By Emma Peterosn. 

Why owner education, contractor training and proactive planning are just as important as the materials themselves when it comes to extending the life of a structure. 

As markets and budgets stay tight, finding affordable ways to extend the lifespan of a building has become the biggest priority for many property managers and facility owners. To learn how partnering with the right manufacturer is key to delivering durable, worry-free structures, we hosted Rick Johnson of Tremco CPG for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

When it comes to extending the lifespan of a structure, education and training are key. Rick explained, “Owner education is important. A lot of people defer maintenance, but deferred maintenance can be one of the worst things for a structure. The longer things get deferred, the bigger the challenge it is when you actually get around to restoring the structure, and the more expensive it gets.” He continued, “The other big thing is training. Contractors need to have the knowledge and expertise to pick the right products and install them correctly in order for a maintenance plan to succeed.”  

And for both of these factors, owner education and contractor training, Tremco is ready to help. On the owner education front, Tremco’s team can organize meetings to help contractors explain the importance of this maintenance. Rick shared: 

We can arrange meetings with the owner, the engineers and the contractors to discuss the unique challenges of the project and build a plan for how the structure is going to be restored and maintained... And not only is this good to get the project started, it’s also a really good way to build an expectation with the owner so that they understand what’s going on and what needs to happen to succeed. 

As for the contractor training aspect, the Tremco team works to provide all the training that a crew needs to succeed. Rick elaborated, “We have training facilities across North America. And the whole reason is that we want to train contractors so that they have project success and we as a product manufacturer have less issues after installation.” He went on, “I say all the time, ‘If we're meeting after the job is complete, we're all losing money. Let's talk about it before it's done and make sure everybody's trained up so we can have a quality installation which leads to a great project and a happy owner.’” 

In these ways, Tremco showcases how working with the right manufacturer is about more than just products; it’s about maximizing building performance, reducing long-term costs and creating more successful projects. 

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording on YouTube to learn more!  

By Emma Peterson. 

Explore the certifications, technologies and best practices that help roofing professionals build more fire-resilient structures.  

As wildfires rage across the Western United States, the importance of fire-resistant roofing and building solutions has never been more crucial. To learn more about how we can build a more fire-safe future with the right materials and systems, Megan Ellsworth hosted Andrew LeCampion and Ron Velichka of Tremco for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

Finding fire-resistant products 

The conversation began with Andrew and Ron establishing how you can find out if a product is fire-resistant. Andrew highlighted the role of certification laboratories:  

The certification laboratories, UL, FM and Enertech are an invaluable resource when it comes to finding out more about fire-resistant products... Their websites have all the information you need to deep dive into what some different fire-resistant assemblies look like. You can look at all the different aspects, learn about how they're sealed and more. 

Ron added that another great resource is product manufacturers themselves, explaining, “Check with your manufacturer. Here at Tremco, we are testing all our products and systems against the same certifications those labs are doing, and we are always willing to help contractors determine if what they’re looking at actually has the fire-performance they want.”  

The future of fire safe structures 

Looking to the future, Andrew shared some insight into the technological advancements playing a role in the development of new fire-resistant products, saying, “There's quite a bit of impressive technology coming out in more dynamic fire suppression techniques. For example, there are now fire putties that can be installed in things like electrical boxes that can suffocate a fire right away.” He went on, “There’s also new chemically driven suppression systems that work to isolate fires so that the rest of the building can be occupied safely and evacuated safely.”  

It is technologies like this that the Tremco team is working with to try and build a more fire-safe future. As Ron put it, “There’s always new technologies that we're attempting to utilize in addition to the fine tuning we’re constantly doing to our current formulas... Our goal is make those modifications, those new products and those new systems so that we can create better, safer structures.”  

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording to learn more about using fire-resistant products and systems to create a more fire-safe future.

By Emma Peterson. 

Tremco’s Vulkem® Pro Series gives homeowners, prosumers and contractors access to products built for tougher applications.  

Recently, Tremco Roofing Products made their first move into the retail market with the Vulkem Pro Series. This series is a line of products aimed to deliver the performance that has made Tremco a leader in the commercial space to retail consumers. To learn more about how commercial-grade products like Tremco’s benefit retail markets, Megan Ellsworth spoke to Nathon “Nate” Laws in a CoatingsCast™ all about the Vulkem Pro Series.   

