By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

Learn about the companies that are driving the industry towards a greener future.

It is no secret that now more than ever is the time to focus on greener roofing solutions and for companies to reduce CO2 emissions. As manufacturers innovate to provide products that work longer and use greener practices, consumers and contractors alike can do their part to make sustainable choices. We have rounded up some pioneering companies that are driving the industry towards a more sustainable future.  

Re-use and recycle 

Environmentally responsible materials are more popular than ever, which is why an endlessly recyclable metal that won’t lose its strength and durability is a key component in EXCEPTIONAL® Metals’ pledge to reduce their environmental impact. 

Malarkey adds upcycled rubber and plastic polymers from used tires and water bottles to help extend shingle life. The upcycled materials improve the shingle's resilience and strength, creating an incredibly durable material that will last through extreme weather conditions like intense wind, rain and impact. 

Often on a roof made of a thousand pieces of tile, there are only a few broken tiles. Rather than reroofing, which comes at a substantial environmental cost, All Points Tile & Slate makes it easy to simply replace the few bits of damaged tile. Completely re-doing a roof creates harmful emissions during production while unnecessarily filling landfills. This is why All Points Tile is driven to provide local, national and international customers with the ability to identify, procure, color-match, store and deliver tiles. These processes make fixing a roof and replacing tiles much greener, while also making it easier for contractors to quickly finish the job and deliver a beautiful roof. 

Certifiably sustainable 

Sika strives to be transparent about their products from a full life cycle “cradle to grave” point of view. As such, Sika products are certified sustainable and designed to meet LEED standards in order to build a brighter future for our environment. 

Sika has been publishing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for its products since 2012 and its extensive EPD portfolio covers all of its construction target markets, from roof to basement. The only liquid-applied roofing and waterproofing systems that offer a fully disclosed cradle-to-grave EPD are Sikalastic RoofPro products. 

Duro-Last, Inc. is the first manufacturer to publish a product specific PVC environmental product declaration (EPD) for single-ply membranes, reporting the lifecycle environmental impact of each of their membrane products. Duro-Last also leads the roofing industry with the most certifications under NSF/ANSI 347, and is one of the only two manufacturers to achieve the highest-level platinum certification.  

Green technology 

Malarkey is committed to the environment and developed the industry’s first smog-reducing shingle by incorporating 3M smog-reducing granules. These granules are used in all of Malarkey’s shingles. You won’t even be able to tell the granules are there because they blend into the shingle’s color.   

Another way to reduce smog and the Urban Heat Island effect is through the use of green roofs. SOPREMA makes it easy to incorporate vegetated roofing systems into any roofing business with SOPRANATURE® green roof, which uses natural vegetation, like grasses and shrubs, to turn the roof, a usually neglected space, into a green oasis. 

The roof layers act as a soil and drainage system, compensating for the hampered ecosystems resulting from urban development, offering a multitude of economic and environmental benefits to building owners and communities. 

In addition to their innovative green roofing solutions, SOPREMA is deeply engaged in developing sustainability initiatives within their communities. For instance, they have a company recycling program and employees who have worked at SOPREMA for 20 years get a tree planted on the property in their name.

Energy efficiency 

Western Colloid's Cool Roof Systems can make a huge difference in the heating and cooling costs of your building, specifically with Fluid Applied Reinforced Roofing (FARR) systems. The cost of upgrading or restoring your roof with this system is offset by the cost savings for your building. Additionally, your roof upgrade may qualify for government rebates, tax deductions or write-offs. 

Similarly, ATAS has a variety of cool roof products designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat, bringing a new definition of “cool” to sustainability by bringing down the temperature.   

Conclusion 

These are just a few of the ways that the roofing industry is working towards ensuring a brighter, cleaner and certifiably greener future. Roofing products that extend the life of the roof, promote efficiency and save materials from landfills are smart choices for contractors and homeowners and show just how much you care about our planet and making sustainable choices to preserve it.  

Stay up to date with the latest roofing industry news when you sign up for the RCS Week in Roofing e-news. 

By Duro-Last. 

