Innovative Roofing Solutions for 2024: Editor's Choice

Equipter

Equipter, which first introduced game-changing technology in the roofing space when it came to site clean-up and operations with the RB4000 in 2005, is back at it again this year with the Equipter Tow-A-Lift.

Showcased on the IRE 2024 show floor in Las Vegas, the Equipter Tow-A-Lift can lift up to 3,500 pounds with a boom arm that has a range of motion similar to a telehandler. This towable forklift can fit a 42-inch wide pallet between its wheels or can carry a larger load above its base. It’s self-propelled and can be operated by remote control from a distance.

It’s the first new product innovation unveiled by Equipter since the RB2500 in 2020. Its versatility on the jobsite offers roofing contractors access to areas that aren’t typically reached by machines on the jobsite, and it can perform well without jeopardizing landscaping or other outdoor enhancements.

Extra-wide mounting/nailing flanges… positive bonding… superior airflow in attic spaces, and paintability – help you get the job done right.

S-5!

The Module Level Power Electronics Mount, or MLPE, provides a universal method for attaching module-level power electronics directly to solar PV module frames. Its design allows for use with most solar modules and secures optimizers and microinverters along the underside of the module frame at desired locations to make wires manageable.

The latest addition to the S-5! lineup of metal roofing solar attachments is compatible with all others in the family. S-5!'s solar attachments can be used in rail-based installations or paired with the PVKIT rail-less solar mounting solution for direct attachment to metal roofs. What makes this new product unique is a tab feature that makes the mount less likely to rotate during installation. Now contractors can install hassle-free with one hand on the device frame while the other hand tightens bolts in place.

Roofing contractors will get use out of the innovations, but the MLPE Mount is designed for solar developers, EPCs, and installers seeking economical, flexible, and easily installed mounts for PV module frames without relying on rail attachments.

Primeline Tools

For finishing details, stray nails and other unforeseen challenges, Primeline Tools introduced the HAMMERHEAD construction knife earlier this year to strong reviews from contractors, company officials said.

The easy-to-handle tool includes a 1040 medium-grade steel hammer insert that can take on the toughest jobs and won’t break off like typical blades. Roofers can’t always prevent the last nail from not going flush or flashing that won’t edge properly and needs straightening out. By having both a cutting and hammering tool at the ready, contractors can quickly finish jobs without having to swap out tools.

Grip-Rite

This self-adhering house wrap unveiled at the International Builder’s Show in Las Vegas earlier this year is rated for both residential and commercial applications. The company says it stands out in the market for its “high breathability, labor-saving application, and economical cost for a premium product.” ProWrap is just the latest innovation to join Grip-Rite’s growing offering of building envelope solutions, which includes Grip-Rite ShingleLayment-HT and an array of house wrap, flashing and other roofing underlayment options.

TARCO

TARCO recently released the LeakBarrier Butyl, a high-performance, self-adhesive moisture barrier that locks water out with a butyl adhesive and polyethylene film suitable for high and low temperatures. Roofing contractors can apply it in conditions as cold as 15 degrees Fahrenheit because of a 20-mil thick membrane that works on both vertical and sloped surfaces.

Waterproofing aside, it’s also designed to meet a wide array of solutions for roofing contractors facing moisture and vapor protection issues; extreme temperature swings, and challenges to UV resistance.

TAMKO

TAMKO’s StormFighter FLEX is the century-old company’s latest offering in storm-resistant and resilient roofing. The newest product offering in the Proline shingle series won the Experts’ Choice Award for roofing products at the 2024 International Roofing Expo, and stood out for its strength and flexibility. TAMKO officials tout it as an all-weather performance shingle that not only withstands impact and high winds but can also perform in freezing temperatures.

Highlights include a 160 mph wind warranty, installation at 25 degrees Fahrenheit and Class 4 impact rating.

US Steel Corp., DuPont

Mother Nature’s assaults on the United States Coasts in consecutive record storm seasons have pushed a lot of building materials manufacturers back to the innovation lab for new products. Two of the country’s oldest and most successful companies have joined forces to help protect coastal environments.

COASTALUME, a creation of the United States Steel Corporation and DuPont, is designed specifically with coastal communities in mind for storm seasons. It combines the strength and self-healing characteristics of U. S. Steel’s GALVALUME material with DuPont’s Tedlar PVF film barrier that resists saltwater corrosion, impacts and UV damage.

This first-time collaboration offers a level of durability for residential and commercial construction that’s being touted as maintenance-free and aesthetically desirable.

Bitec, Inc.

Introduced about a year ago, Bitec, Inc.’s DuraPlan EcoSet Green remains the roofing industry’s first and only ultra-low-solvent adhesive designed specifically for cold-process APP-modified bitumen roof systems, including slopes up to 3:12.

Performance aside, its environmentally-friendly formula is also safer, with a very low odor ratio of less than 25 g/L VOCs. It can be used to construct single or multiple plies of Bitec-approved base sheets and cap sheets or as a flood coat in cold-process applications, making it ideal for schools, hospitals and other odor-sensitive buildings.

On Top Safety Equipment

Roofing contractors continue to put themselves at risk from a fall day-in and day-out. The Life Grab 360-degree Roof Bracket from On Top Safety Equipment is one new way to combat every roofing contractor’s fear of having crews exposed to danger. It is ANSI and OSHA-compliant, and tested to hold a 10,000-pound rating, offering roofers a high level of safety assurance on both residential and commercial jobs.

Designers believe they’ve set a new standard for rooftop safety by offering the only two-person tie-off bracket on the market.

One other key aspect is the bracket is also designed with efficiency in mind when it comes to on-site job performance. Its unique 360-degree swivel gives installers a lot of flexibility and mobility to complete work on all pitch levels. It won an Expert’s Choice designation at the 2024 International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas for its safety innovation and ability to optimize productivity on the job.

Jasak Industries

Ladder safety gets a boost in terms of security with the Ladder Latch Pro. The gutter-anchored system is built to fit all types of extension ladders and for performance on both residential and commercial structures.

A People’s Choice winner for safety and fall protection at the International Roofing Expo's 2024 Innovative Product Showcase, the patent-pending design allows roofing pros to connect to the structure with a one-way hook that locks in. A stability strap also acts as a safeguard, preventing sliding and lateral movement. Contractors can rest assured it will do the job thanks to a one-year warranty.