Scott’s Roofing is on a mission to install Colorado’s best quality, environmentally-friendly roofs, while pioneering a model for sustainable business. The company strives to create a small environmental footprint by using upcycled materials to reduce landfill. Scott’s Roofing takes the same approach to the planet as the roofs they build – it is not about what is easy, it is about what is right. The company makes every decision grounded in a commitment to their sustainability initiatives; and have pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030.
The discipline of running a business with a triple bottom line and focus on the planet starts at the top of Scott’s Roofing, with the vocal and environmentally minded owner, Gary Nickell.
Gary’s commitment to local communities is strong and you can see it with the organizations Scott’s Roofing supports through it’s 1% for the Planet memberships (350 Colorado, Conservation Colorado, Colorado Water Trust), it’s active relationships with the B Local Colorado community and the city by city work the company does to make build code changes that result in less of an impact on the environment.
Scott’s Roofing is based in Lafayette, CO where you see your mayor walking down the street and you know your representatives by first name. It is here the company learned how to be active in the local legislative process, advocate for strong conservation policies and influence change. Change in building codes to be exact.
Roughly 12 million tons of asphalt shingles, which represent the primary type of roofing in the United States, end up in landfills each year. These oil-based shingles take hundreds of years to break down in the landfill and contaminate the soil and water with petroleum and asbestos as they decompose. Asphalt shingles can be recycled into pavement and hot-mix asphalt, but the cost is prohibitive.
Scott’s Roofing is in the business of creating less business for itself in the long run as a result of the urgent need to curb the amount of roofing materials that goes into the landfill. In 2017, 2018 and 2019 Colorado experienced hailstorms which caused damage to thousands of buildings resulting in new roofs. Buildings with Class 4 rated roofs had less damage than the lower rated roofs and often did not need replacing. It is this building code where Scott’s Roofing sees it can have an impact by educating local municipalities on roofing building codes, partnering with local organizations to bring awareness to the communities and make changes internally to the materials they use.
“We need to be taking action. Writing the letters, makings the phone calls and visiting our local and state legislators, because that is how it is going to change,” says Scott’s Roofing’s Director of Marketing, Bea Glassford. There is no greenwashing with Scott’s Roofing, this is what the company does. Along with organizations such as Eco-Cycle (which is a material recyclability knowledge base) and Protect Our Winters (which produces strong weather-related climate change work), Scott’s Roofing is going city by city to upgrade building codes to make Class 4 roofing the standard.
Fort Collins changed the building code to Class 4 asphalt shingles in 2019 and Lafayette, CO followed in 2021. “Asking to make a building code change to use class 4 asphalt shingles is the minimum we are asking for,” continues Bea Glassford. Class 4 roofs will be damaged less, resulting in not being replaced and averting shingles from the landfill. “Insurance companies are required to pay for whatever the building code is. Most homeowners receive a discount on their policy with higher rated shingles, same for business owners on building insurance policies.”
Changing building codes is a long-term project. As more and more cities upgrade their building codes, Scott’s Roofing will be part of the conversation to make Class 4 roofing a statewide building code. In the meantime, the company took a look at the materials they use and moved to Malarkey Roofing due to their high performance, sustainable roofing shingles with rubberized asphalt technology. The average roof made with Malarkey shingles upcycles five truck tires and 2,000 water bottles. The shingles also have smog-reducing granules which help clean the air.
“We learned to talk with legislators by trial and error. We evaluate our messaging with each municipality differently. Our mission is environmental by reducing material in the landfill and using upcycled materials, people focused by keeping our employees safe from harmful chemicals, and community focused by protecting homeowners roofs and being an active member of Colorado business,” says Bea Glassford. “We are interested in opportunities to work with other B Corps to collaborating on creating change within our industry.”