By Emma Peterson. 

Learn about the positive impact a cool roof can have not only on your home, but your wallet, too.   

As average temperatures and associated energy costs continue to rise, cool roofing options are seeing an increase in interest among homeowners and contractors alike. Cool roofing refers to roof products that are designed to reduce the amount of solar energy (heat) entering the home. Cool roofs do this by reflecting sunlight and releasing rising hot air from the peak of the structure. For comparison, Westlake Royal Building Products' Cool Roof Systems are known to reflect “as much as 53% of the sun’s solar energy compared to 10% for a typical asphalt shingle.” However, reflectance isn’t the only thing a cool roof can do! 

By managing the solar energy entering a space with a cool roof system, contractors can achieve a more energy-efficient building envelope. An efficient building envelope not only makes the interior of the home more comfortable for homeowners, but according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, it can reduce peak cooling demand by 11% to 27%, saving homeowners a significant amount of money. These savings are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the advantages of installing a Westlake Royal Cool Roof System. Other benefits include: 

• Extended roof life: UV exposure is a common reason for premature roof aging. By reflecting UV rays as a part of reflecting solar energy, cool roofs can extend a roof’s service life.  
• Environmentally friendly: Cool roofs not only make the interior of a structure more comfortable; they also help lower atmospheric fossil fuels (like CO2) and reduce the impact of the Urban Heat Island effect.  
• Code compliance: As cities face rising issues like the UHI effect, they are enacting building and energy codes that specify the use of cooling solutions. Installing cool roofs is a great way to comply with or stay ahead of these evolving requirements.  

Learn more about Westlake Royal Cool Roofing Systems at westlakeroyalroofing.com/cool-roof-system.

Newpoint Concrete Roof Tile now comes in new Tidalwood Blend and Cypress Bay Blend colors for its Barcelona 900 high-barrel tile and Saxony 900 Slate profiles, as well as new Smoky Bay Blend and Coastal Dune colors for Saxony 900 Slate.

Westlake Royal Building Products^™ (Westlake Royal), a Westlake company (NYSE: WLK), has added four new colors — Tidalwood Blend, Cypress Bay Blend, Smoky Bay Blend and Coastal Dune — to its Newpoint^™ Concrete Roof Tile offerings in Florida. 

“Newpoint Concrete Roof Tile is known for its unique colors and blends, which combine with distinctive architectural profiles to deliver eye-catching aesthetics and enhanced curb appeal for nearly any home,” said Eric Miller, vice president of sales for Westlake Royal Building Products’ stone and roofing solutions brands. “These new blends were developed to capture the layered look of natural stone while aligning with current design preferences, giving professionals and homeowners more options to create a refined, high-end exterior.

The new colors comprise:

• Tidalwood blend: This multi-toned tan and brown blend combines light tan, warm brown and medium earthy brown hues. The palette forms a natural, variegated look typical of stone-inspired roofing colors. Available for the Barcelona 900 high-barrel tile and Saxony 900 Slate profiles.
• Cypress bay blend: Cypress Bay is a rich, brown blended color with tones that combine medium-brown and dark-brown values, giving a warm, grounded, earthy feel. Available for Barcelona 900 and Saxony 900 Slate.
• Smoky bay blend: This blend features light gray-brown antiquing over a deeper core medium brown tone. The overall effect is a blend of earthy brown and muted gray, providing a weathered, stone-like look without heavy contrast. Available for Saxony 900 Slate.
• Coastal dune: A soft desert-inspired tan with understated warmth, this color appears light and sandy with subtle antiquing, giving it a gentle texture and natural variation ideal for bright Florida environments. Available for Saxony 900 Slate.

Barcelona 900 high-barrel tiles are designed to reflect the classic style and distinctiveness of Spanish architecture, popular in the early missions. Saxony 900 Slate evokes styles found in England, Northern Europe, and the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. Both profiles are Class A Fire Rated and come with an Exclusive Non-Prorated, Fully Transferable Limited Lifetime Warranty. 