Nate started by highlighting some of the reasons Tremco decided to expand into retail. One was to meet the needs of retail customers. He explained, “There’s a known performance gap between what retail products and what commercial products offer. And there’s a growing category of prosumers out there who are not full-time professionals but take a lot of pride in their work and want to do it once, right.” 

For this growing category, that gap between traditional retail options and commercial grade has become a friction point. Nate elaborated, “Typical retail caulking products are great for everyday household repairs. But they don’t do as well for heavier duty applications.” He gave an example:  

If you have a control joint on your sidewalk in front of your house and you want to fill that joint, you could use a traditional retail latex caulk and get it to look halfway decent. But long term, it doesn't have the durability or the abrasion resistance to handle that application. By bringing the commercial-grade Vulkem Pro Series into these retail spaces, we are making sure that products that do meet those heavier-duty needs are available.  

The other big reason for the expansion into retail was to better serve the needs of their existing commercial contractors. Nate went into more detail of this use-case, sharing, “A lot of contractors that primarily buy through commercial distribution find themselves in retail centers looking for products at night, on the weekend or on a holiday when their traditional supplier isn't able to supply to them.” By bringing the Vulkem line into retail spaces, Tremco is helping these contractors make sure they have the right products when they need them.  

Listen to the whole podcast or Watch the recording to learn more about how Tremco is bringing commercial-grade products to retail locations. 

By Emma Peterson. 

By focusing on culture in addition to compliance, Tremco aims to strengthen safety practices across the industry. 

At Tremco, September is not just Hispanic Heritage month or Suicide Prevention month – it's also Safety Month! Recently, we brought Ro Lewis, vice president of HS&E for Tremco CPG Field Services, and Tony Kotnik, assistant director of field safety, onto an episode of Roofing Road Trips® to talk about Safety Month and how to build a true safety culture. 

Tony started the discussion with an explanation of what Tremco’s Safety Month is:  

Safety in our industry has come a long way. We're really proud of where we've gotten to, but we also understand that the journey does not end here and Safety Month is an initiative to keep us moving forward. Our slogan is Own it. Live it. Lead it. And what we mean by that is that safety is a responsibility of us all. Every person is important and should be both valued and cared for, and at the same time they have a voice in making the safe work possible. 

And when Tremco says safe work, they don’t just mean being compliant with regulatory bodies like OSHA. No, to their team, safety goes further than that. Ro explained, “Compliance in my estimation is basically the floor, it’s the starting point not the destination. True safety goes beyond that and into the culture of an organization. It’s all the stuff that happens when nobody's watching.” He went on, adding an example of what he’s talking about, saying, “True safety culture is when one employee says to another employee, ‘Hey, I need you to tie off,’ and that person hears it, sees it as somebody looking out for them as opposed to someone standing over them.” 

By encouraging individuals and organizations to create cultures where this scenario plays out, where people own, live and lead with safety in mind, Tremco hopes to help the entire industry move forward. As Tony put it, “The goal of Safety Month is to strengthen ownership across our teams, contractor partners and industry relationships.”  

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording to learn more about Tremco’s Safety Month initiative!  

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.

Construction Suicide Prevention Week reminds us that every company can help employees find support before a crisis becomes a tragedy. 

The construction industry knows how to protect people from physical hazards. We hold safety meetings, conduct jobsite inspections, require fall protection and make sure crews understand the procedures that can save their lives. During Construction Suicide Prevention Week, September 14-18, 2026, we must bring that same commitment and consistency to mental health and suicide prevention. 

This year's theme, "Building on Progress," recognizes that progress is being made while reminding us that the work is far from finished. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to identify construction as one of the industries with the highest suicide rates, making this an issue every roofing and construction company must be prepared to address. 

For company owners and leaders, the first step does not require becoming a mental health professional. It begins with creating a workplace where people know it is safe to speak up, supervisors know how to respond and everyone understands where immediate help is available. 

One of the most important resources we can share is 988. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline gives employees and employers an easy-to-remember number they can use when they or someone they know needs emotional support. 

The Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week across the United States and its territories. Employees can call or text 988 or chat online to connect with a skilled crisis counselor for free, confidential and judgment-free support. 

A person does not need to be actively considering suicide to reach out to 988. The Lifeline can also help people experiencing depression, anxiety, substance-use concerns, financial worries, relationship problems, loneliness or other forms of emotional distress. Employers, supervisors and coworkers can also call 988 when they are concerned about someone and need guidance on how to help. 

