By Emma Peterson. 

Tremco's Safety Month serves as a reminder that the most effective safety programs go beyond checklists. 

Safety is not just about regulatory compliance and checking off boxes on a to-do list – it's about making sure every person on your job site and in your company gets home safe every night. To highlight the importance of safety, and all its forms, Tremco has designated September as their safety month and planned a variety of training sessions and activities to help professionals learn about creating safer workplaces.  

What are the safety concerns in roofing?  

The first and most obvious safety risk in roofing is physical. Roofing is a very physical trade with professionals often being exposed to high powered machinery, dangerous chemicals and unstable working conditions. And when the correct safety plans are not in place, the exposure to these risks can cause irreparable harm. Elise Vue, Tremco’s content marketing manager, used working at heights as an example of how high the stakes are in roofing safety:  

In roofing, employees are expected to work at heights, climb ladders and expose themselves to hazards on a regular basis. Negativity around safety policing and subsequent fines can make employees jaded or skeptical about the protocols put in place by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). However, the data shows that workers who are elevated only six feet or more are at risk for serious injury or death should they fall.  

And the physical risks are just half of the story when it comes to safety concerns in roofing. Something that impacts every member of your team, whether they are in the field or in the office, is mental health. And mental health is a huge concern, as Elise points out, “The construction industry has one of highest rates of suicide compared to other careers.” 

The safe solution 

So how do you promote safety for your team? It takes more than just providing PPE or once-a-year presentations. The best way to keep everyone safe, both physically and mentally, is by building a comprehensive culture of safety at your business. And the first step to doing that is by making a commitment as leaders. Elise explained:  

Leaders should actively articulate their commitment to safety so that it is top of mind, whether in virtual meetings, on job sites or through company-wide communications. This visible support starts to build an environment where safety is not perceived as a controlling activity but as a shared responsibility. For a safety culture to thrive, it must also listen to those on the front lines, empower everyone to speak up and give them a sense of ownership over their safety and that of their colleagues. 

The second step to building a safety culture in your business is to empower your workers. Elise recommends incorporating a “stop-work authority.” What is this? It’s a principle that gives any and every employee the ability to halt any activity that they believe is unsafe without fear of punishment. “The workers on the roof are often the first to spot a potential hazard, but employees may hesitate to challenge a supervisor and may question their own judgement...” Elise explained. “[This type of policy] recognizes that sometimes doing the hard thing is the right thing for everyone’s protection, and everyone is equally responsible for safety and equally successful when safe practices are followed.”  

And last but certainly not least, make sure you are celebrating your safety wins! Talking only about what goes wrong or what not to do can be overwhelming for many people. And while it is important to not forget those scenarios, it is also important to highlight the positives. Consider measuring periods with zero incidents and finding ways of recognizing safety leadership from within your team to help people stay motivated and encouraged to work towards a safer workplace.  

Learn more about safety and Tremco’s safety month programming. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how Rising Stars is uplifting young people and connecting them to job opportunities in the roofing industry.   

Recently, David Hutchinson stopped by The Coffee Shops® for an episode of the Roofing Road Trips® podcast. David, who is the executive director and founder of the Tremco Rising Stars Program, shared the different pathway programs that get individuals involved in the roofing industry and trade. He kicked off the podcast by sharing some background into how he helped found Rising Stars, the first of Tremco’s pathway programs:  

I come from a background of construction and construction adjacent for the last fifteen years, and I've felt from very early on that there wasn't always easy access for people to understand the opportunities and careers in the field. And then when I was holed up during the COVID lockdown, I had this concept for introducing young people from inner cities across the country into the trades. 

He took that idea to Tremco’s leadership, and the Rising Stars program was born. It started out in three cities, Brooklyn, New York; Newark, New Jersey; and Boston, Massachusetts. David dove into the logistics of how the program operates, sharing, “Rising Stars is the foundation where we show young people all the options. And from there, we have collaborations with organizations like trade unions and industry groups that take them beyond the basics." He went on, “These collaborations allow young people to see clear pathways and tools to start their journeys and careers.”  

In the years since that program's inception, it has doubled the number of cities it operates in and even grown into an independent nonprofit. David explained, “We were lucky enough, after being tied to Tremco since the inception, to grow enough and had enough support to separate last year and become our own 501c3. We we're really nicely positioned to go into this construction space as our own entity while still maintaining the great support of a group like Tremco.” 

Reflecting on it all, David is still as excited about the program as he was back in 2020. He shared, “This is an industry that has always been a relationship industry and always will be a relationship industry. And this program is making sure that everybody feels connected in a personal way, which really makes our success stories all the more exciting!” 

