The Top 40 Products of 2020

The following product roundup features the Top 40 products of the year, as chosen by the readers of Roofing magazine. The products were selected based on the number of reader requests for sales leads through the Reader Action Card in the print issue and the number of clicks on the website, www.RoofingMagazine.com, including those generated through our monthly e-newsletter. The product generating the most leads from each print issue is also featured as our “Roofers’ Choice” product. If you have a new product you’d like us to consider for a future edition of our Materials & Gadgets section, please email Editor-in-Chief Chris King at [email protected].

Shingles With Mechanically Fused Common Bond

GAF’s Timberline HDZ shingles feature LayerLock technology, which mechanically fuses the common bond to offer the new StrikeZone nailing area — up to 600 percent larger than Timberline HD shingles. According to the company, the shingles are designed for strength and powerful wind uplift performance. Contractors can offer homeowners a GAF WindProven limited wind warranty with no maximum wind speed limit when installing GAF shingles with LayerLock technology and four qualifying GAF accessories. www.GAF.com

Shingle Underlayment With Slip-Resistant Film

Carlisle WIP Products’ WIP GRIP Premium Shingle Underlayment features a slip-resistant top film that improves roofers’ safety on wet and dry installations. The underlayment is comprised of a flexible, 55-mil-thick, rubberized asphalt, fiberglass-reinforced membrane. It can be used on critical roof areas such as eaves, ridges, valleys, dormers, and skylights; it may also be used as covering for the entire roof to prevent moisture or water entry. www.CarlisleWIPproducts.com

Standing Seam Roof Clamp

Dynamic Fastener’s Standing Seam Roof Clamp installs over the clip on a completely seamed, attached roof section a minimum 4 feet or further from the edge with no damage to roof panels or finished seams and no roof penetrations. The clamp accommodates seams up to 1 inch wide, and the unique “flip” design of the DFSSRC-03 allows for fit on both the Butler MR24 and Butler VSR-style seams just by removing the bolts, turning one side of the clamp around the ring and replacing the bolts. www.DynamicFastener.com

Acoustical Smoke Vent

The Bilco Company’s Type ACDSV Smoke Vent is specifically designed to provide fire and smoke protection for applications where exterior noise intrusion is undesirable, such as in auditoriums, concert halls, and theaters. The new ACDSV carries an OITC-46 sound rating to guard against low-frequency outdoor sounds such as traffic and airplane noises, and an STC 50 sound rating. In addition, the product has also received an ISO-140-18 sound rating when tested against rainfall sound. www.Bilco.com

One-Component Liquid-Applied Flashing

CertainTeed’s SmartFlashONE is a one-component, UV-stable, fluid-applied resin for steep and low-sloped roof flashing details and repairs. According to the company, SmartFlash ONE can be applied without a primer and resealed for future use, offering labor efficiency. The product is available in a 5-gallon pail or a 1-gallon pail. The 1-gallon pail is also available as part of a Flash Pack which includes resin, fleece and application accessories. www.CertainTeed.com

Rotating Deck Anchor

The FallTech Rotating Deck Anchor is designed for maximum versatility and safety with a 360-degree self-orienting D-ring for use in temporary fall arrest or restraint applications. The reusable anchor is designed for installation onto exposed #10 rebar and threaded rod and is secured with user-supplied rebar wing nut or hex nut. It features a plated stainless steel anchoring plate, steel plated D-ring and bushing, and its 360-degree self-orienting D-ring is designed to follow the user’s movement. www.FallTech.com

Heavy-Duty Snow Retention System

PMC Industries offers the Snow Titan, a heavy-duty snow retention system designed for areas with heavy snowfall. According to the company, the product installs quickly and easily, saving time and minimizing labor costs. The system utilizes non-penetrating AceClamp sliding-pin clamps and snap-in ice flags. Snow Titan’s new triangular-shaped rail structure is strong enough to tackle up to 48-inch spans, and can be configured in either one- or two-rail setups depending upon the roofing pitch and expected snowfall. www.AceClamp.com

Lead-Free Roof Flashing Membrane

MFM Building Products offers the GreenWeld PVB armored flashing system, a high-performance PolyVinyl Butyral (PVB) membrane enhanced with an aluminum scrim for superior flexibility, strength and weathering. The membrane is comprised of recycled PVB and can be used in residential and commercial roofing applications including flashing for pipe penetrations and through-wall flashings. It is easy to cut and use, heat-weldable, non-toxic, sustainable, flexible, lightweight, and comes with a 20-year warranty. www.MFMBP.com