Construction companies should make 988 as visible and familiar as every other emergency and safety resource. Put it on jobsite posters, safety boards, hard-hat stickers, employee handbooks, company intranets and payroll communications. Include it in new-employee orientation and regularly remind employees that using 988 is a sign of strength, not weakness. 

Most importantly, talk about it often enough that employees remember it when they need it. A phone number only helps when people know what it is, understand when to use it and believe they will not be judged for reaching out. 

This is where toolbox talks can make an immediate difference. Construction companies already use these short conversations to address fall protection, heat stress, personal protective equipment and other jobsite hazards. Mental health and suicide prevention deserve a place in that same safety routine. 

A toolbox talk can explain what 988 is, identify warning signs that someone may be struggling and remind employees to check on one another. It can also give supervisors the language they need to begin a difficult conversation with care and respect. Employers do not have to wait until someone is in crisis to make mental health part of their safety culture. 

The resources available through Construction Suicide Prevention Week make these conversations easier. Companies can register their participation, take the pledge and access toolbox talks and other materials that can be shared with crews. The 2026 pledge asks participants to learn at least one new way to seek help for someone in need, including learning about 988, company Employee Assistance Programs and toolbox-talk resources. 

Roofing companies should also visit the National Roofing Contractors Association's Be Tough Enough website. NRCA has developed roofing-specific mental health and suicide prevention resources, including a toolbox talk, suicide prevention fact sheet, break room poster, educational programs, hard-hat stickers and its powerful "Be Tough Enough" video. Many of these resources are available in both English and Spanish, helping companies bring this vital message to their entire workforce. 

The message behind Be Tough Enough is one our industry needs to embrace. Real toughness includes being willing to say you are struggling, asking someone if they are okay and standing beside a coworker as they connect with help. NRCA's materials give contractors practical ways to make those actions part of everyday business. 

I also encourage roofing and construction leaders to learn from Mandy McIntyre, a dedicated advocate for mental health in our industry. Mandy has worked tirelessly to help companies move beyond awareness by developing people who can recognize when someone may need support and help connect that person with appropriate resources. 

Through Mental Health First Aid, individuals can learn how to notice signs of mental health or substance-use challenges, approach a person with care and guide them toward professional help. Mandy's Mental Health First Aider resources are designed for the roofing and construction community, helping trained employees bring practical tools and greater understanding back into their businesses. 

Having trained Mental Health First Aiders within a company does not replace professional care. It gives employees trusted people who are prepared to listen, respond without judgment and help someone take the next step. Just as employees are trained in CPR or first aid, mental health training prepares them to respond when the warning signs are emotional rather than physical. 

At The Coffee Shops®, we are committed to spreading the word about suicide prevention and the lifesaving support available through 988. As part of that commitment, we will host two special Coffee Conversations, sponsored by Tremco, during Construction Suicide Prevention Week. 

On September 15, 2026,  we will be joined by Mandy McIntyre of Tremco for an English-language Coffee Conversation focused on mental health, suicide prevention and the actions companies can take to support their employees. On September 17, 2026, we will present a Spanish-language Coffee Conversation with Lorna Rojas of Tremco, ensuring this important information reaches Spanish-speaking roofing professionals, crews and their families. 

These conversations are intended for owners, managers, safety professionals and every person who works in roofing and construction. We encourage companies to watch as a team, share the programs with employees and use them to begin ongoing conversations within their organizations. We are grateful to Tremco for sponsoring both programs and helping us bring this message to English- and Spanish-speaking members of our industry. 

During Construction Suicide Prevention Week, please visit ConstructionSuicidePrevention.com, explore NRCA's resources at BeToughEnough.org and bring a suicide prevention toolbox talk to your company. Share 988 with your employees, participate in The Coffee Shops' upcoming Coffee Conversations and consider Mental Health First Aid training for members of your team. 

We build businesses, roofs, buildings and communities together. We must also build workplaces where people look out for one another, where difficult conversations are welcomed and where every employee knows they do not have to struggle alone. 

If you or someone you know needs emotional support, call or text 988 or visit 988Lifeline.org. If there is an immediate, life-threatening emergency, call 911. These resources should be shared now, before someone needs them, because one conversation and one connection to help can save a life. 

