By The Coffee Shops™. 

Featuring a high-performance gypsum core and coated fiberglass mat facer, USG Securock® Brand Weather Defense Roof Board helps commercial roofing systems stand up to hail, moisture, and fire risks. 

In 2018, Factory Mutual (FM) created the Very Severe Hail (VSH) designation (prior to 2018, the most stringent designation was Severe Hail). Then in 2025, FM expanded what regions fit their VSH designation. As shown in FM’s Loss Prevention Data Sheet 1-34, VSH regions now include all or parts of states across the central U.S., from Montana and Wyoming to Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, and Wisconsin. This shift was a response to increasingly extreme weather events, and the impact that it can have on roof systems and components.  

In the aftermath of this change in designation, contractors and professionals around the country were struggling to find products that could achieve such a high standard for quality, technical integrity and performance. When the team USG’s Corporate Innovation Center heard about these struggles, they dedicated themselves to developing something that would do more than protect buildings from everyday exposure.  

The result of this was the creation of their Weather Defense Roof Board. This roof board is made of a high-performance gypsum core and a coated fiberglass mat facer that allows it to deliver a “higher quality standard with more consistent results for a truly innovative, resilient solution that can stand up to puncture and impact damage for long-term protection.” In addition to its ability to meet VSH requirements, it delivers high fire, moisture, and mold resistance.  

Overall, this roof board is an ideal product to use with EPDM commercial roofing systems, as well as TPO and PVC, that need enhanced durability and protection due to environmental concerns like VSH.  

Learn more about how USG Securock® Brand Weather Defense Roof Board supports commercial roofing in demanding hail environments.

By Dani Sheehan. 

USG’s contractor-focused strategy shapes internal operations while consistently delivering value to the roofing industry. 

When you partner with a manufacturer, you want to know they’re invested in your success as much as their own. With over 120 years of manufacturing expertise, USG is built on four guiding pillars: customers, people, performance and commitment to future generations. In an episode of Roofing Road Trips® with USG, Vice President of Gypsum Materials Division Anson Johnson and Director of Manufacturing Jeff Grimland shared how these pillars drive everyday decisions and how they benefit contractors directly. 

A framework that drives better decisions 

USG’s team approaches every challenge with a shared lens. “We know those things, we understand them,” Anson said of the four pillars. “When we go to meet about, whether it’s product delivery or product sales, we look at it through those lenses. What do our customers need? We are laser focused on the customer.” This alignment helps the company make smarter decisions, from expanding inventory to investing in equipment, or even sunsetting underperforming products.  

Walk into any USG plant and you’ll see the four pillars in action. “This wall is a CI wall, a continuous improvement wall,” Jeff shared. “There’s a reflection process, an accountability board... and we are working diligently to stay aligned with our leadership team to all have the same focus on these items.” 

This continuous improvement mindset directly supports the customer pillar through logistics improvements like perfect order metrics, designed to measure how well USG is meeting delivery expectations. “We analyze all the numbers,” Anson explained. “There is a statistic published every month on how we're doing, green, yellow or red, in relation to the perfect order.” These statistics help them ensure they’re making the right products and delivering them to contractors in time to complete their project. “We’re committed to what our customers need, where they need it and when they need it,” Anson emphasized. 

A people-first approach to problem solving 

A company culture grounded in people, both internally and externally, also means that you can count on consistent support. Whether you’re calling the customer service team or touring a manufacturing facility, USG aims to create an open channel for feedback and collaboration. “It’s nice to pick up the phone and get a person,” Anson said. “A person who’s friendly, polite, knowledgeable and can answer questions and deliver.” 

Jeff echoed the same sentiment, highlighting how customer tours at USG facilities open the door to real conversations. “You get to learn what each other is doing and then have a conversation on how to make it better,” he said. 

Sustainability is a shared priority 

The commitment to future generations pillar is embedded into USG’s operations and long-term planning. For example, Jeff shared a recent discussion about using capital investment to help reduce water consumption in one part of the process. “It leads to less water usage, less energy and all that can be done with the same strength and performance characteristics,” he explained. “We’re partnering up with our technical resources in the company, including our innovation center to run trials and figure out the right way to do it.”  