For more information on Newpoint Concrete Roof Tile, visit Westlake Royal Building Products’ website.

About Newpoint™ Concrete Tile Roofing

Newpoint™ Concrete Roof Tile adds long-lasting beauty, durability and energy efficiency to any home. Designed to withstand harsh climate conditions, these low-maintenance tiles are available in a wide range of profiles, colors, blends and textures—from traditional Spanish barrel tiles to low-profile shake and slate options—to complement diverse architectural styles. With advanced manufacturing processes that prioritize sustainability, Newpoint tiles feature energy-saving Cool Roof colors and a low carbon footprint. Backed by a limited lifetime, fully transferable, non-prorated concrete product warranty, Newpoint Concrete Roof Tile is a durable investment in both style and performance. Newpoint is a brand of Westlake Royal Building Products™.

About Westlake Royal Building Products

Westlake Royal Building Products USA Inc., a Westlake company (NYSE: WLK), is a leader throughout North America in the innovation, design, and production of a broad and diverse range of exterior and interior building products, including siding and accessories, trim and mouldings, roofing, stone, windows and outdoor living. Westlake Royal Building Products manufactures high quality, low maintenance products to meet the specifications and needs of building professionals, homeowners, architects, engineers and distributors, while providing stunning curb appeal with an unmatched array of colors, styles, and accessories.

Product donation and on-site training provided students with technical education and industry experience.

In recognition of National Skilled Trades Day on May 6, Westlake Royal Building Products™ (“Westlake Royal”), a Westlake company (NYSE: WLK), supported a hands-on workforce development initiative at Huntley High School, outside of Chicago, providing students with real-world construction experience through the build of an outdoor classroom.

“With demand for skilled labor continuing to grow across the building and construction industry, it’s more important than ever to give students real, hands-on exposure to the trades,” said Steve Booz, vice president of marketing, Westlake Royal Building Products. “We’re proud to support the next generation by not only providing materials for this important classroom build, but by having our team on-site to share their expertise and help bring that learning to life.”

On Friday, May 8, the project, led by trades program instructor James Allen, brought together 23 students to construct a dedicated outdoor learning space on a donated 40-by-40-foot concrete slab. The classroom will serve as a long-term resource for future student-led construction projects, including potential partnerships with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.

As part of its commitment to supporting skilled trades education and strengthening the future workforce, Westlake Royal donated a range of building materials for the project, including Unified Steel™ Stone Coated Roofing, Celect® Cellular Composite Siding, Versetta Stone® and Grove Collection™ trim.

In addition to product donations, Westlake Royal coordinated hands-on installation training sessions with its roofing, siding and stone technical teams, offering students the opportunity to gain practical experience across multiple product categories.

“This project represents years of growth for our program and a vision we’ve had from the start — to create a dedicated space for hands-on learning,” said James Allen, trades program instructor at Huntley High School. “What began as a pipe dream has become a true collaboration with industry partners like Westlake Royal Building Products. Our students are building something that will serve future classes while gaining skills they’ll carry into careers, college and beyond.”

For highlights from the project build, follow Westlake Royal Building Products on social media. To learn more, visit www.westlakeroyalbuildingproducts.com.

For more information, visit Westlake Royal Roofing Components.

About Westlake Royal Building Products

Westlake Royal Building Products USA Inc., a Westlake company (NYSE:WLK), is a leader throughout North America in the innovation, design and production of a broad and diverse range of exterior and interior building products, including Siding and Accessories, Trim and Mouldings, Roofing, Stone, Windows and Outdoor Living. Westlake Royal Building Products manufactures high quality, low maintenance products to meet the specifications and needs of building professionals, homeowners, architects, engineers and distributors, while providing stunning curb appeal with an unmatched array of colors, styles and accessories.

By Emma Peterson. 

