Jayne Rollason
National Product Manager
Polyglass

The supply chain issues impacting the roofing industry following the COVID-19 pandemic have eased and though record inflation still persists, it has started to slow.

While economic uncertainty is rarely good news for roofers, there is an opportunity for contractors looking to capitalize on perceived fears of stalled capital expenditures by focusing on coatings. 

RC asked several leaders in the roof coatings space about the state of the coatings market, the opportunities for roofing contractors, and what their companies are planning for the future. Here’s what Polyglass’ Armando Rodriguez, national technical services manager; and Jayne Rollason, national product manager - coatings, had to say.

RC: How would you describe the state of the roof coatings market today?

PG: Our customers sought alternative roof materials during COVID and the raw material shortages; this increased the recognition of the benefits of roof restoration. Some of the benefits include reduced labor costs by not tearing off the current roof system and the reflective properties of the coating, which reduce the cost of cooling the building, putting less stress on HVAC systems. This growth is regionalized and depends on the roofing type used in each area.

Armando Rodriguez
National Technical Services Manager
Polyglass

RC: How does your company fit into that discussion?

PG: Polyglass has a diverse coatings portfolio which includes products that meet all national needs. Our quality products, technical support and product innovation allow us to be a key player in the industry.

RC: Are you still feeling any impacts of the materials shortage? 

PG: We have mostly moved past the raw material shortages. A few materials still pose a challenge, but the scale of this is limited compared to 18 months ago. 

RC: What lessons were learned?

PG: Like many other manufacturing companies within the roofing industry, as well as any other manufacturing industry, we’ve learned to establish and maintain multiple suppliers for each raw material. Also, good supplier relationships and strong customer communications are key factors to success.

RC: What are the chief misconceptions about coatings in the roofing market today?

PG: The biggest misconception is that every low slope roof is a candidate for coatings restoration. Some roofs are far to damaged and need to be torn off and a new roofing system installed.

RC: What other challenges do you foresee impacting the coatings market in the next year?

PG: A storm or weather event could definitely put pressure on material supply and production capability. We prepare for these potential events as best as possible by building inventory.

RC: Any message to roofers not in the coatings market?

PG: Consider the benefits of restoration versus tear-off. Contractors can save labor costs by reducing the time on the roof, reducing waste in landfills, reducing the cost to building owners to cool their buildings and less stress on their HVAC systems. Training is also key. 

RC: How are you contributing to the sustainability/resiliency conversation in roofing?

PG: Polyglass sources raw materials as locally as possible to lower their ecological footprint. Our coatings are CRRC rated for building energy efficiency and can be recoated and maintained to benefit from our PolyXtend warranties.

RC: What are your biggest concerns looking ahead?

PG: Contractors continuing to use coatings on roofs that should not be coated. Contractor training is essential to avoid this and to also ensure that the right Coatings system is being used.

RC: What are you proudest of about your organization in 2023?

PG: Our growth and our increase in market share. We attribute this growth to our quality products, technical support and our research and development team who are continually formulating innovative products.