By Jesse Sanchez.

A successful re-roofing project begins with understanding the existing roof, the building’s operations and the owner’s long-term expectations.

Choosing the right re-roofing system is rarely a one-size-fits-all decision. For Ken Gingerich, manager of the project review team at Versico Roofing Systems, the process starts with a thorough evaluation of the building and a clear conversation about what the owner expects from the new roof. Highlighting the range of factors that can influence a project, Ken explained, “You have to look at what is the existing roof type? How long has it been in place? What are the building owner's needs?”

That evaluation should also extend beyond the roof itself. Contractors need to understand what is happening inside the building, including whether fasteners, noise or changes in dew point could affect ongoing operations. Once a tear-off begins, previously hidden conditions can further change the scope of the project. A core cut may show one type of deck in one area while another section contains a different deck or concealed deterioration. Emphasizing the value of preparation, Ken said, “I think that the more thorough somebody can be up front, the better it's going to be for them.”

Preparation should also include conversations about insulation, expected roof life and project logistics. Owners may want a 10-year system or expect the roof to perform for 30 years, making it important to establish those expectations before materials arrive on site. Contractors also need to plan dumpster placement, paths of travel and how tear-off work could disrupt the building interior.

Communication becomes especially important when deciding between a re-cover and a complete tear-off. Contractors can help owners understand those recommendations by documenting roof conditions and clearly explaining what they find. Expressing the importance of transparency, Ken advised, “Being frank and honest with the owner could be paramount as to whether you win the project, whether you're low bid or not.”

Collaboration among contractors, designers and building owners can also help align priorities involving cost, code compliance, insulation performance and long-term plans for the building. Continued education through industry organizations, local chapters and professional forums can further help roofing professionals strengthen their decision-making and project planning.

Learn more about the factors contractors and building owners should consider when planning a complete reroofing system!

By Emma Peterson. 

Versico’s extended tapered polyiso and SeamShield™ technology help streamline installation, reduce labor demands and simplify critical roofing tasks. 

In the roofing industry, time has always been money, but this is even more true today as labor shortages continue to plague our trade. To learn about how the right products can save contractors valuable time on the roof, Megan Ellsworth hosted Austin Kulp from Versico Roofing Systems for a Roofing Road Trips® about Versico’s extended tapered polyiso and TPO SeamShield™ technology. 

The extended tapered polyiso 

Insulation is a key part of roofing. But it’s also a time-consuming part of the process. Austin explained, “Traditionally you would order standard insulation at different thicknesses and then you would try to design that tapered aspect on the roof by making cuts in those boards as you go.”  

To make this process more efficient for contractors, the Versico team has developed an extended tapered system. Extended tapered panels use more tapered panels and less fill therefore fewer panels are installed saving time and money on material handling, labor costs, adhesive costs, and time. Below is a comparison of a standard vs. extended panel system.  

SeamShield™ technology 

And the extended panels are just one example of how Versico products are saving contractors time and money. Another great example is their SeamShield™ technology. Austin described this product:  

SeamShield is a factory-laminated, removable protective film. It's applied to each edge of our TPO rolls, and it protects the welded area of the TPO from adhesives, dirt, grease, and anything else that might be on a metal deck during the installation process.  

This might seem like a small detail, but contaminants can be a huge issue when it comes to welding a high-quality TPO seam. By including SeamShield on their TPO, Versico is “saving contractors time by eliminating the need to protect their seam area during the installation process and also eliminating the need to clean that seam area again prior to welding.” 

An efficient combination 

And while both of these products are time-savers in their own right, Versico specifically designed them to work together to provide optimal job site efficiency! Austin explained:  

The extended panels reduce the total number of squares on a job. This  speeds up the installation process and saves on adhesive costs and squares of applied materials. Partnering extended panels with SeamShield, that was designed to reduce the need to clean and protect seams while working, you not only reduce the number of seams you have to weld, you also eliminate the need to clean those seams and protect those seams prior to welding. 

The extended tapered panels and SeamShield technology are just two examples of products that Versico has developed to save contractors time, and money, on the job site.  

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording to learn more about Versico’s time-saving solutions. 

By Emma Richardson. 

Combining aesthetics, energy performance, and durability, the new membrane helps contractors meet evolving customer expectations. 