See how Technical Roofing of Indiana helped this school district put its rainy-day fears behind them and won an award for it as well.  

When facility leadership at Culver Community Schools met the Technical Roofing team at a local tradeshow, roofing needs were already at the forefront of their mind due to ongoing leak challenges. Technical Roofing was invited to visit and assess the joint middle school and high school building, finding multiple areas of concern in the aging modified bitumen roofing system. It was during this time that the district also started experiencing troublesome leaks throughout their elementary school as well, which featured EPDM membrane and a patchwork of other roofing systems from years of additions and repairs. Ultimately, the scope of the project was expanded to include both facilities.  

“When it rained, there was a constant fear of what you were going to walk into the next day when you entered the school,” said Brett Berndt, principal at Culver Middle and High School. “Some areas of our roofs hadn’t been touched in over 25 years, so it was important to us that we got a complete system overhaul that offered protection we hadn’t been getting for quite some time.” 

After presenting the custom-fabricated Duro-Last® Roofing System to district leaders and submitting a comprehensive project plan, Technical Roofing was awarded the job.  

“We worked with the Engineering Services team at Duro-Last to put together a deck sheet layout of the roofs,” said Mike Alt, sales representative for Technical Roofing. “We gave them drawings and dimensions of the roof surfaces, and they were able to put a plan together that showed exactly where the on-site seams would be with the deck sheets. That was immensely helpful as we planned out the installation and determined how to stage the material for the specific sections that we were working on.” 

As an additional time and budget savings for the school, Technical Roofing was able to overlay the existing roof with ½” Duro-Guard® EPS fanfold insulation before mechanically attaching the custom-fabricated Duro-Last membrane and installing custom stacks, custom curbs, and accessories. Perimeter walls were terminated with EXCEPTIONAL® Metals’ 2-Piece Snap-On Compression, and Roof Trak® III Walkway Pads were added to provide safe walkways for foot traffic.  

“The edge metal was a really unique element of this project,” said Tony Wourms, Operations Manager for Technical Roofing. “With their existing roofing systems, they had 10-inch metal on the perimeter of the buildings that they wanted to replicate with the new Duro-Last system. Their school colors are almost identical to the terra cotta color offered through EXCEPTIONAL Metals and Duro-Last, so we were able to utilize the 2-Piece Snap-On Compression with a five-inch cover and pair it with a six-inch fascia extender to offer them a sleek termination that tied into the school’s identity. The finished product looks very sharp and they love that we were able to incorporate that element for them.” 

With a team of 20, Technical Roofing completed the project during the school’s summer recess.   

“We installed roughly 189,000 square feet of membrane at the middle school and high school building, and 44,000 square feet at the elementary school, including over 10,000 linear feet of parapet material,” said Tony. “To accommodate timelines, we approached this project in sections. The district identified the core sections that needed to be completed first to avoid any disruption to students as they returned to school in the fall and we worked out from there. We were able to divide our crew up into smaller teams so multiple sections were installed in one day, and then we sealed everything up each night to ensure a water-tight project from start to finish. In the end, it came out beautifully and both schools now have cohesive roofing systems that are going to keep them dry for many years to come.” 

The Technical Roofing team presented the district with a 20-Year NDL Warranty from Duro-Last upon completion of both facilities, and faculty are happy to report that they are now able to focus on student education as opposed to roof leaks. 

“The entire project has exceeded our expectations,” said Culver Community Schools Superintendent Karen Shuman. “From the customer service and attention to detail provided by Technical Roofing to the quality of products from Duro-Last, it has been a great experience. We never once questioned if we made the right choice.” 

Contractor: Technical Roofing of St. Henry 

Project: Culver Community Schools 

Location: Culver, Indiana 

Square Feet:  233,800 combined 

Products: Duro-Last® white and terra cotta 50 mil membrane, Duro-Guard® EPS ½” Fanfold insulation, Roof Trak® III Walkway Pads, custom curbs and stacks; EXCEPTIONAL® Metals 2-Piece Snap-On Compression, Fascia Extender 

Learn more about Duro-Last in their RoofersCoffeeShop® directory or visit www.duro-last.com.  

