RoofersCoffeeShop https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/ Roofing Forum, Classifieds, Galleries and More! en-us RoofersCoffeeShop® Will Be at IRE 2022, Will You? https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/rooferscoffeeshop-will-be-at-ire-2022-will-you rooferscoffeeshop-will-be-at-ire-2022-will-you Mon, 17 Jan 2022 18:00:00 PST

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

IRE promises to be one of the biggest events of the year, check out who will be at the expo! 

This year’s International Roofing Expo (IRE) promises many exciting events, products, classes and more. The expo will take place February 1-3 in New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.  

RoofersCoffeeShop® will be on the beat, sharing information and broadcasting live on YouTube. Additionally, you will find President Heidi J. Ellsworth moderating a panel on how to work with young people who are interested in roofing. The session takes place Tuesday at 7:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. CT 

The Coffee Shop will join many great manufacturers, distributors and associations as they share new ideas with roofing contractors. Make sure you stop by our booth, number 249, and visit our RoofersCoffeeShop partners too:  

Don’t miss out, register today for IRE 2022!

]]> John Jordan's Retirement Announcement https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/john-jordans-retirement-announcement john-jordans-retirement-announcement Fri, 05 Mar 2021 14:00:00 PST

After 45 years of service in the roofing industry, John Jordan is retiring to spend more time with his family and volunteering.

Seaman Corporation is pleased to announce that after 46 years in the roofing industry, John Jordon, FiberTite midwest regional sales manager, has decided to retire.

John began his career as a roof installer in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He then became a field tech representative for a single-ply roof manufacturer, followed by the director of technology & customer service. For the past 14 years, John has been in sales for FiberTite, the roofing division of Seaman Corporation. As the midwest regional sales manager, John served western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentecky, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.

John plans on spending his retirement years helping to raise his two new grandchildren and providing help to his local food bank & homeless shelter. We wish John good health & happiness in his next chapter of life.

Learn more about FiberTite in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.fibertite.com/.

About FiberTite

The foundation of FiberTite is 60 years of high-performance fabric technology. FiberTite's 4-Layer technology synthesizes nearly twice as much fiber as competitors and features a unique adhesive coat and a proprietary DuPont™ Elvaloy® KEE based formula. It combines to make FiberTite a tougher, lighter, more flexible and durable roofing membrane. First installed on rooftops in 1979, more than 99% of FiberTite roofs are still performing.

]]> What You Need to Know About Very Severe Hail https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/what-you-need-to-know-about-very-severe-hail what-you-need-to-know-about-very-severe-hail Wed, 23 Dec 2020 14:00:00 PST

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter.

Understanding very severe hail classification and the evolving roofing performance testing and requirements.

In order for contractors to consume information and learn from other industry professionals how they want and when they want, RoofersCoffeeShop® (RCS) developed RLW, which stands for Read, Listen, Watch. Now, contractors can read a transcript before bed, listen to a podcast on their morning commute, or watch a webinar while enjoying their morning coffee. 

Our latest RLW featured Steve Kuhel, the senior product manager for FiberTite. During the webinar, Will Your Roof Withstand Very Severe Hail?, Steve spoke with Heidi J. Ellsworth, RCS partner, about hail events, Very Severe Hail (VSH) classification and the importance of roofing resiliency.

The majority of people in the roofing industry have had a costly hail experience. Since FM Global’s classifying of hail events, now known in the market as Very Severe Hail (VSH), lots of changes have been made to the U.S. commercial roofing performance requirements and testing methods. Steve discusses these changes and their impacts on the commercial roofing market during the webinar. “There's a history and evolution that's happening right before our very eyes that is extremely fascinating to be a part of,” said Steve.

The work that goes into understanding hail and preventing its impact is vital. As Steve says, “The emotional elements of hail [outweigh] the actual literal impact to the roof because whatever's underneath that roof is so important to that building owner...there's an emotional impact about that.”

The webinar explores the importance of testing and the changing testing methods. Testing is ultimately an indicator of success and provides customers with confidence that the roof they choose will withstand VSH and other extreme weather conditions.

Understanding how test methods have evolved over time is also important. For instance, older test methods would take a steel ball weighing around a pound and drop it onto the roof from various heights, depending on if they were testing for light, moderate or very severe hail.

“On a very severe hail side, what happens is that a pre formed ice ball, that is two-inch diameters in width, is propelled with an ice ball launcher at the roofing specimen. The ice ball launcher sends that ball at speeds of anywhere between 104 to 109 miles per hour, and results in around 53 to 58 pounds of surface impact on that specimen,” said Steve.

The webinar discusses newer testing methods as well as FiberTite’s proven KEE resilient roof membranes made by the only KEE manufacturer with a VSH accreditation.

Read, listen or watch the full webinar to learn more about these important specifications and how you can protect what’s important.

]]> Would You Trust This Roofing Membrane on Your Roof? https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/would-you-trust-this-roofing-membrane-on-your-roof would-you-trust-this-roofing-membrane-on-your-roof Tue, 15 Dec 2020 14:00:00 PST

By Steve Kuhel, FiberTite.

How KEE membranes compare with other commonly used roofing membranes.

As time goes on, overused words in marketing or business slowly lose their meaning. Some words we often gloss over could include innovation, advanced or next generation. At FiberTite, the words that we’ve often used to define our business are trusted and high performance.

Simply put, words are worthless without a demonstrative and proven history to back them up. In a recent blog, “The Thickness Paradigm: How the Roofing Membrane Industry Got It Backwards,” I detailed how with most technologies, such as phones and computers, thinner is better. And the same holds true when it comes to roof membranes where there are thinner, stronger and better engineered products. I discussed why this is true and how the base fabric, KEE content and overall construction of the membrane contribute to a low-maintenance, high-performance roof system.