From leadership meetings to walking the plant floor, every team member uses the same strategic framework to show up for the roofing industry. 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about USG’s vision and how they stay connected to local contractors and work to meet regional needs.

By Dani Sheehan. 

Supply chain resilience starts with understanding the moving parts from raw materials to the unloading of a shipment at the jobsite. 

Getting materials to a jobsite isn’t the straight line that we often think it is – place an order, get the product, install it. In reality, every roof component represents the invisible supply chain web that can affect the success of manufacturers, suppliers and contractors on every project. 

In a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, USG’s Senior Director of Supply Chain, Matt Sylvester, and Senior Director of Procurement, Mattias Ruegge, offered a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to build supply chain resilience – and why roofing contractors who understand these moving parts can better protect their own businesses against disruption. 

Managing what you don’t see 

“Supply chains have very long tentacles,” Matt shared. “We’re dealing with our suppliers, our suppliers’ suppliers, our customers and at times our customers’ customers.” Contractors are very aware of the outbound logistics, such as, is the truck showing up on time? But the inbound logistics such as ensuring the manufacturer has the proper raw materials to keep production running smoothly take the most time.  

At USG, managing inbound logistics means coordinating 80 different vehicle types – rail, barge, lakers, trains, trucks – and leveraging a national warehousing footprint to redistribute inventories closer to the markets that need them. It also means spending countless hours on planning: monthly plans, weekly plans and even daily plans to keep materials moving efficiently. While you can’t necessarily plan for a disaster, Matt explained that knowing your constraints can help you make fast, smart decisions when the unexpected happens. 

Local versus global supply chains 

On the sourcing side, not all supply chains look the same – and that matters when it comes to managing risk. 

“We have hundreds of suppliers for very different materials,” Mattias said. “We have very short, local supply chains for our minerals especially, and very extended, globally sourced supply chains in the case of our chemical additives.” Heavy, lower-value raw materials like minerals are typically sourced nearby. But high-value raw materials might come from halfway across the world – and the suppliers themselves are sourcing globally, creating long, fragile chains with more points of potential failure. 

Balancing cost and resiliency in your own business 

Resilience doesn’t come from eliminating risks – it comes from balancing cost and supply security in smart, strategic ways. “You can mitigate a lot of risks by throwing a lot of money at it,” Mattias said. “But at the same time, we also want to be cost-competitive.” 

USG manages this balance by investing in long-term supplier partnerships, setting volume commitments, collaborating on innovation and maintaining strong relationships that can withstand disruptions. You can – and should – do the same with your own key suppliers and distributors. 

Building those long-term partnerships, planning ahead and keeping open lines of communication about project timelines and material needs can make the difference between a small hiccup and a major delay when the unexpected happens. 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about balancing your own supply chain resiliency. 

By Dani Sheehan. 

Take an in-depth look at how USG Securock® Brand supports its people and products through innovation, technology and contractor feedback. 

In a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with USG Securock® Brand VP of Gypsum Materials Anson Johnson and Director of Manufacturing Jeff Grimland to explore how technology and contractor feedback are shaping the industry. Focused on the evolution of Securock® Roof Boards and the manufacturing strategies behind them, USG remains committed to innovation, safety and connecting to the needs of contractors. 

Investing in people: Safety and innovation inside the plant 

With more than 120 years of manufacturing expertise, USG leads with a people-first approach, investing in technologies that create safer, more efficient workplaces. From AI-powered systems that oversee machinery operations to forward-thinking safety programs, the company’s internal culture is deeply rooted in protecting and empowering employees. 

“We’re using vision systems to monitor parts of the process, and the programming behind the vision system knows what the standard is,” Jeff explained. “And if material’s out of place, employees aren’t where they’re supposed to be. We can control the machinery based on what the cameras are looking at. That’s just one example, and that’s leading to a safer work environment to help us take care of our employees.” 