September 15, 2026 - 10 a.m. ET | 7 a.m. PT

In this RoofersCoffeeShop® Coffee Conversations, sponsored by WTI, host Megan Ellsworth is joined by Mandy McIntyre, CM development manager at Weatherproofing Technologies Inc.; Kara (Houck) McCaffrey, chief wellness officer at Houck Group, Inc.; and McKay Daniels CEO of National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) for an important discussion on suicide prevention in construction. Mental health is an essential part of workplace safety, especially in construction, where suicide rates remain significantly higher than the general population. Together, they will address common myths, signs that someone may need support and how to start difficult but potentially life-saving conversations. The panel will also explore resources and ways companies can strengthen mental health support and how Construction Suicide Prevention Week can help turn awareness into lasting action.

Register today!

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how Rising Stars is uplifting young people and connecting them to job opportunities in the roofing industry.   

Recently, David Hutchinson stopped by The Coffee Shops® for an episode of the Roofing Road Trips® podcast. David, who is the executive director and founder of the Tremco Rising Stars Program, shared the different pathway programs that get individuals involved in the roofing industry and trade. He kicked off the podcast by sharing some background into how he helped found Rising Stars, the first of Tremco’s pathway programs:  

I come from a background of construction and construction adjacent for the last fifteen years, and I've felt from very early on that there wasn't always easy access for people to understand the opportunities and careers in the field. And then when I was holed up during the COVID lockdown, I had this concept for introducing young people from inner cities across the country into the trades. 

He took that idea to Tremco’s leadership, and the Rising Stars program was born. It started out in three cities, Brooklyn, New York; Newark, New Jersey; and Boston, Massachusetts. David dove into the logistics of how the program operates, sharing, “Rising Stars is the foundation where we show young people all the options. And from there, we have collaborations with organizations like trade unions and industry groups that take them beyond the basics." He went on, “These collaborations allow young people to see clear pathways and tools to start their journeys and careers.”  

In the years since that program's inception, it has doubled the number of cities it operates in and even grown into an independent nonprofit. David explained, “We were lucky enough, after being tied to Tremco since the inception, to grow enough and had enough support to separate last year and become our own 501c3. We we're really nicely positioned to go into this construction space as our own entity while still maintaining the great support of a group like Tremco.” 

Reflecting on it all, David is still as excited about the program as he was back in 2020. He shared, “This is an industry that has always been a relationship industry and always will be a relationship industry. And this program is making sure that everybody feels connected in a personal way, which really makes our success stories all the more exciting!” 

Want to learn more about the pathway programs borne out of Tremco’s Rising Star program? Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording on YouTube. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Even in the hottest season, you can trust these sealants to stick. 

According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded in the United States (records begin in 1895). And this is not an isolated North American issue. CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller reported:  

July’s extreme heat was not limited to the United States, as much of Europe saw multiple heat waves that led to wildfire outbreaks at the end of the month and into early August in Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Greece and other countries. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, Western Europe has had its hottest first two months of summer on record so far. 

In the face of extreme weather like this, it is crucial to make sure the materials and products that are being installed on our roofs and other areas of the jobsite are durable and long-lasting.  

Tremco Construction Products Group combines the expertise of Tremco Roofing and Tremco Commercial Sealants and Waterproofing to offer these type of high-performing products.   Tremco’s sealant offerings are known for their: 

• Superior performance: Tremco sealants have  decades of proven performance and durability in a variety of residential and commercial applications. Many of them have exceptional UV and puncture resistance that makes them perfect for battling even the harshest conditions.  
• Easy adhesion: Their various  silicone, urethane and hybrid sealant technologies are suitable for use in a wide range of situations, often including porous substrates and even water immersion.  
• Adaptive movement: Designed with movement capability ranging from ± 25% to ± 50%, these sealants resist shrinking, cracking and yellowing for long-term resistance in all weather conditions. 
• Fast turnaround: Additionally, their sealants go down quickly, making it easy to keep your team out of the sun by installing during cooler parts of the day. Some of their products can even be tack-free in just 30-45 minutes!  

And in an effort to make their high-performance products more accessible, Tremco has released a line of sealants in the retail space, known as the Vulkem Pro Series, to make it easier than ever for contractors to make sure they have the right tool for the job. As Nathon Laws (a national operations manager at Tremco), put it, “A lot of contractors that primarily buy through commercial distribution find themselves in retail centers looking for products at night, on the weekend, on a holiday, when their traditional supplier isn't able to supply to them. We are trying to make sure they have the products they need even in those scenarios.”  