For this blog, I am going to dig a little deeper into the origin of KEE membranes and how they compare with other commonly used roofing membrane materials.

Which would you trust?

If you are reading this, you are likely a roofing consultant, architect or building owner with a stake in how a roof system will perform over time. You know that a leaky roof can cause years of headaches and costly repairs, wasting valuable time and resources or hurting your reputation. We can all agree that the best kind of roof membrane requires little to no attention during its long lifetime.

I talked a little bit in my last blog about the FiberTite origin story. It is born from technology created by the Seaman Corporation. That geomembrane technology has been used for decades in applications where leaks are not an option, including bioremediation, wastewater impoundments, landfills, leachate ponds, oil booms and more. These industrial coated fabric products are trusted in some of the world’s harshest environments because of their proprietary knitting and weaving designs and proprietary compounding and coating formulas.

Now ask yourself this: Would I trust that 80-mil TPO roof membrane to hold up in these applications? Would I trust it to protect communities and the environment?

If the answer is no, why would you trust it on your roof?

The single-ply roof membrane of a FiberTite roof systems is based on the same technologies and composition that are proven and are trusted to prevent punctures and subsequent leaks in these demanding applications. Again, it all comes down to the base fabric and the formula, which includes the highest ratio of Dupont™ Elvaloy® (Ketone Ethylene Ester – KEE) content in roof membranes.

KEE vs. PVC and KEE vs. “KEE”

PVC, or vinyl, is one of the most used materials in the world. It is found in building materials, telecommunications, product packaging, health care—and so much more. Its properties make it ideal for a nearly endless list of applications.

When it came to PVC and roof membranes, the challenge has been that PVC is rigid in its natural state. To this day, liquid plasticizers are commonly used to provide more flexibility in traditional PVC roof membranes; however, when exposed to heat and chemicals, the plasticizer migrates out. This process causes the vinyl to shrink, become brittle and fail.

Ultimately, FiberTite’s solution was to use a solid plasticizer (the aforementioned KEE) as an alternative to liquid plasticizers and that proved to be a game changer for the industry. When compared to traditional PVC membranes, FiberTite’s KEE plasticizer will not migrate out and forms a new alloy with PVC with a higher molecular weight. In labs and in the field for more than 40 years, FiberTite’s formula and level of KEE content has been proven to:

  • Maintain flexibility over long-term exposure to water and temperature fluctuation.

  • Increase toughness and abrasion resistance.

  • Resist harsh chemicals and industrial pollutants, including jet fuel, vegetable oils, animal fat, ethylene glycols, and acids and bases.

But take note: Just because a roof membrane contains some level of KEE, doesn’t mean it is a true KEE membrane. To put it simply, to get the best performance, you want KEE with PVC, not PVC with some KEE.

In fact, the level of KEE content matters so much when it comes to performance that there is a standard that specifically addresses the level of KEE content in a roof membrane. The ASTM D6754-02 Standard Specification for KEE-Based Sheet Roofing dictates that properly compounded KEE coatings that utilize a minimum 50% KEE polymer content and are applied to high-quality base fabrics can exceed the design service life expectations at 70% of the thickness required of conventional “PVC” roofing membranes.

Despite other “KEE membranes” on the market, FiberTite is still the only one that meets the ASTM standard for KEE content. So just because a product contains some KEE, doesn’t mean that you can expect the same level of performance that you can from FiberTite.

More than words

Yes, we use the words proven, trusted and higher performing often to describe FiberTite products. But we use them because they are the best way to describe the value we bring to commercial buildings and those who build and maintain them.

These words have deep meaning when we use them because they are based on data and more than four decades of real-world testing as both geomembranes in harsh, critical environments and as part of roof systems that have lasted 25-plus years.

Learn more about FiberTite in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory.

Original article source: FiberTite

]]> S2:E50 Darci Kunard - Wintertime Repairs and the Importance of Having the Right Product - PODCAST TRANSCRIPTION https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/s2e50-darci-kunard-wintertime-repairs-and-the-importance-of-having-the-right-product-podcast-transcription s2e50-darci-kunard-wintertime-repairs-and-the-importance-of-having-the-right-product-podcast-transcription Tue, 08 Dec 2020 13:14:00 PST

 

Editor's note: The following is the transcript of an interview with Darci Kunard, Senior Product Manager of DuraMaster. You can read the interview below or listen to the podcast here.

Announcer:
Welcome to Roofing Road Trips With Heidi. Explore the roofing industry through the eyes of a long-term professional within the trade. Listen for insights, interviews, and exciting news in the roofing industry today. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
Hello and welcome to another Roofing Road Trips. This is Heidi Ellsworth, our CS partner, and I am here today with Darci Kunard of Franklin International. Welcome Darci. 

Darci Kunard:
Thanks so much Heidi. I appreciate you having me on again. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
You know you're one of my favorites. I am always excited when we get to come and talk about what you're doing over there at Franklin and Titebond.

Darci Kunard:
Oh, thank you very much, I love you too.

Heidi Ellsworth:
I know, it's fun. Well for everyone out there Darci is the sealant product manager and she's been in the industry for a longtime, but I'm going to let Darci ... Tell us a little bit about yourself and tell us some more about Franklin. 

Darci Kunard:
Absolutely. So I've been in this sealant world for almost 10 years now and with Franklin International for almost three, so very much passionate about building materials and the roofing industry. Absolutely adore sealants because who [inaudible 00:01:10] live without them. That's what keeps us safe, and dry, and free of pests and mold. And I know it's rare to have someone who is very passionate about sealants but I am that person.

Heidi Ellsworth:
I love that. I love that. We need to be passionate. We're passionate about roofing and you get the whole building with your sealants. 