Want to learn more about the pathway programs borne out of Tremco’s Rising Star program? Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording on YouTube. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Even in the hottest season, you can trust these sealants to stick. 

According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded in the United States (records begin in 1895). And this is not an isolated North American issue. CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller reported:  

July’s extreme heat was not limited to the United States, as much of Europe saw multiple heat waves that led to wildfire outbreaks at the end of the month and into early August in Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Greece and other countries. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, Western Europe has had its hottest first two months of summer on record so far. 

In the face of extreme weather like this, it is crucial to make sure the materials and products that are being installed on our roofs and other areas of the jobsite are durable and long-lasting.  

Tremco Construction Products Group combines the expertise of Tremco Roofing and Tremco Commercial Sealants and Waterproofing to offer these type of high-performing products.   Tremco’s sealant offerings are known for their: 

• Superior performance: Tremco sealants have  decades of proven performance and durability in a variety of residential and commercial applications. Many of them have exceptional UV and puncture resistance that makes them perfect for battling even the harshest conditions.  
• Easy adhesion: Their various  silicone, urethane and hybrid sealant technologies are suitable for use in a wide range of situations, often including porous substrates and even water immersion.  
• Adaptive movement: Designed with movement capability ranging from ± 25% to ± 50%, these sealants resist shrinking, cracking and yellowing for long-term resistance in all weather conditions. 
• Fast turnaround: Additionally, their sealants go down quickly, making it easy to keep your team out of the sun by installing during cooler parts of the day. Some of their products can even be tack-free in just 30-45 minutes!  

And in an effort to make their high-performance products more accessible, Tremco has released a line of sealants in the retail space, known as the Vulkem Pro Series, to make it easier than ever for contractors to make sure they have the right tool for the job. As Nathon Laws (a national operations manager at Tremco), put it, “A lot of contractors that primarily buy through commercial distribution find themselves in retail centers looking for products at night, on the weekend, on a holiday, when their traditional supplier isn't able to supply to them. We are trying to make sure they have the products they need even in those scenarios.”  

Learn more about Tremco sealants, how they handle the elements and where you can buy them!

By Emma Peterson. 

How Tremco supports contractors and building owners long after a product leaves their factory. 

At Tremco, their team doesn’t just want to be a leading manufacturer of commercial roofing products and solution, they also want to be a leader in customer service. And for Tremco, customer service doesn’t mean just providing support to the contractors who are installing their products, but also to the business owners whose roofs feature Tremco systems. To learn more about the care Tremco extends to contractors and business owners alike, Karen Edwards brought Jay Anderson, their business development specialist of fluid-applied roofing, on to an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

Helping their contractors 

So, how does Tremco support the contractors working with their products? Primarily by providing training and expertise. Jay explained, “We have sales representatives across the country who provide support to our contractors. They also provide hands-on training in the field.” 

And these guys aren’t just there to try and sell more products. No, these are the guys that are super technical and can answer pretty much any question a contractor might have about Tremco’s sealants and waterproofing products. In Jay’s words, “The extent of knowledge we have here in our sales team is unbelievable. In my opinion, it’s second to none in the industry, and there are nearly 300 of us across North America. It’s a huge resource and we want our customers using it.”  

Supporting business owners  

As for resources for business owners with Tremco systems installed on their buildings, Jay highlighted their warranty support:  

For restoration and new construction systems, our warranty can go up to even 25-years which does a ton for giving our end users peace of mind as anybody that knows Tremco knows that we stand behind our warranties, shows up when things go wrong and help however we can with whatever challenges occur. 

In addition to these warranties, Tremco offers maintenance programs to business owners through their WTI branch that take the support to the next level by sending Tremco-approved technicians out to regularly examine and inspect the business owner’s roof. 

Want to learn more about how Tremco supports the people using their products? Listen to the whole podcast with Jay!

Learn more about Tremco in their Coffee Shop Directory or visit www.tremcosealants.com.

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Manufacturers assess new applications and evolving market dynamics across the industry. 

At industry events the size and scale of World of Concrete (WOC), product displays are only part of the story. For many manufacturers, the show serves as a real-time assessment of where the market is heading and how their strategies must evolve. In this CoatingsCoffeeShop® interview sponsored by Tremco, Eric Pearman and Greg Wilkerson of Roof Saver (Blocksom Co) explained how that evaluation is shaping their presence on the show floor. 

Eric noted how companies are using the event to balance short-term priorities with long-term planning. “We have a presence in both industries,” Eric said, adding that the team is evaluating future product opportunities while maintaining relationships with customers across multiple sectors. That dual focus reflects a broader effort to stay aligned with shifting demand while continuing to serve existing markets. 

