Tried and True: Long Live Asphalt

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

We might be living in unprecedented times, but one thing remains constant — asphalt is a reliable roofing material. 

RoofersCoffeeShop® COO Karen Edwards sits down with United Asphalts’ Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing,  Bud Polston, for a conversation on the state of Built Up Roofing and why Asphalt remains a smart choice amidst supply chain issues and material shortages. 

While gas prices soar at the pump, affecting the price of all petroleum-based products, Bud says that “United Asphalts has been lucky enough to have avoided a shortage of material. We have been able to ship as orders come in and keep up with demand.” 

You read that right. Asphalt is available, shipping within about a week. This availability has heralded an increase in demand. “We have definitely seen an increase,” says Bud. “With shortages of single ply materials, we're seeing specifications being opened up a little bit more as building owners struggle to get a complete roof assembly together. And since we have availability, we have seized the opportunity.” 

What remains constant is that people need roofs and can’t be expected to wait eight months for materials to become available. Roofers and architects are increasingly looking to adjust buildings to utilize available materials. At the end of the day, it’s about helping contractors and property owners alike put a roof on their home, which is where a tried and true, reliable material like asphalt saves the day. 

Further, United Asphalts has expanded upon the benefits of asphalt by offering polymer-modified roofing asphalt like ENDURAflex HT SEBS. “In the last five years or so we've really focused on polymer modified as we see our industry move more towards restorative and green products - sending less to our landfills is better for the environment,” says Bud. “Polymer modifying asphalt helps get a Class 4 hail-resistant built-up roof which is very important with the extreme weather we are seeing around the globe.” 

The polymer-modified roofing asphalt meets the increasing demand for materials and systems that can withstand extreme weather while offering a formula that increases elastic recovery, thermal stability, tensile strength and resistance to UV degradation. As Bud says, “You get better life expectancy out of the roof by having the polymer modified asphalts in the BUR system.” 

For decades, asphalt has been used in commercial roofing and in residential shingles to protect homeowners from the elements, and it will continue to do so no matter what is happening in the industry. Asphalt is tried and true — beautiful, affordable, reliable and above all, classic. 

Learn more about United Asphalts in their RoofersCoffeeShop® or visit www.unitedasphalts.com.