Darci Kunard:
Yes, absolutely. I mean-

Heidi Ellsworth:
I love it. 

Darci Kunard:
... [crosstalk 00:01:32] what would a building be without a roof?

Heidi Ellsworth:
Yeah, that's true. It's very true. Okay, tell us ... I know the WeatherMaster line, I mean it is so well known, Titebond is so well know. Tell us about that full line, the WeatherMaster sealants and their applications, just to kind of give the baseline for everybody to be familiar with your products, if they already aren't.

Darci Kunard:
Oh, absolutely. So Titebond is very well known for its glues. That's kind of a staple that has been driving our product portfolio since the 1930s. So one thing that makes Franklin extremely unique is that we are a chemical company and produce our own polymers for all of our products. And that is one of the things that makes the WeatherMaster line unique. In addition to fantastic adhesion it also has extreme flexibility, so it will expand and contract up to 50% of the joint size, and that's throughout the whole sealant line. 
So in that WeatherMaster line we have our basic WeatherMaster, which is for siding, window, and doors. Then we have our Metal Roof Sealant, obviously for metal roofs and any other type of metal material. So what's really unique about that one is that it sticks to Kynar coated metals, which not a lot of sealants do that. And then we have our ULTIMATE MP, where the MP stands for multipurpose; our Gutter & Seam Sealant; and then rounding out the portfolio is the Concrete Joint SL, where the SL stands for self-leveling. And then the WeatherMaster line, all of these products have specific characteristics that make them that all-weather sealant, so you can apply in extreme weather conditions, whether it's zero degrees or 120 degrees outside; It'll stick to wet surfaces, damp surfaces; UV resistant, of course; and then that great strong adhesion and movement capability. And then also everything is paintable, as well as compatible with all types of foam. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
Wow. Wow. I mean, that's the type of product that every contractor needs to have available to the crews all the time, because you never know. I mean, whether you're doing a re-roof or you're doing repairs, or even new construction, this is the type of ... The flexibility that you're talking about, and the breadth of the line, really can make a difference for contractors having that on the job sites. 

Darci Kunard:
Absolutely. And what a lot of people aren't aware of is that Titebond is an excellent source for color matching. So, for example, our WeatherMaster line, we have 200 plus stock colors; our Metal Roof line we have 100 colors; and ULTIMATE MP we have 15 colors. So we've got a lot of colors made to match, so that you don't have to paint over the sealant, because that's kind of a pain of doing your job twice. And then we also have the ability to custom match to colors. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
Wow! That's cool. That's cool. And one of the ... This podcast, the title of it was really talking about that winter work and we're right in the thick of the winter. And so as you're sharing the fact that it can be applied at such low temperatures, it can go onto damp surfaces, I mean all of those are pretty cool. So talk a little bit about what you're seeing with really the crews out there right now doing repairs, doing winter work, and really how you can use that line of sealants, how the roofing crews can make the best use of them. 

Darci Kunard:
Absolutely. So what we're seeing ... I'm based in Colorado, but Franklin is based in Ohio, and so we have a wide array of weather right now. For example, today in Colorado it was 65 degrees, beautiful, sunny. Yet the house across the street from me needed a roof repair yesterday and there's still snow on their roof, so that's something that they can use our WeatherMaster line to be able to repair that, especially whether it's a gutter that's leaking or just a little roof tile that needs to be repaired. That's something that can be done regardless of whether it's 65 degrees or 30 degrees and snowing, so it's a nice, I guess, use useful-

Heidi Ellsworth:
[crosstalk 00:05:51] Yeah. Well and it's something that's so necessary because you just don't know what you're going to find half the time, especially now in COVID. I was talking with a roofing contractor and they can't always get into the attic, they can't always have as big of inspections, so you don't know what you're going to find a lot of times. 

Darci Kunard:
Yeah, absolutely. And if I was going to choose maybe one to just keep in our truck at all times I would definitely select the ULTIMATE MP, maybe just in white, because if you need to paint it you can or it can just blend in with other surfaces. But that would be something that would be very handy to keep on a truck.

Heidi Ellsworth:
Yeah. Because we're seeing a lot of homeowners ... I mean, I know this is both residential and commercial applications, for sure, but we're seeing so many inspections, and service and repair programs that are coming together. So having that, I like that. That's the one product that you should definitely have in every truck and everybody should have on the job sites to make sure that if you need something you have it.

Darci Kunard:
Absolutely. Well and all of the WeatherMaster line adheres great to any surface, so whether it's stone, brick, tile, metal of course, siding, fiber cement. Whatever that substrate is we have a fantastic adhesion to it. And what's really great, like our Metal Roof and our ULTIMATE MP lines, those are both Miami-Dade certified, so that's-

Heidi Ellsworth:
[crosstalk 00:07:16] Nice. 
Well and you know ... I mean, you know when you get the Miami-Dade you can handle wind, I mean that's just a given. And it used to be, "Well that's just more coastal," or whatever. No, we're seeing winds everywhere. I mean, huge winds.

Darci Kunard:
Yes. In Colorado the other day we had 80 mile an hour winds. I mean-

Heidi Ellsworth:
[crosstalk 00:07:38] Oh gosh.

Darci Kunard:
... it's crazy and it was all day long, it was sustained winds. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
Yeah. Yeah, so really it's no longer thinking just one regional area. We need to be having performance products, like WeatherMaster sealants, available all the time. And really that is one of the things I wanted to kind of talk about too, because Darci you are well known as an amazing marketer and sales person, and so I know that the sealants is just part of it but not to tongue-in-cheek, it's the glue of the system. It's what kind of makes sure that everything's all right. So how can roofing contractors slide that kind of information, that they're using top-of-the-line, quality sealants to really protect the home, or the building, or the office? How do you recommend that contractors use the Titebond and the WeatherMaster brands in their sales and marketing programs?

