A Trend on the Rise… It’s no secret that our nation and the world are moving toward a future engrained in renewable energy sources. As we see solar panels become more prevalent across the country, we decided to dedicate this blog to showing how Progressive Materials (PM Silicone) and rooftop solar panels can work hand in hand. How do Solar Panels Work When the sun shines onto a solar panel, energy from the sunlight is absorbed by photovoltaic cells in the panel. This energy creates electrical charges that move in response to an internal electrical field in the cell, causing electricity t ..read more

Horizontal Seams If you have worked on metal roofs, you know horizontal seams present some of the biggest issues. Whether it’s natural wear and tear or improper installation, if these seams begin letting water into the building, you have limited time before the issue becomes dire. In this blog, we will explore Progressive Materials’ guidelines for proper prep work on these seams. Additionally, there is a link below to a video that shows proper seam prep on a metal roof. Proper Prep: Metal Roofs A PM Silicone restoration creates a completely seamless membrane on top of the roof, alleviating al ..read more

Wildlife-Deterrent Silicone If you have ever noticed scratch or peck marks on your roof, you’ll want to make sure you are regularly monitoring it to ensure the damage isn’t getting worse. If left untreated, animals can damage roofs and lead to costly repairs. Today’s blog will show how Progressive Materials (PM Silicone) Wildlife Deterrent Silicone can stop animal damage in its tracks and protect your roof for years to come. The Problem With autumn here and winter not far in the distance, animals are beginning their hunt for food and shelter. Birds and rodents can cause serious damage to comm ..read more

What is an Adhesion Test? If you have ever questioned whether silicone can be applied on your roof, a simple adhesion test can help you determine whether it’s the right choice. We answer the question, “What is an adhesion test?” in this blog and let you know how to do one. Additionally, there is a helpful how-to video in paragraph 5! The Basics An adhesion test measures the adhesive characteristics of a product by measuring the amount of force it takes to separate that product from a test surface. For our industry, this test determines whether silicone will properly adhere to a roof substrate ..read more

Introduction A PM Silicone roof restoration is a great way to give your roof a new life. Your roof will receive a new, completely seamless waterproof membrane that will last for years. Like any roof substrate, however, constant wear and tear could lead to a shortened lifespan for the roof or safety hazards. Our Silicone Walkway System helps offer roofs with heavy foot traffic even more life and some added safety features.   What is the PG 700/750 System The PM PG 700/750 system is comprised of two parts. The first part is Pro-Grip 700 Walkway Coating, which comes in a five-gallon bucket ..read more

It’s no secret that a PM Silicone roof restoration is a great way to add decades to your building’s roof. Silicone’s seamless, waterproofing properties can restore almost any substrate and give your current roof new life. But how do you keep it in optimal condition? This blog looks at the proper maintenance and care on your silicone roof and dissects our free Roof Maintenance Guide. We include PM’s Roof Owner’s Maintenance Guide in every warranty package that’s sold and on our website here. The guide and accompanying checklist address everything from mechanical threats to extreme weather even ..read more

What’s the Deal with Yellow Coatings? If you’ve ever coated an oil- or asphalt-based roof (such as modified bitumen or tar) and seen it begin to yellow afterwards, you may be asking yourself “Why Did My Silicone Roof Coating Turn Yellow?” This blog looks into the science behind this question and identifies how Progressive Materials can prevent the yellowing from occurring. Oil-/Asphalt-Based Roof’s Problem The main issue with oil/asphalt-based roofs is that these substrates have heavy oils in them. These oils will always leach out of the oil/asphalt and work their way to the surface. Although ..read more

One of Progressive Materials’ core values is that our team members are encouraged and empowered to achieve greatness. Today’s blog looks at our new employee training program Progressive Materials University (PMU) and how it’s building a better company. About PMU In January of this year, PM leadership introduced PMU, an internal employee training program that’s dedicated to creating the most educated and well-rounded workforce in the coatings industry. While our team members are experts in their respective fields, PMU expands employees’ knowledge into other areas of the company. PM team member ..read more

We kicked off this blog series with the question, “What is a Substrate?” Today, we end this series with the question, “What is an Acrylic Roof?” Acrylic is a lightweight plastic material that has a wide range of uses, from house paint to nail polish. An acrylic roof coating is applied to the roof as a liquid and then hardens as it dries. The coating is designed to provide a seamless shield on the roof. Like any other substrate, acrylic coatings have advantages and disadvantages. This blog will explain those and detail how PM Silicone can help. Advantages One advantage is that acrylic coatings ..read more

As we continue to explore the basics of commercial roofing in our “What is a Substrate?” series, this blog will answer the question, “What is Built Up Roofing (BUR)?” BUR is a system of specialized roofing materials that are layered and sealed with asphalt or other industrial adhesives. It is placed on a building’s flat or low-slope roofing structure and can be covered in aggregate material such as crushed stone or pebbles. This blog will focus mainly on gravel BUR’s major advantages and disadvantages. We will explain how a Progressive Materials silicone roof coating restoration can help an a ..read more