You can turn material and product orders into custom tees, high-visibility shirts, hoodies and more for your crew. 

QXO is helping gear up your crew with this promotion! Between May 4, 2026, and July 2, 2026, you can earn gear with every U.S. purchase of CertainTeed, GAF, IKO Industries, Owens Corning, TRI-BUILT, VELUX and Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions products shipped and invoiced during the promotional period. How does it work?  

1. Register to start: Make sure you are registered for this promotion! Registration is available on the QXO website: www.go.qxo.com/swag2026 
2. Buy more, earn more: Buy your products from the sponsoring brands (listed above and start earning!  
3. Redeem at the end: At the end of the promotion, QXO will send out instructions on how to redeem your prizes! You will be asked to upload your logo in order to make your custom gear. Your information is secure and will never be shared. 

There are four tiers of prizes in this promotion based on how much you spend. For those that spend $20,000, you can get up to $400 in gear. For $30,000 the prize is $600 and for $40,000 it’s $800. The highest tier is $1,000 of gear, which requires qualifying product purchases of $50,000 or more. 

Reward your team for getting it done with custom tees, high-vis shirts, hoodies and more swag with QXO’s Gear Up Your Crew promotion.

By Emma Peterson. 

14 months after devastating fires swept through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas, communities are building back with stronger, more fire-resilient materials. 

Recently, Karen Edwards sat down with Tim Brown of Westlake Royal Building Products and Josh Smith of J.N. Davis Roofing for a Roofing Road Trips® conversation all about the rebuilding efforts in response to the 2025 Southern California wildfires.  

Back in January 2025, Josh was in the impacted area the day after the fire, trying to find ways to help. He explained, “I went up there to go check on some customers that we had done roofs for just a couple of weeks prior. We couldn't get a hold of them, so me and my mom ended up hopping in the truck and just going up and checking on everyone.” Tim was also on the ground shortly after the fires. He shared a bit of what he saw, saying, “I was...I was completely shocked at the level of devastation that took place. The city of Altadena was gone, all the businesses to all the residences. I've been doing this a long time and been around a lot of Southern California wildfires and never seen anything like this.”  

Now, about 14 months later, both Josh and Tim are still heavily involved in the area, specifically trying to help the affected communities rebuild stronger. And a key part of rebuilding stronger is creating more fire-resistant structures – which metal roofing plays a huge part in. Tim explained, “Metal has gained a reputation of being the most fire resilient product on the market today, and it’s really incredible seeing how many people in these communities are researching and requesting metal.” 

Josh can attest to this demand for the fire-resistant metal firsthand, “We’ve been working to educate people on their options, cause a lot of them will ask for standing seam, see the price tag and hesitate because it’s a lot for a look they don’t love. And I’m like, ‘Okay, but that’s not your only option.’” The other option that Josh has been showing to a lot of his customers? Westlake’s Unified Steel Stone Coated Roofing.  

Tim shared a bit about this product:  

I always say Unified Steel is the best kept secret of roofing. And I say that because this type of roofing emulates clay tile, emulates capri tile, wood shake, etc. A lot of people hesitate to get metal roofs because they don’t want their home to look commercial or look like a barn. But what they don’t realize is that they can get the benefits of metal and the look of a traditional premium roof with Unified Steel.  

With this perfect combination of high-performance, especially in the face of disasters like fires, as well as stunning aesthetics, it’s no wonder that Josh and his team have been installing a lot of Unified Steel as they help rebuild in the aftermath of the 2025 Southern California fires. 

Listen to the podcast or Watch the recording to learn more about Unified Steel roofing and the role it is playing in rebuilding stronger communities. 

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

Multiple structures in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee have synthetic roofing.

Back in 2013 Michael Smelcer, principal at SRA Architects, Inc. indicated a preference for DaVinci Single-Width Slate when drawing up plans for the 232,000-square-foot Le Conte Events Center in Pigeon Forge. Now, more than a decade later, he’s designing more exhibit space and a new main entrance to the complex that will add 58,000-square-feet of space.

