Building on the past for what comes next

By Jesse Sanchez.

Decades of education, durability and contractor support have helped shape new opportunities for modified bitumen roofing.

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Joel Shealey of BITEC reflects on the company's four decades in the roofing industry, a history that includes more than developing modified bitumen systems.

The company has also focused on educating contractors, building owners and industry organizations about the technology, its applications and the opportunities it can create in commercial roofing.

Reflecting on the company’s early influence, Joel explained, “We were out educating contractors, educating building owners and helping to educate the industry.” That work included presentations, papers and other educational efforts intended to help the market better understand modified bitumen and where it could be used.

Today, that educational focus is increasingly directed toward younger contractors and emerging industry leaders interested in expanding their capabilities. Modified bitumen can also provide contractors with another way to distinguish their businesses in competitive bidding situations. Joel observed, “If they go out and they build a single-ply job, they're one of 15 people bidding the job potentially. If they've been a mod bit job, they're one of four or five.”

Beyond bidding opportunities, modified bitumen can support long-term service and maintenance strategies. Joel pointed to two-ply durability and maintenance that can often focus on fundamentals such as keeping drains clear and checking flashings. He also described a BITEC test deck where an acrylic coating has been installed over smooth APP for 15 years. Describing what the company has observed as the coating ages, Joel shared, “When you peel that back over a smooth APP, that APP looks almost the same as the day it came off the line.”

Looking ahead, Joel sees continued opportunity as contractors and long-term building owners evaluate roofing decisions based on durability, maintenance and cost over time. He noted that some facilities that previously moved toward single-ply roofing are returning to modified bitumen as they consider long-term performance.

Severe weather is also influencing those conversations. Joel pointed to the performance of commercial roofing systems following hurricanes in Florida and recalled a contractor whose modified bitumen roof remained intact after approximately 3-inch hail in Oklahoma. For contractors and building owners alike, those experiences reinforce the value of designing roofing systems with durability and redundancy in mind.

As BITEC looks toward the future, its continued emphasis on education, contractor development and long-term roof performance builds on the role it has played throughout its history in modified bitumen roofing.

Listen to the podcast or Watch the conversation to learn more about how modified bitumen roofing can help contractors differentiate their businesses while supporting durability, maintenance and long-term performance!