AI-driven safety is also extending to other critical operations like forklift control. USG is actively partnering with major equipment suppliers to implement new safeguards that prevent collisions and reduce risks in the plant environment. 

Listening to the field: Smarter products for faster results 

That same culture of care extends to USG’s contractor partners. By staying close to the needs of roofers in the field, the company continues to adapt its product offerings to make installation safer, faster and more efficient.  

“We make four by eight sheets of roofing material, and many of our customers came and said, ‘We need that cut in half. We need four by fours because of roof placement and weight and traversing across the roof,” Anson shared. “We’re listening to our contractors and asking, ‘How can we make them more successful?’” They now offer a four-by-four panel option inspired by that feedback, which is just one example of how USG uses contractor input to drive real-world improvements. 

The development of UltraLight technology is another great example. Designed to reduce weight without compromising strength, UltraLight products have transformed how crews handle and install roofing cover boards.  

Reflecting on his observations in the field as UltraLight technology has been adapted, Jeff said, “This technology is working its way through many of our product families and product offerings. And customers appear to like it, and they appear to be more efficient and productive because of it.” 

Lighter boards mean crews can work faster, reduce physical strain and get more done in less time. It’s a direct result of the company’s mission to meet contractors where they are and help them meet today’s jobsite demands. 

Read the transcript or LIsten to the podcast to learn more about USG Securock® Brand’s commitment to safety and innovation.

By Dani Sheehan. 

The right products help contractors manage risk, stay efficient and deliver roofs that last. 

Innovation is a word that gets used a lot in the roofing industry. New products, new systems and new performance claims are constantly entering the market. But for contractors, innovation matters most on the roof, under real conditions and within the constraints of a busy job site. In a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Derrick Hutchinson of USG explained that true innovation is about delivering products that balance performance, efficiency and reliability in a way that supports you well after installation is complete. 

Innovation shaped by the jobsite 

One of the biggest challenges in product development is managing competing priorities. Contractors want materials that are lighter and easier to install, but not at the expense of durability. They want efficiency, but not if it introduces risk. Derrick described how USG approaches that balance. They engineer solutions that ensure gains in efficiency don’t come at the cost of long-term reliability. Products like Securock® roof boards are designed to maintain high performance ratings while improving handling and installation efficiency on the jobsite. 

The most effective products are shaped by the people using them every day. “What is the roofing ecosystem... How are we taking that feedback in and saying, this is what the industry really wants,” Derrick emphasized. That includes contractors, consultants and building owners, all of whom bring different priorities to the table. By gathering and applying that feedback, manufacturers can create solutions that reflect real-world challenges instead of forcing contractors to adapt to the product.  

Even the best product, however, fails the contractor if it isn’t available when it’s needed. Derrick explained that it’s because of this that USG believes customer service and delivery are as critical as innovation. “When a contractor calls and says, ‘Hey, I need this product on this day,’ we’re making sure that we can deliver that product on that date,” he shared. We already work in an industry where labor is tight and schedules are packed, meaning a delayed shipment has the potential to disrupt an entire pipeline of work. Knowing they have a partner who will deliver on time is critical for crews to increase productivity and keep their projects on track. 

Long-term benefits of innovation 

USG’s approach to innovation also reflects a practical view of sustainability. Derrick shared, “If we can continue to provide a roof system that will last longer because it’s more durable, that’s less wasteful.” Longer-lasting systems reduce the frequency of tear-offs, minimize material waste and lower the overall environmental impact of a building over time. There are also operational benefits, from transporting more product per load to reducing the number or replacements needed throughout a roof’s lifecycle. 

As roofing systems become more complex and expectations continue to rise, the role of manufacturers is evolving. It’s no longer enough to simply provide a good product. Contractors need partners who understand the pressures they face and design solutions accordingly. Derrick summed it up this way: “Our company will continue to innovate in this industry, making sure that we can deliver a product that customers can trust, it’s consistent, it’s efficient for contractors and it contributes to an overall system that will last much longer.” Through its Securock® roof board portfolio, USG continues to focus on that balance, helping contractors install with confidence today while delivering performance that holds up over time.  