“We’ll again use DaVinci Roofscapes overhead,” says Michael. “The LeConte Center’s roof still looks good, and it’s functioning well. We keep returning to the DaVinci product for our projects because it’s a durable product.”

DaVinci Single-Width Slate roofing tiles are constructed of a composite material made of pure virgin resins, UV and thermal stabilizers as well as a highly-specialized fire retardant. The result is a premium roofing tile that resists fading, rotting, cracking and pests. Lightweight yet durable, DaVinci tiles are Class 4 impact rated and can resist hail, severe weather and winds up to 180 mph.

Firewise construction

For another recent project, there’s an additional reason Michael relied on DaVinci roofing — its remarkable fire resistancy.

When designing the new Pigeon Forge Fire Station 1, a goal was to promote the construction of fire-wise structures. The Firewise USA® program, led by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), offers a structured approach for communities to enhance their wildfire resilience.

“We specified native stone on the exterior which is fire resistant,” says Michael. “Then for the roof we knew the DaVinci tiles are Class A rated, which is a plus. They also look great and provide a long lifespan on the roof. Those are all good reasons why we’ve included them on the fire station, and the upcoming police station and City Hall for Pigeon Forge.”

Fire-resistant roofing

According to Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Joshua Carr, Fire Station 1 was designed with fire safety in mind. The 30,000-square-foot facility includes a multi-story training tower, sleeping quarters and hot, warm and cold isolation zones for cancer prevention.

“The City of Pigeon Forge is proud to be a fire-adaptive community and is committed to maintaining its status as a certified Firewise community,” says Joshua. “The station was designed to promote the construction of fire-wise structures. After extensive research, it was decided that DaVinci composite roofing products would play a key role in that mission.”

The DaVinci Single-Width Slate tiles chosen for the roof were installed by Pinpoint Roofing in a Slate Gray color. “The fire resistance and impact ratings are a huge selling point for our customers looking at DaVinci roofs,” says Derek Davenport, commercial director with Pinpoint Roofing LLC in Pigeon Forge.

He went on, “I feel these qualities have helped us transform true slate or shake enthusiasts into believers in the synthetic lines.”

Pride in appearance

While durability is a key asset for the DaVinci roofing tiles, aesthetics come in a close second with many people. “We’re very pleased with the appearance of the roof on the fire station,” says Joshua. “It’s going to look great when the police station is finished nearby with the same roof.”

Derek also shared some closing thoughts: “At Pinpoint Roofing we pride ourselves in our ability to transform what could be another everyday roof into something people want to showcase. We do not take shortcuts. We do whatever is necessary for a fantastic final result. I drive by this fire station on a daily basis and I get a sense of pride every single time I see it. It’s such a work of art and it feels great knowing we were able to be part of its creation.”

From May 1 to July 15, 2026, the Tapco® Elite Roofing Awards 2026 competition will be open for submissions online. 

On May 1st Tapco® Roofing Products will launch its Second Annual Tapco® Elite Roofing Awards Program. Roofing contractors in the United Kingdom are invited to submit their past projects using TapcoSlate® and DaVinci Select Shake products into the contest.

From May 1 to July 15, 2026, the Tapco® Elite Roofing Awards 2026 competition will be open for submissions online at https://www.tapcoroofingproducts.com/tapco-elite-roofing-awards-entry-form/. Both re-roofing and new construction projects completed within the last six years may be submitted for consideration. There is no fee to enter.

“During our inaugural year in 2025 we identified four extraordinary roofing projects featuring superior craftsmanship,” says Michael Winter, general manager with Tapco® Roofing Products. “We’re seeking additional projects for this year’s competition that meet these high standards.

“Once we locate the winning projects, we’ll have professional photography taken of them to spotlight on our website and in our marketing efforts, and to share with the winners.”

