York Asphalt Roofing Co. Ad Highlights Early Commercial Roofing Expertise

🏗️ This Week in Roofing History 📍 Bordentown, New Jersey | 1917 This handwritten billhead comes from Samuel R. Warner, whose business covered tin roofing, heating plants, general tinsmithing, and stove repairing. This was common for the era—but revealing. In the 1910s: • Roofing contractors were often multi-trade operators • Tin roofing, gutters, vents, and heating work overlapped • Repairs and small jobs made up steady cash flow • Estimates were itemized by hand, line by line • Materials, labor time, and solder were all tracked Look at the scope: Tin roof measurements. Gas piping. Elbows, unions, tees. Ventilators, gutters, solder, paint. Labor time broken out by task. This wasn’t rough guesswork. It was early job costing, written in ink. Contractors like Warner weren’t just installers—they were troubleshooters, service providers, and estimators rolled into one. The same person diagnosing the issue was often the one pricing and fixing it. That combination of technical skill and pricing responsibility defined early roofing professionalism. More than a century later, the paperwork has changed. The accountability hasn’t. History reminder: The tools change. The responsibility doesn’t. #ThisWeekInRoofingHistory #RoofingService #TinRoofing #TradeHistory #RoofingIndustry

The Most Dangerous Words on Site... “It should be alright.” 🤦♂️ Those four words have probably caused more waterproofing failures than anything else. “It should be alright without sealing that joint.” “It should be alright with one pump.” “It should be alright once concrete goes in.” And sometimes… Yes, it is alright. UNTIL it isn't. Waterproofing is one of the few trades where: 👉 Small assumptions create very expensive problems That’s why good waterproofing is not based on optimism. It’s based on: • Redundancy • Detailing • Planning for failure • Controlling risk We don’t rely on “should”. We rely on systems that are actually designed to perform. Because water has an incredible ability to find the one detail everyone thought would be “alright”.

One thing about roofing—you never know what you’re going to find once you get on the roof. Out in Memphis, we’ve seen everything from bullet holes to some very creative DIY repair attempts. This particular repair involved ZIP tape installed directly over a TPO roofing system and sealed around the edges with what appears to be a polyurethane-based sealant. The issue? ZIP tape is not designed for commercial roofing repairs. It’s intended for wall systems, flashing details, and ZIP board applications—not exposed TPO membrane repairs. At first glance, repairs like this may appear “good enough,” but over time they can: - Lose adhesion - Trap moisture - Fail under heat and weather exposure - Lead to additional leaks beneath the system When we encounter situations like this, we document it, explain it to the building owner, and recommend a proper TPO repair using compatible materials and installation methods. This is exactly why professional inspections matter. Because many roofing issues aren’t caused by storms alone—they’re caused by improper repairs that were never designed to last.

This 1851 advertisement for S. M. & C. M. Warren of Cincinnati is an early marker in the development of modern composition roofing in the United States. The two Warren brothers referenced in the ad were Samuel Mills Warren and Cyrus Moors Warren. Samuel had observed early composition roofing methods in the 1840s, including the use of sheathing paper with pine tar, pitch, and sand. After learning the trade, he moved to Cincinnati and established a roofing business. In 1845, his younger brother Cyrus joined him, forming S. M. & C. M. Warren. By 1847, the brothers had replaced pine tar with coal tar, an important innovation that helped move roofing toward more durable, scalable, and commercially practical waterproofing systems. Their work helped shape the evolution of built-up and composition roofing. The ad’s reference to “tarred paper and felt,” “composition in barrels,” and printed installation directions reflects an early effort to standardize roofing materials and methods. The Warrens’ influence also extended beyond Cincinnati. Members of the Warren family developed related roofing and coal tar businesses in Buffalo, St. Louis, Long Island, Louisville, Brooklyn, and other markets. Their work connected roofing, waterproofing, coal tar chemistry, and later asphalt-based materials. The historical record credits the Warren family with a major impact on both the tar and roofing industries, including Cyrus Warren’s work with fractional distillation and the family’s role in advancing tar-based and asphalt-related products. From today’s perspective, this small advertisement captures a major transition point in roofing history. Before modified bitumen, single-ply systems, synthetic underlayments, and modern asphalt shingles, contractors and manufacturers were experimenting with paper, felt, tar, gravel, sand, and coatings to solve the same basic problem roofers still solve today: keeping buildings dry. The Warren brothers helped lay the foundation for the composition roofing industry. Their work represents an early chapter in the long story of roofing innovation, and it is a reminder that many of today’s roofing systems trace their origins to practical problem-solving by 19th-century roofers, chemists, and manufacturers. #roofinghistory #roofing #warrenbrothers

