News & Blog - Western Colloid

Monthly Maintenance Checks to Perform on Healthcare Buildings

Now more than ever, healthcare workers need to know the hospitals and long-term care facilities they work in are in good shape. With emergency rooms and intensive care units at capacity in most states, nothing could be more disruptive than relocating sick patients to deal with urgent building repair. Proactive inspections — including commercial roof maintenance checks — should be part of any conscientious building manager’s operations. As the U.S. continues to fight against COVID-19 outbreaks, these checks are especially necessary for healthcare buildings.

When to Use a Consultant vs. a Roofing Manufacturer or Contractor for Commercial Roof Repairs

If you’re looking for commercial roof repair solutions, it can be overwhelming to know which path to take, so we thought we’d walk through when your best option is to go with a skilled contractor or roofing manufacturer and when you need to consider the services of a qualified roofing consultant.

Maximize Your Maintenance Budget While Your Building Is Unoccupied

With so many spaces empty, now is the time for building owners to take advantage and schedule building maintenance and upgrades efficiently. From installing energy-efficient HVAC units to completing a commercial roof assessment, there are probably many tasks on your to-do list, and now is the time to get them done quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Roof Coatings Answered

A comprehensive roof inspection program will help you identify potential issues before they become expensive problems. A neglected roof can mean damaged membranes, moldy insulation and even structural damage. When that happens, you may have no other option but a disruptive and costly full tear-off and replace to remediate the mess.

But if you’re proactive, modern roofing solutions are available that will help you extend the life of your roof — and protect your wallet. Roof coating products can last for decades and will keep your building safe from unwanted leaks and damage.

Install a Roof Coating to Get More Return on Your Commercial Building

In the current economic climate, it’s likely that we’re going to see a lot of shifts in the commercial real estate market in the upcoming year. As portfolios consolidate and others expand, a lot of properties will be changing hands. If you’re looking at selling a commercial building, you want to know you’re going to get the best return for your investment.

How to Preserve, Repair or Restore Your TPO Roofing System

The business of owning and managing commercial real estate is an expensive one. Buildings are exposed to continuous weather wear and tear, with building envelope systems both slowly degrading over time and potentially experiencing severe damage in extreme weather. Owners not only need to budget appropriately for ongoing preventative maintenance and repair, but they also […]

Choosing the Best Roof Repair System for Hospitals and Assisted Living

Healthcare is on the front page of every newspaper and media website these days — and with good reason. While we’re all worried about the frontline workers and making sure they have the supplies they need to do their jobs effectively, hospitals and assisted living facility administrators also need to make sure their building is […]

roof repair system for hospitals assisted-living

When to Use Aluminum Reflective Roof Coatings or Acrylic on Your Commercial Roof

For building owners and operators, energy efficiency is, increasingly, the name of the game. From high-performance insulation to energy-efficient windows and lighting, there are all sorts of products on the market to help you keep your utility bills down. But what about your roof? Out of sight/out of mind means that we often don’t think […]

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT – WESTERN COLLOID COVID-19 UPDATE

To Our Industry Partners, Customers and Friends: At Western Colloid, the safety and well-being of our employees and customers is always our top priority. With that in mind we also recognize the importance of providing our customers with the products you need to keep our industry and the infrastructure of our communities moving forward. We […]

How Roof Coating Can Help You Manage Your Commercial Building’s Budget

While wear and tear is a normal part of a building’s lifespan, a proactive inspection and maintenance program helps identify aging building materials and potential deficiencies. Without these kinds of programs, failing components of the building envelope can lead to water intrusion, mold growth and structural damage. When that happens, your commercial building’s budget goes, often quite literally, through the roof.

Fluid Applied Roof System – Western Colloid

Choosing the Right Commercial Roof Coating for Colorado Weather

With your roof so often out of sight and out of mind, it’s easy to ignore it until a problem occurs. But structural damage and mold growth caused by a leaky roof cannot be ignored and can be very expensive to fix. If you’re looking to update your commercial roof in Colorado, you may need to have some special considerations when choosing a solution.