Learn more about Tremco sealants, how they handle the elements and where you can buy them!

By Emma Peterson. 

How Tremco supports contractors and building owners long after a product leaves their factory. 

At Tremco, their team doesn’t just want to be a leading manufacturer of commercial roofing products and solution, they also want to be a leader in customer service. And for Tremco, customer service doesn’t mean just providing support to the contractors who are installing their products, but also to the business owners whose roofs feature Tremco systems. To learn more about the care Tremco extends to contractors and business owners alike, Karen Edwards brought Jay Anderson, their business development specialist of fluid-applied roofing, on to an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

Helping their contractors 

So, how does Tremco support the contractors working with their products? Primarily by providing training and expertise. Jay explained, “We have sales representatives across the country who provide support to our contractors. They also provide hands-on training in the field.” 

And these guys aren’t just there to try and sell more products. No, these are the guys that are super technical and can answer pretty much any question a contractor might have about Tremco’s sealants and waterproofing products. In Jay’s words, “The extent of knowledge we have here in our sales team is unbelievable. In my opinion, it’s second to none in the industry, and there are nearly 300 of us across North America. It’s a huge resource and we want our customers using it.”  

Supporting business owners  

As for resources for business owners with Tremco systems installed on their buildings, Jay highlighted their warranty support:  

For restoration and new construction systems, our warranty can go up to even 25-years which does a ton for giving our end users peace of mind as anybody that knows Tremco knows that we stand behind our warranties, shows up when things go wrong and help however we can with whatever challenges occur. 

In addition to these warranties, Tremco offers maintenance programs to business owners through their WTI branch that take the support to the next level by sending Tremco-approved technicians out to regularly examine and inspect the business owner’s roof. 

Want to learn more about how Tremco supports the people using their products? Listen to the whole podcast with Jay!

Learn more about Tremco in their Coffee Shop Directory or visit www.tremcosealants.com.

By Emma Peterson. 

How putting off repairs can dramatically increase long-term infrastructure costs. 

In a new episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Karen Edwards got the chance to talk to Rick Johnson. Rick is a regional sales manager at Tremco CPG covering the mid-Atlantic region. Prior to joining Tremco, he spent a decade working as a restoration contractor.  

When we asked him about the common misstep he sees building owners and facility managers make, he pointed to deferring of maintenance. What does Rick mean by this? He used sports stadiums, as an example, "Stadiums tend to need repair and restoration regularly, and most professional stadiums get replaced every 20-25 years. But what we’re seeing is people deferring maintenance and even replacement because money is tight. But what they don’t realize is how much deferring that maintenance will cost them over time.” 

How much does it cost? Rick used a car oil change as a metaphor, “A regular oil change will cost you $50-$100 depending on your vehicle. And it’s something you do regularly that might seem annoying or like something that could be put off. But if you put it off you risk blowing your engine. And if the engine blows, that’s $8,000-$10,000 minimum.” 

How does this analogy translate to infrastructure? Regular maintenance is the oil change and the risk of blowing the engine is a catastrophic collapse. Rick explained:  

Over time, corrosion begins to attack the rebar of these facilities. This is where regular seal maintenance, often in the form of reinforcement, is key. If you don't maintain it and the corrosion continues unaddressed, it expands, which causes the concrete to further crack and start to delaminate, where pieces will pop out of it. When this happens, suddenly you’re looking at repairs that are 10%-20% more costly than maintenance. And if it goes unaddressed beyond that point, you’re risking a collapsing structure. 

So, how can facility managers and owners find a balance between keeping in budget and keeping up with their infrastructure's maintenance? Rick pointed to the way the Lambeau Field (the Green Bay Packer’s home stadium) team manages their facilities:  

For probably 30 years now, they’ve done yearly maintenance where they recoat 20% of the stadium with a deck membrane, which costs anywhere from $4-$7 a square foot. And to my knowledge, this system has helped them avoid deeper issues like concrete repair, which comes with a $60-$80 per square foot price tag.  

This strategy of building a program that sections off the building is the perfect example of how to both protect your facilities and your finances. As Rick put it, “Dollars are always tight. But if you put that plan together where the build every piece of the building gets addressed every 5-6 years, you can protect that facility and even extend its life anywhere from 20-50 years while staying in budget.” 

Listen to the episode or Watch the recording to learn more about maintaining infrastructure properly.