Because roofers deserve smarter solutions

By Dani Sheehan. 

For PM, innovation is about solving the headaches that real roofers face every day. 

There’s no shortage of silicone coating manufacturers in today’s roofing market. But for Progressive Materials (PM), standing out has never been about making more noise; it’s about listening more closely. 

From their home base in New Albany, Indiana, the family-owned manufacturer has built its reputation on understanding the needs of contractors and responding with practical, real-world solutions. As Tony Knoebel, PM’s national director of sales, explained in a live interview at the Western Roofing Expo (WRE), “We’ve all been the contractor. We know what it’s like to call the manufacturer and not get answers. Or get stuck on hold at some big corporate place. We do everything we can to make it as easy on the contractor as we can.” 

Their contractor-first approach shapes every product they make, from their high- and low-solids silicone options to their custom colors and specialty additives. One of their most unique innovations came from a simple but persistent jobsite frustration: wildlife damage. 

Foam roofing contractors have long dealt with bird pecking and other wildlife interference that can compromise the roof surface. “That’s why granules are often added to foam roofs, to help fight that problem,” Tony said. “But even with that, it can still happen. So, we looked at ways to help slow that process down without introducing anything harmful.” 

PM’s wildlife deterrent additive is a non-toxic ingredient that makes the silicone taste unpleasant to birds and other animals without harming them. “It doesn’t stop them from starting, but once they do, they don’t come back,” Tony emphasized. 

With their manufacturing plant in Indiana and a distribution facility in Phoenix, Arizona, PM continues to serve contractors nationwide with the same family first values and personal attention that have guided them since day one. “At the end of the day,” Tony shared, “roofing is a relationship business. We’re here to make sure contractors know we’re on their side every step of the way.”