Member Spotlight: John Slayton
John Slayton
The Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) dives inside the career of John Slayton
Name: John Slayton
Title: Waterproofing Foreman
Firm: Industrial Services, Inc.
City: Ann Arbor, Michigan
My name is John Slayton and I’ve been doing this for about 9 years. I started doing this because my father did the same job when I was growing up. He just recently retired. So seeing how he supported our family and how much he loved his job. It rubbed off on me. And being part of so many cool projects all over the United States made it even better. Also the company I work for is A+ when it comes to taking care of their workers and the work they provide to contractors. I love my job.
DO NOT USE - USED TO KEEP ACCORDION CLOSED INITIALLY
What's a project you've worked on that you're especially proud of and why?
A: The Gordie Howe International Bridge project. Being part of something that is gonna be around for generations after I’m gone is something special. My kids and their kids, kids and so on, will be able to say their dad and grandfather was part of such an important project to Michigan and the United States of America!
How does proper air barrier installation contribute to overall building performance and sustainability?
A: It helps maintain building stability which in return helps whoever rents or owns the building be energy efficient.
How has earning your Level 3 Certification impacted your career and business opportunities?
A: It has helped me work on so many important projects around the United States. Such as Gordie Howe International Bridge, Ford Hub Project, Toyota Mazda in Huntsville, Alabama, along with other projects in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Mississippi.
What's one challenge you've faced in the field, and how did you overcome it?
A: Every job has its own challenges. The biggest thing for me is having an awesome group of guys and girls in our office that prepares us for every project we get on. Knowing the ins and outs of every project before we even start is so important.
How do you educate clients or general contractors on the importance of air barriers?
A: What’s most important to me is being knowledgeable on every product we use. Knowing every little detail helps explain the importance and installation process to our customers and makes the job go so smooth.
What's a common mistake you see in air barrier installation and how can it be avoided?
A: The biggest one I see is no Shingle effect. Guys like to not install it properly which then leads to major problems down the road.
What tools or technologies have made the biggest impact on how you do your job?
A: I would say blueprints. It’s nice having very detailed information prints which shows correct installation of the air barrier. That comes from our amazing office personnel. They always set us up for success.
What do you wish more people understood about the work of air barrier installers?
A: It’s a lot harder than it looks. Getting with the contractors before the job starts and making sure they know how important it is for proper installation of the air barrier so there are no problems down the road with their building.
How do you stay up to date with industry standards, training, or new installation techniques?
A: Our office does a great job keeping all of our field guys informed with all the newest tools and technology that helps us stay up to date with all installation processes.
If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be and why?
A: Really stressing the importance of the air barrier to all of our contractors. I feel like a lot of trades think what we do doesn’t matter.