Perimeter Safety System

The FallBan Cableguard System provides a temporary or permanent safety barrier around the perimeter of the roof. Horizontal steel cables are anchored to the roof and attached to vertical steel stanchions spaced at 20-foot intervals and then tightened to form a barrier to protect anyone on the roof from accidental falls. The system features stainless steel adjustable threaded parts, making it easy to install. FallBan is made in the United States and patented in both the United States and Canada. www.FallBan.com

Bath and Dryer Vent

Lifetime Tool introduces the Lifetime Bath-Dryer Vent for shingle roofs. The proprietary design enables the housing structure to mount to the plate without rivets, fasteners and sealants. The vent assembly is crimped into the seamless deep-drawn plate with an EPDM gasket, and the shingle vent plate is 24-gauge galvanized Kynar with 4 inches of flashing on the sides, 6 inches at the top and 3.5 inches at the bottom. In independent laboratory testing, the Lifetime Bath-Dryer Vent exceeded 110 mph in the ASTM T166-18 – Wind Driven Rain Test. www.LifetimeTool.com

7-Inch Gutter Guards

Leaf Solution’s 7-inch Xtreme Gutter Guards complement the company’s product mix of 5-inch and 6-inch gutter guards for residential or commercial installation. Xtreme features .42 stainless-steel mesh to block debris including leaves, pine needles, oak tassels, shingle grit and pollen, yet allows water to flow freely into the gutter. A durable substrate backing reinforces the mesh, horizontally and vertically, from stretching or sagging and simplifies installation. The product is available for fascia or under-shingle mount in mill silver or black. LeafSolutionUSA.com

Monumental Glass Skylight System

EXTECH/Exterior Technologies Inc.’s SKYGARD 2500 Series aluminum-framed, monumental glass skylight system is available in pyramid, single slope and ridge configurations. The skylight complements commercial, institutional and industrial building designs. The SKYGARD 2500 skylight system accepts glass up to 1-5/16 inches thick, including monolithic or insulated glass units. The skylight system has passed industry-standard testing for air infiltration per ASTM E-283 to 12 psf and water infiltration per ASTM D-331 to 15 psf. www.ExtechInc.com

Slate-Look Metal Roofing Panel

EDCO Products introduces Generations Slate, a roofing panel that combines the company’s popular ArrowLine Slate Roofing panel with its advanced HD coating technology to produce an authentic slate appearance. Manufactured with the strength of steel and a multilayered PVDF cool chemistry finish, Generations Slate can reduce energy bills and does not support mold and algae growth. The product is backed by a lifetime warranty. www.EDCOproducts.com

Ladder Safety Device

The Ladder Lock Pro allows roofing contractors to lock ladders in place to perform work on the roof. The product attaches directly to the roof itself when a new roof is being installed. The Ladder Lock Pro is made of lightweight aluminum and installs in minutes by attaching the upper ladder step to the rooftop using three screws. The products can be purchased in angled or flat configurations to accommodate different types of roofs. The device attaches to any upright ladder using a locking pin. Once the locking pin is in place, it can be attached to the roof using three screws. www.LadderLockPro.com

Redesigned PVC Drain Kit

Marathon Roofing Products offers the Economy Enpoco Pak, the assembled kit of the ULRD Roof Drain with all the components for easy installation. Available in 2-inch, 3-inch and 4-inch sizes, the Economy Enpoco Pak offers versatility and easy installation on new and existing roofs. The product features a newly designed injection-molded PVC body with stronger gussets and an overflow option; a molded polyethylene dome strainer; and ABS clamping collar (metal standard) with gravel stop. www.MarathonDrains.com

Color Palette for Coil Coatings

Sherwin-Williams unveils an architect-inspired color palette, the Fluropon Architect Series, which was created by architects who attended the company’s “Color Mixology” event during the AIA Conference on Architecture 2019. The private event brought together hundreds of architects who helped to create newly developed colors. Sherwin-Williams selected 10 unique colors and matched them in various Fluropon 70 percent PVDF systems for exterior metal architecture. This special edition color series incorporates a wide range of colors, textures and effects. www.Coil.Sherwin.com