Historically, EPDM roofing has only been available in black or white. However, with external design trends increasingly focused on aesthetics, building owners and design professionals want more flexibility when it comes to building appearance. Juan Torres, Versico’s EPDM Product Manager, recently sat down with The Coffee Shops® to discuss a new product that will give both roofers and building owners more options.  

Versico has developed the roofing industry’s first gray EPDM membrane. The Cool Gray EPDM offers a middle-ground option between black and white while maintaining EPDM's proven performance. 

This new product balances appearance and energy performance while also giving roofers more options to offer their customers. Traditionally, white EPDM is used when a building owner is looking to reflect heat, while black is used to absorb heat. It is also a good option for those looking to hide signs of wear and tear for longer.  

Gray provides a balance between heat absorption and reflectivity, making it well-suited for mixed-climate regions. According to Juan, "The gray color really does provide that balance of, it will absorb a little bit of heat, but it's also going to reflect some of that heat as well.” 

 The color helps reduce glare compared to white roofs, improving working conditions for installers. It also hides dirt, traffic marks, and debris better than white membranes, helping roofs maintain a cleaner appearance while providing more energy benefits than black EPDM.  

While the membrane delivers the same installation methods, durability, and weather resistance contractors expect from traditional EPDM, it is a remarkable innovation that improves service life and lower maintenance requirements. 

With building owners displaying a growing interest in visible roofs and rooftop amenities, the importance of roof aesthetics is increasing. Juan notes, "As far as trends, we're seeing the growth of things like roof gardens and roof occupiable spaces. So that aesthetic part of it, the wanting to have the roof look nicer aesthetically for longer, also plays a role." 

As building regulations become increasingly conservation minded, future energy codes are sure to create additional opportunities for products that combine performance with design flexibility.  

Learn more about VersiGard® Cool Gray EPDM.

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Rooftop recycling can help contractors reduce landfill waste, manage disposal costs and create additional value from materials removed during commercial roof replacements. 

Every commercial roof replacement generates waste, but not every material removed from a roof has to end up in a landfill. With support from Versico Roofing Systems and proper project planning, contractors can identify materials that may be recovered and recycled while potentially reducing disposal expenses and supporting building owners’ sustainability goals. 

Successful rooftop recycling starts before tear-off begins. Contractors can evaluate the existing roof system, identify potentially recyclable materials and determine how those materials will be separated and staged. Keeping eligible materials clean, dry and apart from general construction debris can help make loading and pickup more efficient while reducing contamination. 

Certain types of rigid insulation and roofing membranes may qualify for recycling depending on the project and program requirements. Contractors should confirm material eligibility before beginning tear-off, particularly because insulation condition, contamination and roofing system characteristics can affect whether materials are accepted. 

Versico works with Nationwide Foam Recycling to help contractors navigate that process. Contractors can receive guidance on project requirements, material preparation, logistics and potential rebate opportunities, while Nationwide Foam Recycling helps manage eligible materials after pickup. 

Recycling may also offer practical jobsite benefits. Reducing landfill-bound material can potentially lower disposal expenses and decrease the number of dumpster changes required during a project. When material separation is incorporated into the crew’s normal workflow, the process can also become easier to manage over time. 

Not every project will be an ideal candidate. Larger commercial tear-offs with significant quantities of recoverable insulation or eligible membrane may provide a strong starting point, particularly when contamination is limited and enough material is available for efficient pickup. 

Evaluating those factors early allows contractors to determine whether recycling fits the project and build the process into tear-off planning rather than treating it as an afterthought. 

Learn more about rooftop recycling resources from Versico Roofing Systems! 

By Emma Peterson. 

Beyond keeping materials out of landfills, roof recycling programs are helping contractors save money and streamline logistics. 

Recycling has long been a cornerstone of the sustainability movement, but did you know that the benefits of recycling extend beyond the environment? To learn more about how commercial roof recycling helps contractors improve project efficiency and their financial bottom line, Heidi J. Ellsworth brought Ashley Horner of Morristown Roofing, Chris Kann of Versico Roofing Systems and Richard Garrison of Nationwide Foam together for a RoofersCoffeeShop® Read Listen Watch (RLW)® webinar!  

