Determining truth from trend

By Emma Peterson. 

There’s an emerging trend of contractors using larger rolls of roofing material, but is that really the safest and most efficient option? 

While at the International Roofing Expo (IRE), Karen Edwards got the chance to host Jason Stanley on the RoofersCoffeeShop® Sound Stage! Jason works with IB Roof Systems, who are a PVC, single-ply and coatings manufacturer, with a focus on low-slope applications. One of the things they discussed was placing a priority on safety.  

Jason explained that he was seeing a trend for larger sizes and weights of roll roofing in the industry, “I've even heard the saying repeatedly, 40% fewer seams, 40% faster. And the reality is, it's simply not true. They are actually 25% slower and a hundred percent more dangerous.” The larger these rolls get, the more dangerous they become for contractors to manage, and they can also damage the jobs site by falling and breaking through structures.  

Jason and IB Roof’s solution? If it isn't broke, don’t fix it: “We're promoting that traditional six-foot roll that has always worked for us for 40 years. And if you look at the actual data, traditional roles are not only safer, but actually faster to install.” This is also a uniquely American trend. Jason explained, “Our rolls have gone from 200 pounds to 500 or 600 pounds in the United States. In Europe, they've gone from 200 pounds to 100 pounds.” To put those numbers into reference, a professional weightlifter often maxes out around 500 pounds of weight.  

Overall, Jason sees education as the key to bringing these weights down and protecting workers better. He explained, “Sometimes people pivot or move on a false narrative [like the efficiency of bigger rolls] that isn't necessarily founded in facts or truth. That's why it's important to be involved in the NRCA (National Roofing Contractors Association) and these educational programs.” These programs can take place in the classroom or on the roof and are key to disseminating truth from trend.  

Watch the full interview to learn more about how important education is in the roofing industry.