(ABC 6 News) – The Rochester Area Builders Show started Friday, with contractors and construction professionals coming together to network both with potential clients and members of the industry.

A common theme for Friday evening: despite previous setbacks in supply, the construction industry is doing well, considering the weather conditions we’ve seen over the past month.

“It’s interesting because of the melt of the snow we had a couple weeks ago, we get a lot of calls for leaks [in roofs],” said Nick Folk, sales representative for Heyn Brother’s Roofing. “It’s kind of odd, usually we get those in February and March when the snows melting, this year it’s already happening.”

It’s not just the roofing industry that is making the best of an abnormal snow season; when it comes to home remodeling, less snow means higher productivity, and fewer hoops to jump through.

“It’s actually helped with a lot of our exterior jobs, we’ve been able to put decks in, we put a deck in around Christmas. It’s still warming up we’re actually putting in a basement right now,” said co-owner of Garas Remodeling, Ken Garas.

“In what? January and February,” he added with a laugh.

Established in 1953, the Rochester Area Builders, Inc., is an organization composed of builders, remodelers, contractors and the like; all with the goal of revitalizing Southeast Minnesota to the premiere destination for industry leaders.

Their annual show is the opportunity for that dream to come to life.

“This is the premiere builders home show for Rochester, no doubt. Most of the local contractors, the good contractors they’re here, because they’ve supported Rochester for so many years and it’s a place for people to come in,” said Folk.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain issues were on the forefront of a majority of contractors’ minds. Four years later, and a break in the clouds is great for supply and demand.

“We had a bounce back, a lot of our vendors are able to get stuff a lot quicker, even with normal lead times. We’re staying plenty busy, things are coming in good and on time so it’s really changed,” said Garas.

You can find a full breakdown of the event weekend here.