New Hire Fall Protection and Safety Kits

New Hire Fall Protection and Safety Kits from Malta Dynamics are designed to simplify the process of outfitting new employees. The kits include a full body harness; short- and long-sleeve high-visibility shirts; high-visibility surveyor vest; clear and tinted safety glasses; safety gloves; white cap-style hard hat; durable bag with handles and detachable, adjustable shoulder strap. According to the company, the equipment is tested to meet safety requirements for OSHA and ANSI. www.MaltaDynamics.com

Hard Hat Liners

NoSweat is a disposable, moisture-wicking performance hard hat liner. The product is designed to stick to the inside of any hat or hard hat, wicking away sweat to help prevent headwear from becoming musty smelling while also helping workers focus on the task at hand. According to the company, NoSweat is made with hypoallergenic materials that are thin, soft and lightweight. The liners also help reduce fogging in eyewear and are made in the USA. www.NoSweatCo.com

Lead-Free Roof Flashing

Boral Roofing’s Wakaflex, the company’s versatile lead-free flashing solution, is listed through IAPMO UES as a permanent flashing (ER-579). The product earned the distinction by undergoing and passing an extremely rigorous 2,000-hour UV exposure test. According to the manufacturer, Wakaflex contains an internal aluminum mesh, making it extremely flexible and easy to shape. It chemically seals to itself, and its Polyisobutylene material composition makes the flashing extremely resistant to all weather conditions. www.BoralRoof.com

Heated Apparel for Winter Conditions

Gobi Heat’s Duck Cotton Workwear jacket and vest are heated using a compact battery that is both comfortable and discreet, offering up to 9 hours of battery life. There are three heat settings: low, medium, and high. The jacket is made from 13.4 oz. Duck Cotton Material and features built-in shoulder gussets for maximum flexibility, nylon interior, elastic cuffs, and a removable hood. The company also offers heated beanies, which offer up to 7.5 hours of battery life. www.GobiHeat.com

Synthetic Underlayment

System Components Corporation introduces QuickSilver synthetic roofing underlayment for tile, metal, and other durable roof systems currently available in the market. According to the manufacturer, QuickSilver’s patented design offers gasketing technology that helps prevent water penetration around fasteners. The product also features low shrink construction, which mitigates shrink and lift at slope transitions. The elastomer bottom surface is designed to grip high-slope decks, improve fastener seal and help provide a safer walking surface. www.SystemComponents.net

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Metal Panel Recreates Look of Reclaimed Metal

Reclaimed Metal Rust is a new pre-painted metal roofing and siding panel from Western States Metal Roofing that recreates the look of reclaimed metal. The panel features white and silver coloring with orange and reddish rust streaks throughout its design to mimic the look of old, faded galvanized that is rusting. The panel is available in Kynar 500 paint system and comes in 10 different profile finishes. It is available in coil, flats, metal roofing, siding, and wall panels. www.PaintedRustedRoofing.com

Improved Universal Base Attachment

Green Link Engineering’s retooled KnuckleHead universal base offers an improved attachment feature for more secure installations. The universal base, which accepts a range of head designs, now features four holes, which allows for the doubling of mechanical fasteners. In laboratory tests, the four-fastener base installation increased support strength by 40 percent tested on a 12-inch strut Knucklehead configuration. The base can also be further secured and sealed using specially formulated Green Link Adhesive/Sealant. www.GreenLinkEngineering.com

Roof Windows

VELUX offers roof windows for in-reach applications in both top- and side-hinged options for attic and bonus room renovations. With easy maneuverability, roof windows also provide a point of egress, which can help structures comply with building codes requiring two points of escape in case of fire. With convenient side or bottom handles for easy operation and a variety of blind options, homeowners can increase the amount of natural light and fresh air ventilation in their spaces, all while enjoying panoramic views. www.VELUX USA.com

Adhesive Carts With Options for Bead Spacing

OMG Roofing Products announces that OMG BeadPro Carts, which apply canister based OlyBond500 Insulation Adhesive, now offer roofing contractors a choice of 6- or 12-inch on center bead application. The carts offer a stable platform for holding adhesive canisters and allows contractors to apply four adhesive beads spaced perfectly at 6- or 12-inches on center. Contactors simply load the cart with the canisters, secure the hoses, and apply straight line beads of OlyBond500 Insulation Adhesives. www.OMGBeadPro.com