Darci Kunard:
So one of the things that contractors can do is to highlight that they are using top-of-the-line, unmatched performance products. And that is something that they can show to their, whether it's residential or commercial, users that, "Hey, we have these great products. And not only are we going to have ... We're going to stand behind our work, we have products that kind of back that up." 

Heidi Ellsworth:
Yeah. And I think that ... I don't know. I just had some calls this week and really we were talking about in today's world it comes down to some of the smallest things, right? That you need to really show quality and value at every step because homeowners are all ... They're researching, they have more time, they're looking at their roofs, they're looking around to make sure everything's right, so now more than ever they want to hear these types about the right products to give them the best installation or the best repairs. 

Darci Kunard:
Absolutely. And when you think about the cost of a sealant versus the cost of, say, re-roofing or replacing a window, or some siding, the sealant is really the least amount of cost versus the item that you're replacing. So when you're doing that, I mean, why would you skimp on a sealant, when that's something that will really highlight the performance? 

Heidi Ellsworth:
Especially when if you do skimp, and you use a non-performing product, that actually can be the biggest problem in call backs and water intrusion. 

Darci Kunard:
Absolutely. And especially on roof. I mean, why would you use anything that is a low performing product? 

Heidi Ellsworth:
Yeah. Yeah. One little leak and that's all it takes.

Darci Kunard:
Absolutely. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
You're in trouble. 

Darci Kunard:
Right. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
So one of the other things, too, that I kind of wanted to talk about was ... Before we get out ... I'm really excited to talk about 2021, but I also wanted ... Before we leave this topic of winter work and repairs, we know we're in a labor shortage, and we know that where time savings and labor savings on the roof is so important. So really kind of on that same line of using the right product, products that work and that stick, what are you seeing with contractors around time savings and labor savings, with using the WeatherMaster line? 

Darci Kunard:
So I would definitely say in terms of time savings not having to guess whether or not this product is going to perform outside, especially in the weather in the winter. If you have to use a product that the surface has to be completely dry that's not really compatible with our weather right now. Additionally, if you have to wonder whether or not this is going to adhere to a wide variety of substrates that's another component. If you're constantly reading the back of the tube and wondering, "Is this actually going to work," with the WeatherMaster line you never have to wonder about that. Another concern we hear a lot about is crews that have difficultly working with products that either have a high smell or solvent-based, that are quite big in VOCs. We hear that a lot of contractor crews don't want the hassle of that type of product. Either that or they're worried about their crew being able to use that product, or have some ill effects from it. And so with the WeatherMaster line you don't have to worry about that, it's solvent-free, it's zero VOCs, so it's just a nice easy product to use. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
Yeah, that ... You don't think about that all the time too, because if your crews are having to deal with ... I mean, and the roofing industry, especially, has changed so much. I mean, decades ago you just knew it was going to smell bad on a roof, whereas today that's changed, it's totally different.

Darci Kunard:
Absolutely. Well and several of our sealants, if you just apply it in bead form and walk away you don't have to worry about tooling it, which is, I think, a huge help.

Heidi Ellsworth:
Yeah. 

Darci Kunard:
Think of the added time when you're sitting there trying to tool it, and smooth it out, and maybe even make it look nice. If you can apply these, which you can apply all these in bead form, and just walk away and not have to worry about it.

Heidi Ellsworth:
That's a huge time savings. And knowing it's going to stick, that's the other thing-

Darci Kunard:
[crosstalk 00:13:05] absolutely. Yep.

Heidi Ellsworth:
Yeah, the confidence in the job. So with everything that you already have, and the chemistry at Franklin behind it, what are some of the cool things that you're looking at for 2021? What can we look forward to?

Darci Kunard:
Well I think the last podcast we talked about my little baby product, DuraMaster, which we're very excited about. So [inaudible 00:13:27] promoting that into 2021. It is a water-based sealant, so a bit different than our WeatherMaster line. Another item that we came out with in 2020, that we will be promoting quite heavily in 2021, is our PVC Trim Adhesive and Sealant. And so it's very similar to the WeatherMaster line, with that same base polymer that we manufacture in Ohio, however it's designed to be an adhesive and a sealant, specifically for the PVC trim applications. Hard to say. So think about PVC siding, and decking, railing, different systems interior as well. But it's just a two-in-one system, which is unlike anything else on the market today. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
Wow! That's very interesting because PVC is continuing to grow in the market. 

Darci Kunard:
It absolutely is. And then we'll launch a few more sealants in 2021. I have a few more water-based, just contractor-grade sealants that will come out with in March. And then we will, most likely, have a roof tile adhesive and sealant as well. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
Wow, very cool. As you're looking forward into 2021, and I know you work with contractors every single day, what are some of the trends that you're seeing from the contractors, along with ... And then really, kind of with the topic of this podcast I'm really interested in service and maintenance programs, and really kind of where do you see that going or what are you hearing from contractors?

Darci Kunard:
So I belong to several contractor forums and one of the things that people are talking about is that they are called out for a specific job and then the homeowner says, "Hey, I also need this done," or, "I also need that done." And so they're becoming more of a jack-of-all-trades. It's so difficult for a homeowner to get someone out there. And then once they have them they are really needing more help than what they've talked about, when they've gotten them to come out on a job. 
The other thing that I've seen is contractors are offering to do different things. For example, one of my drywall contractors the other day is talking about he is starting to remodel bathrooms, which is a very different business model for him but he's seeing a need for that. With people staying home more they are more willing to do a bit more remodeling. They're not spending their discretionary income on travel and probably sport events, concerts, that type of thing. So he's seeing a lot more homeowners asking for different remodeling projects. And, of course, if they're out there for a roof leak or something they might ask, "What about some window installations," or can they patch some siding, we've seen that as well. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
I think that is such a great insight because I'm seeing that more. Not as much ... I mean, I'm hearing it, definitely, from the contractors and we have some really great contractors that have expanded from roofing into overall home improvements. But I'm even seeing it on the other side, from a consumer standpoint, with homeowners, is once you get that one contractor who's really good you just want to say, "Please do everything for me," because it's hard ... I mean, there's a lot of backlogs, there's a lot of demand for good contractors right now.

