Innovation in Roofing: Adapting Solutions from Other Industries

By Cayden Wemple. 

We recently sat down with Adam Woge and Tom Biller of Tremco WTI to discuss AlphaGuard PUMA, one of the company’s most innovative products to date. 

Tom Biller is a training manager at Tremco and specializes in teaching the company’s field representatives and technical representatives, as well as contractors and the design community about Tremco products and solutions. As a contractor support specialist for the company, Adam Woge needs to have a deep knowledge of Tremco’s solutions in order to provide the critical support and training that contractors may require to have a successful, quality installation.  

So, when a new, innovative solution is developed, both Tom and Adam are involved from the start with learning everything they need to know to be able to properly educate on the products and systems. Both were excited about AlphaGuard PUMA, an innovative system that was adapted from the infrastructure industry to meet the needs of roofing. 

Bringing a European solution to the U.S. and Canada 

PUMA is a very innovative resin that was initially developed in Belgium by a sister company of Tremco called RPM. Tom shared, “They had been using it for infrastructure projects, bridges and concrete structures with infrastructure below it. It was being used as a waterproofing material for some time and at some point, it came over to the U.S. to be used for infrastructure, and we realized that it could be used in a roofing application as well. The product is quite revolutionary because of its effectiveness in sub-zero temperatures. It goes from liquid to solid very quickly without freezing.” 

Tom continued, “We modified it to be suitable for use as a roofing material. Methyl methacrylate as a rule is very hard and brittle, which makes them not good as a roofing product. Part of the Tremco innovation was adding a polyurethane component to that to make the methyl methacrylate flexible and more suitable for use as a roofing material rather than a more static direct to concrete infrastructure type material.” 

Outstanding in cold weather 

One of the reasons contractors love PUMA is its cold-weather performance. “A lot of times with roofing products, when you go to your data page, the first thing you always check is what your temperature restrictions are and that is the huge benefit of PUMA,” explained Adam. “There's virtually no temperature restriction.” 

“That’s what makes it so versatile, because if your customer needs a solution and we’re in a cold spell, you can offer a solution to get them watertight and then be able to come back and do something more permanent later in the spring. It’s very versatile when you take away that key temperature restriction,” Adam added. 

Improving productivity and performance 

Adam shared that feedback from contractors has been overwhelmingly positive. Once they are trained, the product helps to maximize their productivity, especially because it has such a fast-curing time. “The quick cure time that it has, lets you be able to do the multiple step process of the system all in the same day while you're working on a roof section. You can apply base coat, come back an hour or two later, and install your topcoat.” 

Tom explained that the fast cure time has made this a popular solution for many areas of the country, especially in Florida where it rains almost every day. “Contractors know that they have a narrow window to get the product applied and cured before the afternoon rains come in,” said Tom. “Our contractors will often refer to PUMA as fast on, fast off. They know they can get the product down, it will cure, be watertight and they can get off the roof before the rains.”  

The fast-curing properties are also a good fit for school projects where you get started Friday afternoon when school lets out and you have the weekend to complete the project before the students return Monday morning. “PUMA accelerates the project schedule because of its fast-curing nature,” explained Tom.  

Ideal for repairs 

It turns out that PUMA is becoming a trusted repair material by many contractors. Tom said, “If there's a leak around an HVAC unit, instead of going and trying to find the breach in the roof, the hole that's letting the water in, the contractor will do a 5’x5’ or 10’x10’ area around that unit. It solves the immediate problem, but also solves any problems that were about to come up in that same area. Repairs are more productive by being able to take an area out of play, rather than spending time chasing a leak.” 

Adam agrees that it’s one of the most versatile products saying, “I use it for virtually anything.” 

PUMA's ability to be installed in sub-zero temperatures along with its quick cure time, has helped contractors maximize their productivity levels as well as save on labor costs. PUMA is a roofing product, a restoration product and a repair product.  

Learn more about Tremco in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit tremcoroofing.com. 

Photo source: Tremco