Gauge Tool Set for Metal Clamps and Brackets

The LMCurbs gauge tool set was designed to help customers save time and money by quickly determining the type of clamp or bracket that is needed for a metal roofing application. There are two styles, one for the S-5! Utility Clamps and one for the five different profiles of the S-5! RibBrackets. These gauges will greatly reduce the need for shipping out samples to test fit. Customized laser etching is available, allowing companies to hand them out to their customers with their contact information. www.LMCurbs.com

Temporary Anchor Point for Metal Roofs

Metal Plus, LLC’s Universal Safety Anchor (USA) is a temporary anchor point with a unique hinge-system designed to accommodate most panels without any loose components. According to the manufacturer, the Universal Safety Anchor is easy to install: just open, close, and torque. It requires no adjusting of set screws. The patented Universal Safety Anchor was designed to eliminate problems including damage to metal panels from set screws, rusting of panels when anchor points are removed, and voiding the manufacturer’s warranty. www.MetalPlusLLC.com

Utility Tray Accessory for Material Hoist

Safety Hoist Company’s Utility Tray XL is easily installed on the EH-500 and HD-400 hoist models. The pre-assembled tray is a steel fabrication and measures 44 inches wide by 25 inches deep and 12 inches high. The Utility Tray includes two Deck Extenders, which expand the carriage width to 45 inches, allowing greater support for rolled goods. Using the Utility Tray XL, contractors cab safely lift items such as tiles, buckets, tools, HVAC units and other construction materials. www.SafetyHoistCompany.com

Pitch Pan Kits

Mule-Hide Products Co.offersShapeShift Kits, which put everything needed to create pitch pans in one convenient package. A new addition to Mule-Hide Products’ ShapeShift line, the “grab-and-go” kits are available in two sizes to accommodate jobs of various sizes. Large kits create four 7- by 7-inch pitch pans. Small kits create four 4- by 4-inch pitch pans. Kit sections are made of high-strength polymer in white and snap together for easy assembly. ShapeShift kits can be used to create pitch pans for acrylic-coated, smooth modified bitumen, and smooth built-up roofing systems. www.MuleHide.com

Box Rib Wall Panels

Petersen expands its family of PAC-CLAD Precision Series wall panels with the introduction of the Box Rib line. The four new Box Rib wall panels feature 87-degree rib angles and a variety of rib spacing patterns. The Box Rib architectural wall panels are 1-3/8 inches deep with a nominal 12-inch width. Each of the four Box Rib profiles is offered in a no-clip fastener-flange option, or a clip-fastened panel to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction. The Box Rib panels are backed by the following tests: ASTM E-330, ASTM E-1592, ASTM E-283 and 331, AAMA 501. www.PAC-CLAD.com

Telescoping Debris Disposal System

Rocket Equipment’s Trash Rocket is a self-supported telescoping debris disposal system designed for commercial and residential roofing contractors. The trailer-mounted Trash Rocket has a totally enclosed chute, which also doubles as an emergency exit for personnel. The composition of the Trash Rocket provides durability and strength with its corrosion-resistant aluminum and high-density poly chute. The folding chutes adjust to locations, rooflines, and landscapes. Adjustable outriggers provide leveling and safety on uneven terrain. www.RocketEquipment.com

Pneumatic Nailers

SENCO added two new pneumatic nail guns with increased magazine capacity: the JoistPro 150MXP and JoistPro 250MXP. Used for fastening metal structural connectors like joist hangers, seismic/hurricane straps and rafter ties, the products feature several design innovations, including increased magazine size. The JoistPro 150MXP weighs just 5.3 pounds and holds two strips of SENCO paper-tape collated nails, cutting downtime for reloading in half. The more powerful JoistPro 250MXP features an all-new nosepiece that provides accurate nail placement into pre-punched metal framing hardware. www.SENCO.com