That strategy is anchored in their current product offering. At the show, the companies are emphasizing sediment and erosion control, particularly an inlet filtration system designed to sit above storm drain grates and prevent debris from entering drainage systems. Beyond that core solution, their work spans building envelope moisture management, floor care and acoustic applications, often delivered through partnerships or white-label production. 

Flexibility in manufacturing remains a key differentiator. By producing nonwoven textiles and fabricating them into a range of forms, the companies can adapt materials to meet specific application requirements. As Greg explained, “We've been known historically for our customization of our products.” He added, “The shows have also provided us avenues of customization that we can do based on the application or the use of the material.” 

While erosion control is the immediate focus, both leaders pointed to continued development in adjacent areas, including acoustics and moisture management. Products are actively being developed, with a potential curb inlet solution among those in progress, though no formal announcements have been made. 

At the same time, broader market forces are influencing how those decisions are made. Eric pointed to ongoing consolidation across contractors, manufacturers and distribution channels, much of it driven by private equity investment. As companies merge and scale, traditional roles within the industry are becoming less defined, with businesses increasingly operating as both partners and competitors depending on the context. This shift is reshaping relationships throughout the supply chain, creating both operational challenges and new opportunities. 

For Greg, those changes reinforce the importance of adaptability. As consolidation alters the competitive landscape, gaps can emerge in underserved markets. Greg noted, “Because of the consolidation, it gives us opportunities that we didn't perceive before because in that consolidation, sometimes the reorganization that goes on leaves on the table applications or markets that were not served as well.” By tracking those shifts and refining how their materials are applied, the companies are positioning themselves to respond to an industry that continues to change in both structure and demand. 

Watch the full interview to learn more about how material innovation, customization and industry consolidation are shaping product development and market strategy across the construction industry!

By Emma Peterson. 

How putting off repairs can dramatically increase long-term infrastructure costs. 

In a new episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Karen Edwards got the chance to talk to Rick Johnson. Rick is a regional sales manager at Tremco CPG covering the mid-Atlantic region. Prior to joining Tremco, he spent a decade working as a restoration contractor.  

When we asked him about the common misstep he sees building owners and facility managers make, he pointed to deferring of maintenance. What does Rick mean by this? He used sports stadiums, as an example, "Stadiums tend to need repair and restoration regularly, and most professional stadiums get replaced every 20-25 years. But what we’re seeing is people deferring maintenance and even replacement because money is tight. But what they don’t realize is how much deferring that maintenance will cost them over time.” 

How much does it cost? Rick used a car oil change as a metaphor, “A regular oil change will cost you $50-$100 depending on your vehicle. And it’s something you do regularly that might seem annoying or like something that could be put off. But if you put it off you risk blowing your engine. And if the engine blows, that’s $8,000-$10,000 minimum.” 

How does this analogy translate to infrastructure? Regular maintenance is the oil change and the risk of blowing the engine is a catastrophic collapse. Rick explained:  

Over time, corrosion begins to attack the rebar of these facilities. This is where regular seal maintenance, often in the form of reinforcement, is key. If you don't maintain it and the corrosion continues unaddressed, it expands, which causes the concrete to further crack and start to delaminate, where pieces will pop out of it. When this happens, suddenly you’re looking at repairs that are 10%-20% more costly than maintenance. And if it goes unaddressed beyond that point, you’re risking a collapsing structure. 

So, how can facility managers and owners find a balance between keeping in budget and keeping up with their infrastructure's maintenance? Rick pointed to the way the Lambeau Field (the Green Bay Packer’s home stadium) team manages their facilities:  

For probably 30 years now, they’ve done yearly maintenance where they recoat 20% of the stadium with a deck membrane, which costs anywhere from $4-$7 a square foot. And to my knowledge, this system has helped them avoid deeper issues like concrete repair, which comes with a $60-$80 per square foot price tag.  

This strategy of building a program that sections off the building is the perfect example of how to both protect your facilities and your finances. As Rick put it, “Dollars are always tight. But if you put that plan together where the build every piece of the building gets addressed every 5-6 years, you can protect that facility and even extend its life anywhere from 20-50 years while staying in budget.” 

Listen to the episode or Watch the recording to learn more about maintaining infrastructure properly.  

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn about the Vulkem® Pro Series, Tremco’s first step into the retail sealant market. 

Tremco Roofing Products has long been a leader in commercial markets for roofing and waterproofing products. With their new Vulkem® Pro Series, they are taking that expertise into the retail space for the first time! To learn more about this move, we hosted Nathon “Nate” Laws for a CoatingsCast™ episode.  

