Simplifying solar attachments without cutting the roof

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Anchor Products helps roofing and solar teams secure arrays with familiar tools and minimal roof disruption. 

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, the conversation shifts from industry tension to practical solutions, with Anchor Products and its U-Anchor system at the center. Justin Smith explained that U-Anchor remains the core product for solar work at Anchor Products. “That is the one that the solar industry kind of adopted first and it's the main one that they use still to this day. It has enabled them to offload some of the ballast burden on projects that they encounter, but it also allows them to secure the stuff to the roof, keeping roof membrane manufacturers happy with whatever type of penetrations might be needed.” 

Justin walked through the basic setup. He explained that the anchor starts with a plate that serves as the foundation, topped with a bolt that allows different components to be attached. What sets it apart is that the plate is installed on top of the membrane, using roofing fasteners that go down to the deck while keeping the membrane system intact. 

The crucial difference is compatibility with the existing roof system. Justin noted, “We work with all the manufacturers to source their membrane and take their membrane and put it onto our plate,” he said. “So, it's their membrane being attached to our plate and then being welded down to their roof membrane.” The goal is simple: “Because of using their materials with their roofs, it helps keep everything watertight because you're just having a perimeter seal around those membranes,” he explained. 

That tailored approach continues during ordering and design. Justin shared, “We have a little menu of questions that we start off with.” he continued, “One of those is, who is your membrane manufacturer? What is your membrane type? And is the roof under warranty?” From there, Anchor Products can coach both the solar side and the roofing side on which anchors to use. 

Anchor Products has expanded well beyond single-ply solutions, adapting its base plate for modified, coated and built-up roofs while pairing that versatility with strong industry education. The team shows up at major trade shows, brings a mobile training showcase to contractors and distributors and offers jobsite or in-house support whenever a crew is new to the system. Once contractors see the U-Anchor in use, the learning curve is short and the value is clear. For roofers navigating warranties, labor limits and growing solar demand, the system is designed to make that first solar-ready project feel familiar, practical and low risk. 

Listen to the full podcast to learn more about Anchor Products U-Anchor solutions!