Listen to the full podcast episode to learn more about how innovation, performance and partnership are shaping the future of roofing.

By Dani Sheehan. 

Stronger supply chains start with stronger partnerships — know what’s happening behind the scenes to stay ahead. 

Every material tells a story – where it came from, how it arrived at the jobsite and what it took to get it there on time. And behind each shipment is a network of manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and contractors, each playing a role in keeping projects moving. That network is the supply chain, and while it often goes unnoticed when things run smoothly, its importance becomes glaringly obvious when disruptions occur. 

In a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Heidi J. Ellsworth explored this complex system with USG’s Senior Director of Supply Chain, Matt Sylvester, and Senior Director of Procurement, Matthias Ruegge. Together, they shared a behind-the-scenes look at how supply chains function, how contractors can strengthen relationships with materials manufacturers, and how USG is working to support contractor success through resiliency, communication and customer-centric solutions. 

Aside from the trucks and warehouses, a supply chain is a flow of information, resources and coordination that ensures materials are available when and where they’re needed. For contractors, this system is largely invisible, unless something goes wrong. But building even a basic understanding of how supply chains work can help contractors make smarter decisions, plan better and ultimately protect their businesses from future disruptions.  

Contractors as partners, not just customers 

What contractors can do to support smoother supply chain operations, according to Matt, is to start with clear, proactive communication. Getting ahead of larger jobs early on can help them prepare. Matt shared, “We can manage the job and track it with our sales group. So, if delays change or it gets bumped out a month or two, it’s already in our planning process, it’s already on our schedule to produce and it’s already in our schedule to redistribute to the customer.” 

This kind of transparency helps manufacturers stay flexible and gives contractors more control over their timelines. And when you share insights, feedback and frustrations, it establishes a stronger relationship. Matthias added, “I would encourage [contractors] to talk more generally about the pain points that they’re facing on a job site. Maybe they don’t even necessarily think about us as a solution provider... But maybe if we think outside the box, we find a totally different way of coming up with an innovative product that addresses their problem.” 

On the flip side, Matt emphasized the value in positive feedback. He explained, “When you see things done well, provide that feedback too. That’s going to help us in terms of continuous improvement, training with our employees and it might be something we can replicate and scale across the network.” 

With manufacturers like USG leading with innovation and customer-centricity, there’s an opportunity for contractors to become collaborators in building more resilient supply chains. 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to gain greater insights into futureproofing your business. 

By Dani Sheehan. 

USG Securock® Brand is innovating faster, connecting deeper with contractors and leveraging its global partnership with Knauf to bring next-generation roofing products to market. 

The roofing industry continuously faces evolving weather patterns, tougher performance standards and rising expectations from building owners. In a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with USG Securock® Brand Vice President of Gypsum Materials Anson Johnson and Director of Manufacturing Jeff Grimland to talk about how the company is stepping up to meet the future head-on.  

Innovation that solves real-world problems 

USG Securock® has long been known for reliable building materials, but innovation is central to their mission, especially when it comes to protecting buildings from extreme weather. Anson shared, “We continue to look at the future, and we've noticed weather patterns in the United States are changing. We need to be ahead of that. We need to be the company that can produce products that solve for problems of hail and very severe hail that the Midwest will encounter [more frequently] ... We want to ensure that we have the right products to deal with that and make our customers successful.” 

At the same time, USG is leaning into its manufacturing expertise and product versatility to support the next wave of commercial construction, including data centers and other critical infrastructure. Their ability to provide roofing, ceiling systems, tile backing, flooring and wall products under one umbrella makes them a strategic partner on complex projects. “We are looking to partner with firms building across the United States. We have the manufacturing depth, a network that can support those builders and those contractors,” Anson explained. 