By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

The North / East Roofing Contractors Association (NERCA) is set to host its 94th annual trade show.  

This year’s North / East Roofing Contractors Association (NERCA) Convention and Trade Show is expected to have a great turnout. The event is set to take place March 1 – 3 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Although the deadline for registration has passed, we are currently offering a free pass that contractors can use at the door to attend the event. 

With nearly 200 booths and quality educational seminars, this convention is great event for contractors in the northeastern United States to attend. RoofersCoffeeShop® will be there at booth 529, so swing by and say hi to Heidi Ellsworth, Karen Edwards and Tim Ellsworth. At the booth we’ll be giving out our special 20th anniversary celebratory swag! 

National Women in Roofing (NWIR) will also be there at booth 130 and they will be hosting a networking event on March 2 at 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Members from the NWIR board of directors and local councils will be attending and time will be devoted to discussing empowering women in the roofing industry. Register for the event today! 

Here are some other booths work checking out: 

• ABC Supply – Booth #411 

• A.C.T. Metal Deck Supply – Booth #425 

• APOC – Booth #118 

• ATAS International – Booth #226 

• Beacon Building Products – Booth #401 

• CertainTeed – Booth #301 

• DECRA Metal Roofing – Booth #125 

• Duro-Last – Booth #233 

• Estimating Edge – Booth #606 

• Flascho – Booth #127 

• GCP – Booth #326 

• Hunter Panels – Booth #612 

• ICP Group – Booth #620 

• IKO – Booth #229 

• Johns Manville – Booth #417 

• Leap – Booth #531 

• Owens Corning – Booth #114 

• Polyglass – Booth #228 

• Sashco – Booth #624 

• Sika – Booth #325 

Learn more about NERCA in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.nerca.org.   

About NERCA 

NERCA is the founder of the NEREF scholarship. They are the regional association for roofing contractors covering the northeast part of the country.  Their territory includes: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Delaware.

By: Mike Gwizdala, EXCEPTIONAL Metals General Manager.

Having a metal roof for your business has become a popular trend for contractors for the many benefits it provides environmentally and economically.

There are a variety of metal panel products available to support sustainability, including longer lifespans, recyclable metal roof and wall panels, energy efficiency, and durability.

Longer Lifespans
Metal roofs have a significantly longer service life than all other roofing materials. Metal roofing systems can last up to 60 years, minimizing re‐roofing and repair jobs, compared to the average 15‐20 years of shingle roofs.

Recyclability
Metal roofing is one of the most eco‐friendly roofing solutions. Metal panels made from steel typically contain over 25% of recycled material. In addition, these panels are 100% recyclable and can be reused again when a building’s life comes to an end.

Improved Energy Efficiency
Metal roofs can help with energy efficiency and can impact overall energy savings and costs. The metal panels have the ability to reflect the sun’s rays which reduces the amount of heat absorbed into the building itself. In addition, choosing a cool‐rated color for the metal panels also helps reflect off solar rays keeping the metal roof cool.

Higher Durability
When compared to other traditional roofing materials such as shingles and slate tiles, steel metal panels are resistant to damage from severe weather and other elements.

Improved Quality of Life
Having a metal roof can reduce premiums to homeowners and even business owners by almost 5‐7% for residents in the California and Texas areas. Additionally, buildings incorporating metal roofs have increased in resale value and provide a modern and unique look.

Learn more about Duro-Last products by visiting their RCS Directory.

Source: Duro-Last

Mazama Dormitories at Crater Lake National Park is now protected by a combination roofing system from Duro-Last and EXCEPTIONAL® Metals.

Crater Lake National Park, located along the Cascade Mountain Range in southern Oregon, has long been a popular destination for travelers from every corner of the world. Roughly seven miles south of the well-known Crater Lake Lodge is Mazama Village and Campground, a popular location within the park for visitors to recharge and explore. The village features campsites, guest cabins, Mazama Village Store, and Annie Creek Restaurant and Gift Shop. The months of June through September at Mazama Village are a buzz of activity, and a sizable seasonal workforce calls the Mazama Dormitories home during these busy months.