Darci Kunard:
Absolutely. And it's difficult to get someone even to come out. As an example, I needed someone to hang my Christmas lights, of all strange things. I'm probably not a good person to be on the roof with vertigo, so just getting someone to come out and do that. And once I did I think probably five or six neighbors were, "Hey, what's your business card? How much does this cost? Can you come do my house?" So definitely a nice bonus. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
Yeah, we have seen the exact same thing. The exact same thing. So I think one of the things, and to kind of bring that back around the winter work and repairs, is to have the right products but to also build the relationship with your manufacturers. And, I think, sometimes when we talk about manufacturers everybody thinks just the shingles, or the metal, or whatever, but it's really working with someone like you who sees all sides of it. You're seeing everything, as you are getting the sealants out into the market. So I think just speak to that a little bit, about building ... You're so good at this, building those relationships with your suppliers, with your manufacturers, and the importance that is for these service and maintenance programs or expanded home improvement that the contractors are trying to diversify into. 

Darci Kunard:
Yes, absolutely, that's a great insight because I think a lot of people just assume it's the big manufacturers and not just sealants. Something that I have done with some of our contractors is done a Zoom or a GoToMeeting with their customers and their sales people. And we've just talked through the different sealants available for their job and the different performance characteristics. And if it's not our sealant I'm happy to say that, but nine times out of 10 we have something in our line that's going to fit what the customer's looking for, and then also educate the reps on the performance characteristics and what is needed for the job. Because sometimes, while we have a wide array of sealants, they don't know exactly which one to choose from, so I'm happy to help with that.

Heidi Ellsworth:
That is great. That is excellent. So we're coming up to the end of our half hour Darci. [crosstalk 00:19:08] It always goes so fast with you. That's so awesome. 

Darci Kunard:
[crosstalk 00:19:12] my old friend, that's great. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
I always like to leave with how, how to, right? What can our listeners ... What can they do next? How do they ... If they haven't ... If they aren't using WeatherMaster right now, or if they're interested in learning more about it, where can we send them? Besides, of course, RoofersCoffeeShop where we have all of your information but what are some of the other places?

Darci Kunard:
Yeah, absolutely. If they visit Titebond.com, they can check out our website, see all of our product offerings, which we not only have glues and sealants, we also have construction adhesives and some specialty adhesives as well. Additionally, we have a great Instagram and YouTube channel. [crosstalk 00:19:57] just released probably five new videos on our YouTube channel, just aimed at how-tos and showcasing some of the product attributes of our flagship products. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
That is excellent. That is perfect. And, like I said, Titebond and WeatherMaster, Franklin, the company and then all the products around it are all on RoofersCoffeeShop too. So the full directory, we have you in our videos, our last podcast is under the podcast. So I really encourage all of our listeners to take the time to do some of that research; watch the videos; listen to Darci's last podcast, which was awesome; and take the time. This wintertime get the right products and get them into your truck because it will only help your business, as we've heard today. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
So, Darci, thank you so much for being here today.

Darci Kunard:
Oh thank you Heidi. And if I can add one more thing? 

Heidi Ellsworth:
Yes.

Darci Kunard:
Yeah. We have a tech service 1-800 number, and it is on our website, and that is something that anyone can use at any time. They can call up, I think it's Monday through Friday 8:00 to 5:00 Central time, I believe is the right time on there. But, basically, if they have a question, what sealant to use, if something will perform on a certain substrate, this is a ... These technical experts who can help them out.

Heidi Ellsworth:
That's a great resource. That is an excellent resource. 

Darci Kunard:
Yes. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
Because you don't know what you're going to find out there nowadays. You just don't know.

Darci Kunard:
Absolutely. Absolutely. And they're happy to answer any questions. They're just great. 

Heidi Ellsworth:
That is great. Well, thank you so much Darci. Thank you for being here today.

Darci Kunard:
Sure. Thanks for your time Heidi, I really appreciate you having me on.

Heidi Ellsworth:
Thank you. And I really thank everybody for listening. I hope you're listening on your favorite podcast channel and that you subscribe to all of the RoofersCoffeeShop podcasts. And, of course, you can find podcast, videos, e-books, all the information that you want under our Read Listen Watch section of RoofersCoffeeShop.com. So thank you again and have a great day. Bye. 

Announcer:
Make sure to subscribe to our channel and leave a review. Thanks for listening. This has been Roofing Road Trips With Heidi from the RoofersCoffeeShop.com.

]]> Seaman Corporation Names Susan Meade Vice President of Human Resources https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/seaman-corporation-names-susan-meade-vice-president-of-human-resources seaman-corporation-names-susan-meade-vice-president-of-human-resources Wed, 18 Nov 2020 10:00:00 PST

Susan has been a key contributor in many aspects of the Human Resources department at Seaman Corporation.

Seaman Corporation, a family-owned business headquartered in Wooster, Ohio, is pleased to announce that Susan Meade, SPHR/SHRM-SCP has been named Vice President of Human Resources.

Susan is a 10-year veteran with Seaman Corporation and has been a key contributor in many aspects of the Human Resource function, most recently serving as Sr. Manager of Compensation and Benefits. Prior to joining Seaman, she worked at Dometic Corporation and Bauer Ladder. Susan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Malone University and certifications from the Society of Human Resources Management and the HR Certification Institute.