Our Favorite Fluid-Applied Roofing Projects in California

As the third-largest state in the United States, California covers a vast geographic area and enjoys varied weather and climates. From high altitudes to the desert, foggy coastlines to endless sunshine and everything in between, there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to building materials in California. Building owners and operators in California need […]

Choosing the Right Commercial Roof Coating for Nevada Weather

For building owners and operators looking to update a commercial roof in Nevada, key factors to consider are weather and energy efficiency. With hot summers and cooler winters, a commercial building in Nevada needs a durable roof system that stands up to thermal shock or temperature extremes and helps manage the energy demand on the building.

What Is Elastic Cement and When Should You Use It

Source Elastic cement is an elastomeric compound that can be used as a seal at the intersection of the different elements of your roof system and it will keep the water out. It is designed to be especially flexible so it will absorb the movement of your building, and it is also used as patching […]

How to Get Energy Savings Using a Reflective Coating System on Your Roof

Source Let’s talk about what ages a roof. On its own, the materials that make up commercial roofing systems are extremely durable. Without outside forces, the components of a commercial roof are meant to last decades. So, what are the reasons roofs degrade? Water. This is the big one. Whether precipitation, leaks from rooftop equipment […]

Completed roof with 10 year renewable warranty

The Benefits of Installing a Cool Roof System

Source Maintaining a building is an ongoing and cost-intensive process. With so many integrated systems — from your building envelope to your heating and cooling system, from the front door to the roof — keeping your building in good repair can be complex. In addition, today’s property managers and building owners are increasingly looking for […]

The Solar Retrofitting Solution You Need

Source Over the last twenty years, solar panel technology has improved significantly and become more cost-effective. Coupled with rising energy costs, green energy incentives and an increasing number of municipal ordinances, many building owners and operators have performed solar retrofitting on their facility, with great success. Out of Sync Modern solar panels are designed to […]

Getting Your Roof Ready for Winter

Source As much as we like to joke about it, winter really is coming. It’s inevitable, but it doesn’t have to make life as a building owner difficult. With a little preparation, you can go into the winter months knowing your roof is in good repair and your building is protected, no matter what the […]

How to Choose the Best Long-Term Commercial Roof Solution

Source A building is a major investment that needs ongoing maintenance to keep it in good repair and keep your tenants happy. But even the most effective and proactive maintenance program can’t prevent the need to replace the components of your building envelope as they reach the end of their usable life, including your roof. […]

Western Colloid Announces Opening of Asphalt Emulsion Plant in Texas

As Western Colloid proudly announces the completion of phase 2 of their Texas manufacturing plant, they would like to acknowledge the contributions of Mr. Steve Widmer, our Texas Plant manager. Steve, moved from California to Texas 3 years ago to establish a distribution presence in Texas and then spearhead the construction of first, our acrylic […]

Which Is Better: Fluid Applied Reinforced Roof (FARR) or a Single-Ply Seam-Welded Roof

Source There are more roof systems on the market than you may be aware of. When many people think of a new roof for a commercial building, they picture a built-up roof (BUR) system and smelly bubbling tar pots. But alternative products have been available for a while; some of them for decades. They provide […]

Why You Should Use a TPO Primer Under Your Roof System

Source : https://westerncolloid.com/farr-systems/ A roof system is complex. Along with insulation and cover board, you’ll find one or many plys that make up the roof itself. Many times, as that first roof ages and degrades, contractors will install a second roof over the first, rather than having the property owner take on the expense and […]

How to Fix a Leaky Roof

Source Water damage is one of the biggest problems in building management. Water intrusion can cause mold growth, poor indoor air quality or even structural damage if it goes unchecked. But fixing water damage isn’t as simple as replacing damaged ceiling tiles and moving on. Building operators must work with contractors to find the source […]

What Does It Mean When a Product Is FM4470 Approved for Hail?

Although it may not be as common as snow or rain, hail is incredibly dangerous and can be far more expensive to property owners than other precipitation. Hail contributes to over $10 billion in property damage every year in the United States. A single hail storm in Denver in 2017 caused $2.3 billion in property […]

Is TPO the Best Roof System for Your Industrial Building?