Swivel Metal Roof Anchor

Dynamic Fastener offers a swivel metal roof anchor for use with lifelines, rope/cable grabs or retractors. It offers continuous protection and freedom of movement with the 360 degree swivel and 180-plus degree flip movement of the D-ring, keeping the connection point in line with your work. According to the company, the unique design keeps the anchor point above the high point of the panels. The swivel metal roof anchor can be used for temporary or permanent application. It is designed to fit in the valleys of lighter R panels and capture the purlin below. www.DynamicFastener.com

Roof Ventilation Systems

Atlas Roofing Corporation’s TruRidge and HighPoint Roof Ventilation intake and exhaust systems complement the current line of Atlas residential roofing products and are the company’s first ventilation products. The TruRidge and HighPoint systems are manufactured with a proprietary polymer that is formulated to withstand the rigors of severe weather conditions. When properly installed, TruRidge and HighPoint exceed U.S. Department of Energy recommendations and all nationally recognized ventilation building codes. www.AtlasRoofing.com

Hybrid Snow Guard System

Alpine SnowGuards unveils the Fusion-Guard, a hybrid snow guard system that offers the option of adding pipe-style snow guards to the new pad-style snow guard. According to the manufacturer, Fusion-Guard pairs the company’s newly designed pad-style snow guard with an optional pipe-style approach to managing snow. The system’s two optional 3/8-inch rods are accepted by the Fusion-Guard Rod Bracket, which fastens onto the back of the snow guard face, allowing the installer to add rods if desired during, or any time after, the initial installation. www.AlpineSnowGuards.com

High-Performance House Wrap

Benjamin Obdyke’s Flatwrap HP is a high-performance house wrap designed for use in non-absorptive cladding applications or in conjunction with a rainscreen for other applications. According to the manufacturer, the product offers superior durability via a trilaminate polypropylene substrate. The trilaminate design protects the water hold out layer from damage during install. Flatwrap HP can be installed as an air barrier and is also breathable with an ideal perm rating between 10 and 20 perms per building science research. www.BenjaminObdyke.com

Fall Arrest Anchors

Kee Safety offers a comprehensive line of Kee Rigid Anchors fall arrest systems to provide personal fall protection. Available in stock for shipment within 24 hours, they are designed to withstand a pull-out force of 5,000 pounds applied in any direction and meet applicable OSHA, ANSI, and Cal/OSHA standards. The anchors are galvanized for corrosion resistance and durability, easy to install, and have insulated posts to stop conductivity and provide for temperature consistency on the building. The product line includes five standard options to meet a wide range of building and roof types. www.KeeSafety.com

PVC Spray Contact Adhesive

ICP Building Solutions Group’s Polyset PVC Spray Contact Adhesive is a portable, self-containing, single component solution designed with speed and simplicity in mind. Engineered to adhere most PVC membranes to most vertical walls and substrates for commercial low slope roofing applications, Polyset PVC Spray Contact Adhesive delivers high adhesive output with a fast setup time, helping commercial roofing professionals reduce labor time and complete jobs faster. According to the company, the adhesive can be applied in temperatures as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit and higher. www.ICPgroup.com

New Line of Evaporative Coolers

The Cold Front line of evaporative coolers from Big Ass Fans brings a full range of customer options for use in spaces of all sizes and applications, delivering a dramatic temperature reduction up to 33 degrees Fahrenheit. Capable of covering anywhere from 600 to 6,500 square feet, the Cold Front lineup allows owners to cool at a fraction of the cost of air conditioning. All models feature locking swivel casters, automatic low-water shutoff, and an easily accessible drain plug, while the largest model adds a backlit LCD display, premium remote, occupancy sensor for hands-free operation, and an auto-dry function. www.BigAssFans.com

Upgraded Flashing Membrane

TAMKO Building Products LLC offers the newly-upgraded TW-105 Flashing Membrane, which features white polymer surface film technology that gives the product increased UV resistance. According to the manufacturer, this new generation of TW-105 increases the UV resistance from the original 60 days to an extended length of 180 days. TW-105 Flashing is available in 12-inch-by-40-foot rolls and each carton contains two 40-foot rolls for a total of 80 feet of length per carton. The product comes with a 5-year Limited Warranty. www.TAMKOwaterproofing.com

About the Author

Chris King
Chris King is the editor in chief of Roofing magazine. He has covered the construction industry for more than 20 years, previously serving as editor of Roofing Contractor, managing editor of the Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News, and associate editor of Plumbing & Mechanical. He can be reached by email at [email protected].

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