One Brilliant Idea, No More Leaky Pipes

By Karen Edwards. 

This product is so tried and true, they created an entire business from it. 

When W.R. “Bill” Merrin recognized a recurring problem around pipes on roof installations, he took it upon himself to find a solution. The owner of a California-based roofing company, Bill invented and patented THE PIPE COLLAR in 1990, thus starting Wil-Mar Products. Unfortunately, he passed away five years later, but his wife, Marianne, continues to grow the company and share his product with the roofing industry. 

Western Roofing Supply in San Jose, California was the first distributor to carry the newly invented pipe collar. I spoke to owner/manager Al Muccia and he fondly remembered Bill. “Bill was a substantial roofer in the area years ago and he and my former boss, John Miller, were long-time acquaintances,” explained Al. “Bill came to John and said, ‘I have an idea.’ John being the ultimate salesperson said, ‘I’m sure I could sell that!’” 

In the early 1990s the concept of a pipe collar was pretty new. For years, pipes were sealed using mastic and tape. But after learning about the product from John and then installing it, contractors were very pleased. The ease of installation, the flexible EPDM material they were made from and the performance – they didn’t crack or fail like mastic and tape was prone to do had them returning for more. 

THE PIPE COLLAR is made from a special EPDM rubber which provides a waterproof counterflashing that slides down over the vent pipe and stays firmly attached.  Because it attaches to the pipe and not to the roof flashing the need for tape or mastic is eliminated. It’s warranted to last as long as any of the roofing systems being offered today and is compatible for pitched and flat roof systems. THE PIPE COLLAR is available in six sizes: ¾-inch, 1-inch, 1-1/2-inches, 2-inches, 3-inches and 4-inches. 

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