Category: Metal Wall Panels

Marketing Your Roofing Company: 7 Proven Strategies That Work

Posted on by Alejandro Vela

Back in the days of the Wild West, “branding” meant leaving your unique mark on your cattle to claim ownership across the sprawling range. It symbolized identity and loyalty for those who rode the trails. In today’s fast-paced business landscape, branding still revolves around leaving a mark, but it’s no longer about physical property. Today, it’s about carving a lasting mental and emotional impression in the minds of your customers. For your roofing company, that means crafting a brand that reflects your values and rises above the digital noise of the crowded construction industry to get noticed. 

What Is—and Isn’t—a Brand? 

Let’s break it down. A brand isn’t your logo, your website, or even your latest roofing service. It’s not what you say it is. Instead, it’s the perception and emotional connection your customers form based on their experiences with your business. It’s the gut feeling they get when they hear your name or see your trucks roll by. Your brand is the sum of every interaction, from a quick estimate to a finished roof, shaped by how your customers feel about you.

1. Brand Awareness in 2025

Today’s data shows people encounter upwards of 10,000 brand messages daily—double what they faced in 2020—thanks to the explosion of AI-driven ads, immersive platforms, and endless scrolling. For your roofing company, standing out isn’t just about having a solid service; it’s about cutting through this clutter with a memorable brand campaign. Research still holds that people retain only 10% of what they hear after three days, but pair that with a striking visual, like a drone shot of your latest roof install, and retention jumps to 65%. 

Your brand needs to be bold, shareable, and consistent to stick in people’s minds. Studies now suggest a brand takes 7–10 impressions to register in today’s oversaturated market. Your job? Get prospects and customers buzzing about your work—liking, sharing, and talking about it across their networks. Nail that a few times a week, and you’re on track to dominate your local scene. 

Here’s how to make it happen with today’s top tools: traditional marketing, website development, search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, social media, and cutting-edge digital strategies.

2. Traditional Marketing

Traditional channels like billboards, radio, and trade shows aren’t dead in 2025. They’ve just evolved. While print newspapers and Yellow Pages have faded into obscurity, hyper-local tactics like digital billboards with QR codes or sponsoring community events can still build awareness. The catch? They lack the real-time analytics of digital platforms and don’t let you chat directly with your audience. Pair them with online efforts for the best bang for your buck. Think of them as a supporting act, not the headliner.

3. Website Development

Your website is your 24/7 salesperson, and in today’s world, it’s non-negotiable for any roofing business. Why? It’s cost-effective, accessible, and builds trust. A sleek, fast-loading site signals you’re a pro. Stats show 80% of users judge a company’s credibility by its web design alone. Plus, with voice search and AI chatbots now standard, your site can answer questions like “How much for a new roof?” even while you’re asleep. Make it mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and packed with visuals of your work. Before-and-after photos still seal the deal.

4. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

SEO keeps your roofing company popping up when folks search “roof repair near me” on Google, Bing, or even AI-powered engines. It’s all about boosting your online visibility with smart content. Start simple: sprinkle keywords (e.g., “emergency roof repair [your city]”) into your site’s titles, headers, and pages. Share blog posts or videos that tackle common roofing questions like “Can my roof handle another storm season?” Keep navigation smooth so customers can reach you fast. Not sure where to start? Think like your client: What are they typing into their phones at 2 a.m. with a leaky roof?

5. Email Marketing

Email is still a powerhouse. Everyone’s got an inbox, and it’s a direct line to your audience. With platforms like Mailchimp, you can track opens, clicks, and even sales tied to each campaign. Personalize it: send storm prep tips to homeowners or a “thanks for choosing us” follow-up with a discount on gutter cleaning. Automation’s your friend. Set up drip campaigns that trigger when someone signs up for a quote. It’s low-cost (many plans are still free for small lists) and flexible. Tweak it if it’s not working. Just pick a provider that scrubs bad email addresses and serves up solid stats.

6. Social Media

Social media’s your megaphone, with platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn driving engagement and leads. It’s 100% better at closing deals than cold calls ever were. Post quick drone clips of your crew in action, share customer testimonials, or jump on trends like a “Roofing Fails” series with a humorous twist. Focus on one platform first (Instagram for visuals, LinkedIn for pros) and keep it consistent—weekly posts with punchy captions and eye-catching images. Tools like Buffer or Later can auto-post for you, and analytics will show what’s clicking. Engage back—answer comments, share others’ posts, and build a community around your brand.