“I am very excited to have Susan in this role,” said Jeff Swartz, CEO. “She is a champion of the Seaman Corporation culture and brings energy, enthusiasm and creative thinking to this vitally important position.”

Since 1949, Seaman Corporation has been a world leader of innovative, high performance coated fabrics including FiberTite® Roof Systems, Shelter-Rite® Architectural Fabrics, XR® Geomembranes, and Shelter-Rite® Truck Tarps, as well as collapsible fuel tanks and tent materials for military and government applications.  

Learn more about FiberTite in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory.

About FiberTite

The foundation of FiberTite is 60 years of high-performance fabric technology. FiberTite's 4-Layer technology synthesizes nearly twice as much fiber as competitors and features a unique adhesive coat and a proprietary DuPont™ Elvaloy® KEE based formula. It combines to make FiberTite a tougher, lighter, more flexible and durable roofing membrane. First installed on rooftops in 1979, more than 99% of FiberTite roofs are still performing.

]]> Be Wary of Perception and Buy Actual Performance https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/be-wary-of-perception-and-buy-actual-performance be-wary-of-perception-and-buy-actual-performance Fri, 30 Oct 2020 10:00:00 PDT

By Steve Kuhel, FiberTite.

What is the ‘thickness paradigm’ and how did the roofing membrane industry get it backwards? Continue reading to find out.

Any sufficiently advanced technology is equivalent to magic.

– Sir Arthur C. Clarke

Computers were once so large that they had to be stored in warehouses. Now smart phones, which are essentially mini computers, fit in the palm of your hand. Back when car phones existed, they were bulkier than landlines and winter jackets were once so terribly large and cumbersome that some skiers chose to freeze than potentially impede their ability to ski the slopes with success. “Advanced” hard drives in PCs, made as recently as the early 2000s, were larger than iPhones today. Now we have clouds and drop boxes to save and send data, both of which have no material form.

But today in 2020, a nominal 36-mil KEE Membrane introduced in 1979 is higher performing and lasts longer than even the newest and thicker 60-mil, 80-mil or even 90-mil PVC’s or TPO’s in the harshest rooftop environments.

In most cases, technology evolves over time. In most industries, that evolution of products is driven by being economical around the space the product takes up...not value-engineering the product itself. The adage is: because it is better, we made it thinner. It’s the natural evolution of technology. But not in commercial roofing, and there is a reason the best product (and subsequently the thinnest) was developed in 1977 and introduced in 1979 as FiberTite.

This is the paradigm battle of today.

How do you explain that the technology of performance is devolving and not evolving over time because the standard was set in 1979?

It can be tempting to believe that thicker is better based solely on the way it feels. For example, have you ever been given a sample and were asked to feel the heft of the 80-mil TPO or PVC? My goodness they put a lot of “stuff” in that.

The truth is that the industry has both knowingly and unknowingly accepted that thicker roofing membranes are designed to allow that “stuff” to migrate or leave the sheet over time – whether it is the unavoidable plasticizer migration in a PVC or the generally accepted chalking of a TPO due to weathering exposure or abrasion. Yes, that is the intent of the design: add enough of the “stuff” because it is going to degrade over time.

Essentially, these thicker membranes are made by adding more and more chemicals, filler, and additives that will wear away over time, so – in the end – you are buying simply the perception of performance, but not actual better performance.

The exception to the thickness paradigm.

Seaman Corporation’s original XR-5® product is the origin for the FiberTite story. It started one day in the 1970s when a crew was at a commercial building installing a geomembrane for the purpose of water containment. As fate would have it, a team of roofing contractors were there the same day. They were all intrigued by how thin the membrane was and how much easier it was to install than what they were working with, not to mention the heavy work that it was designed to do without losing its integrity over many years.

That’s when the idea came to life: this thin, yet strong, membrane could have life beyond its current use as a barrier to water and harsh chemicals. It was the perfect roofing solution.

FiberTite is the one exception to the thickness paradigm. In the case of roofing membranes, the thinner, higher-performing product came first. At a nominal 36 mils, FiberTite’s single-ply roof membrane achieves many things that the competition cannot, including being the only membrane to meet (and exceed) the ASTM D6754 standard for Dupont™ Elvaloy® (Ketone Ethylene Ester – KEE) content.

The FiberTite roofing membrane is designed to retain a majority of its original physical properties and thickness over time, making it a leader in long-term performance and resiliency decades after its installation.

What makes FiberTite different?

Where many companies design their roofing membranes from the outside in by adding polymers, FiberTite is engineered from the inside out using the same base technologies that protect the environment from oil spills and contain wastewater. In short, it is inherently designed for better performance.

Here’s what makes the difference:

  1. The base fabric. It all starts with high-denier, high-tenacity yarns that are packed into a very “Tite” pattern. This base fiber is produced by FiberTite’s parent company, Seaman Corporation. As a vertically integrated company, we have the advantage of having complete control over our quality, design and supply chain with manufacturing done in the U.S. Where the competition most likely outsources loosely woven “scrim,” FiberTite’s proprietary knit and woven fiber provides strength from its foundation that makes it highly resistant to punctures and tears. But don’t take my word for it: see the performance data.

  2. Chemistry. Others have sprinkled in KEE, but none have the level of KEE content to meet the ASTM D6754 and none have 40-plus years of proven performance across many demanding applications. FiberTite’s formula cannot be matched because it is a time-tested perfected balance of polymers to endure the elements long term. See our systems that are still providing maintenance-free performance after 25+ years.