Let’s face it. If your business operates out of an industrial building, then you’re either in the business of making something, storing it, distributing it or some combination of those three. You probably didn’t expect to be in the building maintenance business, too. But if you want to protect your investment, that is, all the […]

Tips on Applying Asphalt Emulsion Roof Coating System

Your roof is one of your building’s biggest investments and also one of the most critical components in the building envelope. Making sure it’s waterproof and actively dealing with cracks and damage will protect your building systems for decades, but eventually, you’ll probably need to do a full roof replacement. But a roof replacement doesn’t […]

Working With Tenants During Roof Tear-Offs

Keeping your roof in good repair is a critical element of maintaining your building. And after decades of holding back wind, rain, snow, hail and damaging UV rays, you’ll need to eventually replace your roof, which can often be a complex and time-consuming project if you own or manage a multi-residential or commercial building. One […]

How to Choose the Right Contractor and Roof Material for Your Building

If you own or operate a commercial property, your building is probably the biggest investment you’ve made for your business. Annual inspection and maintenance are critical to keeping your building envelope in good repair, especially your roof. A good roof inspection program will save you money in the long term, but eventually, even the best-maintained […]

How Denver’s Green Energy Code Changes Will Impact Commercial Roofing and Construction

2018 was a busy year for green initiatives in Denver. After months of debate, the city council agreed to a modified version of Initiative 300. This Green Roof Ordinance originally required affected buildings to incorporate green roofs into their plans and was loudly opposed by a number of parties and organizations in the city for […]

Denver’s Green Energy Code Changes Impact

Where and When You Should Use Asphalt Emulsion Roof Coating Systems

If you’re looking for a strong, waterproof and long-lasting architectural roof coating system, an asphalt emulsion based coating system is a great option. Not only will it extend the longevity of your roof, but it can also easily be applied to a number of existing roof systems. Plus, they are compatible with most other roofing […]

Western Colloid Fluid Applied Reinforced Roofing System

Commercial Building Roof Repair: Where Do I Start?

Source Repairing or replacing a leaky roof on a commercial building can end up being one of the more costly aspects of owning or managing a commercial property. Ensuring you are taking the right steps to properly repair the roof will save you both time and money – especially if your building is in more […]

How to Update Your Gravel Roof

These durable roofs are long-lasting and UV and impact resistant. Making them common choices for areas prone to hail and extreme weather. But, like all roofs, they do require regular inspection and maintenance to maximize their longevity and prevent water intrusion into your building. What Is a Gravel Roof? Do you have a gravel roof […]

Recoating a Foam Roof: Do’s and Don’t’s

Foam roofs are commonly used in many commercial, industrial and institutional flat roof settings. They do require some ongoing maintenance but the benefit is that they provide an additional layer of insulation. Plus, certain foam roof products are even ENERGY STAR®-rated, which can help reduce ongoing heating and cooling costs for your building. Your foam […]

Understanding Your Commercial Roofing Estimate: Tips for Property Owners

If you own or manage a commercial property, you know how much goes into the maintenance of your roofing system and how costly any repair or replacement can be. But your roof is an integral part of the health of your building, so when repairs or replacement becomes necessary, it’s important to ensure it’s done […]

Completed System (Including Seamless Walkway Coating)

Hal Arthur Leland Honored with RCMA Industry Statesman Award

The Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA), a national trade association representing manufacturers of cold applied protective roof coatings, cements, and suppliers of industry products, recently awarded Hal Leland with the Industry Statesman Award at this year’s RCMA Annual Meeting, February 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. Over the years, RCMA has only on several occasions identified an […]

Western Colloid Announces Greg Hlavaty as President

Leading fluid-applied manufacturer promotes the leadership of Hlavaty Western Colloid, the industry leader in fluid applied roofing, reflective coating systems and premium asphalt sealcoats announces Greg Hlavaty as president. With a long history in the roofing industry focused on roof coatings, Hlavaty brings not only experience and knowledge to the position of president but also […]

Western Colloid Goes to China

Western Colloid’s Tim Ford teaches roofing classes in Beijing, China. Earlier this year, Western Colloid’s Tim Ford received a call to teach a class. That is not very unusual for Ford who specializes in liquid-applied roofing installation training, but this class was in a very faraway land, Beijing, China. Discussions on providing training began earlier […]

Western Colloid Announces New Northern California Representative

Julie Barajas joins Western Colloid Western Colloid, the recognized leader in the roofing industry in fluid applied reinforced roofing, welcomes Julie Barajas as the new northern California sales representative servicing the California region north of Bakersfield. She will be focused on supporting roofing contractors, distributors and roofing consultants in their use and promotion of fluid […]

What is a Colloid?

