S3:E14 Jason Dark and Steve Ruth - X Marks the Spot with Duro-Last X Launch

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

Developing and manufacturing products that enhance productivity on the roof and create high-performing, long-lasting roofing systems.  

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips, RCS Partner, Heidi J. Ellsworth visits with Duro-Last’s National Sales Manager, Jason Dark, and VP of Sales, Steve Ruth, about the launch of Duro-Last X™. Duro-Last X (DLX) is the industry's first custom-cut roll good membrane solution. In this podcast, Heidi, Jason and Steve discuss why roofing contractors need to continually look for better solutions that can increase productivity, profitability and performance for their businesses.  

Jason has been with Duro-Last for 16 years and has worn many hats during that time. Currently, Jason is the vice president of sales and an active member of the Roofing Alliance.  

“I started at the company when I was 20 years old,” said Jason. “I’m an active participant in the Roofing Alliance and I’m very proud of that activity. Serving on committees there and being a part of the roofing industry. It's just a great industry to be a part of.” 

Steve is the senior vice president of sales and started at Duro-Last right out of college. Since his start, Steve has seen first-hand the many changes that have taken place in the roofing industry. 

“I'm one of those people that once I got in the roofing industry, loved it, found it fascinating and [never left],” said Steve. “A lot has changed in those 36 years. Being part of that change has been great, the way the industry's evolved and new things are always happening. I really do love commercial roofing and have been doing it for 36 years.” 

DLX is a new approach to single-ply roofing. While staying true to Duro-Last's value of custom-fabricated roofing systems, DLX enhances the company’s custom approach to the rooftop and their renowned services to contractors.  

“DLX is our approach to making roll good roofing better, faster, easier with that long-term performance we're known for and make it better for roofing contractors and buildings,” said Steve. “That's the foundation of where it came from. Really the voice of the customer drove it. But we're doing things with DLX that no one else does. We're custom packaging ten-foot and five-foot roll goods for roofing contractors to make roofing even easier.” 

DLX is one of the most robust new roofing membranes to enter the market. Duro-Last uses state of the art equipment and manufacturers the membrane from a premium blend of raw materials that the company has been using for decades. DLX is available in a variety of stock rolls and any custom length.  

"If you need 90 feet, we'll make you 90 feet. If you need 190 feet, we'll make you 190 feet,” said Jason. 
“We're eliminating some of that labor with just using 100-foot rolls and splicing the ends, or butt rolls as the roofing industry knows it as. Just less decision-making on the roof, less workmanship, less material handling just all leads to less labor, less time, better for the contractor and better for the crew. That's DLX in a nutshell, and it's pretty exciting.” 

Listen to the entire podcast to learn more about this new product designed to make the everyday workload a little lighter.