This 1851 advertisement for S. M. & C. M. Warren of Cincinnati is an early marker in the development of modern composition roofing in the United States. The two Warren brothers referenced in the ad were Samuel Mills Warren and Cyrus Moors Warren. Samuel had observed early composition roofing methods in the 1840s, including the use of sheathing paper with pine tar, pitch, and sand. After learning the trade, he moved to Cincinnati and established a roofing business. In 1845, his younger brother Cyrus joined him, forming S. M. & C. M. Warren. By 1847, the brothers had replaced pine tar with coal tar, an important innovation that helped move roofing toward more durable, scalable, and commercially practical waterproofing systems. Their work helped shape the evolution of built-up and composition roofing. The ad’s reference to “tarred paper and felt,” “composition in barrels,” and printed installation directions reflects an early effort to standardize roofing materials and methods. The Warrens’ influence also extended beyond Cincinnati. Members of the Warren family developed related roofing and coal tar businesses in Buffalo, St. Louis, Long Island, Louisville, Brooklyn, and other markets. Their work connected roofing, waterproofing, coal tar chemistry, and later asphalt-based materials. The historical record credits the Warren family with a major impact on both the tar and roofing industries, including Cyrus Warren’s work with fractional distillation and the family’s role in advancing tar-based and asphalt-related products. From today’s perspective, this small advertisement captures a major transition point in roofing history. Before modified bitumen, single-ply systems, synthetic underlayments, and modern asphalt shingles, contractors and manufacturers were experimenting with paper, felt, tar, gravel, sand, and coatings to solve the same basic problem roofers still solve today: keeping buildings dry. The Warren brothers helped lay the foundation for the composition roofing industry. Their work represents an early chapter in the long story of roofing innovation, and it is a reminder that many of today’s roofing systems trace their origins to practical problem-solving by 19th-century roofers, chemists, and manufacturers. #roofinghistory #roofing #warrenbrothers

Will a liquid applied coating system solve all your roofing problems? In some cases, it might. In other situations it may be a waste of time and money. A pull test is an easy and effective way to eliminate a liquid applied coating system from your list of options. If a pull test fails to meet minimum adherence standards then the application of a coating system won’t be a long term solution. Pull tests take relatively little time and effort to complete; requiring a bit of cleaning, primer, liquid coating material, mesh fabric, and a bit more liquid coating, and then a couple days of solid time to cure before testing. Too much moisture in the roofing system, membrane deterioration, surface rust, and other faults will prevent proper curing or adhesion resulting in a failed test. A failed test means your roof will not accept a liquid applied coating solution. Before agreeing to a liquid applied coating as a solution to your roofing needs, make sure your roofing contractor completes this test and provides you with the video evidence. If you’re curious about liquid applied coatings as an option for your facility, dm me or book an appointment in the link in my bio. #commercialroofing #liquidappliedcoating #greenville #industrial #propertymanagement

Most commercial roofing systems do not require full replacement—they require the right restoration approach. This project highlights the effectiveness of a professionally installed fluid-applied roofing system. A deteriorated roof was restored into a seamless, fully adhered, reflective surface designed to perform long-term. • Eliminates active leaks with a monolithic system • Extends the service life of the existing roof • Improves energy efficiency through high reflectivity • Avoids costly tear-off and operational disruption For facilities with aging or failing roofs, coatings provide a practical, cost-effective solution when properly specified and installed. Safeguard Roofing Group delivers systems focused on durability, performance, and long-term value. Serving Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and the Carolinas 404-580-4354

The highest-margin metal roofing contractors aren't selling panels.   They're selling systems.   Here's the difference:   Commodity pitch: "We install standing seam. Here's your price per square."   Invites the customer to shop price. Race to the bottom.   System pitch: "Our Colorado Heritage System is a complete standing seam assembly built specifically for Front Range hail, UV intensity, and daily temperature swings. It includes [X panel], [Y underlayment], [Z flashing profile] everything designed and warranted to work together."   Invites the customer to evaluate value. Margin conversation.   The psychology is simple: a homeowner who hears "standing seam panels" thinks commodity.   A homeowner who hears "a complete roofing system built for Colorado conditions" thinks investment.   Same product. Completely different conversation.   The contractors consistently winning higher-margin jobs have made this shift. They package the premium components S-5! clamps, high-performance flashing, matched trim profiles into one named offering.   They stopped competing on price per square. They started competing on what the system protects the homeowner from.   In hail season, on the Front Range, that's a very powerful story to tell.   What does your current pitch look like?   #MetalRoofing #SalesStrategy #RoofingContractor #StandingSeam #SystemSelling #ColoradoRoofing #DGMetal #TheMetalEdge

Check out this article from Castagra Products, Inc. for 10 common mistakes roofing contractors make with roof coatings and how to avoid them to ensure long-lasting, high-quality results. https://lnkd.in/gJdWrTaj #roofing #roofcoatings #commercialroofing

BUR Roofing Systems (Built-Up Roofing Systems) BUR (Built-Up Roofing) is a traditional flat and low-slope roofing system made up of multiple layers of bitumen and reinforcing fabrics, creating a durable, waterproof membrane. Key Components: Base Sheet – First layer attached to the roof deck. Bitumen Layers – Asphalt or coal tar applied between plies. Reinforcement Plies – Fiberglass or felt layers that add strength. Surfacing – Final protective layer, often Pea gravel and in rare instances, Granulated Cap Sheet. Benefits of BUR Roofing: ✔ Excellent Waterproofing – Multiple layers create strong leak protection. ✔ Durability – Performs well under heavy foot traffic and harsh weather. ✔ UV Protection – Gravel or reflective coatings help shield against sun damage. ✔ Low Maintenance – Long-lasting with regular inspections. ✔ Redundancy – If one layer is compromised, additional plies still provide protection. Common Applications: - Commercial flat roofs - Industrial buildings - Warehouses - Schools and institutional buildings Lifespan: With proper installation and maintenance, BUR roofing systems typically last 20–30+ years.