Colloid Definition: A type of homogeneous mixture in which the dispersed particles do not settle out. Examples of colloids include: butter, milk, smoke, fog, ink, paint, ElastaHyde. Ever wonder how Western Colloid got its name? It was named after the pride of manufacturing a truly superior product. The actual Colloid process that was used by […]

Overnight Sensation or Roofing Pioneer?

The longevity and resilience of our products prove that the technology delivers superior performance. Let’s face it, this industry is slow to adopt. What we have been manufacturing and promoting for 45 years is now on the forefront of new technology. We feel like the actor that has been pounding the pavement for many years […]

Western Colloid Announces New Product – ElastaHyde QS

By Greg Hlavaty, President Western Colloid. ElastaHyde QS – Quick Set formulation aids in the application of fluid applied roof systems when met with unexpected damp, wet or rainy weather. Although fluid applied roof systems have been enjoying immense popularity in the past few years there are still conditions that make installation a challenge, namely […]

Congratulations Greg Hlavaty New President of Roof Coating Manufacturers Association!

Greg wrote in the recent RCMA spring newsletter, “As your President for the 2018-2019 term, I am honored to communicate with you in this Roof Coating Manufacturers Association’s e-newsletter. Over the years as past president of the RRCI and now as an active member of the RCMA, I have seen first-hand the work that the […]

NEW TEXAS PLANT IS OPEN!

Western Colloid is proud to announce the opening of it’s third manufacturing plant and warehouse in Alvarado, Texas! To better service the Mid-West we now are producing most Western Colloid products in our new Texas plant. We have moved our stock of products from our old location into our new state of the art facility. […]

Western Colloid General Manager Greg Hlavaty Awarded Prestigious Martin A. Davis Award

The Martin A. Davis Award is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the RCMA. Western Colloid, a leading manufacturer of fluid-applied roofing, reflective coating systems and premium asphalt sealcoats, today announced that its General Manager, Greg Hlavaty, was awarded the prestigious Martin A. Davis Leadership Award by the Roof Coatings Manufacturer Association (RCMA). […]

Emulsion and Elastomeric Roof Coatings Systems Emerging as Owners’ and Architects’ Preferred Choice

Western Colloid is a pioneer and innovator of asphalt emulsion and acrylic based roof systems that are eco-friendly and can be applied over many existing roofs. Roof coatings have been thought of for many years as temporary fixes, or a way to squeeze a few more years out of an aging roof system. Western Colloid […]

PROJECT PROFILE – PACIFIC DENTAL SERVICES BUILDING

Pacific Dental Services Building Contractor: Commercial Roof Management Job location: Irvine, California Original roof assembly: EPDM, age unknown. The roof surface was pin holing throughout and had over 100 roof leaks in 124,000 square feet, (1,240 squares). Selection of Western Colloid: Originally the building owners thought that their only option was to tear off the […]

Employee Profile – Tim Ford – Roving Field Tech

In any given month Tim Ford could be in Hawaii, Texas, Colorado, Kansas or any other state west of the Mississippi. Why, because there are very few people are as talented as he is working on the job with crews. Western Colloid has a reputation for going the extra mile for our customers. That includes […]

Even the Polyester Matters

by Kim Scholten, Regional Sales Manager You may think polyester is polyester. We have found this to not be true. It became very important to so many of us during the great recession to save money where ever we could. Looking at foreign made polyester was a natural choice for many in the roofing industry. […]

PROJECT PROFILE: FRITO-LAY CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS

Frito-Lay Corporate Headquarters Contractor: Unified Commercial, Baton Rouge LA Job location: Plano Texas Original roof assembly: concrete deck, 2-1/2 inches rigid insulation, coal-tar and gravel, and BUR and gravel roof assemblies. Selection of Western Colloid: Existing roof assembly approximately 32 years in age. Experiencing base flashing problems and splitting of the field membrane causing […]