Nate was part of the team gathered a few years ago when the decision was made by Tremco to move into the retail market, and he gave some insight into the reasoning behind this move:  

For over a hundred years, Tremco's been the gold standard for premium commercial sealants, waterproofing, roofing and a lot more products that contractors know out there. And when we did market surveys and looked at feedback, we realized that creating a touchpoint for customers at retail locations was the next step.  

The name for the Vulkem® Pro Series was inspired by Tremco’s historically popular products, the Vulkem® 116 line. The goal with the Pro Series was to create a product line for the retail market that will be as popular and relied upon as the Vulkem® 116 line has been for the commercial market.  

So, what exactly is within the Vulkem® Pro Series line? It includes sealants, concrete repair products and adhesives. As Nate put it, “If you think of any commercial application, whether it’s vertical joints in a tilt up wall, a concrete floor or the seal along your window, the products in the Vulkem® Pro Series can get the job done.” At the end of the day, the Vulkem® Pro Series allows people to get commercial capabilities off the shelves of major retailers like Menard’s, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace and Do It Best.  

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording to learn more about the Vulkem® Pro Series. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Industry leaders explain why creating a culture of belonging benefits employees, companies and the future of roofing. 

June was Pride Month and here at The Coffee Shops™ we celebrated with a special Pride Month Coffee Conversations all about how roofing companies can create inclusive environments within their businesses and the industry overall. The episode was hosted by Heidi and Megan Ellsworth and featured Tremco’s Elise Vue and Maureen Greeves alongside National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)’s Amy Staska.  

The episode opened with a discussion of what Pride means. Elise, who has been a part of the industry for a decade now, explained her perspective, saying, “Pride Month, for me personally, has meant an opportunity to not only share my story, but also ask friends and colleagues about themselves and to celebrate the different journeys that brought people to our industry and community.” 

And by being welcoming and opening to those different journeys through conversations, events and other support programs, we can build a stronger industry through inclusion. Amy, who first started at NRCA in 1997, has seen the importance of inclusion firsthand, explaining:  

Being welcoming and accepting is powerful just because it is the right thing to do. But it is also important for any industry that needs people badly. I used to talk to contractors about women in the industry, and they’d be talking about how desperate they were for talent but they also weren’t helping make 50% of the population feel welcome working here. And with the LGBTQ+ community, you have a similar thing. There are a whole bunch of people out there and we can bring them into our industry if we create places where people are not only comfortable to work at but feel like they are embraced. 

Maureen, a 17-year industry veteran, added to Amy’s point, “We're all starving to get people into our industry and keep them here. And the best way to retain anyone is to make them feel safe, comfortable and valued. So, when we talk about pride and inclusion and why it matters, it’s not just the right thing to do, it’s directly tied to the growth and success of our entire industry. Because when you have happy, thriving and engaged people, profits and production are going to go up.” 

Want to learn more about building a more inclusive and thriving industry? Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording.  

By Emma Peterson. 

Tremco’s Vulkem® Pro Series delivers sealants, adhesives and concrete repair solutions for any jobsite challenge. 

Tremco® has established a name for itself among both professional contractors and DIY-enthusiasts for their high-quality and innovative products. Further, they are known for effectively simplifying product use across multiple applications, providing comprehensive offerings that can be used on any project you may encounter.  

A great example of their commitment to efficiency and customer satisfaction is the Vulkem® Pro Series. This product line is incredibly versatile with top-performing sealants, superior bond adhesives and durable concrete repair solutions. 

1 – The sealants 

Tremco’s Vulkem® Pro Series sealants were designed for every job. They come with incredible features and benefits, such as self-leveling, flexibility, waterproofing and high temperature thresholds. In the Vulkem® Pro Series, there are five sealants: 

• Vulkem® 116: This is a textured, single-component polyurethane sealant that is perfect for general uses on exterior applications such as windows, doors, expansion joints and masonry. 
• Vulkem® 45 SSL: Another single-component polyurethane sealant, this product is semi-self-leveling and is especially suited to sealing concrete expansion joints. 
• Vulkem® MAX: Designed for use with dynamic joints, this hybrid polymer sealer is “a permanently flexible, 100% waterproof, weather- and UV-resistant seal for perimeter caulking.” 
• Vulkem® SIL: 100% silicone, clear and non-sealant. It is ideal for waterproofing and weatherproofing windows and doors. 