During traditional commercial roof projects, debris and materials that are removed from the existing roof are thrown into a dumpster and eventually hauled to a landfill. What commercial roof recycling programs do, like the  Versico and Nationwide Foam program, is have contractors sort that material and debris so that not all of it goes to the landfill. Richard went into detail of how this alternative process works:  

It starts with a roofer contracting us and telling us project details, like the number of squares of the roof, what material is coming off, where the project is, what the start date is, etc. From there we send them a quote for our services and the information on how to sort and stack materials on pallets. Then, about two days before they need materials moved off site, they call us and we send out a 48-foot flatbed trailer to take everything away. And then we just keep doing that until the project is over. 

Through this process, Versico and Nationwide Foam have made material recycling accessible and easy to incorporate into operations. By incorporating it, contractors can get a wide variety of benefits to this program extending beyond the environmental benefits of diverting waste from landfills.  

For example, while this may sound like more work for your crews up front (as they have to sort materials) it saves contractors time in the long run! Ashley has experienced this firsthand, “Dealing with jobsite waste was a massive operational burden to take on. In this program, Nationwide Foam takes that burden and manages the program framework, the material guidance, even the actual collection, coordination, the pickup support.” He went on, “There's a minor learning curve as the guys have to get used to separating the materials on-site, but once they get past that we’ve found that the job not only stays incredibly neat, but we’re actually avoiding traditional delays related to dumpster swaps because Nationwide is so on top of it.” 

In addition to the time savings and environmental benefits, this recycling program has helped contractors with their bottom line! Ashley explained, “Getting a dumpster taken to the landfill is expensive, in some areas we were looking at fees upwards of $775. So, working with this program, we can actually save a lot of money by not paying for disposal.”  

In addition to these built-in savings, Versico has instigated rebate programs to offset labor costs related to the recycling program. Chris gave some insight into this program, sharing, “We provide a rebate incentive for the contractors based on the amount of membrane that they return. Why? We want to increase recycling, we know that finances are tight and so we think that a good way for us all to reach our goals is incentivizing recycling.” 

And it has worked. In Ashley’s words, “There’s a lot of contractors like my team who want to keep thousands of pounds of material out of our local landfills but must balance that with running a successful business. And what was great about this program was that it allows us to do both by providing operational and logistical wins in addition to the environmental ones.” 

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording to learn more about commercial recycling and its wide variety of benefits. 

By The Coffee Shops™. 

From installation logistics to building performance, ImpactR-7™ delivers benefits across the roofing value chain. 

As energy efficiency becomes an increasingly relevant topic across all aspects of the building envelope, many manufacturers are investing in R&D geared towards improving their products’ performance. In one episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Aparna Jaggi, revolutionary innovation manager at Versico Roofing Systems, explained how ImpactR-7™ was developed to address growing insulation demands while reducing roof profile thickness. But the product's potential extends beyond improving R-value per inch. 

As adoption begins, contractors, architects and building owners are examining how the new polyiso insulation board can affect project efficiency, building performance and long-term operating costs. But according to Aparna, many of the advantages start even before installation. Because ImpactR-7 delivers higher thermal performance in a thinner profile, projects may require fewer deliveries and less material staging. 

“If you're looking at a 250,000 square footage roof, you could be having anywhere between 100 to 120 trucks of insulation just being delivered to that site,” Aparna explained. Moving from traditional polyiso performance levels to R-7 per inch can result in a nearly 20% reduction in trucks. 

The smaller product has implications beyond transportation. Contractors may be able to shorten installation schedules and minimize adjustments to rooftop conditions. Aparna noted that thinner assemblies can reduce the need to raise curbs or parapet walls while also shortening fastener lengths in mechanically attached systems. “It’s cutting the profile, not the performance,” she said. 

The benefits can apply to both reroofing and new construction projects. Because the product installs similarly to conventional polyiso insulation, contractors do not need to learn a new installation process. “For anyone that would like to save time and money on their project, this is the product to be applied,” Aparna said. 

For architects and owners evaluating roofing systems, Aparna encouraged looking beyond material costs alone and considering broader project impacts. Labor savings, shorter timelines and reduced complexity can all influence overall project value. 

As roofing assemblies continue evolving to meet stricter energy requirements, products like ImpactR-7 demonstrate how innovation can affect more than a single performance metric shifting the conversation from insulation thickness to overall system efficiency. 

Listen to the podcast or Watch the full recording to learn more about ImpactR-7 and roofing system efficiency. 

By Jesse Sanchez. 

An upcoming RLW will help contractors make the right call when deciding whether to re-roof or recover an existing commercial roofing system. 