7. Digital Marketing

Ready to level up? Digital ads are smarter than ever. Paid social ads on Meta (yep, still kicking with 3 billion+ users) let you target homeowners in your zip code who’ve searched “roof leaks.” Search Engine Marketing (SEM) via Google Ads puts you at the top of “roofing contractor” searches—perfect for urgent jobs. And programmatic ads? They use AI to hit the right people at the right time, no guesswork needed. Budget varies, but even $100 a month can stretch far with precise targeting. Work with a pro if you can. They’ll optimize it so you’re not just spraying and praying. 

Great Marketing Means Business 

Branding isn’t optional. It’s your roofing company’s lifeline. With a mix of sharp messaging, standout visuals, and the right tools, you can break through the noise and leave a mark as lasting as a Wild West brand. Whether it’s a killer website, a viral TikTok, or a targeted ad, now’s the time to connect with your audience and build a reputation that keeps the jobs rolling in. 

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The Color Of Success: MBCI’s Durable Coating & Finish Options

Posted on by MBCI

The building is designed. The construction schedule is worked out. The materials have been chosen. The trades have been hired. There’s just one more crucial decision to make: The finish.

Metal construction with MBCI already has a long list of benefits basically built in, from enhanced sustainability to superior durability and longevity. But to ensure the long-term, high-performing life of the MBCI materials you’ve invested in, you also need to choose the right finish for your metal components.

Though many people think of finish as simply the color on top of the metal, it’s actually far more. Standard finishes include a primer designed to bind the colorcoat to the metal substrate and provides additional corrosion protection. The colorcoat is comprised of a resin and pigments to create a durable finish in a variety of colors. MBCI’s color finishes are composed of a combination of layers and ingredients to provide you with the best technology for your specific project. MBCI can provide customized finishes that can include additional layers of primer, colorcoat or topcoats depending on the level of protection you choose. The selected resins, pigments and other ingredients determine not only the color and gloss, but how well the finish can stand up to the elements, its expected longevity – and therefore the lifetime of the material it’s protecting.

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Which finish?

MBCI offers two categories of standard finishes. The Signature® 200 series of coatings is a silicone modified polyester (also known as SMP). Silicone modified polyester coatings are hard, durable finishes that provide remarkable gloss, color retention and chalk resistance. A perfect choice for doors, wall cladding, agricultural and high traffic commercial projects. The most economical choice, Signature® 200, comes in a variety of stock colors and can also be customized to your specifications.

For premium projects or projects in more aggressive environments, MBCI’s Signature® 300 series of coatings utilize a 70%polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) resin. PVDF finishes offer superior color retention and are highly resistant to harsh conditions such as UV radiation, high winds, high altitudes, acid rain, high humidity and other chemically or environmentally aggressive environments. Signature® 300 coatings are perfect for high visibility architectural and industrial projects. If you’re building near the coastline, MBCI carries a special finish formulated to stand up to marine environments and damaging salt spray.

MBCI also provides customized finishes for interior projects wherever corrosive conditions occur indoors, such as in water treatment plants, indoor swimming pools or facilities that use or manufacture caustic, corrosive chemicals.

Color Choices

The popular reds and greens of recent decades have given way to trends toward more natural colors, earth tones, calming blues and natural metallics such as copper and bronze. As MBCI Paint and Coatings Specialist Martin Thompson explains, “MBCI’s stock color options reflect the changes in color trends – and if there is something we don’t offer on the standard color chart, we will customize it for you.”

You can download MBCI’s Color Charts here:

Architectural Color Chart

Commercial & Industrial Color Chart

Residential Color Chart

If you don’t find the option you had in mind, contact your friendly MBCI representative to start the color customization process. We can match virtually any shade, but custom colors may require increased lead time.

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Maintenance/Best Practices

Once you’ve completed a project, you’ll certainly want to maintain it. While MBCI products require little to no maintenance, there are a few pointers that will help get the longest life and best performance out of your MBCI metal finish:

  1. Don’t allow cut panel ends to contact uncured concrete — Metal panels are susceptible to corrosion when exposed to chlorides or highly alkaline uncured concrete. Leave a gap between these panel edges and green concrete and ensure good drainage away from walls and off rooftops.
  2. Keep metal components dry — Corrosion is made possible by prolonged wet conditions. Inspect your entire building envelope at least twice a year, removing dirt buildup, mold, mildew or anything else that traps or holds water against metal components.
  3. Wash annually — A light washing with household soap or siding cleaner is recommended once a year. In wet environments with excessive organic material like mold or pollen, wash more frequently.