  3. Four-layer design. In addition to the fiber base, FiberTite’s proprietary four-layer composition also includes a high-performance face coat (for long-term weatherability performance), an equal partner in the back coat (that includes equal levels of KEE designed to bring exceptionally secure and lasting welds to the system) – all of which are brought together with an adhesive coat (designed to create a molecular bond between the back and face coats). It is this smart design from the inside out that enables FiberTite to resist weathering, sunlight, severe hail, impact and leak-causing punctures in a much thinner roofing membrane.

Changing the paradigm in commercial roof systems.

Some of the earliest “car phones” weighed 80 pounds and had only three channels for everyone in the city. If someone handed you that or the smartphone sitting next to you, which would you choose?

Clearly, you’d go with the sleeker, more powerful design. Why should your roofing membrane be any different? It’s time to change the conversation and realize that thicker is not better. But, again, you don’t have to take my word for it. FiberTite is proven in both the lab and the field to be higher-performing, longer-lasting and require much less maintenance over time.

Learn more about FiberTite in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory.

Original article source: FiberTite

]]> Very Severe Hail: What You Should Know to Protect Your Building https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/very-severe-hail-what-you-should-know-to-protect-your-building very-severe-hail-what-you-should-know-to-protect-your-building Mon, 19 Oct 2020 10:00:00 PDT

By FiberTite.

Join FiberTite in the conversation about extreme weather tests and extreme performance for commercial roofing.

FiberTite proves its resiliency in leadership, recently becoming the only KEE manufacturer to earn FM-Global's VSH (very severe hail) rating in the commercial building envelope.

VSH testing by FM-Approvals challenges companies with tests using extreme chemical exposure and roof endurance, required for 25+ year old roofs. FiberTite rose to the occasion when challenges by these tests and surpasses the competition with the operational security needed for quality roofs.

FM-Global raised the bar on system hail resistance

In the United States, FM-Global has determined minimum performance requirements for FM insured commercial roofing systems to be classified as VSH rated. For establishing best practices for building protection, FM-Global is the leader in the industry. Listings on FM-Approvals' RoofNav® are commonly used as a basis of design for many building and construction projects.

Where are FM designated hail zones in the U.S.?

FM Global has designated hail zones in the US based on the type of hailstones most familiar to the area.
These three zone categories are used when designing, specifying and constructing buildings to ensure they can withstand hailstones without failure.

  • FM Global Moderate Hail Zone (Green) - hail size does not exceed 1.75 in. (44 mm) for the 15-year mean recurrence interval (MRI)

  • FM Global Severe Hail Zone (Orange) - hail size exceeds 1.75 in. (44 mm) but does not exceed 2 in. (51 mm) for the 15-year mean recurrence interval (MRI)

  • FM Global Very Severe Hail Zone (Red) - hail size exceeds 2 in. (51 mm) for the 15-year mean recurrence interval (MRI)

Trust FiberTite

There are many threats to consider when selecting your roofing system. Adding hail to this list requires the support of a roofing manufacturer you can trust.  FiberTite's 40+ year formulation utilizing Ketone-Ethylene-Ester (KEE) meets the bar set by FM-Global. FiberTite is the only KEE roofing manufacturer to do so and this has been achieved with our original 36 MIL membrane.

Trust the original KEE formula and the truth that FiberTite is the leader in resiliency.

What is resiliency?

Resiliency means protecting a building’s ability to remain fully operational despite severe weather events, environmental contamination and man-made wear and tear.
Roof resiliency is crucial for many critical facilities.

Read more: How a Resilient Roof Protects Against Food Contamination

FiberTite understands your needs

  • Building owners:  FiberTite supports the needs related to operational security and the building owners desire for FM-Insured coverage in a VSH zone.  FiberTite offers three distinct single-ply options and the appropriate FM-Approvals' RoofNav listings needed to meet these demands.

  • Consultants/specifiers: The long-term performance history of FiberTite, including critical roofing performance concerns like chemical and puncture resistance supports your owners need for a VSH system with 14 listings ready to be installed today.

  • Architects: Building owners rely on architects to guide them with the overall project construction. As a trusted adviser, architects must understand the purpose of the structure as well as the importance of that purpose. FiberTite delivers 360 degrees of protection for that roofing system, including chemical, puncture, fire, wind and hail resistance.

  • Contractor: FiberTite values our certified contractors. Disruptions on the job-site can cause delays and we strive to provide the proper training and background to minimize disruptions and control cost.

Learn more about FiberTite in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory.

Original article source: FiberTite

]]> Hear From the Only KEE Manufacturer With VSH Accreditation https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/hear-from-the-only-kee-manufacturer-with-vsh-accreditation hear-from-the-only-kee-manufacturer-with-vsh-accreditation Mon, 12 Oct 2020 10:00:00 PDT

By Lauren White, RCS Reporter.

Our next RLW, on October 28, to feature FiberTite sharing expertise on Very Severe Hail. 

With all of the options available for people to consume information, RoofersCoffeeShop® (RCS) was curious how roofing professionals prefer to learn.  What we discovered is that contractors want to be able to read blogs and e-books at night before bed, listen to podcasts on their way to work, or watch videos with their morning coffee.  So RCS developed RLW, which stands for Read, Listen, Watch, so roofers can consume information when they want and how they want.

The next RLW of our 2020 series will be presented by FiberTite.  Join us on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 11 a.m. PDT for the “watch” portion of the RLW.  During the webinar, Will Your Roof Withstand Very Severe Hail?, Steve Kuhel, Senior Product Manager for FiberTite, will speak about the impact of Very Severe Hail (VSH) on the roofing industry.

During the webinar, Steve will share with Heidi J. Ellsworth, RCS partner, about the changes in hail resistance, specifically what is happening with FM Global testing, a property insurance company that invests in research and engineering to progress the science of property loss prevention.  