In an upcoming RLW, Making the Right Roofing Decision, September 23, 2026, at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET, Heidi J. Ellsworth meets with Jesse Sutton from Versico Roofing Systems and additional contractor guests to explore how contractors can determine whether re-covering an existing commercial roof or completing a full tear-off and re-roof is the best approach for a project.  

As more commercial roofs reach the end of their service lives, building owners are looking for solutions that balance cost, performance and disruption. The right answer is not always a complete tear-off. Contractors must evaluate the condition of the existing roof, moisture concerns, insulation and thermal requirements, local building codes and the owner’s long-term plans before recommending a solution. Understanding those factors can help contractors provide better options while setting realistic expectations for building owners. 

Versico Roofing Systems brings valuable system and product knowledge to this conversation. Jesse will discuss how solutions including FlexDASH®, VersiFleece® and RapidLock can support different project conditions. Attendees will learn what questions to ask during the roof evaluation process, including whether the existing roof is dry and suitable for recovery, whether the insulation meets thermal code requirements and whether local codes permit a recover installation. Jesse will also discuss how contractors can factor building ownership and maintenance goals into the decision and how they can clearly communicate the differences between re-roofing and recovering without focusing only on upfront cost. 

Contractors will leave with practical ways to apply these lessons to upcoming projects. From improving inspection and proposal processes to educating crews, project managers and customers, the discussion will help roofing professionals better identify opportunities for both recover and re-roof approaches.  

If you want to make more informed commercial roofing recommendations and better explain those options to your customers, this is an RLW you will not want to miss. 

Register for this RLW and learn how to evaluate re-roof and recover opportunities with greater confidence! 

By Emma Peterson. 

Behind the scenes of developing Versico’s innovative Temperature Sensing Gun. 

A couple months ago, Versico released a new product – their Temperature Sensing Gun (TSG). To learn more about this product and how it was developed, we interviewed Brian Calaman, Versico’s associate product manager. 

Identifying the need 

As is the first part of developing any new product, the Versico team began by identifying a need in the market. Brian gave some background on the issue that inspired them to create the TSG:  

Material temperature has always been an ongoing conversation with us and contractors, especially since the new regulations went into effect. A common issue we heard was that it takes a long time for material to heat (about 1 degree per hour), but it cools down very rapidly (up to 20 degrees in half an hour). 

Designing the Temperature Sensing Gun 

Once the issue was identified, it was time to start the design process, which brought a few unique challenges to the Versico team. One of them was the nature of urethane adhesives. Brian explained:  

Urethane adhesives have a moisture sensitive component that acts as a great hardener glue and sticks to everything. The issue was trying to design something that would keep those components moving in all the environments that our roofing contractors work in, from very cold environments to hot and humid ones. 

The design and engineering teams took this challenge and others in stride. Brian recalled, “We started at a spot of, ‘What’s possible?’ And from there our team came up with lots of options. Not all succeeded but the team kept narrowing things down and eventually found a way to push the envelope and build something that will really help contractors in the field.” 

Testing and prototyping 

The next step of the development process was to test and refine prototypes in order to create the best possible product. In this phase, Brian said the priorities were making sure the gun was as valuable to contractors as possible. He explained, “Most people look at a standard dispensing gun and it's a plastic, one use item. We were building this completely different version of that with electronics and lights and all these complicated components. And we wanted to make sure it added as much value to contractors as possible, so that it was durable and robust and performed without making it expensive.” 

So, how did Versico make sure their new product met all these goals? They put prototypes in the hands of the people who would know best – the contractors. Brian spoke about that part of development:  

We had contractors involved from the beginning. Our development period spanned multiple years with hundreds of different contractors getting out there and giving their feedback on different prototypes. We tested a couple thousand versions of the guns. And it was great to see what worked and what didn't. Some of our final tests were just handing the product to people and just watching how they use it, where they had trouble and so forth. 

The final product 

The result of all this work is an advanced, industrial grade two-component dispensing tool that “incorporates real time temperature sensing, actively measuring the adhesive temperature as it passes through the gun.” Not only does the TSG help contractors avoid waste by alerting them to adhesive temperature, it is 75% less trigger force compared to other two-component guns, reducing operator fatigue, and has a longer nozzle extension (three inches more than standard) that enables more accurate bead applications.  

Learn more about Versico’s Temperature Sensing Gun.