Warranties

We know our finishes are strong, and we stand by them. Both the Signature® 200 and Signature® 300 series come with 30-year colorfastness and 40-year film integrity warranties. Colorfastness refers to the color maintaining its appearance, while film integrity is an indicator of how long the finish will adhere to the panel surface. In exceptionally harsh environments such as heavy industrial or coastal areas, the warranty may be different. Speak to your representative for more details. In case of small scratches or blemishes, touchup paint matching your finish is available through MBCI.

When you’re ready to make decisions on coatings and finishes – or if you just have questions – don’t hesitate to reach out to your MBCI representative.

The Importance of Cleaning Metal Roof and Wall Panels

Posted on by Randy Tweedt

Metal panels need attention; they should not be taken for granted. True, they are a notably long-lasting and attractive choice, particularly with the myriad colors and protective finishes available, but once installed, proper care is imperative in order to maintain their durability, performance and good looks for decades.

What are the main culprits of potential damage? Dirt and residue (such as from trees or animals) left to sit on metal panels, for instance, can cause the irreversible degradation of protective coatings, thereby compromising the longevity of roof and/or wall systems. Additionally, corrosive elements, including bacteria, mold, mildew or even acid rain can damage the structural integrity of the panels. Additionally, buildup of foreign elements, such as leaves, can hide potential leak areas or places that may be rotting away. Even in terms of energy efficiency, keeping the panels clean may help a roof reflect heat as they were originally intended.

To keep panel appearance in top shape, protecting the finishes must be a priority—otherwise, you may find yourself needing to re-coat the panels. Stains from leaves and moisture, algae and lime deposits that remain on panels for extended periods can do serious harm to the finish. It should be noted, however, that re-coating should only be considered if the panels remain structurally sound and if doing so wouldn’t void the manufacturer warranty.

How often should you clean metal panels? Most experts agree that at a minimum, an annual cleaning is advisable in order to keep the panels free of common elements that can jeopardize the integrity of the finishes. If you have heavy tree overhang, you may need to clean it or remove debris a little more frequently.

Deep cleaning to remove more stubborn substances (e.g., tree sap, oxidation) can be done every 3 to 5 years, depending on the building conditions, location and weather, etc. Interim, moderate cleanings can also be performed following substantial weather events and seasonal allergen build-up. It’s a good idea, in fact, to assess roof conditions before winter hits to identify any potential issues that need to be addressed.

No matter the frequency, perhaps the most important advisory when it comes to cleaning the panels is to follow the panel manufacturer’s recommendations regarding who should perform the work and with what solutions and tools so as not to void any warranties. In some instances, it may be beneficial (or perhaps even required) to have a professional building surface cleaning company with metal panel experience do the work.

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Tips on Proper Cleaning Techniques and Solutions

As for the maintenance and cleaning instructions, it’s always best to refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines in order to best protect specific products, for example, to determine which cleaning solutions and techniques work best for a given manufacturer’s panels. Neglect or improper care can degrade the finish, compromising not only the visual appearance and performance but, as noted, can also potentially void the panel warranty. But maintaining the panels doesn’t just entail washing them like you would a car; it also means keeping them free of harmful debris.

Here are a few general tips for the proper cleaning of metal panels (again, refer to the panel manufacturer’s specific directions):

Simple cleaning: generally, water and mild detergent will be sufficient. Do NOT use bleach, which can change the finish color or have a harmful interaction with certain finishes.

Water-soluble dirt or other deposits requiring more complete cleaning: you can use a solution of hot or cold water mixed with detergent. In a container of water, use a 5 percent solution of commonly used commercial (non-industrial, non-bleach) mild detergent. Use a cloth or a soft-bristle brush for application of the cleaning solution, followed by a clean water rinse. Alternatively, pressure-washing with a 40° tip is also an option.

Non-water-soluble deposits such as tar, grease, oil and adhesives: a solvent or alcohol-based cleaner may be required. In this case, since most organic solvents are flammable and/or toxic, they must be handled accordingly. Generally, keep them away from open flames, sparks and electrical motors; use adequate ventilation, protective clothing and goggles; and read the manufacturer’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) of any solvent used for any other specific safety details.

The following are among the cleaners widely recognized by manufacturers for this type of non-water-soluble cleaning: alcohols—denatured alcohol (ethanol) and isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol); and solvents, including VM&P Naphtha, mineral spirits, kerosene, and turpentine (wood or gum spirits).