In addition to the publicity and recognition, contest winners will receive £1000 credit on a future Tapco® roofing purchase, the ability to promote their winning project as a Tapco® Masterpiece Project, publicity on RoofersCoffeeShopUK and the creation of a dedicated project profile on the Tapco website. Winners will also receive a luncheon in their honor at their Tapco distributor location.

“We want to recognize the superior craftsmanship of those roofing contractors using our Tapco and DaVinci products to achieve outstanding roofing results and kerb appeal,” says Winter. “Whether it’s a conservatory, a hotel, a home project or any other beautiful use of our products that truly stands out, we want roofing contractors to be recognised for their efforts in the Second Annual Tapco Elite Roofing Awards Program!”

Winners in the 2025 inaugural Tapco Elite Roofing Awards Program include:

• Dean Potts Roofing Ltd. out of Upper Collwall, Malvern, for the restoration of the roof on the Malvern Hills Hotel & Restaurants using TapcoSlate® in Pewter Grey.
• H. I. Building Contractors, out of Horsham, West Sussex, for installation of a TapcoSlate® roof in Pewter Grey on a new build project in Coxwold.
• RF Roofing Ltd., out of Coldstream, Berwickshire, for installation of TapcoSlate® tiles in Charcoal Black alongside solar panels on a roof in Lanark in 2024.
• Visions of Oxford Ltd., Oxford, Oxfordshire, for a multi-year project involving a three-stage replacement/new build project transforming and expanding a small, older home into a spacious, larger house using TapcoSlate® tiles in Pewter Grey.

With its authentically shaped textured surfaces and riven edges moulded in each piece, TapcoSlate replicates real slate pieces. However, this durable product will not crack, break or delaminate like real slate. The lightweight, easy-to-install product provides a refined appearance with reduced jobsite waste, resulting in lower installation costs.

For those property owners seeking a real cedar shake look on their homes without the maintenance hassles, DaVinci Select Shake is the answer. Made of virgin resins, UV and thermal stabilisers along with a highly specialised fire retardant, these composite shakes have a BROOF(t4) Fire rating. The quality design provides an authentic appearance while the exceptional pieces stand up to Mother Nature in all types of weather. Plus, these man-made cedar tiles are backed by a 40-year warranty.

For more information and details on these products and the Second Annual Elite Roofing Awards Program in 2026, go to https://www.tapcoroofingproducts.com/tapco-elite-roofing-awards-entry-form/ or call 01482 880478.

By Emma Peterson. 

Westlake’s portfolio is full of high-performance solutions for every project. 

While at the 2026 International Builders’ Show, The Coffee Shops™ team interviewed a variety of our customers and industry friends from SRS Distribution’s expo floor garage! One such interview was with Mitch Heitsch, who is a regional sales manager with Westlake Royal Roofing Products. Mitch was at the show highlighting the variety of products and solutions Westlake has to offer for all contractors, no matter what part of the building they work on, where they are in the country, what performance/aesthetics requirements they need to meet and more.  

He opened the conversation by explaining how Westlake’s portfolio encompasses a variety of markets, sharing, “Our overall brand is called Westlake Royal Building Products because we have so many different solutions... There’s roofing, which is my division, then there’s tools (Tapco), and on top of that we have stone for outdoor living (such as El Dorado and Cultured Stone) and siding/trim solutions.”  

And within each of these brands, Westlake has developed sub-brands and systems that meet the needs of contractors in the field. Unified Steel, Westlake’s stone-coated metal roofing brand, is a prime example of this. Mitch explained:  

Our products check most of the boxes when it comes to both performance and aesthetics. Take Unified Steel, for example. It has all the ratings Floridians could need when it comes to hurricanes and wind uplifts, while also having the very severe hail (VSH) and snow load ratings needed in the Midwest and the fire ratings needed out West. And from an aesthetics standpoint, we not only have a variety of colors for every need, but also five unique profiles that fit any architectural style out there. 