THE NEW TEXAS EDITION OF WESTERN COLLOID

Joining regional sales manager Rick Boyce, please meet Kevin Stonebarger in white, from New Braunfels, Texas. Kevin’s position is technical sales for Texas and the Mid-West. Next to Kevin is Steve Widmer, in striped dark shirt, from Midlothian Texas. Steve’s position is operations manager for Texas Mid-West operations. The addition of Steve & Kevin will enable […]

RCMA Elects New Board Officers at 2016 Annual Meeting

WASHINGTON, DC (February 25, 2016) – The Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) hosted more than 100 industry attendees at its 2016 Annual Meeting, February 15-16 in Orlando, Florida. The Association elected a new slate of officers to its Board of Directors and named Greg Johnson, Sherwin-Williams, the recipient of the 2015 RCMA Martin A. Davis […]

Download our FREE Maintenance Recommendations Sheet!

At Western Colloid 40 years of manufacturing superior roof systems has put us on thousands of roofing projects. We have seen the difference a maintenance program can make on the life of your roof. Download our 5 Maintenance Recommendations For Preserving The Service Life Of Your Low Slope Or Commercial Roof

Great Tip For Commercial Contractors!

VALUABLE TIP FOR ROOF PREPARATION When you need to prevent roof coating products from splashing on a skylight or coating it in overspray, what do you usually do? Some contractors cover the skylight with paper and mask it off, using that method it takes time to wrap and even longer to remove it. You are […]

WESTERN COLLOID VISITS CAPITOL HILL

WESTERN COLLOID VISITS CAPITOL HILL We are happy to report our Hal Leland and Greg Hlavaty visited Capitol Hill on behalf of the RCMA (Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association) on July 15th. What an amazing opportunity. The team met with 10 Congressmen and Senators from both parties. They discussed government and regulatory issues that impact the […]

Western Colloid Honors Special Veteran

Western Colloid, donated a very special kind of wheel chair to a deserving veteran over the 2014 Holiday. “We became aware of an organization called the Independence Fund which brings the generous support of Americans directly to the wounded War Veterans that need it the most” states Western Colloid General Manager, Greg Hlavaty “The Independence […]

NEW! Miami Dade County Approval

Western Colloid announces it has now received the coveted Miami-Dade Approval for their #790 AFC ElastaHyde ACRYLIC PREMIUM GRADE ELASTOMERIC REFLECTIVE COATING. Among the most difficult product approvals to get is for the Miami-Dade County areas in Florida. Often, by having this approval you can easily get product approval in the remainder of the state […]

Western Colloid Announces New Territory Manager, New Distribution Center

Western Colloid has announced the addition of Rick Boyce as territory sales manager for Texas. Rick brings with him extensive experience in Roofing with over 30 years as a commercial contractor in California, Arizona and Texas. “His knowledge of different roof systems and the installation and restoration challenges that can come up on a roofing […]

Cool Pavement Coating Systems

Western Colloid’s “ArmorTop” sealcoat product can be produced in cool colors to cool down your parking lot and help reduce the “Heat Island” effect. Our cool colored sealcoat is an economical way to achieve the pavement cool-down that will soon be required by some state and federal agencies.

Cool Colored Roof Coatings

ElastaHyde 720 ARC is available in California Tan and Platinum Gray. Both colors meet California Title 24 guidelines and are Energy Star® listed. These Cool Colors give you the option of an energy efficient roof coating without having to use white.

FM Approved

Western Colloid has received multiple FM Global approvals over BUR, Modified Bitumen, and various Single Ply membranes. The FM 4470 Class 1 approvals employ some of the toughest test methods in the roofing industry. FM 4470 tests for Wind, Fire, Hail, Foot Traffic and watertightness. Along with the testing, stringent follow-up inspection service by FM […]

NEW – All Weather White Flashing Cement

Western Colloid’s #8000 All Weather White Flashing Cement can be applied in wet or dry conditions. It is a solvent based, white resinous flashing compound that has excellent adhesion to most surfaces. Best of all it is a permanent repair. No more temporary wet patch to get you through the wet weather.