2 – The adhesives  

Vulkem® Pro Series also includes a rapid and exceptional bond strength adhesive. Perfect for even the most demanding project as it provides long-lasting, all-weather durability. Tremco’s Vulkem® Pro Series adhesive is:  

• Vulkem® Grip: Engineered with hybrid polymer technology, this adhesive provides instant grab and reliable bonding to a variety of substrates, eliminating the need for fasteners or clamps. It is also resistant to UV, weather and aging while providing a lasting, durable bond. 

3 – The concrete repair 

And rounding out the Vulkem® Pro Series is their heavy-duty concrete repair products. From high-strength microfiber resurfacers to easy-flowing, self-leveling underlayments, the Vulkem® Pro Series has everything you could need when it comes to concrete:  

• Vulkem™ Cure & Seal: This water-based pure acrylic coating is non-yellowing and water-based. It aids in curing fresh concrete and cement-based mortars, along with sealing and protecting concrete. 
• Vulkem™ Microfiber Resurfacer: A cement-based mortar that features polymers for superior bonding, making this product ideal for resurfacing old, spalled and damaged concrete surfaces to restore them to a new appearance. Designed for weather resistance, it withstands harsh winter conditions, including freezing and thawing, and features microfiber technology to reduce cracking. 
• Vulkem™ Non-Sag Sealant: A multi-purpose non-sag polyurethane sealant that works for both vertical and horizontal construction applications. It is 100% waterproof, weather/aging resistant and remains flexible throughout its entire lifespan. 
• Vulkem™ Self-Leveling Floor Underlayment: Designed for preparing and leveling concrete, solid hardwoods, exposure plywoods and OSB equivalent subfloors prior to installation of floor coverings, this underlayment is free-flowing, cement-based and self-leveling.  
• Vulkem™ Self-Leveling Sealant: This self-leveling polyurethane sealant provides exceptional all-weather durability and flexibility, while providing exceptional wear and tear resistance in high traffic areas. It is paintable with latex paints and rain-ready in 2 hours.  

With this suite of products in your toolbox, you can enter each job site confidently and ready to tackle whatever challenges might come your way.  

Learn more about the Vulkem line.

Por Alberto Torres. 

Desde estrategias de negocio hasta innovación, estos fueron los favoritos de nuestros lectores. 

Cada mes en RoofersCoffeeShop®en español compartimos los artículos más leídos. Junio no fue la excepción con este artículo, “Un socio, tres pilares para el éxito,” donde APOC compartió los tres pilares que ellos ofrecen a contratistas para hacer crecer sus conocimientos y negocios. Estos programas educativos como: Contractor Pro Program, Los Programas de Garantia y Certified Applicator Program son herramientas que han ayudado a contratistas a elevar sus negocios. 

Otro tema que destacó durante junio fue Marketing. En un episodio de La Voz de los Ruferos, Jason Jimenez de Gasper Roofing compartió sobre la importancia de entender el marketing como una herramienta clave para tener un negocio competitivo. En este episodio que fue grabado en el Business Building Workshop (BBW) de CertainTeed, Jason explico la importancia de seguir aprendiendo sobre marketing y crecimiento empresarial. Este contenido llamo la atención por ofrecer información relevante para profesionales que buscan mantenerse actualizados en una industria que continúa evolucionando. 

La capacitación también siguió ocupando un espacio importante entre nuestros artículos, Luis Ramos de MuleHide nos recordó en un episodio de La Voz de los Ruferos, como la importancia de seguir aprendiendo y aprovechar los recursos de fabricantes como MuleHide ponen al alcance de los contratistas para fortalecer sus negocios. Junio también nos dejó espacio para conocer historias y tendencias de las líneas de colores de shingles que TAMKO ofrece, ya que esa innovación sigue vigente y está evolucionando día con día. 

Por último, Monica Vornbrock de The GLO Group y Lorna Rojas de Tremco, miembros de National Women in Roofing (NWIR), hablaron sobre lo que vivieron en Roofing Day en Whashington, D.C. recordando a los profesionales la importancia que tiene el hacer que se escuche su voz. Esta participación fortalece a toda la industria y ayuda a impulsar decisiones que benefician a contratistas, fabricantes y trabajadores.  

Agradecemos a todos nuestros lectores por seguir haciendo de RoofersCoffeeShop® En Espanol un espacio para aprender, compartir y mantenerse informados. Si aun no has leído alguno de estos artículos, te invitamos a descubrir porque fueron los favoritos del mes de junio. 

5. Roofing Day se trata de representar a la comunidad y a la industria

4. Innovación inspirada en la naturaleza: Una apuesta audaz en la estética del roofing

3. El verdadero valor de un representante del fabricante

2. Marketing y aprendizaje

1. Un socio, tres pilares para el éxito