At the end of the day, if you need a product related to building a home, Westlake’s portfolio is likely to have a high-performance solution perfect for the job. 

Learn more about Westlake’s portfolio by watching the whole interview.

By Emma Peterson. 

Ronn Levine’s article dives into the challenges and opportunities in the roofing industry presented by labor, economic and technology trends. 

Recently, award-winning writer and editor Ronn Levine wrote an article for LBM Journal diving into the roles technology, relationships and training play in the roofing industry. The article provides great insight into how roofing professionals can find success in a challenging economic and labor market.  

Throughout the article, Ronn spoke to industry experts, such as Jack Gottesman (marketing and brand director at IKO), Sarah Lograsso (director of marketing and product management for Westlake Royal Building Products), Brian Cross (operations manager of Rocky Mountain Snow Guards),  David Ellis (VP for residential marketing at GAF) and The Coffee Shops™ President Heidi J. Ellsworth!  

In their conversation, Ronn and Heidi dove into the challenges and growth that Heidi has seen through the lens of RoofersCoffeeShop®, which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary next year!  

First she highlighted the labor shortages, which has been a persistent issue over the years, explaining, “Contractors and associations are working very strongly on workforce development, getting back into the high schools, the vocational schools, and thinking, ‘How do we get more skilled labor?’”  

From there, the conversation shifted to the economic outlook for roofing. One thing Heidi specifically mentioned was the semi-recent advancement of private equity firms, sharing, “The mergers of many companies into regional and national players, along with the influx of private equity funds, has changed the competitive marketplace.”  

Interested in the rest of Ronn and Heidi’s conversation, as well as the experts he interviewed? Read the whole article on LBM Journal’s website!

Westlake Royal Building Products^™ has launched FYRATEK™, a fire- and ember-resistant roofing underlayment to its Westlake Royal™ Roofing Components offering, designed for concrete and clay tile roofing systems in wildfire-prone regions.

Westlake Royal Building Products^™ (Westlake Royal), a Westlake company (NYSE: WLK), has introduced FYRATEK™ to its Westlake Royal™ Roofing Components product line. A fire- and ember‐resistant roof underlayment, FYRATEK is designed for use with concrete and clay tile roofing systems in high wildfire‐designated regions. 

FYRATEK features a non‐combustible aluminum surface engineered to reflect heat and help prevent burning embers from igniting the wood roof deck and building structure. It is Class A fire-rated when used with tile roof coverings and is listed for use in California’s Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) regions.

“Most tile roof systems carry a Class A fire rating, but FYRATEK provides an additional layer of wildfire defense, enhancing fire and ember resistance at the deck level where it matters most,” said Eric Miller, vice president of sales for Westlake Royal Building Products’ stone and roofing brands. “As the frequency and severity of wildfires continue to grow, FYRATEK may bring added peace of mind for homeowners in at-risk areas.”

Along with its fire-resistance benefits, FYRATEK lays flat, grips the deck and has a grid-patterned scrim for enhanced foot traction. It’s designed to withstand the rigors of tile roof installation, and its cool blue surface is designed to help reduce sun glare for installers. 

FYRATEK is available in 54” x 100’ rolls and carries a 30-year limited warranty for long-term durability. 

For more information, visit Westlake Royal Roofing Components.

About Westlake Royal Building Products

Westlake Royal Building Products USA Inc., a Westlake company (NYSE:WLK), is a leader throughout North America in the innovation, design and production of a broad and diverse range of exterior and interior building products, including siding and accessories, trim and mouldings, roofing, stone, windows and outdoor living. Westlake Royal Building Products manufactures high quality, low maintenance products to meet the specifications and needs of building professionals, homeowners, architects, engineers and distributors, while providing stunning curb appeal with an unmatched array of colors, styles and accessories.