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Versico’s Advanced R vacuum-insulated panels help contractors achieve required R-values when rooftop conditions limit insulation thickness. 

As older commercial buildings approach the next reroofing cycle, contractors can face a difficult challenge: finding ways to meet current insulation requirements on rooftops that were not designed to accommodate additional thickness. In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Karen Edwards spoke with Tom Swope of Versico about how vacuum-insulated panels (VIPs) can provide high thermal performance in a thin profile. 

Tom explained that the panels feature a glass wool core wrapped in foil. Air is then removed from the foil enclosure to create a vacuum before it is sealed, helping the panels achieve significant thermal performance in a thin profile. Tom shared, “These panels are able to achieve pretty impressive numbers, anywhere from R40 all the way up to R66 per inch.” By comparison, Tom noted that standard polyisocyanurate insulation provides about R5.7 per inch. 

That difference can be especially important when reroofing buildings designed for lower insulation requirements. Tom explained that contractors may need to bring an older building up to current code even when the rooftop cannot easily accommodate additional insulation. Tom noted, “There's a lot of scenarios, especially in metropolitan areas, where there might be penthouse doors, windows, through-wall scuppers or through-wall penetrations.” Modifying those conditions can be costly, time-consuming or impractical. 

While VIPs can help address space limitations, they require careful handling during installation. Tom cautioned, “If it's pierced, either with a knife while cutting or nicked with a fastener, you lose about 80% of the R-value.” 

To protect the panel, Versico recommends sandwiching it between high-density polyisocyanurate coverboards. Tom explained, “What that does is protect the panel from shifts and movement as buildings expand and contract.” Because the panels cannot be cut, contractors must use standard insulation as infill around penetrations, curbs and roof edges. 

Careful planning is essential to maintaining the required overall R-value. Versico’s technical team creates project-specific drawings that show where panels and infill should be placed. Tom stated, “They lay it out like a puzzle.” The team may also recommend different panel sizes to minimize infill while helping the system meet the building’s insulation requirements. 

Contractors installing the system for the first time can coordinate with a Versico representative or local field service representative for job-site support. Tom advised, “It's a great idea to have them on the job site, especially if it's your crew's first time installing them.” He also confirmed that the Advanced R panel is included in the Versico system warranty. 

Listen to the podcast or Watch the conversation to learn more about Versico’s Advanced R vacuum-insulated panels, installation resources and contractor support! 

By Emma Peterson. 

Insights on the market trends, construction activity and opportunities driving today's commercial roofing landscape. 

In a new RoofersCoffeeShop® Coffee Conversations®, Megan Ellsworth sat down with a panel of experts from across the commercial roofing industry to discuss the current market state. 

Chad Burhrman, the VP of commercial roofing at SRS Distribution, opened the conversation with some of his current observations about the commercial roofing market, sharing, “To distill it down, I would say it’s healthy, but selective. And what I mean by that is some sectors are really strong, like re-roofing, but others are struggling more, like new construction.” 

This assessment, of an overall healthy market with some challenges facing it, was echoed by Vince Ellison, the president of the roof and paving consulting company Benchmark. In his own words, “I think there's reason for a lot of optimism, but there's also a little bit of tension as well... A lot of things seem to be on hold right now. We’ve followed up with a lot of clients, and they’ll tell us they’re waiting for something and are close but not quite there.”  

This concept of projects being on hold and the tension it is causing is something Dean Jagusch, owner and CEO of Washington, D.C.-based Wagner Roofing Company has experienced firsthand. He described it, saying:  

The first quarter for us was really hard. We had a real winter out here in the mid-Atlantic and everything slowed down and was put on hold. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t work... On the reroofing side we’ve seen continued activity and resilience, especially around critical infrastructure like senior living, higher education, etc. 

Chad Schreppel, the national director of sales at Versico Roofing Systems, closed out the conversation with some thoughts about the industry's struggles over the past few years, adding some additional context. “The way I would describe the commercial roofing space, in 2026 and beyond, is resilient... The last ‘normal’ year in roofing was probably in 2019 before COVID,” he explained. “It can feel really overwhelming looking at things like the inflation rising due to the conflict in the Middle East and the transportation challenges we’re facing, but I always remind people, we’re resilient. Our market is resilient.”  

Listen to the whole Coffee Conversation or Watch the recording of it on YouTube to hear more from this expert panel!