A more strategic manufacturing partner 

Six years ago, USG was acquired by Knauf, a global manufacturer based in Germany. Since then, the combined strength of both organizations has elevated how USG operates, from research and development to supply chain strategy. “The innovation team in Iphofen, Germany, and our innovation team here in Illinois have really collaborated,” Anson shared. “We're taking the best scientists, engineers, PhDs in both of those places, and harnessed that power for the entire company. It’s really about combining our forces, having a global footprint to solve our customers' problems.” 

For contractors, that means faster innovation, improved product availability and a global vision that can adapt to regional demands. 

Local relationships at the foundation 

Despite its global reach, USG continues to focus on the needs of local contractors. As Jeff explained, their approach to manufacturing is as much about making materials as it is about understanding how those materials are used on the roof. “We want our teams to understand what the end user needs it for, how they’re using it, their pain points, so we can bring that back into the plant and help the contractors have a better experience,” he shared. 

“That's what excites me is we're business partners,” Jeff continued. “We partner up to make the business stream better, we're partnering with our customers to make the entire process better. This is part of our story. It's strengthening relationships to provide a better service.” 

Purpose that powers the future 

Behind every USG Securock® product is a team of people, from engineers to electricians, who take pride in building something that makes a difference. That sense of purpose extends from the factory floor to the jobsite. “We continue to make our products better. We continue to improve the performance and the sustainability of those products,” Anson shared. “And it’s really driving us to a place where we want to be in the future.” 

For Jeff, that purpose is personal. “You see the sign behind me: Make a Home, Make Tomorrow a Home for Everyone,” he said. “That’s our purpose, both outside and inside the company. We strive for our employees to understand what the end user needs it for – how they’re using it – so we can help contractors have a better experience.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about how USG is combining global innovation with local connection to support contractors nationwide.

By Dani Sheehan. 

Proactive risk management requires systems and materials that not only meet today’s requirements but also reduce the likelihood of future issues. 

From tightening labor pools to shifting weather patterns, the pressures on commercial roofing are building. But for contractors looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, the real challenge isn’t just keeping up with these changes. You also have to understand how they compound risk across every project.  

In a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Derrick Hutchinson of USG offered a glimpse into what’s ahead for low-slope roofing. While the industry continues to talk about durability and performance, his perspective points to something deeper: the contractors who succeed in the next decade will be the ones who know how to manage risk before it shows up on the roof. 

Designing for the unknown 

For years, roofing systems have been designed around known conditions like regional weather patterns, historical data and long-standing installation practices. But as Derrick pointed out, that foundation is starting to shift, and severe weather events are not only more frequent, but Factory Mutual (FM) has expanded their severe hail map because these events are happening in more regions. 

This unpredictability raises a critical question: if yesterday’s conditions no longer define tomorrow’s risks, what are you building for? 

Forward-thinking contractors are starting to move beyond designing what’s typical in their market. Instead, they’re choosing assemblies that can handle a wider range of conditions, even if those conditions haven’t historically been a concern. 

The hidden risk in labor shortages 

Labor challenges are nothing new, but their impact is evolving. Not only do you have fewer hands on the job, but you also have to think about how that shortage affects the consistency of installation. As Derrick explained, a new generation of contractors is making up a growing percentage of crews.  

Less experienced crews, tighter timelines and increased pressure to move quickly from one job to the next all create more opportunities for small mistakes to turn into larger issues. “How do we make sure that we have products that are durable, but also efficient for contractors to install?” Derrick continued.  

That's where manufacturers play a critical role in helping contractors manage risk. It’s not just about creating products that meet performance standards but also designing systems that account for real-world installation conditions and long-term demands. For USG, this is evident in their continued innovation across the Securock® roof board portfolio, developing materials that are engineered for both strength and jobsite efficiency. Whether it’s optimizing board weight, reducing the number of fasteners required or ensuring consistent performance across applications, the goal is to help contractors install with confidence while minimizing risk of future issues.  