For any level of cleaning, do NOT use wire brushes, abrasives, or similar tools that will erode the surface coating and leave scratches or other finish damage that can lead to corrosion. Additionally, always test a small area before proceeding with any of the cleaning agents mentioned to ensure there is no adverse effect resulting from the product’s use.

Remember, the misuse or abuse of any of the acceptable cleaning agents will automatically void any manufacturer’s warranty for the affected surfaces, so be sure to check with the manufacturer and also follow directions on any cleaning products used.

By following the tips above, installers can keep metal panels looking great and performing well for years to come.

To learn more about the importance of cleaning metal panels, contact your MBCI representative or check out our blog post on metal panel maintenance.

Benefits of Metal Panels For Agricultural Applications

Posted on by Tyler Roose

Agricultural applications need building solutions that are durable, effective, cost-efficient and versatile, which is why MBCI’s high-quality metal building products undergo rigorous testing to ensure they will meet or exceed the aesthetic and structural requirements of any agricultural building initiative—from general farm facilities to barns, pole barns, sheds, horse stables, riding arenas, ranches, livestock stables, crop storage buildings, machinery storage and garages, animal shelters and more.

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Why use metal panels on agricultural applications?

Metal is an excellent choice for agricultural applications because of its durability and longevity, ease of installation on new or existing buildings, its ability to provide a weathertight seal and its low maintenance requirements.

The lifespan of metal roofs and siding can be up to 60+ years. MBCI’s metal panels are built with high-quality material and are backed by some of the industry’s leading warranties. Durable and low-maintenance agricultural steel panels are a perfect fit for the demanding nature of farm and ranch buildings, offering resistance and strength under extreme temperatures, high winds, heavy snowfall, strong storms and other harsh weather conditions. In fact, during hot summers, metal panels can help keep your building cool and energy costs low, while in the winter they shed ice and water to prevent damage. Metal, indeed, has a distinct advantage in its ability withstand the elements and not rot or warp over time.

MBCI’s agricultural metal roof and wall panels are also sustainable—made from recycled materials and are 100% recyclable at the end of the building’s life.

As far as design options go, you can choose from a variety of styles, profiles and colors for your metal barn siding, pole barn siding, metal shed roofing and more. Exposed fastener panels are the most commonly used on agricultural buildings because of their economical pricing and durability. MBCI offers up to 10 different exposed fastened panel profiles to choose from, depending on your preference and the region you’re in. Examples include: Rain Guard®, Perma-Clad®, WeatherSafe®, and MasterRib®, which can be used with DripStop technology to control condensation.

What to Consider

Once you’ve made the decision to use metal for your agricultural building, determining the particulars will depend on a number of factors. Here are some preliminary questions to consider.

  • Purpose: What are you using the building for? For instance, is it for equipment storage? Livestock? Is it a hobby building or a workshop?
  • Size: How much lot size do you have available?
  • Entry points: Where are your entry points? How big do the doors need to be? Do you need certain types of doors? For example, if the building is being used for equipment storage, what are you going to be moving in and out of there?
  • Aesthetics: What “look” are you trying to achieve?

Design Trends

As far as aesthetics, metal panels come in a multitude of colors (MBCI offer approximately 25 color options), so you have a lot of versatility with the color scheme for your agricultural project. Traditionally, what we see is a single color for the roof panels and then an alternate color on the walls, and the trim typically matches the roof panel. Another trend is a wainscot panel or a designer panel, which is basically a smaller strip around the base of the building to add an accent color. From there, many customers will wrap that with stone or masonry, too, to make it more decorative. Plus, with the merger of MBCI’s parent company with Ply Gem, our customers now have access to stone products as well.

Beyond Panels

Metal building options don’t end with roof and wall panels. To that point, MBCI prides itself on being a complete building envelope solution. If a steel frame building is your desire, then MBCI has that covered as well. From new construction to repair and remodel, MBCI offers a vast line of primary and secondary steel structural products and resources to meet the project’s needs. MBCI also partners with many great customers nationwide to offer componentized steel structures that can benefit any agricultural application.

Additionally, with the recent Ply Gem merger previously mentioned, MBCI is better positioned to give customers access to windows, walk doors, stone, and many other components needed to further enhance agricultural projects—all from a single source supplier.

Whether you need a complete structure, metal roof or wall panels, or simply components for a repair or addition, MBCI has the right products and accessories to meet any agricultural building requirement.

For information about MBCI’s agricultural metal building products and solutions, contact your local sales representative.

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