As weather events become more severe throughout the United States, it’s important for roof systems to be designed with resiliency in mind.  Some states get hail the size of tennis balls and baseballs, and without the proper roof system, damage caused by this hail can be very costly.  FiberTite leads the industry with their KEE coating formula as the only KEE manufacturer with VSH accreditation.  During the RLW, Steve will share FiberTite’s current testing methods, in addition to how their products are listed and accredited.

While the 2020 hail season is coming to an end, the information presented in this RLW will benefit roofing professionals and help them prepare for subsequent hailstorms.  Steve will share tips for contractors to ensure they are compliant with VSH accredited products, in addition to explaining VSH and its importance to building owners.  

Register now for Will Your Roof Withstand Very Severe Hail on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.

About FiberTite

FiberTite Roof Systems provide operational security to the world’s most powerful brands with an innovative, high performance coated fabric membrane.  Its unique four-layer technology sets the performance standard in roofing with a proprietary, proven formula utilizing Elvaloy® Ketone Ethylene Ester (KEE), and provides unmatched puncture, chemical and UV resistance.

]]> The Crucial Role of a Trusted Advisor https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/the-crucial-role-of-a-trusted-advisor the-crucial-role-of-a-trusted-advisor Tue, 18 Aug 2020 14:00:00 PDT

By Steve Kuhel, FiberTite Senior Product Manager.

Resilience and durability are the most valuable components of a long-lasting roofing system.

Architects bring a building owner’s vision into reality. They design building codes, oversee projects and construction, and most importantly, work to ensure that the owner’s mental picture for a commercial space is brought to life. Because of the position the architect is placed in, as a trusted advisor, every architect must understand both the purpose of the structure and the importance behind that purpose.

From an ownership perspective, the highest priority is a roofing system that is resilient in terms of being durable (regardless of circumstance) and long lasting —while also maintaining the delicate of balance of a budget appropriate life-cycle-cost for the system. In this article, we’ll explore the following topics:

  • What is resilient roofing?

  • How to talk to building owners

  • Protecting their investments

  • Design and color questions

  • The crucial role of trusted advisor

Our goal is to provide you, the architect, with the tools needed to design a resilient roof system, discuss roof resiliency with building owners and ensure that your plans meet or exceed relevant code and performance requirements.

What is resilient roofing?

For roofing systems, resiliency means protecting a building’s ability to remain fully operational despite severe weather events, environmental contamination and man-made wear and tear. For some facilities, roof resiliency is crucial. Consider:

  • An automotive facility located in the Midwest’s Very Severe Hail (VSH) zone

  • A package distribution center that is exposed to chemicals from the surrounding environment – like the flight paths of a busy airport system

  • A condo facility located in coastal Florida that extreme wind uplift protection

Read more: Resilient Roof Systems: What Are They and Why Are They Important?

And then there are those businesses where a roofing failure is never an option. Hospitals and critical care facilities must remain operational; food processing facilities cannot have contamination; data centers cannot experience water infiltration. Building owners are aware that they need protection, but they may not be familiar with the term “resiliency.”

How to talk to building owners

A great way to start the resiliency conversation with a building owner is by asking a simple question: What is the cost to you if this facility shuts down for one day? This line of thinking cuts to the chase and tells you exactly where the owner stands in relation to the building’s importance. In addition to monetary impact, shutdowns can also lead to a decline in:

  • Revenue/earnings

  • Share value

  • Brand reputation

  • Shareholder confidence

  • Employee retention

An operational failure at a critical facility can take months—or even years—to fully recover from. The vast majority of building owners have significant concerns about critical equipment failure in general, let alone from the roof system specifically being the cause of this issue. Building owners can prevent a myriad of problems and headaches simply by installing a proven and effective resilient roof system.

Protecting their investments

A properly installed resilient roof system protects buildings in the following ways:

  • Puncture resistance: protection from hail, debris and foot traffic

  • UV protection: guards against prolonged exposure from sunlight

  • Wind protection: fortification against wind events

  • Chemical resistance: defense against pollutants, emissions, byproducts

Read more: Why Very Severe Hail Is Important to Business Owners

Design and color questions

For architects in particular, it’s important to note: Resilient roof protection will not affect a building’s aesthetics. In other words, architects can still maintain the integrity and beauty of their original plans, while still meeting the owner’s top priority of having a durable and long-lasting roof system.

Questions around style and design are as relevant to Architect’s as performance would be. Here are a few examples of potential questions that may arise, followed by helpful answers.

Question: Are there limitations on color options?

Answer: No! Some resilient roofing systems offer an extensive range of colors to complement any design motif or artistic vision.

Question: Can you put a resilient roof on a dome or angled structure?

Answer: Absolutely. There are proven industrial-coated fabrics with the flexibility to accommodate unique shapes and sizes.

Question: Will I need to spec a thicker roof for protection?

Answer: Not anymore. Like many industries, roofing products have evolved toward thinner solutions with equal and often better performance.

The crucial role of trusted advisor

If your client owns a critical facility, needs protection against extreme weather elements or is located near any source of potential contamination (airports, industrial districts, etc.), a resilient roof system is the best solution. As a trusted advisor, you can recommend and deliver 360 degrees of protection for that roofing system, including chemical, puncture, fire, UV and wind resistance.

Many roofs fail after just 10–15 years; a resilient roof system can last 25–30 years or more. Learn more about the proven fiber reinforcement, formula and longevity of FiberTite by visiting FiberTite.com/KEEMembranes.

Building owners rely on trusted advisors to protect their investments, ensure long-term durability and guide the aesthetic vision. A resilient roof system enables you to accomplish all this without the slightest compromise to the finished product.

Learn more about FiberTite in their RoofersCoffeeShop® directory.

Original article source: FiberTite

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