The Mazama Dormitories are designed to blend into their surroundings and feature cabin-style architecture with a standing seam metal roofing system. Due to the extreme snowfall and chilly weather that Crater Lake National Park can experience during the winter months, the existing standing seam roof featuring custom panels had deteriorated beyond repair. Ice damming and heavy snow began pushing the metal panels apart at the seams and allowed for leaks to develop throughout the structure.

Pressure Point Roofing, Inc., from Central Point, Oregon assessed the project and provided a solution that would address the structure’s needs. Not only were they given a tight timeline due to unpredictable weather, they also had to be mindful of the staff living inside of the dormitory as well as park visitors. To minimize disruptions, they restricted their working hours between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

“Weather is always an unpredictable factor when taking on projects like this,” explained Matt Stone, President of Pressure Point Roofing. “Thunderstorms can roll in quickly in the mountains during the summer months, and then we had to contend with the possibility of snowfall as late as June and as early as September. This location averages up to 44 feet of snow during the winter months, so we had a tight timeline between the snow melting and the possibility of snow falling again in the fall.”

After evaluating different roofing systems with the Crater Lake National Park management team, Pressure Point Roofing selected 24 gauge SuperLok® vertical leg standing seam panels in Classic Green from EXCEPTIONAL® Metals for this 18,500 square-foot reroof project. Designed to withstand rigorous weather conditions and provide enhanced uplift resistance, Pressure Point Roofing installed the concealed fastening SuperLok panel over an ice and water shield underlayment to provide sufficient protection during the extreme winter temperatures and precipitation. At the request of park management, approximately 8,000 square-feet of adhered Duro-Fleece® 60 mil membrane from Duro-Last® was also used on select areas of the roof to maintain the aesthetics of the flat surfaces. The dark green membrane was installed over an ice and water shield underlayment as well as ¼” glass mat cover board, and coordinated with the color of the metal panels to provide a uniform transition between the two systems.

“The Duro-Fleece membrane was a huge factor in this project,” explained Stone. “If we hadn’t been able to work closely with Duro-Last and EXCEPTIONAL Metals to ensure the membrane and panels would complement each other, we would have had to go back to the drawing board. Additionally, park management liked that we were able to plan and purchase our materials through a single point of contact, improving our efficiencies and reducing the risk of logistical errors.”

While developing a detailed plan for the installation, the Pressure Point team had to accommodate a variety of unique challenges. Facing limited working space and rooftop slopes varying from 7:12 to 12:12 pitch, they approached the installation systematically and worked closely with both EXCEPTIONAL Metals and Duro-Last to ensure that they had the needed membrane, panels and equipment for each stage.

“We were limited in the space that we had to store materials onsite so we had to order it in stages to avoid running out of room,” said Stone. “In addition to the space limitations, we had to be mindful of the fact that we were working within a national park with protected resources. We could not disturb the vegetation around the worksite or compact the soil.”

To prevent leaving tracks and disturbing the surrounding soil, Pressure Point laid sheets of plywood along the ground where they were working to help distribute weight and serve as a protective barrier. In areas where plywood couldn’t be used, they tilled the soil that was compacted from their activities once that portion of the project was complete. From initial tear-off to the final inspection, the Pressure Point team completed the project in approximately 15 weeks with minimal complications.

“The commitment to quality and customer service shown by EXCEPTIONAL Metals and Duro-Last was paramount to the success of this project,” said Stone. “Without their ability to work with us at each stage to ensure we had the proper materials when we needed them, the logistics would have been chaotic. We’re proud of the work we accomplished on the Mazama Dormitories and the park employees are happy to report that they have not had any leak issues since we installed the new roofing system.”

Contractor: Pressure Point Roofing

Project: Crater Lake National Park, Mazama Dormitory

Location: Crater Lake National Park, OR

Square Feet: 18,500

Products: EXCEPTIONAL® Metals 24 gauge SuperLok® vertical leg standing seam panels, fascia bar; Duro-Tuff® 60 mil membrane

See the complete story and aerial footage of the project in this video.