Building beyond the minimum 

Weather is less predictable, labor is less consistent and building performance expectations are higher than ever. Contractors can’t control these factors, but they can control how they respond to them.  

Listen to the full podcast episode to hear more from Derrick Hutchinson on the future of low-slope roofing and the role contractors play in shaping it.

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Understanding the unseen forces that keep roofing materials moving. 

The roofing industry depends on a complex and often unseen network of logistics, procurement and planning to ensure contractors have the materials they need when they need them. In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with USG's Senior Director of Supply Chain, Matt Sylvester and Senior Director of Procurement, Mattias Ruegge, to discuss the intricate processes and challenges of maintaining a resilient supply chain. 

"One of the critical supply chain decisions we've made is to be vertically integrated in some parts of our business," Matt said. "We control our rock supply; we control our paper supply. So those key raw materials where you need ownership, we've made those investments." Supply chains stretch far beyond what many in the industry might assume. Matt expressed that the inbound side of logistics, including securing raw materials, is often the most challenging part. He explained, "If we miss a truck or raw material and we shut a plant down, it doesn't matter if we don’t have a truck on the outbound side." 

Mattias echoed this sentiment, highlighting the complexity of procurement. "We have hundreds of suppliers with raw materials and very different things — from recycled paper, minerals, metals, additives, chemical additives and so forth," he said. "All these supply chains look very, very different." External disruptions, from natural disasters to geopolitical instability, are also a constant threat. "You can't plan for a hurricane per se, but you know they're going to come," Matt noted. "How do you mitigate that? You bring in raw materials, make sure you have healthy inventories across your network heading into those seasons." 

For contractors, understanding these dynamics can make all the difference. Strong relationships with suppliers and clear communication about upcoming jobs and material needs can ensure smoother operations. Matt advised, "If you got large jobs coming up, even if you understand that you need X amount of trucks over a certain period, getting that into our hands sooner allows us to prepare for it better."  

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to gain deeper insights into the ever-evolving supply chain landscape and hear firsthand from the experts managing these complexities! 

By Emma Peterson. 

What Pat Hiltman and Joe Sorrentino have seen the industry learn over the years. 

While at the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) 2026 show, Heidi J. Ellsworth had the opportunity to host two industry veterans on our sound stage – Pat Hiltman and Joe Sorrentino. Pat, who is the southeast regional manager of USG Securock Roof Boards, and Joe, who is the owner of JoeSorrentino LLC, both started in the roofing industry in the 1970s. In the decades between that beginning and today, they have not only established themselves as industry leaders and experts, but also watched the industry grow exponentially. In the conversation, they highlighted a couple of the major changes they have witnessed.  

Energy efficient design advancements 

One of the changes that Pat and Joe have both seen in the industry is how we build energy-efficient structures. Joe explained:  

When we started in the industry, I remember there was a lot of research on how making homes tight would save on energy...And this research was being driven by all these presentations where they would predict that energy costs were going to be more than your mortgage. Well, we know that hasn't happened, but what has happened is finally within the last, say, 20 years, we're now learning we need to build commercial buildings tight as well. 

And the tightening of that envelope is only one half of the story in how we have made buildings more energy efficient over the course of Joe and Pat’s careers. The other key part of the story is ventilation. Pat explained, “If you look at how the industry has trended, we went from having kind of open commercial buildings to tightening them up. But then we went too far and had sick building syndrome. Today, the big thing we’re all working on is using ventilation to find the right balance.” 

A growing relationship between consultants and contractors  

Another area that has seen a lot of change over the years is the relationship dynamic between consultants and contractors. Even just 30 years ago, building consultants and contractors did not often get along, however in light of more complex projects, like the energy efficiency challenges mentioned earlier, that is beginning to change. As Joe put it, “Collaboration is critical to success and also pushing our entire industry forward...It’s long been uncomfortable for consultants and contractors to work together, but the more you are uncomfortable and get through it, the stronger you become.” 

Want to hear more about how the roofing industry has changed over the decades? Check out the whole soundstage interview with Joe and Pat!