of confusion, inconsistent statements, or avoidable disruption. Adams & Reese

05/26/2026

Preparation is one of the best forms of risk management for roofing contractors.

Thank you to Rooferscoffeeshop.com for featuring my comments in this article on why contractors need current contracts, organized labor documents, safety manuals, and trained supervisors before a legal issue arises on the jobsite. The article highlights a point I regularly make with contractors: waiting until OSHA, an immigration investigation, a customer dispute, or a subcontractor safety issue occurs is too late.

Roofing contractors need practical systems. That means reviewing contracts regularly, updating disclaimers when new risks appear, maintaining clear safety documentation, and training field leadership on what to do when an inspector or investigator arrives.

Preparation does not eliminate risk, but it gives contractors a much stronger position when problems occur.

Read the full article here: https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/preparation-is-protection

Adams & Reese

By Emma Peterson. How building systems, training teams and updating documents reduces your legal risk. From immigration investigations to OSHA inspections, there are a myriad of jobsite legal situations that could crop up out of nowhere. The best way to prepare your business for these unexpected sce...

05/25/2026

Memorial Day is a solemn reminder that our freedom was secured by men and women who gave everything in service to this country. Today, we honor the fallen, remember their families, and recognize the lasting obligation we owe to those who served beside them.

I am proud to support Black Dagger Military Hunt Club Inc and its charitable mission to provide meaningful outdoor experiences for veterans and active-duty military members. Organizations like Black Dagger help preserve the bonds of service, create fellowship, and provide needed support for those who have sacrificed for our nation. Learn more at https://www.blackdaggermhc.org/

On this Memorial Day, may we pause with gratitude, remember with purpose, and continue supporting those who carry forward the legacy of service.

05/23/2026

Roofing History: Georgia-Pacific’s FIRESTOPPER Roof Decks

This 1968 Georgia-Pacific catalog is a great snapshot of a different era in commercial roofing. The brochure promoted Georgia-Pacific’s FIRESTOPPER poured-in-place gypsum roof decks, including its Metro-Mix and Metro-Lite systems. The cover tells the story visually: a worker placing material over a roof deck while the catalog emphasizes fire resistance, jobsite application, and engineered roof-deck performance.

Poured gypsum roof decks were once an important part of the commercial roofing market. They offered strong fire performance and low sound transmission, and they worked well with the built-up roofing systems that dominated commercial roofing during that period. IIBEC has noted that poured gypsum enjoyed a “significant niche” in the roof deck marketplace in decades past, although it is rarely used in new construction today.

The product also reflects Georgia-Pacific’s broader role in gypsum building materials. Georgia-Pacific states that it has developed gypsum building products since 1965, and its later Dens family of gypsum products became widely recognized in roof assemblies.

This brochure is a reminder that roofing history is not limited to shingles, membranes, and metal panels. The deck itself has always been part of the story. In many older buildings, understanding products like poured gypsum roof decks remains critical for reroofing and repair.